Garhwal Trek-n-Raft

Quick Facts

2024 - 13-23 Apr | 11 Days

INR 85,800 + 5% GST

Single Supplement: INR 18,500 + 5% GST

Highest Altitude: 4000 M & Rapid Class: 4

Difficulty:

Group Size: 8-16 persons

Starting the trek from Auli, turns Kuari Pass into an easy – moderate trek that provides sweeping views from the gorges of Trishul in the East to the peaks of Kedarnath in the West. It offers unparalleled view of the Kedarnath, Chaukhamba, Nilkantha, Kamet, Gauri Parbat, Hathi Parbat, Nanda Devi, Dunagiri and a myriad of other 6000m and 7000m peaks. It is a great beginner trek that offers views and meadows to turn anyone into a happy mountain soul.

Pangarchulla becomes a beautiful climbing objective in the spring, an easy low peak which gives a good feel of a climb; plodding the crisp morning snow with amazing views of high mountains. Just perfect for anyone trying to wet their feet with their first Himalayan Summit. End the trip with a multi-day river adventure down the Alaknanda river to end at Rudraprayag, descending 70 kms of a classic river run negotiating over 85 Class 3+/4 rapids!

DAYS 1-4

Day 1: Dehradun Airport – Pipalkoti (1560 M)

Arrive Dehradun Airport by 7am. Board waiting vehicles to be driven straight to Atali Ganga for breakfast. Thereafter, drive onward to Pipalkoti (7hrs). The drive takes one into the rugged countryside of the Garhwal along the Alaknanda River. Drive past a few holy confluences, and break for the night at a basic transit hotel in Pipalkoti.

Day 2: Pipalkoti – Gorson (3200 M)

Post breakfast drive 48kms to Auli, one gets to see a distinct profile of Nanda Devi at the head of the sanctuary. The walk takes you through old forests of oak and rhododendron to reach the picturesque meadows of Gorson. We camp at Gorson, and go for afternoon walk to explore the vast meadows.

Day 3: Gorson – Tali (3310 M)

Have a relaxed start. Post breakfast carry on towards Tali. The trail climbs diagonally up on the Gorson Bugyal and then traverses down to the forest. We camp a little ahead of a small water body at Tali.

Day 4: Tali – Khulara (3395 M)

Today the trail ascends the ridge above Tali. Just below the high point on the ridge, the trail leads through a large meadow affording spectacular views. North of Joshimath is the Chaukhamba range, Nilkanth (6596m) and Narayan Parbat (5965m), while Mana peak (7272m), Kamet (7756m) and Abi Gamin (7355m) extend to the Tibetan border. In the middle foreground, the main Himalayan chain in the vicinity of the Bhyundar valley and Hem Kund includes Nilgiri Parbat (6474m), Rataban (6166m), Ghori Parbat (6708m) and Hathi Parbat (6727m). Dunagairi (7066m) dominates the peaks to the north of the Nanda Devi Sanctuary. Catch some patchy phone signal here and then descent an hour to the base camp at Khulara.

DAYS 5-8

Day 5: Khulara Base Camp – Advance Base Camp (4000 M)

Have an easy start. After breakfast get ready in your climbing gear and start plodding up towards the high camp. Most of the walk goes on a moderate gradient on the snow covered North face with great views of the high mountains. A short traverse will bring us to the advanced base camp.

Day 6: Adv Base Camp – Summit – Khulara Base Camp (3395 M)

Wake up early to be up on the summit to see the sunrise on a wide Himalayan panorama. The walk up to the summit at 4575m would take a couple of hours and we descend to be in time for hot lunch at base camp. Evening party!

Day 7: Khulara – Tapovan – Pipalkoti (1330 M)

The last day of the trip is a descent all the way down to Tapovan. It’s about a 3-hour drive from here to the comforts of the hotel in Pipalkoti.

Day 8: Pipalkoti – Chamoli – Nandprayag (Class 3+/4)

An early start today, we drive an hour to Chamoli and begin our river trip after a comprehensive safety check. We raft 25 kms with nearly 40 rapids today, including a possible portage at Hillary Fall. This is the spot where Edmund Hillary’s famous “Ocean to Sky” expedition ended, being unable to travel up this rapid. Lots of paddling, lots of scouts, this is the quintessential river day.

DAYS 9-11

Day 9: Nandprayag – Gauchar (Class 3+/4)

Today we raft from Nandprayag to Gauchar, rafting down a series of nearly 20 Class 3+/4 rapids over a 4 hour day. We camp near Gauchar, 7 kms upstream of the confluence of the Alaknanda with the Pindar at Karnaprayag.

Day 10: Gauchar – Rudraprayag – Camp ATA (Class 3+/4)

Today we raft till below Rudraprayag in a 5 hour day covering 30 kms of Class 3+/4 rapids, including a portage at “Kakar Fall”. Drive back down the valley to arrive at Camp Aquaterra for dinner. You can alternatively stay at Atali Ganga. Please ask for options.

Day 7: Camp Aquaterra – Dehradun Airport

Relaxed morning at Camp. 24 KM rafting trip to NIM Beach. Post lunch transfer to Dehradun Airport to board the flight home. Trip ends.

Inclusions:

Travel from Dehradun and back by road
All arrangements for staying and camping while on trip
Accommodation on twin sharing basis in tents / hotel
All meals as mentioned in itinerary & safe drinking water
All trekking arrangements with India’s most experienced guiding team, camp staff and cooks
Porterage upto 15kg/person
Peak fee / sanctuary fee / royalty / permits where applicable

Exclusions:

Sleeping bag
Flights not included in the above-mentioned cost
Any transfers or meals outside of itinerary
Bottled water
Items of personal clothing
Expenses of any personal nature (laundry / phone calls / alcohol / cigarettes / insurance / camera fee / etc.)
Any expense incurred due to force of nature such as landslides, bad weather or reasons beyond our control
Tips & gratuities (we recommend 5-10% of your trip cost- to be distributed among the team) – personal choice
Travel & cancellation insurance

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Our team of guides has years of experience of travel throughout the Indian Himalaya, from running rivers to leading treks – from the barren Zanskar to the tropical rainforest of Arunachal Pradesh. They speak English, have completed graduate school, are current with First Aid and CPR certification and form the most experienced guiding team in the country today.

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