Gaumukh Tapovan is a beautiful trek that showcases the raw beauty of Garhwal Himalayas including few remarkable peaks such as Bhagirathi, Shivling, Bhrigupanth, etc. The trek takes one to the Gangotri Glacier, a.k.a Gaumukh, the source of Ganges River and also one of the largest glaciers in India.
The trek begins from Gangotri, which is a famous pilgrimage site and one of the Chota Char Dham temples in Uttarakhand. Duration of the trek is 6 days and it passes through Chirbasa, Bhojbasa, Gaumukh, and Tapovan. The gradient of this trek varies from Moderate to difficult and is suited for trekkers who have done at least 2 treks before. However, beginners having good physical fitness can also do this trek because the altitude is not much higher.
On the trek, one encounters the raw beauty of Gangotri National Park, rare flora and fauna, dense forest, river valleys, snow-laden massifs, and huge glaciers.
Day 1 : Drive from Dehradun to Gangotri
Day 2 : Trek from Gangotri to Chirbasa
Day 3 : Trek from Chirbasa to Bhojwasa
Day 4 : Trek from Bhojwasa to Tapovan to Bhojwasa via Gaumukh
Day 5 : Trek from Bhojwasa to Gangotri
Day 6 : Depart from Gangotri and reach Dehradun around 5 PM.
From 28th Sep 2019 (Saturday) to 3rd Oct 2019 (Thursday) Open
From 5th Oct 2019 (Saturday) to 10th Oct 2019 (Thursday) Open
From 12th Oct 2019 (Saturday) to 17th Oct 2019 (Thursday) Open
Gather at Dehradun ISBT or Railway Station. Our trek leader will meet you there and then you will start your drive to one of the Chota Char Dhams in Uttarakhand, Gangotri. The temple is around 304 km far from Dehradun and it will take at least 10-11 hours to reach.
Gangotri Temple is one of the most famous temples in Uttarakhand and is dedicated to river Ganges. The temple is situated along the Ganges River. Apart from being a renowned pilgrimage destination, the place is also known between trekkers as it is the starting point of several treks including Gaumukh Tapovan, Kedartal, Auden's Col, Kalindi Khal, Rudragaira, Vasu ki Tal, etc.
The journey to Gangotri passes through Landour, Suwakholi, Chinyalisour, Uttarkashi, Gangnani, Harshil and Dharali. As we start from Dehradun, we take the Mussoorie road and take the right turn just before 5 km from Mussoorie and head towards Suwakholi on the Dhanaulti route. The road gets narrower after turning right. The further route is scenic as it passes through pine forest. The drive from Chinyalisour is along the Bhagirathi River. We continue our drive on the Gangotri highway and take a halt at Uttarkashi for the lunch. The city of Uttarkashi is the headquarters of Uttarkashi district. We can visit the famous Kashi Vishwanath temple if time allows. The road after passing Uttarakashi gets more scenic and one can see the snowcapped peaks of Banderpuch during clear weather. We pass through other important sites such as Gangnani, which is famous for hot water springs, Bhairo Ghati, which is famous for a deep gorge and is quite scenic and a few more places. We reach Gangotri in the evening. Freshen up and get ready for the evening Arti. The Gangotri temple is situated at an altitude of around 3300 meters, so a good tight sleep is necessary to acclimatize your body. Overnight stay will be in the guest house.
After having breakfast, we will start our trek towards Chirbasa. Today’s trek will be around 7-8 km long and it will take around 5 hours to reach the campsite. The walk will be through the pine forest along the gushing Bhagirathi River. The trail is scenic as it offers majestic views of Sudarshan Parbat (21,345 feet). We will also cross a few waterfalls and streams from which we can refill our water bottles. The complete trek will be in the Gangotri National Park.
Reach the campsite by afternoon and enjoy the scenic views. The campsite will be near the Bhagirathi river and in between the pine forest. The site also offers the magnificent views of Bhagirathi sister peaks including Bhagirathi I, II and III (6856 m, 6512 m, and 6454 m respectively) along with Bhrigu Parbat and Manda Peak.
After having lunch, we will go for an acclimatization walk and explore the site. Overnight stay will be in camps.
Wake up and enjoy the heavenly sunrise. We have our breakfast and get ready for the trek to Bhojbasa. Today’s trek will be easier and shorter as compared to other days. The trail will take us closer to Bhagirathi peaks. After the trek, the camps will be pitched on a plain surface and the place is Bhojwasa. The name of this campsite is derived from Bhojpatra trees or the Birch trees. Here on this campsite, we can find forest check post, rest houses, ashrams, etc.
After reaching the campsite, have your lunch and relax. We can explore around or play games at the campsite. Overnight stay in the camps.
This day will be the D-day of the trek because it will be the longest and toughest day. We will be trekking towards our final destination which is Tapovan and also covering the Gaumukh glacier. Get prepared in the morning after breakfast and move towards Tapovan. Make sure you fill your water bottles before leaving the campsite as there are no water sources on the way. The trail up to Gaumukh is relatively easier than the trail from Gaumukh to Tapovan. From Gaumukh, the trail gets steeper and is full of boulders and moraine. Explore Gaumukh, which is the end of Gangotri Glacier, and the source of Holy River Ganges. The glacier is mighty and offers many scenic views of the surroundings. The final ascent is made up of rocky terrain and after this, we will get to see a vast meadow, which is Tapovan. You will be mesmerized after seeing the Mt. Shivling as it is quite closer from Tapovan. The place is quite famous for meditation as several sadhus come here to meditate. After exploring the place, we will start descending back to Bhojwasa. Reach back to the campsite and relax.
Get ready for the return trek from Bhojwasa to Gangotri temple. The downhill trek will be easy so we will skip the Chirbasa campsite and trek down all the way to Gangotri temple. We will take the same route that we take while coming up. Reach the temple by evening and relax. We can explore the market in the evening and can buy souvenirs. Overnight stay in the guest house.
Now it’s time to say good bye and head back to Dehradun. We will drive through the same route and reach Dehradun by the evening. Trekking journey ends here.
Transport from Dehradun to Gangotri and back
Stay in guest houses at Gangotri
Stay in camps during the trek
All camping equipment including camps, sleeping bags, and mattress
All meals during the trek and stay
Certified Trek Leader
Experienced Local Guide
All Trekking Permits
Any meals apart from inclusions
Meals during bus journey
Personal expenses
Offloading charges- INR 250 per bag per day and should be informed 3 days before the trek.
Anything that is not mentioned in inclusions
Booking amount is non-refundable.
No refund of total trip amount will be provided on cancellation, 10 days prior to departure date.
50% of total trip amount can be refunded on cancellation between 11-20 days prior to scheduled departure date.
90% of total trip amount can be refunded on cancellation between 21-90 days prior to scheduled departure date.
100% of total trip amount can be refunded on cancellation, 90+ days prior to scheduled departure date.
For Cancellations/ Refund Request , kindly reply to the confirmation mail and get in touch with the Team. All cancellations will be considered only after the mail has been received.
Down Jacket (Main jacket)
Raincoat/ Poncho
Inner Layer
Tshirt or Fleece
Track Pant
Extra pair of Socks
Trekking/ Hiking Shoes (Forclaz 100 and above or Arpenaz 100. Checkout in Decathlon stores)
Woolen Cap
Rucksack (At least 40L)
Mufflers/ Neck Warmer
Extra pair of Clothes
Undergarments
Slippers
Power Bank
Sunscreen Lotion
Sunglasses
Torch
Water Bottle
Tissue Roll
Hand Sanitizer
Personal Toiletries
Medicines
First Aid Kit
*Add extra thermal layers and sweater during the winter season
Q. What will be the group size?
Usually, we take maximum of 15-18 people in one group. We believe bigger groups have less fun and less coordination so that’s why we prefer smaller groups.
We need at least 6 people to operate our fixed departure tours/treks.
Q. Who all will go along with us on the trip/trek?
All our treks are led by professional trek leaders who are certifie, mountaineers. Apart from them, there will be one local guide, cook, helper, porters and other staff.
All our trips are led by professional trip coordinators who have a good experience in leading groups.
Q. I am the only girl in the group, is it safe to travel/trek solo?
Yes definitely it is, the safety of girls is most important for us. All our guides and other staff are carefully chosen for trips/treks. They are honest and reliable but we also advise you to take care of your personal belongings.
Q. What are the things that we need to carry on the trek/trip?
Once you confirm the trip/trek and done with the booking, we will send you the packing list according to the trip/trek.
Q. What type of ground transportation will be used on the trip?
We hire taxis such as Innova, Tempo Traveller, Bolero, Tata Sumo, etc. from our vendors.
Q. I cannot carry my rucksack/bag on the trek, can I offload it?
We always recommend that you carry your rucksack during the trek because it helps in maintaining your body posture. In case if you cannot, then we can provide you a mule/porter to carry your rucksack. You will have to tell us at least 1 week before the trek. The charges for offloading would be INR 300 per person per day.
Q. Which shoes should I buy?
Shoes are your lifeline on the trek. It is highly advisable to buy trekking shoes of a good and known brand. You can consider companies like Quechua, Columbia, etc. A waterproof shoes with ankle support will work good.
Q. What are the washroom/toilet facilities like on the trek?
During the treks, separate toilet tents will be set up on each campsite.
Q. What will be the type of accommodation?
It depends on the tour. If it is a trek then you will be staying in dome tents or if it is a road trip the the accommodation can be in hotel/alpine tent/dome tent/home stay.
Q. Will you provide sleeping bags and mattresses?
Yes, we will provide sleeping bags and mattresses during the trek. Our sleeping bags can withstand temperature as low as -10 degree.
Q. How many trekkers will be in one tent?
It totally depends on group dynamics. If there is a couple, we can give them a separate tent or if there are odd number of people, then there would be triple sharing.
Q. How can I book a trek/trip with you?
After selecting the trip/trek, you can book by clicking on the book now button or you can contact us and we will guide you in booking.
Q. What type of food is served during the trek?
We provide nutritious and healthy food during the treks. We always serve Indian vegetarian food and eggs.
Q. How to get safe drinking water on the trek?
Himalayan water is considered the purest water and safe to drink. But for safety purpose, we sometimes boil the water and then use it for drinking and cooking.
In case you find any clean water on the trek, always fill your water where the water is running not where the water is stable or is in rest.
Q. Can we change the itinerary?
Yes, you can give suggestions. We will look into that and if we find it feasible then we will apply it.
Q. Can you customize the trip/trek?
Yes, we can customize any trip/trek as per your needs and as per the feasibility.
Q. Will doctor accompany us on the trek?
No, but our trek leaders are certified in Wildlife First Aid course and they always carry first aid kit and oxygen cylinders on high altitude treks.
Q. Do you prefer I should bring some medicines with me?
Yes it is advisable that you carry your own medication on the trek.
Q. Diamox is advisable or not?
Well, it totally depends on person to person. Usually, there are no side effects of Diamox but if you are having any prior medical conditions then it is better to consult your doctor.
Our itinerary is designed in a way that we take sufficient time to get acclimatized. In case if you are having problem on the trek then tell your trek leader about your condition as soon as possible.
Q. Can I take my child along on this trek? What is the age limit?
It depends on the difficulty level of the trek. Minimum age for eligibility is 14 years.
Q. What will we do if it rains?
If it starts raining slowly while trekking then we will continue our trek as per the plan. Your poncho will keep you dry. In case if it is raining heavily then we will try to find any shelter and wait for the rain to stop or slow. If it rains at the campsite then there would not be any problem because all our living tents, kitchen tents and toilet tents are waterproof. You will stay dry inside.
Q. Why is the trekking pole necessary?
Differs from person to person. If you think that it would help you maintaining balance while trekking then do bring the pole. Some people think that trekking pole disturbs the walking rhythm. So it’s upto you.
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