Bandarpunch Climb

Quick Facts

03-19 June, 2023 | 19 Days

INR 2,25,000 + 5% GST

Single Supplement: INR 26,500 + 5% GST 

Highest Altitude: 5180 M

Difficulty: DemandingHiking and trekking to elevations exceeding 4000-5000 meters, away from vehicular access, over multiple days. Encompasses demanding whitewater with Class IV rapids.

Group Size: 8-16 persons

The name Bandarpunch / Banderpunch (also spelt as Bandarpoonch) literally means “monkey’s tail” in Hindi and is a lovely mountain in the Western Garhwal region of Uttarakhand. This massif has three mountains above 6000m, namely the twin peaks of Bandarpunch I (6316m) and Bandarpunch II (6102m) and Kalanag (Black Peak) at 6387m. Bandarpunch II is also called the ‘White Peak’. The massif can easily be spotted from many places in Garhwal. The first successful expedition to Bandarpunch was led by Maj Gen Harold Williams in 1950 with a team comprising of legendary mountaineer Tenzing Norgay. They approached the mountain from the Hanuman Ganga valley lying south west of the mountain. This mountain rose to prominence when the Doon school masters Jack Gibson and John Martyn started using this area to offer climbing experience to their wards during the summer holidays. They were the first ones to actually reconnoiter the route in 1937.

Tenzing Norgay refers to Bandarpunch as ‘The Doon School Mountain’ in his autobiography. We approach the mountain from the south east route; the same route which was successfully climbed for the first time by Nehru Institute of Mountaineering (NIM) in 1975 when it took its students of Advance Mountaineering Course in the spring season. The trek to base camp starts from Sukhi, which lies on the road going up to Gangotri.
The base camp is a beautiful two days hike from here and we set up two alpine camps above Base Camp before attempting summit. The climbing route is fairly straightforward but is highly crevasse littered between Camp 1 & Summit. This mountain is a perfect training ground for expedition climbing in Himalaya, with the summit offering incredible views of the high mountains of Garhwal in the south & the east (including Satopanth, Sudarshan Parbat, Chandra Parbat, Swetvaran, Matri, Thelu, Srikanth, Jogin, Gangotri range & Jaonli) and mountains of Kinnaur in the western sky.

Bandarpunch Climb

DAYS 1-5

  • Day 1: Delhi – Dehradun (3500 M)

Arrive early morning in Delhi. Visit IMF office for the final formalities and meet the Liason Officer. Board the overnight Nanda Devi Express leaving Delhi at 11:55pm to be in Dehradun by 5:00am. 

  • Day 2: Dehradun – Uttarkashi

Board the waiting vehicles to be driven straight to Uttarkashi (7hrs). Breakfast enroute. Check out personal climbing kit at the Guest House. Overnight Guest House.

  • Day 3: Uttarkashi – Sukhi – Forest Camp (3000 M)

We start early in the morning & drive 2.5 hrs to the starting point of our trek at Sukhi. Sukhi is a small village at an altitude of 2500m and has few houses and many apple orchards. Sep/ Oct is apple harvest time in this area, so you might find many villagers offering apples for free. It is a steep trek up to a Khagi pass at 3420m from where we descend steeply down to the forest camp. The pass offers a good view of our route to the summit on the west and views of Gangotri I, II, III, Jaonli & Srikanth peaks in the south. Overnight at Camp.

  • Day 4: Forest Camp – Base Camp (3780 M)

It is a long walk to the base camp. We descend to the confluence of Son Gad & Chaiyaan Gad rivers and follow Chaiyyan Gad all the way up to the Base Camp. The walk is very beautiful as it goes through dense forests, some beautiful meadows and finally goes above the tree line to get to the base camp at the foot of the Chaiyyan glacier. We might come across some shepherds camping in the meadows with their flock. Overnight at Camp.

  • Day 5: Base Camp (3780 M)

We use this day at Base Camp to sort our climbing gear and to acclimatise. We go for a hike to a high point on a trail and return to Base Camp by late afternoon. Overnight at Camp.

DAYS 6-12

  • Day 6: Base Camp – Camp 1 – Base Camp (3780 M)

Today we make a load ferry to Camp 1. Essentially, we take some of the expedition’s gear and hike up to Camp 1, leave the gear there and return to Base Camp. This serves a logistic purpose as well as helps you acclimatise. 

  • Day 7: Base Camp

A day to rest and acclimatise at Base Camp.

  • Day 8: Base Camp – Camp 1 (4450 M)

We move to Camp 1.

  • Day 9: Camp 1

Rest and Acclimatise at Camp 1.

  • Day 10: Acclimatisation At Camp 1 (4450 M)

We hike up to 5000m and return to Camp 1 for the night.

  • Day 11: Camp 1 – Summit Camp (5180 M)

Today we move to the Summit Camp.

  • Day 12: Rest Day

We use this day at Summit Camp to check our gear and make sure we’re ready for the summit push.

DAYS 13-19

  • Day 13: Summit Camp – Summit – Summit Camp (5180m)

We start at 2am for the summit push and climb to the top of Bandarpunch (6316m) and descend back to summit camp.

  • Day 14: Contingency Day

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 15: Summit Camp – Base Camp

We start our descend from Summit Camp to Base camp and retrace our steps. 

  • Day 16: Base Camp – Forest Camp

Long day today hiking down to the forest camp from base camp. 

  • Day 17: Forest Camp – Sukhi – Uttarkashi

In the morning, leave for Sukhi where our vehicles await us. We drive to Uttarkashi.

  • Day 18: Uttarkashi – Dehradun – Delhi

Drive Uttarkashi to Dehradun and take the evening Shatabdi to Delhi. 

  • Day 19: Delhi

Morning debriefing at IMF. Trip Ends!

Inclusions:
  • All transfers in a non-AC vehicle as per the itinerary
  • 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
  • Individual Climbing Equipment (budget on spending INR 5000 if renting climbing equipment from Uttarkashi)
  • 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

FROM PREVIOUS EXPEDITIONS

Take a look at photos & videos from previous journeys. Read testimonials from our new & regular clients.
AdrenalineByAquaterra - Video Preview

Aquaterra Promo Video

#AdrenalinebyAquaterra
Life on an Aquaterra Trek

Life on an Aquaterra Trek

Video Preview

WHY GO WITH AQUATERRA ADVENTURES

A question easy to answer, you may wonder, in an age where adventure travel is apparently booming. Varying costs are available and there is no shortage of operators willing to run your trip. This is possibly the most important decision for you to make, after you have chosen to take on an adventure trip.

An Experienced Team

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.

Value for Money

The prices of our trips provide a high value for money returns. They are priced to keep our standards high and your trip, smooth. Cost usually is a deciding factor for many a trip, but for an adventure trip, the deciding factor should be confidence in your operator. We combine high operator confidence with a pricing balanced to give you a trip to remember.

Best Equipment

Equipment on all our adventure travel trips matches worldwide standards. On treks, we use 4 season 2-person tents, which can withstand the harshest weather conditions, and keep you dry and protected from the elements. Outfitter wings accompany all mountain trips for dining under.

Great Food

Our staff is trained in hygienic preparation of meals and offers a great variety of food on an outdoor trip. Good equipment, food and guides is what makes an outdoor trip an experience to savour.

WHAT TRAVELLERS SAY ABOUT US

GET IN TOUCH TO BOOK!

Join us for a trip of a lifetime, if you crave for some high end adventure!

info@aquaterra.in

Mon to Fri: 0930-1730 hrs | Sat: 0930-1300 hrs

We strive to create the best trips possible for you, with uncommon professionalism, unsurpassed personal service and a commitment to protect and preserve the cultures and environments through which we travel. Get in touch with us to plan your next holiday

CAPTCHA image

This helps us prevent spam

SIMILAR EXPEDITIONS