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Brief Description
Gidara Bugyal is a hidden gem in the Uttarkashi region of Uttarakhand. Being one of the largest high altitude meadows in this country, the Gidara Bugyal is twice as big as Dayara Bugyal and Ali and Bedni Bugyal. It takes almost 2 days to traverse the entire length of the Bugyal but surely one of the most stunning experiences. Gidara Bugyal is located near to Dayar Bugyal and is at a higher altitude. The trek takes you through undulating meadows, grasslands, diverse flora and fauna, near-zero footsteps of other travelers due to its pristine and offbeat nature and mesmerizing campsites. Even though this is an easy trek best suited for both beginners and experienced trekkers, for a novice it is recommended to be in good physical shape due to steep and treacherous sections of the trail. The ridge walk to Gidara Top at 4240 meters in one of the highlights of this trek as you are presented with uninterrupted views of the mighty peaks of Gangotri, Jogin, Srikanth and DKD on a clear day. The best time for Gidara Bugyal trek is in the pre-monsoon months of May and June and in the post-monsoon months of September and October. Stay on this page for more information on the Gidara Bugyal Trek.
Itinerary
Itinerary
Show complete Itinerary
Arrive at Bhangeli
Today we arrive at Bhangeli, a small hamlet located in the Uttarkashi district. Bhangeli is 190 km from Dehradun and if you opt for a transport from us then we will pick you up at Dehradun ISBT by 7am and drive to Bhangeli which will take about 8 hours. Overnight in guesthouse/homestay in Bhangeli.
Bhangeli (2300 m) to Rikoda (3310 m) - 5 km
Today we start our trek from Bhangeli village and make our way to Rikoda campsite. You will cross the village temple and reach the forest on a dirt trail with maple and oak trees forming a canopy. We will cross several small streams and waterfalls along with diverse flora and fauna. The trail is nearly untouched as the villagers are the only one using this. Thus making the beginning of the trek already pristine. Suddenly the treeline disappears and you get to see the greater Himalayan mountain ranges in the distance, notably the Gangotri group and Srikanth peaks. We will camp on the beautiful meadows of Rikoda for the night. Overnight in tents.
Rikoda to Dokrani (3720 m) - 3.5 km
Today we trek on the trail towards Dokrani campsite. There is a gradual increase in the slope towards the Thirya river and then there is a steep increase through ok and bhojpatra forests to reach a clearing which is the Dokrani campsite with stunning views of the Gangotri massif opposite to your campsite. Relax and retire for the night. Overnight in tents.
Dokrani to Thalotya (3700 m) via Dokrani Bugyal (3930 m) - 2.5 km
Today's trek is a relatively easy one with an hour of gradual ascend will take us to Dokrani bugyal from the Dokrani campsite. You will see amazing views of Gangotri, Jogin, DKD and Srikanth peaks on one side and the Dokrani meadows on the other side. Spend some time soaking in the stunning views and then we continue to trek through undulating meadows to reach the Thalotya campsite filled with rhododendron flowers located alongside a stream in a narrow valley. Overnight in tents.
Thalotya to Thirya (3260 m) via Gidara Top (4240 m) - 10 km
Today is a long and arduous day so we start our trek early. We will cross the stream and after a small ascend we will reach the starting point of Gidara meadows. After an hour of ascent on the meadows, you will get the first glimpse of the Gidara Bugyal and it is endless. In early May and June you can still find snow on this part of the bugyal. The bugyal is absolutely huge. We will continue our trek and reach a ridge from where you get epic views of the mountain ranges. The ridge walk is easily one of the highlights of the trek. We will reach the Gidara top which is the highest point of the trek. We then continue on the ridge and descend down towards Dokrani Bugyal. We will take a deviation towards a steep trail through dense forest to reach the campsite of Thirya. Overnight in tents.
Thirya to Bhangeli (2300 m) - 7 km
From Thirya campsite we will cross the river and trek towards the Rikoda campsite and then retrace our steps to Bhangeli village. Overnight in homestay/guesthouse.
Depart from Bhangeli
Today we will descend for about 30 mins to the roadhead at Bhangeli and then depart for Dehradun.
Frequently Asked Questions
Pick your question
Eligibility: Experience required
Gidara Bugyal trek is one of the most ambitious starts for the first-timers. Although the trek is doable by beginners, they should prepare and read extensively about the trek.
Eligibility: Fitness benchmark
- Jog/Run for 4 Kms in 35-40 mins or Walk continuously for 8 Kms (with 3-4 small breaks) on plain terrain (slight incline is better) - You would be required to produce a screenshot from a fitness app testifying the same
- Hold your breath for 25-30 seconds
If you are not meeting these benchmarks, please use the preparation schedule to improve your fitness till you achieve the above benchmarks.
Eligibility: Requisite Skills
- How to choose a right rucksack: It is essential that you choose a right rucksack for the trek since you are going to carry it all the time while trekking. Make sure you don’t make these common mistakes while buying a rucksack.
- How to pack a rucksack: Trekking in mountains become more fun when your rucksack is well-organized. It also makes it easier for you to carry without being much load on your shoulders. Follow the guidelines on how to pack a rucksack.
About the activity: Why should I go for this trek?
Gidara Bugyal Trek
The Gidara Bugyal trek is a beautiful trek to high altitude meadows that are some of the largest and twice as big as Dayara Bugyal or Ali and Bedni Bugyal. The maximum altitude gained during Gidara Bugyal trek is 4240 m. The trail of this trek is easy to cover and offers breathtaking views of the Himalayas all around such as Gangotri, Jogin, DKD and bandarpunch peaks. There are numerous steep and treacherous sections that will demand some good physical fitness to successfully undertake this trek. The dense forest cover on the trail is another major attraction of this trek. If you are looking for a different kind of trek where you have a chance to romance nature and get away from the humdrum of the city lives with almost zero crowd on the trail, then Gidara Bugyal trek should be your next choice.Best Season: What are the best months to visit this trek?
May, June, September and October are the best months to do the Gidara Bugyal Trek.
Packing List: What to pack
Click here for packing list.
Packing List: How should I pack my rucksack?
Packing List: How should I select my trekking shoe?
Age limit: What is the minimum & maximum age limit?
The minimum age limit is 9 years. However, minors aged between 9 to 17 should be accompanied with their parents or guardians. If you are above the age of 60, kindly carry a medical certificate from your doctor that deem you fit for adventure activities like trekking
Accommodation: What will be the accommodation type in this trek?
At Bhangeli village you will be accommodated in hotel/guesthouse on twin or triple sharing basis. On trekking days, all the trekkers will be accommodated in twin sharing tents. Along with this, there will also be a toilet tent and a dining tent installed at every campsite as we roll.
Equipment and facilities: What kind of tents and sleeping bags will be provided to us?
We provide 4 seasons tents by Gipfel for higher altitudes which can easily withstand heavy snowfall and storms. They are spacious enough to accomodate 3 people at once with a vestibule to place the backpacks. Our sleeping bags are made up of Heatseeker Pro synthetic insulation that can provide you comfort in -10 degrees celsius. We also use additional fleece liners to have thermal efficiency even in the extreme temperatures of -17 degrees Celsius. If you carry your own sleeping bag, you will get a cashback reward provided that you inform us as soon as you have booked your trek.
Equipment and facilities: Are there any washroom/toilet facilities on the trek?
Toilet tents will be provided to you on the trek.These are portable toilets tents where a deep pit will be dug. A shovel will be provided inside the tent to cover the waste after you have made your business. You can take a toilet roll inside. Make sure you dig used toilet paper along with the waste. Though water is recommended in place of toilet paper. Please refrain from using wet wipes as they are non-biodegradable. There will be no facility for bathing on the trek. Go through our blog section for tips on how to maintain personal hygiene on treks.
Equipment and facilities: If we trek in snow, what equipment will you provide?
You will be provided with good quality gaiters and microspikes from us depending upon the situation of the snow. Our trek leaders will also be carrying ropes and ice axe.
Equipment and facilities: What kind of food will be provided for the trek?
Vegetarian food will be served throughout the trek. The only non-vegetarian item served on our treks are eggs. Our kitchen staff follows a proper menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner which has been designed in order to fulfil the nutritional requirements of the participants. There will be milk, poha, eggs, muesli/corn flakes, bread and butter served for breakfast. Rice or simple roti sabzi will be packed for lunch. In dinner, you will have dal, egg curry or any other vegetarian dish along with rice, roti, and a dessert item. Packed lunch will be provided to you on the days you are trekking. You are requested to carry your own tiffin box and a mug to consume food. The meals consumed on journey and arrival day are not included in our cost.
Equipment and facilities: What equipment can I rent from you?
You can rent following items from us- Trekking Pole, Trekking Shoes, Fleece Jacket, Rucksack
Weather conditions: When will there be snow on this trek?
There might be some snow on the trail in the pre-monsoon months of May and June.
Weather conditions: What will the temperatures be like during this trek?
The temperature will range from 15-25 degrees Celsius during the day and 5-10 degrees Celsius at night.
Miscellaneous : Is there an option to offload my backpack?
If you want to offload your rucksack, you will have to make a request for offloading a few days prior the trek through an email so that arrangement can be made in advance. You will be charged per day for offloading your rucksack. In case you decide to offload on the spot, you may have to pay a higher price than usual. However offloading your rucksack is not recommended since it is not a safe practice.
Miscellaneous : Who will lead us on the trek?
A team of participant will be led by a course certified trek leader and a local guide. All participants are requested to abide by what their leader says. There will also be a team of kitchen staff and porters on the trek. We maintain 1:8 ratio of trek leader and participants. All our trek leaders and staff have a certified training in first-aid and rescue operation.
Miscellaneous : Is the trekking pole necessary?
It is not mandatory but it is more convenient with the pole. If you don’t want to buy one, you can rent it from us on minimal daily basis charges. You can request the renting link from us.
Miscellaneous : Are there any local stores/shops from where I can shop trekking necessities?
Please do not leave anything for last-minute shopping since Bhangeli village has no shops/stores. Dehradun has a reasonable size market but because of immediate departure from Dehradun last-minute purchasing might be difficult. Please do not leave anything for last-minute buying.
Miscellaneous : Is it safe for a solo woman traveller to trek in Fixed departures?
Yes, it is absolutely safe for solo woman to travel in fix departures. Women on the trek will be sharing tent with each other. In case you are the only woman on the trek, you will be given a separate tent.
Miscellaneous : Will you give certificates on completion of trek?
Yes, e-certificates will be given at the end of each trek provided that you completed it. It will bear your name, the trek, and the maximum altitude you achieved on the trek.
Transport: In case we opt for the transport with you, where will you pick us from and where will you drop?
We will pick you up from Dehradun ISBT at 7 am and drive to Bhangeli village which will take about 6-8 hours. Drop off location at Dehradun remains the same.
Transport: What time will you drop us at the end point on last day of the trek?
Expect to reach Dehradun by late afternoon.
Mandatory documents: What are the mandatory documents required for the trek?
Please carry your ID Proof (Voter ID, Adhaar, etc) and send a photocopy of the same to us.
Connectivity: How to Reach the base of the trek & how to go back from the end point?
Start point of Gidara Bugyal Trek is Bhangeli which is a 190 km from Dehradun. There are indirect public buses and shared jeeps running between Dehradun and Bhangeli.
Dehradun is easily accessible through road, rail, and air transport.
By Road:
You can take overnight UKRTC buses and Volvos available from ISBT Kashmere Gate, Delhi to Dehradun. The distance from Delhi to Dehradun is about 247 km. You can also hire a taxi or outstation cab from Delhi to Dehradun.
By Rail:
The nearest railway station to Bhangeli is 190 km away in Dehradun. There are a number of trains running between Delhi and Dehradun like Dehradun Express, Mussoorie Express, Nanda Devi Express. It is advisable to make your train bookings a month in advance.
By Air:
The nearest airport from Bhangeli is Jolly Grant airport in Dehradun which is 213 km away from Sankri. You can reach Dehradun from New Delhi by flight.
Connectivity: What is the cellular network connectivity for this trek?
Intermittent cellular network till Bhangeli. No network beyond Bhangeli.
Nearby attraction: What are the nearby attractions that I can explore?
Dehradun is the beautiful capital city of Uttrakhand with a number of attractions to visit. Sahastradhara, a ‘thousand fold water spring’ is a famous tourist spot in Dehradun. The waters of the spring are believed to have medicinal properties. Robber’s Cave or Guchhi Pani is a famous picnic spot for fun-loving enthusiasts. Visit the holy Tapkeshwar Temple on the bank of Asan River which is believed have one of the oldest Shivling. Enjoy the splash at much touted Kempty Falls in Mussoorie. The highest place in Mussoorie, Lal Tibba is where you can enjoy the panoramic views of the snow-capped mountains. Admire the Kumaon and Garhwal Art & Culture at SOHAM Heritage and Art Centre.
Why Bikat
Why Bikat
Learning Experience
- We are an Adventure Learning Organisation first.
- We want you to not just complete a trek safely but also pick up some basic trekking knowledge and skills along the way.
- To achieve this we have integrated learning modules into our itineraries.
- These modules will help you build the necessary skills to progress from trekking to mountaineering over time.
Loyality Programs
Our community is an integral part of us and we take pride in our trekkers and climbers. When you complete at least three days on any trek or expedition with us, you become eligible for our membership and referral programs.
- Currently we have three levels:
- Basic Membership
- Summiteer Membership
- Leader Membership
Personalized Attention
- Our group sizes on treks don’t exceed 15 members in order to maintain a healthy Participants : Leader Ratio of 8:1.
- Over time we have found this number to be optimum when it comes to ensuring personalised attention to every member of our group.
- On mountaineering expeditions this number is even smaller. Our group sizes are capped at 12 members ensuring a Participants : HAP Ratio of 2:1.
Best Expedition Leaders
- Our Expedition leaders are advanced mountaineering course qualified, specially trained in rescue procedures from NIM and certified first-aid responders.
- Even our local guides are certified first-aid responders.
Eco-friendly Practices
- Group sizes are capped at 15 people.
- Batch sizes are capped at 250 people per trail per season.
- We follow a rolling campsite model.
- We are constantly exploring and introducing new trails to reduce the burden on existing ones.
Safety
For us, a successful summit is not about reaching the highest point of a mountain but about making it safely back to base.
- To ensure this:
- Every region of ours is mapped with an emergency evacuation plan.
- The equipment we use is UIAA certified.
- Our trek leaders are AMC certified with specialisation in rescue procedures.
- Our support staffs are trained in first aid as well.
Reviews
What's Included
Whats Included
- Food as per menu on all trekking days
- Forest Permits/Camping Charges, if any (upto the amount charged for Indian nationals)
- Tents, Sleeping bags, Sleeping mats
- Accommodation in hotel/guesthouse on twin/triple sharing basis in Bhangeli on Day 1 an day 6
- Accommodation in tents on twin sharing basis on all trekking days
- Safety Equipment includes static rescue rope, seat harness, carabiners, pulleys
- Trek guide, cook, helpers, and porters for carrying common supplies
- Mountaineering course certified Trek Leader with Wilderness Emergency Responder & Rescue. course from NIM Uttarkashi
Whats Not Included?
- Portage of personal bags during the trek
- Cost of any kind of Travel Insurance.
- Any Expense of personal nature.
- Any Expense not specified in the inclusions list
- Meals during road journeys
- Transportation from Dehradun to Bhangeli and back to Dehradun.
Cancellation Policy
Cash Refund
Cancellations up to 30 days prior to departure date
5% Deduction
Between 30 days to 15 days prior to departure
50%
deduction
Less than 15 days of departure
No Cash Refund
Voucher Refund
Cancellations up to 5 days prior to departure date
No Deduction
Cancellations less than 5 days prior to departure
No Refund
Please note
- Cash refund is applicable only in case of bookings made without using any promotional offer code or vouchers.
- This is only a brief of cancellation terms. For finer details please refer Detailed Cancellation Policy.
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