Winter treks in the Himalayas in India are much more than just an adventure for hikers and adventurers. They are a natural dose that keeps their hearts pounding and prepares them for greater challenges. Only physically and psychologically fit people should do this.
As you may already be aware that people have started trekking and traveling again. In fact, we recently launched three new trails in the North East that are running from October 2021 – May 2022. These new treks are:
Over the past two weeks, we observed that seats for our October departures are filling up fast and we wanted to give you an update regarding what people are considering when it comes to trekking in the winters in India.
We know that you are probably thinking that it’s still mid October, but this is actually an ideal time to start planning your winter trek — you’ll get to choose the dates you want and your flight tickets will be the least expensive for your departure dates. You’ll also have enough time to physically and mentally prepare for your winter trek.
Interestingly, we notice that about 75% of our Himalayan trekking participants choose winter treks over autumn or summer treks due to the sheer charm that trails exude during the winters.
Despite the high altitude and negative temperatures, it is possible to trek in the Himalayas in winter. In fact, trekkers look forward to walking for miles on fresh snow and getting into snow fights with each other. Campsites often look as if they’re right out of a fairytale.
If you like everything about winters, the time has come to plan your winter trek for the coming season. The mountains summon all nature-lovers with their beauty, something that only increases in the depths of winter.
Here’s a quick guide to winter trekking in India:
So you know you want to go, just not sure where you should go trekking this winter season? This quick guide is here to help you:
Our three new treks in the North East (Goechala, Sandakphu Short Trek & Sandakhphu + Phalut trek) will be lead by our Founder & Trek Captain Naveen Mallesh who successfully summitted Mt. Elbrus on 17 September 2021 which is one of the seven summits in the world.
He dedicated this climb to all the COVID warriors who have laid down their lives in the fight against COVID-19. His climb was also covered by various news channels. Here’s a glimpse below:
I hope this gives you an inkling of what trekking in the winters is like, Nomad. We hope this quick guide helps you decide on the winter trek you want to do this winter season.
On that note, our winter treks are beginning to fill up and we don’t want you to miss out on this season so plan your trek soon.
We are also noticing lots of families & groups calling us to customize treks for them. If you’re looking for a customized departure as well, we’re right here to help you. Just drop us a note on the same email and our trek expert will reach out to you.
Kashmir! It has always been a dream to visit Kashmir. But I’d hardly known back then that I’d visit Kashmir as a trekker! Having said that, walking through the meadows, breathing the fresh air, gulping down hot Maggi in the cold breeze with a bunch of fellow trekkers is the best way to soak in the beauty that Kashmir is. I’d been to the Kashmir great lakes trek in the month of August with TrekNomads along with my partner Sapnesh. Most of the pictures you see in this blog are clicked by him. And what an experience it was!
Kashmir Great Lakes trek – Highlights
Before I begin the day-to-day accounting here are the highlights of the trek:
Highest altitude gained: 13,800ft (trust me, the best feeling ever when you reach the peak!).
Of course the pristine Kashmir lakes (around 6/7).
Postcard like scenic beauty everywhere.
Experience of trekking in almost ALL kinds of terrain.
Hot Maggi, chai, and coffee at that altitude!
Amazing Kashmiri people and trekkers around you.
A happy tummy and mind. (Best food, and best sleep).
Zindagi mein aur kya chahiye? Internet, yeah that you don’t find it on the trail. Which is quite the ideal case to just be with nature, friends, and yourself. Also FYI, this was my first Himalayan trek. Before this, I’ve done small treks in the western ghats.
Okay, as I said before, it all started with my dream of visiting Kashmir. I was surfing for packages for Kashmir and then came across the Kashmir Great Lakes trek. I saw a few pictures, got mesmerized, and decided to do it. And TrekNomads had an end-to-end package that just fit in. We booked our tickets and the package almost a month before. The process was really smooth and the TrekNomads personnel are really helpful in addressing all your queries.
Preparation: Yes, some prep is required for a high-altitude trek.
After the booking is made, Naveen (our trek lead and the founder of TrekNomads) will keep you posted with a number of do’s, don’ts, tips, and also the essentials for the trek. The foremost and the most important thing is fitness levels. As beginner trekkers, it was important for us to amp up our fitness routine.
The requirement was, 5km running under 35 minutes and some strength training. What seemed like an uphill task in the beginning days of our training, became really smooth in the last week. We started running from the day the fitness requirements were shared with us. We started with one kilometer and we were finally able to run 5kms towards the end of the last week.
To sum it up, I recommend you to start your training 6 weeks before, focus on:
Keeping the run at a steady pace during a session.
Keep breathing and stay hydrated.
Another tip is to do practice interval running for better results.
And of course, don’t ignore strength training and stretching.
How To Reach?
Since this was my first time in Kashmir, I wasn’t familiar with the hotels or boat stays. A very good plus point of going with TrekNomads is that they handle your transport and stay in Kashmir. Honestly, this made our lives so much easier.
You can reach Kashmir (Srinagar) via Airlines as well as trains. However, direct flights or trains aren’t available from other parts of India. You’ll find flights and trains from Delhi. One tip to avoid cancellation of flights is to book reputed airlines in that region such as Vistara or Air Asia. We experienced rescheduling and cancellation with other domestic airlines.
Kashmir Great Lakes trek – Day-wise experience
Day 1: Boathouse stay at Nigeen lake
We met our trek lead, Naveen, ready to receive us at the Srinagar airport along with our other trek mates. We took a tempo to the boat stay which was going to be our abode for the night. Our boathouse was situated in the beautiful Nigeen lake.
We were treated with hot pakodas and Qahwa (a traditional Kashmiri tea) at the boathouse. Later, we took a boat ride known as the Shikara ride on the lake. The ride was the most peaceful ride ever under the sunset of Kashmir.
Later, we spent most of the evening getting to know the fellow trekkers and their other adventures. Naveen took over and explained to us a few do’s and don’ts and how we’d spend the next few days in the mountains.
At night, we had an amazing and appetizing dinner along with laughs and talks. We retired for the day after a walk under the stars and a lot of excitement for the next day!
Here’s how the interiors of our boathouse looked like.
Picture Courtesy: Sapnesh Naik Boathouse stay, Nigeen lake, Srinagar
Day 2: Drive to Sonamarg
The next morning was the time to bid goodbye to the beautiful boathouse and the humble owners of it. They were one of the sweetest hosts I’d ever come across.
Picture courtesy: Sapnesh Naik With boathouse owner, Nigeen lake
Later it was a long ride (90km) to reach Sonamarg base camp, our very first camp; it was beside a stream of gushing water. When we reached Sonamarg, our team crew had reached earlier and had started pitching tents already while we trekkers were soaking in the beauty of Sonamarg.
Picture Courtesy: Sapnesh Naik Sonamarg base camp.
Hot lunch was prepared and served. Our cook for the journey was a Nepali cook Khazi bhai. The food he prepared was definitely comparable to the big restaurants! After lunch, we took a jeep ride to Zo jila pass and zero point which is closer to Kargil. The ride was thrilling with sharp hairpin turns and beautiful scenic views.
Picture Courtesy: Sapnesh Naik Zo jila Pass, Kargil (11,500ft)
Pro tip: Don’t skip this ride because it will help you acclimatize to the high altitude.
We slept the night in the lap of the mountains and the humming of waters. The next day was the first of our six-day trek.
Day 3: Trek to Nichnai (max altitude:11,500 ft)
We woke up early, had a filling breakfast and tea, all set for the arduous climb. Our trek lead advised us to take it easy and not rush into anything. The first day starts with a patch of forest, and then rolling hills, streams of water, and later you enter the mountains.
Trekkers on day one of trekking.
On the way, you meet the Kashmiri children asking for toffees, such an innocent thing.
Picture Courtesy: Sapnesh Naik Village children of Sonamarg.
We gain a considerable amount of altitude on the first day hence the ascent can be tiring. It was very tiring for me. I was making the mistake of not maintaining a constant and comfortable pace, it was burning me out very soon. Naveen suggested that I start with baby steps, build a pace and take breaks only when required, and most importantly to stay hydrated.
Like an obedient student, I followed his words and it worked! I was soon able to catch up with my trek mates. At halfway through you reach a maggie point which is the need of the hour!
We kept moving forward, baby steps, hydration, constant pace, breaks when tired was my mantra. But towards the end, I got a headache. I’d read about AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness) and thought I was experiencing it. That slowed me down drastically. With the help of Naveen, I made it to the base camp.
My headache vanished seeing my trek mates and the campsite! So yeah, it wasn’t AMS, probably just a thing in my head. It was a tiring and challenging climb amongst all the other days for me.
Nichnai base camp
Day 4: Trek to Vishansar (max altitude:12,172 ft)
The previous day’s tiring climb had me thinking about how difficult the following days would be. But to my astonishment, I really got the hang of it and loved every bit of the trekking I did in the Alpines.
I woke up with apprehension yet with carpe diem kinda energy. We left for Vishansar, our first lake after breakfast. Today’s trek was a shorter one with a steep ascent in the beginning and then we descended towards the Vishansar lake.
The campsite location is really amazing, which is just a kilometre away from the Vishansar lake. We reached the campsite around noon, had lunch, chilled a bit, and then went towards the lake.
What a beauty! We had ample time to spend at the lakeside, clicked a few pictures, and went back to the campsite.
In frame: Sapnesh Vishansar Lake.
We retired for the night after some group games with the trekkers and a sumptuous meal!
Day 5: Trek to Gadsar (max altitude:13,800 ft)
Today was the day everyone at the Kashmir Great Lakes trek talked about including our leader. This was the day we reach the highest altitude and was going to test our endurance (I still found the first day to be difficult than any other day). We began our journey quite early after breakfast. All the trekkers were wearing the TrekNomads T-shirts which that we trekked to the highest point of Kashmir Great Lakes trek!
The entire KGL group
It was no doubt a difficult climb, but it’s worth it because of the beautiful landscapes that this path has to offer. We crossed a stream and then climbed up the mountain to reach the peak. It was quite chilly at the peak because of the altitude.
After a quick photo session, we descended to the Gadsar lake and had our packed lunch. This was by far the most beautiful lake we’d encountered according to me. It had a rich emerald color and changed to a different shade of turquoise when hit with sunlight. Amazing beauty you Kashmir! By this time, I think I was quite comfortable with descending mountains than ascending them.
PC: Priyanka Gadsar lake
Day 6: Trek to Satsar (max altitude:11,810 ft)
After a difficult climb the previous day, today was an easy one. We reached the base camp in the afternoon for lunch. Like any other day in the mountains, today was beautiful too. The terrain was mostly flat amidst the green mountains. At one such point, we were luckily able to spot the Nanga Prabhat of the Himalayas.
Snow-capped Nanga Parbat seen in the distanceThe beautiful Satsar lake
Since we reached the campsite early, we had a lot of time to get to know our fellow trekkers more and better. So we had all kinds of charchas discussions over our chai! Lovely time spent.
At Satsar campsite
Day 7: Trek to Gangbal twin lakes (max altitude:11,730 ft)
This was the last second day of our trek which was challenging in its own way main reason being the big boulders! After we packed our tents at the Satsar lake, the very start of Day7 were the boulders (massive rocks). It was quite a long stretch.
After a brief rest, we resumed towards our today’s destination, the peak! (the twin lakes are visible from here) It was a steep ascent, the terrain is a bit rocky and granular here. The climb was tiring, but all of us made it to the peak.
And Woah! Every drop of sweat you drop ascending, every time you motivate yourself to keep going is worth it. Trust me, the view of the twin lakes is incredible.
In frame: Naveen PC: Mahendra
Next, we descended towards the twin lakes, which are in the meadows.
Gangbal lake
Like the adventure hadn’t ended! We had a surprise adventure towards the end of the trek. We had to cross a stream on a thin plank! It’s not at all easy as it sounds. I had my heart in my hands crossing it! Anyway, we made our way to our last campsite at the Nandkol lake.
In frame: Abdul, our trek lead with Keerthi
Day 8: Descend to Naranag village (max altitude: 6,982 ft)
The last night, the temperature had dipped and we retired to our tents earlier than usual. Today was the last day in the mountains we were going to descend to Naranag village and then back to Srinagar.
The descend was a challenge in itself! After five days in the Alpines, I thought of myself as a pro in descending mountains when compared to ascending. But mountains are here to throw all kinds of challenges! This was the toughest and most challenging descent ever! However, we all reached safe and sound reunited at a small cafe, and made our way through a ride to Srinagar.
We stayed in a 3-star hotel that night and had our first shower after a week or so! And practically used a toilet too after a week. We gathered to make our farewell speeches at the dinner table and talked about our most cherished memories of the Kashmir Great Lakes trek.
Day 9: Buffer day at Srinagar city
We were so skeptical to spend the buffer day at Srinagar. I’m so thankful that we decided to stay, it was a fun-filled day at Srinagar. We went shopping and exploring the local art, food and some sightseeing. We roamed around in rickshaws and all of them were friendly with us. We visited art centres, dargahs, cafes, and emporiums.
For lunch, we went to Ahdoos, located in the middle of the town, they make amazing food here! Kashmir is known for its mirch and masala and it’s very rightly reflected in their cuisine. Ahdoos is a must-try.
After lunch, we shopped for some spices, condiments, Kesar, bakery items (they make good baked stuff), dry fruits, and some gifts for friends and family.
We returned to our hotel rooms with a bitter-sweet feeling.
Day 10: Departure
The next day I was sad to leave the “paradise on earth – Kashmir ”, but the end of the journey means the beginning of new ones. We left early towards the airport, had multiple security checks, and waited for our flights. We returned home with wonderful memories and a new bunch of friends.
The Kashmir Great Lakes trek group!
I’d heard someone say, “You don’t climb the mountains, the mountains let you climb them”. I believe in this now, I believe in the almighty mountains! And I’ve become more humble towards the experience that the mountains give you. The mountain Gods had been so kind to us that we did not experience any kind of natural extremities in this Kashmir Great Lakes trek. I hope you have a good and safe mountain time too!
About the Author:
Puja At boat stay, Nigeen lake.
Puja, is a first-time Alpine trekker, but a regular trekker otherwise. Puja has graduated as an engineer, she’s a part-time technical content writer, now a blogger too. Apart from the usual routine, she likes being close to nature and enjoys trekking and traveling in general.
Exploring the unexplored trails in mountains can be a life-changing experience not to mention the memories that you take back will be infinite. However,
Going into the wilderness can be a memorable experience, and if you are a seasoned mountaineer, trekker, or trailblazer, then you know your routes well. But, it is always better to have a reliable app installed that can assist you with the directions, environment and give information on various aspects of your environmentally friendly hiking journey– including newer and safer routes to explore.
We recently did the Kashmir Great Lakes trek and we were spellbound. Not just by the way the trek was, but by the eternal beauty that the trail has to offer. Which reminded us of a certain saying:
“Agar firdaus bar ru-ye zamin ast Hamin ast-o hamin ast-o hamin ast” If there is heaven on earth
It is this, it is this, it is this!
We have heard the above lines multiple times in popular media. I have heard too. However, whoever has written these lines on Kashmir – was 100% correct. There is no parallel to the beauty of Kashmir (in comparison to whatever I have seen so far in my life). This blog is a very humble tribute to this great valley, its people, culture, and nature.
We started our journey from Bangalore on 6th August 2021. We were tired of the lockdown, corona, and sadness all around us. We were looking forward to this trek. We were joined by other group members from Gurgaon, Pune, and Goa in Srinagar.
COVID-19 Pre-Requisite to enter Kashmir:
A negative RTPCR was mandatory at Srinagar airport. We had taken one before 72 hours of travel. However, on landing, we were told that a 48-hour certificate was required. We had to wait for 30-45 mins for registration and were asked for a RAT (Rapid Antigen Test) after providing our contact details.
The above information may change from time to time. So please DO NOT consider it as an official advisory. Please take updates from the government sources.
Kashmir Great Lakes trek itinerary:
Following was the day-wise itinerary of our trek.
6/Aug/21 – Travel from Bangalore to Srinagar, Stay at Houseboat
7/Aug/21 – Srinagar to Sitkari Campsite (2,800 m)
8/Aug/21 – Sitkari Camp to Nichnai Camp Site (3,600 m) – Trek Distance ~13 km
9/Aug/21 – Nichnai Camp to Vishansar Lake (3,710 m) – Trek Distance ~10 km
10/Aug/21 – Vishansar Lake to Gadsar Camp – via Gadsar Lake and pass (4,211 m) – Trek Distance ~18 Km
11/Aug/21 – Gadsar Camp to Satsar Camp – via Satsar Lake, Nanga Parbat View point – Trek Distance ~14 km
12/Aug/21 – Satsar Camp to Gangbal Twin Lakes – via Gangbal Pass (4,150 m) – Trek Distance ~15 Km
13/Aug/21 – Nandkol Campsite to Narnang Village to Srinagar – via Tiger Face – Trek Distance ~12 km
14/Aug/21 – Fly back to Bangalore from Srinagar
Kashmir Great Lakes trek route map that was followed:
Best time to do the Kashmir Great Lakes trek:
With houseboat stay, Wazwan cuisine, beautiful valleys, mountain passes, over 100+ km of trekking, glacial streams, rocky terrain, grassy terrain, intermittent rains, camping – this trek had almost everything a trek can offer. In July, there is a lot of ice on the trail. August is comparatively warmer – but it may rain intermittently. You can read more here.
Kashmir Great Lakes trek photoblog – A visual journey:
Kashmir trips are incomplete without staying at a nice, comfortable, cosy and hospitable houseboat. We stayed in one of such beautiful houseboats in Srinagar, near Daresalam on 6th Aug.Our first campsite at Sitkari – 2 km before Sonmarg. All Campsites during our trek had beautiful glacial streams and a surreal environment.Looking back at our campsite and gorgeous surrounding peaks. We had walked around 2kms from the campsite. on left, we can see Sonmarg.The initial first km of the trail. It was a hot and sunny day. But with fresh legs and enthusiasm, we started our long trek.After crossing the tree-line, we reached Tabletop. We had hot Maggie, our packed lunch and started descending to this beautiful and expansive valley. We had to trek from another 6-7 km to reach camp 2 – the climb was gradual after descending from the tabletop.Our Camp 2 – Nichnai camp. This camp was at an altitude of around 3,600 meters above sea level. We had a beautiful and cold glacial stream next to our campsite. It was surreal but tiring on day 1.Our team enjoying freshly backed pizza at Nichnai Camp.We had an awesome cook – who prepared pizza and momos at around 3,600 meters altitude!Nichnai Camp the next morning. We were ready to cross our first pass at 4,100 meters today.
Start of Day 2. The Nichnai pass which we were to cross is towards the left of the picture. There was a waterfall next to the pass, which we had to cross. From our campsite, this looked very daunting. However, with a new day, we started climbing towards this pass.We were near the Nichani Pass. The waterfall which we saw from our camp, was flowing next to us. We were at almost 4,000 meters above sea level. After 1 km of flat at the top and a short climb, we were at the Nichnai Pass.After crossing the Nichnai Pass, we came across a beautiful trail while descending. The trail was a “walk in the park”. We walked on the soft grass almost the entire trail. Our camp was around 4-5 km away (near Vishansar lake) from here.Beautiful landscapes – Towards Visansar Campsite.Hiking towards Vishansar Lake. It was 50 meters from our campsite.The gorgeous Vishansar Lake.Our group posing at Vishansar Lake. We had an awesome, friendly, and lively group. Our campsite was just 10 mins walk from the lake. There is a small stream overflowing from this lake – which passed next to our campsite. The stream was our main source of water.Vishansar and Kishansar Lake together in the frame from Gadsar Pass. The lake on the top is Vishansar Lake.A proud moment – the highest point in our trek. Gadsar Pass at 4,211 Meters above sea level.The other side of Gadsar Pass. Gadsar Lake is the third of the 3 lakes seen in the pic.The Gadsar pass is seen towards the left of the photo. The height looks smaller in this pic.The mighty Gadsar lake is in the background. We had our packed lunch at this picturesque location. The lake is huge and the photograph does not portray the magnitude of the surroundings.The Gadsar Lake. This was a huge lake and really pristine. We had to walk around 6-7 km from this lake to reach our next campsite.Towards Gadsar Campsite. This day was our longest. We trekked for around 19 km and crossed Gadsar pass at 4,100 meters above sea level.Next Day. Group posing at Gadsar Campsite. We were ready to trek to Satsar lake and the campsite. If lucky, we would also see the great Nanga Parbat – which is the world’s 9th highest mountain.Sheep shearing in process. These shepherds were experts at it. The sheep were co-operating as they wanted to get out of the woollen coat in this heat.Going towards Satsar Lake and Campsite. A steep climb around 3kms from the Gadsar Campsite.Our first glimpse of Nanga Parvat (8,126 meters) – the world’s 9th highest mountain. The mountain is also called a “killer mountain” due to the high mortality rate during climbing expeditions. This mountain is also shown in the movie – Seven Years in Tibet (Brad Pitt).A zoomed version of Nanga Parbat and surrounding peaks.Towards Satsar Lake – after bidding farewell to Nanga Parbat. Satsar Lake is a collection of around 7 lakes. The terrain became rocky after we entered the Satsar Gali.At Satsar Camp – the team enjoying hot tea and maggie after a tiring trek of the day.Maggie anyone? We had this piping hot maggie at Satsar Campsite. A much-needed fuel after a gruelling trek.Group posing at Satsar Campsite. This was going to be a tricky trek. We had to cross a boulder section for 1 to 2 hours and then Gangbal pass (~4,150 meters). The total distance we would cover this day would be around 15 km.We had to cross around 1 km of the boulder section to go towards the next pass. This section was really tricky to cross. Somehow we managed to cross this at a slow and steady pace.Gangbal Pass – around 4,100 meters above sea level. This will be the last pass we would cross.Twin Lakes from the Gangbal Pass. A great view of Gangbal and Nundkol lakes. Gangbal is towards the right and is a bigger lake.Our group posing at Gangbal Pass. We can also see twin Lakes – Gangbal and Nundkol lakes. Gangbal is towards the right and is a bigger lake.Gangbal Lake.Nandkol Lake. We had gone to Gangbal lake after climbing down from the pass. After sightseeing and photography, we walked towards Nandkol lake. Our campsite was near this lake.Beautiful landscape at Nandkol Lake. We visited Gangbal lake after descending from the Satsar Pass and then crossed over the ridge to Nandkol lake.River crossing at Nundkol lake. This crossing was very tricky and scary. Just after we crossed, the locals put another log – supporting the first one. Trekkers can cross the stream further down – where waters are knee-deep but icy cold.Mt Harmukh (5,41 meters) is the main source of Gangbal and Nandkol lakes. This is the 2nd highest mountain in this region. We camped at the base of this mountain. There are a lot of small insects at this campsite. So use lights inside your tents wisely.The team at Gangbal Campsite. In the background, we can see Mt Harmukh (5,41 meters).The final 400 meters. It was hot and sultry. We were happy and sad at the same time. The final descend after the maggie point – towards Narnag – was the toughest of our entire trek. The locals call this tiger face. It was a painful, long and tricky climb down.
That’s all for now. We have captured around 900+ pics of the trek. It was really a challenge for us to shortlist the best ones for this blog.
If you wish to know more about the Kashmir Great Lakes trek and for dates for Kashmir Great Lakes trek departures in 2022, click here
Well, sometimes life goes perfectly smooth without any hitches yet you feel the void, deprivation exactly how I felt when I embarked on this trek to Kedarkantha only to satiate my pursuit of finding the newer version of myself. Thanks to this couple Shekar and Archana, our buddies who plan the right destinations considering the age group of our friends between 40 and 45. They succeeded in cajoling eleven of us into consenting to trek with the group called ‘ TrekNomads‘ founded by Naveen Mallesh, a certified mountaineer.
Initially, our focus was on buying the right winter gears just to ensure we are equipped to combat the extremely low temperatures on the summit. The orientation by Naveen in detail about our travel on day to day basis, his tips on the physical fitness training, right packing backed by his enriched experience really helped us.
Traveling with our group is so much fun, we had morning walks in Lalbagh, our own botanical gardens only our city can boast of in its heart, climbing and descending the hill, shopping, sharing the videos from lace tying to ranger roll packing, and so on.
I had no butterflies, no apprehensions about the hardship levels thankfully. As the saying goes “Ignorance is bliss”, I had not watched videos of the summit as well not to deter my live experience.
Kedarkantha Trek: Day 1
Finally, the D-day came. With all the paraphernalia our group swarmed into the airport ahead of time. I was intrigued to pursue my wanderlust and meet my Trek mates as we generally traveled with only our friends.
The flight landed in Dehradun, a treasure trove of natural beauty, scenic forests, temples to valleys, we started our drive to Mussorie, the place which I looked forward to seeing, thanks to Bollywood movies.
Upon reaching our hotel, we check in to this beautiful hotel at a higher altitude that gave us a great glimpse of the city of Mussorie, and the cold weather helping us to acclimatize. The hotel overlooked the hilly slopy city. We then gathered and broke the ice with our fellow mates dining together exchanging some lighter moments.
Kedarkantha Trek: Day 2
We started early this morning, all set to hit Sankri, a beautiful village with breathtaking views en route. It is a small village with one main road flaunting few shops selling the trek gear. There’s a small food hangout serving hot momos and men exchanging banters with witty one-liners. It seemed as though we knew each other for a long time. As the night advanced, we noticed the temperature falling drastically and we rushed to our respective tents to hit the sack early convincing ourselves of adequate sleep before the arduous Kedarkantha Trek.
Day 3
What a beautiful morning to wake up to the chirping of birds, the golden sun rising from far away mountain slopes. Truly inviting!! We devoured hot n light breakfast and walked through the narrow lanes to the starting point of the trek. Worthy to mention that we could see the snow-clad peaks of the ‘Swargarohini‘ mountain which is the entrance to the heavens according to mythology. The story of only Yudhishthira amongst the Pandavas getting the privilege to climb the mountain along with the dog.
No sooner did we start trekking, we realized the inclined trail was not as easy as it appeared. We reached the first level sooner than we expected and were happy with this feat.
Day 4
The trek this day was to reach the base camp through ‘Juda ka Talab'( lake from lord Shiva’s hair locks). The trail was mesmerizing to walk through with lush green forest with countless pine trees to reach ‘Juda Ka Talab’. The lush green trail after Juda ka Talab vanished and gradually we could see snow everywhere. We were more than excited to use the spikes and trail on the snow path thereafter. It was a bright sunny day and the snow melting made the trail slushy yet fun to follow the trek mates and race them one on one. The spikes really helped to walk the inclined snowy paths.
We finally reached the base camp of the Kedarkantha Trek and we were famished. We finally had some good, healthy, and super yummy meals and chilled at the base camp. The weather was clear for a while and we decided to make a snowman. We also enjoyed a round of Anthakshari – this was the chilled-out fun part of the day.
They say that when you’re in the mountains, the weather can either make or break an expedition. But we were not deterred when it suddenly started raining as we had to summit the Kedarkantha peak the next day.
Day 5
Our day of summit climb, I recall, started very early at about 2 AM (whenever there is a summit climb, you start climbing very early sometimes at midnight even), all equipped to the summit after having a healthy drink for breakfast.
The fellow trekkers lined up along the curvy path with their head torches in the dark looked like a radiant snake. As I laced up my shoes I felt I was up to a battle– an inner battle to defy all odds and channelize my energy only on my goal. Thanks to yoga, I could calm my mind.
As we ascended, it needed extra push and energy. We religiously followed our mentor Naveen’s advice to sip water, take deep breaths at regular intervals. Some of my friends overtaken by fatigue wanted to give up in the middle. Thanks to the guides and my trek mates who constantly motivated them by giving faith of ‘bus sirf sau meter aur madam’ every 100 meters till the peak. Some even cooked up stories to show China’s border just to entice them and keep them going. Our joy knew no bounds when we reached the Summit. It can’t be articulated but only felt. I was literally trembling in the cold but that could not contain my excitement. I captured the sunrise in my eyes which watered incessantly out of mixed feelings. Honestly, I was blank for someone but the peak swarmed with the achievers and their happiness rubbed off on me eventually. Group photos, hugging the dear ones, comforting each other was the order of the day.
I deliberately chose to descend alone to experience the solitude, the feeling of tranquil lingering, just didn’t take my eyes off the gigantic snow mountains. It was like I was airdropped on the vast expanse of snow. It was a moment of quiescence with a touch of divinity. I rediscovered myself, refrained from mundane thoughts. It reinforced my deep longing to know my own land and traverse its length and breadth.
The fun part was reliving childhood sliding the steepest slopes and falling thud. The exotic locales no less than that of Bollywood and Tollywood movies reminded me of some beautiful old songs I was humming all along. The best part of the trek is meeting new people as we trek in our own pace and exchanging few words and inspiring each other.
Finally, we reached the base camp with the exuberance of having won a battle aggressive against hundreds of people, it might sound funny but that was our pride. We warded off hunger pangs with rice, dal chapati, and delicious jamoon to commemorate our success.
Thanks to the warm and ever-smiling cooking team from TrekNomads.
The path was slushy. I was clearly confused( oxymoron) as to alighting is easy/difficult. Though it was not tough almost all of us had a fall evident from the stains on our clothes. Needless to mention those of few who didn’t fall sported a derisive smile to mark their successful trail, devoid of fall. That night we had stargazing to locate to identify stars and constellations, and satellites. It was an out-of-the-world experience.
Well, the journey back to Mussorie was enamored of pride and achievement. We gals were all the more excited to get into fashionista mode to hit the mall road and splurge on shopping. This quaint little town flaunts the best restaurants serving cuisines from across the globe to tickle our taste buds. We had a sneak peek into the town covering few attractions and wound up the day.
The journey back to Bangalore was flooded with memories and innumerable lessons learned from different interactions, some with people while some with nature. I bid adieu to the trek mates promising to keep in touch.
I profusely thank TrekNomads and its Founder Naveen Mallesh for his incessant support and motivation throughout and for being instrumental in this little feat of ours. For now, it seems that my appetite for the wanderings remains unsatisfied. To me, it is like the line from this commercial: “yeh Dil manage more”. The mountains are infectious. They make you stubborn in the most humble manner.
About the Author:
The author is Madhuri Ajay, who is been working as a visiting professor for over 18 years. She likes dabbling in drawing, painting, singing, traveling, and now into blog writing just to make life devoid of boredom. This is her first blog on experiences of her first trek to Kedarkantha which has kindled her desire to travel n write more.
FAQ’S
What is the total duration of the Kedarkantha Trek?
The Kedarkantha Trek organised by TrekNomads is an 8 nights 9 days’ trek. It’s brief itinerary is as under:
Day 1: Arrive at Mussoorie
Day 2: Travel from Mussoorie to Sankri
Day 3: Trek to Juda ka Talab from Sankri
Day 4: Trek to Kedarkantha Base Camp from Juda ka Talab
Day 5: Trek to Kedarkantha Peak from then back to Kedarkantha Base Camp
Planning on trekking to the base of the world’s tallest mountain? This Everest Base Camp faqs covers all your queries on the popular Everest Base Camp trek. Whether you want to know when is the best time to go, fitness required for the trek, or want a clear overview of trip inclusions, find answers to our most frequently asked questions from our adventurous staff, guides, and mountain experts right here. So, sit back, dive in and start planning the trek of your lifetime.
Everest Base Camp FAQs
1. Is this trek too difficult or dangerous?
Yes and no. Yes; because altitude can kill people so care must be taken to acclimatize properly. No; from the lack of so-called “objective” danger such as rockfall or crevasses normally associated with climbing. However, people have been seriously injured by yaks who inadvertently bump them off the trail and down a steep hillside. So always be on the uphill side when a yak passes by.
2. What is the Trek Route on the Everest Base Camp Trek?
The classic and most popular route to Everest Base Camp starts from Lukla, passing through Namche Bazaar and then heading up to Lobuche from Dingboche and then finally to Gorakshep. This classic Everest Base Camp route is extremely popular and easier.
The other route that is less commonly opted for is Everest Base Camp through Gokyo Ri and Chola Pass. This is slightly more challenging but has brilliant views of the Gokyo Lakes and the chance to summit Gokyo Ri.
The route that we opt for on our Everest Base Camp trek is this:
Everest Base camp guide – route image
3. Does the trek require any kind of training?
Yes. This trek requires a good level of fitness. If you’re not already following a fitness regime, you would need to follow the regime that is shared here with you. The training routine is spread over four months and you would be expected to work out at least 4 times a day. The regime is designed to help you climb smarter even in higher altitudes. The regime consists of a good combination of exercises that works on all parts of your body including – Upper Body, Core, Endurance, Lower Body, Shoulder strength, and streamlining your breathing pattern. When followed religiously, you can rest assured that you will be ready for the trek. Not only does this regime help you with the trek, it will also help you inculcate a sense of fitness in your day-to-day life.
4. Is there a diet plan that we should follow to train for EBC?
Eating right amounts to 70% of the effort you put into getting fit. A good nutritious diet can help your body sustain the pressure that it will be going through during the trek and during your workouts. If you wish to know more about what to eat during the course of your fitness regime, you can get in touch with our trek captain.
5. What about acclimatization to the higher altitude?
The mountains are the gateway to exploring the abundant beauty that nature has to offer and every year, millions of people go up to the mountains to trek. While the fun and excitement are unparalleled, there is always one uncertainty that every trekker, professional or amateur has when it comes to high altitude trekking. And that is Acute Mountain Sickness, or commonly termed in the trekking community as AMS. Being physically fit helps in preventing AMS to a certain extent (does not, however, rule out AMS entirely).
Some of the symptoms you can experience when you have AMS are:
Headache
Disturbed sleep
Loss of appetite/nausea
Shortness of breath
Cough
Palpitation
Swelling of the hands and face
Acetazolamide (Diamox): (a tablet that helps prevent AMS) will be given to you every night before every trek, this will help your respiratory system acclimatize to the altitudeAMS does not discriminate between new and experienced trekker, if you start showing any of the symptoms mentioned above, please inform your trek lead immediately.
Our trek guides and leads have been trained in basic first aid. In case you feel like you’re experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned above, please let the trek guide/lead know immediately so we can effectively monitor you.
Some tips to consider include taking your time, trekking at a slow and steady pace, and staying hydrated is important in reducing the effects of altitude sickness. Our trek leaders continually monitor travelers and ensure everyone is drinking plenty of fluids – continually replenishing drink bottles with clean drinking water, providing morning and afternoon tea, and offering juice for some electrolyte kick.
6. Are your staff equipped/trained & insured?
Yes! Our guides and porters are fully trained, equipped, and provided for. Our Trek Captain comes with the experience of doing the EBC trek priorly. Every member in a trekking group work as a team and take care of each other’s responsibility.
7. Is there an age limit to do the Everest Base Camp Trek?
When it comes to Everest Base Camp faqs, one of the most asked questions is if there is an age limit to do the trek. No, there is no age limit for Everest Base Camp trekking but, you need to be in good physical shape with a positive attitude. We also suggest you prior to the trek though we suggest you please see your doctor and obtain necessary permission and advice, as well as medications for traveling in extreme altitudes prior to the trek.
8. Should I carry a medical kit along with me?
It is always better to consult your doctor. However, while we do carry a first aid kit, we suggest you carry simple medicines such as Ibuprofen, Codeine, Paracetamol, Strepsils, and anti-diarrhea tablets.
9. What about toilet facilities? Will I be able to shower during the trek?
Most of the teahouses on the Everest Base Camp trail have squat toilet facilities, but recently built lodges have western-style toilets as well. Nowadays, flush toilets are also being introduced with a number of increasing foreign mountaineers each year. It is highly recommended to carry your own toilet paper and other required toiletries.
Hot shower facilities are available till Gorakshep. The most common type is a bucket shower, a usual bucket with tap filled with hot water and placed in a shower room. Hot shower costs from USD 4 to 15 per use and the price increases along with the elevation. The attached bathrooms and toilets are not available unless you book for a luxury lodge during the EBC trek.
10. What do I need to know about the Nepal Visa?
For citizens of countries other than India, you will be required to purchase a Visa. The cost for the Visa can range anywhere between USD 30 – USD 50 depending on the number of days you need to be in Nepal. We always recommend getting the 30-day Visa since there could be a possibility of delays and setbacks during the trek.
11. What if I am not able to do the trek?
Our guides will make the required efforts to obtain the necessary transportation and reservations to get you home as quickly as possible if for any reason you need to depart early. However, you will not be entitled to any refund for the services (such as hotel, transport, flight, etc.) included in the package that you would not use later.
12. What about ATM on the trail?
ATM services are available only in Namche Bazaar and Lukla. However, the services might not work or run out of cash. Therefore, we suggest you carry a small amount of money to buy snacks, etc. during the trek.
13. What kind of weather can I expect during trekking? How cold does it get?
The temperatures in September can range from 28° to – 10°, depending on the altitude. Make sure you stay warm and dry at all times.
14. What type of adapter will I require in order to plug my electrical equipment?
Most of the tea houses/ lodges have electricity whereby you will be able to charge your iPod or camera batteries. Please note that lodges/tea houses will charge you some extra money for the services. The fee may vary from USD 1 to USD 3 per hour.
15. Are there any communication facilities available while we are on the mountain?
There are telephones (landlines) in most of the villages along the trek routes from where you can make international calls. Mobile Phone services are available throughout Nepal and even at the Everest Base Camp but the quality of the reception varies from location to location. Internet facilities can be found in only a few villages. However, these facilities can be expensive. Our guides will carry mobile phones which also can be used by you when/if necessary (these calls would be chargeable).
16. What is the perfect time to trek to EBC?
There are two seasons when you can trek to Everest Base Camp. The first is from April – May (Spring) and the second is October – November (Autumn). The latter is considered to be a post-monsoon time and chances of it raining through the trail are lower. The Sagarmatha region is in full bloom during the autumn giving you a palette of colors that you can enjoy. The spring season sees plenty of indigenous species that are in a colorful display and in full bloom.
17. Is there Wi-Fi on the trail?
You can get Wi-Fi access at Namche, Dingboche, Lobuche, Gorak Shep and Lukla. Again, some locations may charge a small cost for its use.
18. What is the average size of the group?
Groups can vary between 6 to 14 Nomads, who are typically are a mix of individuals, couples, or friends trekking together. Ages differ from people in their 20’s up to their 50’s. The Everest Base Camp & Kala Pattar trek is a highly popular trip with all dates guaranteed to depart.
19. Tipping System in Nepal
As of what we understand, there is no tipping system in place as compared to rules in other countries where porters MUST be given a certain amount of tip for the work they’ve done by every trekker. When trekking with us, we strongly follow the unsaid rule of tipping well. While the amount to be tipped is at your discretion, we always encourage our trekkers to tip more if they’re happy with the porter’s service. To give you an example, you can tip from anywhere between Rs 100 – 500 per day (depending on your comfort).
As a part of this Everest Base Camp faqs blog, here are a few things you can keep in mind when you think of tipping in Nepal:
Tipping Etiquette
There are a few things that you need to keep in mind while tipping the porters or guides in Nepal.
Handing over the money
Always hand over the money with your right hand, as using your left hand for this is considered to be rude in Nepal.
Tip Discreetly
It’s always better to tip your porter at the end of the trek, in which case, we suggest that you use an envelope, this will not only make them feel good about the tip, it will also give them a sense of respect. If you wish to tip smaller amounts, it’s always better to tip without creating a scene or saying it out loud.
Tipping doesn’t necessarily mean money
During your trek, it’s always a good sense to tip porters with food such as chocolates, energy bars, dry fruits, water, etc. After your trek, you can always leave behind your gear, clothes, shoes etc. that can be extremely helpful to these porters as they would never be able to invest in these otherwise.
The unsaid rule of weight
On our treks, we’ve seen porters more than 80 kilos of weight up and down the trail. While there is no rule in Nepal to check how much each porter can carry, it is always advised that as trekkers, you do not overburden them with heavy luggage. You can even do a ratio of one porter for two trekkers to ensure that they are not carrying too much weight.
20. What to Expect on a trek to EBC
The Everest Base Camp trek is a challenging trek that requires prior Himalayan trekking experience. During the course, we will trek 4 to 10 hours per day on moderate to steep grades, at varied elevations. Some days will be rest days with optional hikes to properly acclimatize, while on other days you will continue your journey towards EBC. Your Trek Captain will set a suitable pace to minimize the risk of altitude issues. Porters and pack animals will transport your gear. A signed medical consent form from your doctor will be required for participation. You will also be required to sign an indemnity bond before heading on the trek.
With this Everest Base Camp guide, we hope that you have understood the various aspects of trekking in the Everest region.
21. Accommodation & Food During the Trek
While the common way of living along the trail is by camping, but on our trek, you get to enjoy staying at double-sharing wooden teahouses. The rooms will be comfortable with basic amenities. Blankets and fresh sheets will be given.
As the cost of food on the Everest Base Camp Trek gets extremely expensive, a good package inclusive of food can do you so much help. Basic continental food will be available all along the trail. You can also binge on Nepali delicacies like – Dal Vat Tarkari etc. Indian food will be scarce along the trail.
22. Does the Everest Base Camp trek include trek insurance?
No, insurance is not covered in the trek fees. If you are interested in getting an insurance cover, you can let us know of the same and we will take care of it for an added cost through our insurance partner.
This brings us to the end of the Everest Base Camp faqs blog. We hope that this answered all your questions. If you have any more questions, drop us a comment below and we will answer your query!
One of the main attractions of the Valley of Flowers trek are the beautiful diverse flowers that bloom in the Valley between the months of June – September every year. So, if you’re heading on a trek to Valley of Flowers, this blog on flowers of Valley of Flowers trek will help you recognize some of the common flowers you come across on the trail.
Rare, Unique, and Popular Flowers of the Valley of Flowers Trek
The Pushpavati River bed – around 4 km from the main gate. The Epilobium Latifolium, River Beauty flowers
ValleyofflowersislocatedinChamoliandPithoragarhdistrictsofUttarakhand,India.ItisaUNESCOWorldNetwork of Biosphere Reserves.Thevalleyisaround11kmlongandisatanaltitudeof3,350to3,650meters(10,990to11,900feet)abovesealevel.ThevalleyisalsoknownasBhyunderValleyandwasapasturingmeadowforthelocalshepherdsbeforeitwasconvertedintoareservednationalpark.Thelocalsknewaboutthevalleyforcenturies.However,in1931BritishmountaineersFrankSSmythe,EricShiptonandR.L.HoldsworthfounditwhilereturningfromanexpeditiononMountKamet.Theyhadlosttheirwayandaccidentallywanderedtothevalley.LaterFrankSmythewroteabooknamed,“ValleyofFlowers”.
VOFisgenerallyopentothepublicfrom1stweekofJunetillEndofSept–dependingontheweatherconditionsinthatyear.Fortherestoftheyear,thevalleyiscoveredinsnow.ThefloweringseasonisfromlateAprilonwards.Itissaidthatthevalleychangesitscoloureveryfewweeksduringtheflowingseasonduetotheflowers.Read our blog on the best time to visit the Valley of Flowers.
River Beauty Flowers aka Epilobium Latifolium. Mostly available in July and August months. The photo was taken near Elephant Rock
Aconitum heterophyllum (Ativisha in Ayurveda). Found from July to late Sept. A rare flower in the Valley.
General Information: Ativisha(AconitumHeterophyllumwall)offamilyRanunculaceaeisanAyurvedicherbthatisknownforitsimportantmedicalproperties.Therootsoftheplantfinduseinoneformortheotherinvariousayurvedicpreparationsand,therefore,anattempthasbeenmadetoreviewthevariousstudiescarriedoutinitschemistryaswellaspharmacology.
Flowering time:JulytoSept
Location in the valley:Generallyfoundnearoraroundtheelephantrock(Bigrockafteraround1.5-2kmfromthestart).ItmayalsobefoundatthestartbeforethePuspavatiRiverbridge.
Saussurea Obvallata (Brahma Kamal)
Brahma Kamal is a rare and revered flower of the Himalayas. It is found near Shri Hemkund Sahib Gurudwara
General Information: The Brahma Kamal, the much-revered flower of the Himalayas, is an excellent example of plant life at the upper limit of high mountains (3,000 – 4,600 m). The flowerheads are actually purple but are enclosed in layers of greenish-yellow, papery, boat-shaped bracts. The flowers bloom at the height of the monsoons and abundant in high-altitude places like The Valley of Flowers. The bract cover provides the warm space needed to bloom in the cold mountains. The flowers are used as offering in the hill temples, like the shrines of Badrinath. The thick curved root of the plant is applied to bruises and cuts, as part of local medicine. Brahma Kamal is the state flower of Uttarakhand. A postal stamp was issued by the Indian Postal Department to commemorate this flower.
Flowering time: JulytoSept
Location in the valley: Foundathigheraltitude.Duringthemonsoons,thisflowermaybefoundnearShri Hemkund Sahib Gurudwara.
Snake flower Arisaema consanguineum (Himalayan Cobra Lily) seen during monsoon trek to Valley of Flowers National Park, UNESCO world heritage site in Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, Uttarakhand, India.Arisaema Propinquum – This photo was taken near the first stream after the big rock
General Information:Wallich’sCobraLilyisaspecieswithverygoodresemblancetoacobrahood.Theplantsgrowupto30cmtall,with1-2verylarge,trilobed, yellowish-green leaves.Thespathe,orthecobrahood,isdarkpurpleoblong-ovate,prominentlystripedwithwhiteorpurple,andanettledpatternintheupperpart,andwithanarrowed tail-like tip,1-4cmlong. The spadix isthickatthebase,withalong thread-like appendage8-20cmlong.Leafstalkandstemareoftenbrown-spotted.Wallich’sCobraLilyisfoundintheHimalayas,fromKashmirtoSETibet,ataltitudesof2,400-3,600m.
Flowering time: MaytoJune
Location in the valley:Thereare3varietiesofthisflower.TheyarenotgenerallyfoundinsidetheValleyofFlowers.However,youcanfindthembeforethehelipad–around1kmbeforeGhanghariya.
Papaver Guillemin-waldemarii aka Blue Poppy (Vanita, Kanta)
Blue Poppy Flower – the star of Himalayan flowers. Found mostly near Hemkund Sahib Trek route
General Information: Thisisarareflower.Oneisveryluckytoseethisflowerduringthetrek.ItisfoundfromKumaontoKashmiratelevationsof3,000to4,500meters.ApostalstampwasissuedbytheIndianPostalDepartment,tocommemoratethisflower.
Location in the valley: ThisflowercanbefoundnearShri Hemkund Sahib Gurudwara.Ifyouarelucky,youcanalso get this flowerwithin1kmoftheValleyofFlowerstrek–beforePushpavatiRiverBridge.
Cosmos Bipinnatus (Cosmos, Mexican aster)
A wild rose found in Auli near the artificial lakePink variety of the white wild rose. In the background, we can see the mighty Nanda Devi Mountain. (not seen in the pic)
General Information: Cosmosflauntsbrightcolorfuldisksgracefullybalancedonlongslenderstems,andlacyfoliage.Itisaplantthat’seasytogrowandthrivesevenonpoorsoil.Thistenderannualhasfinefeatheryfoliage,itspinnateleavesgrowingto10ininlength.Cosmoswillgrow1-7fttalldependingonvarietyandgrowingconditions.TheMexicanaster,asthiscosmosisalsocalled,hasshowysolitaryred,white,pinkorpurpleflowersthatare2-3indiameterandupto4insomeselections.
Flowering time: MaytoJune
Location in the valley:Thisisnotfrom the valleyofflowers.Infact,thisphotoisneartheartificiallakeatAuli,Uttarakhand.WewenttoAuliforanacclimatisationtrekbeforeValleyofFlowersTrek.
Himalayan Cinquefoil (Vajardanti, Nagabhya)
Himalayan Cinquefoil (Vajardanti, Nagabhya) – a very small flower
General Information:EastHimalayanCinquefoilisaperennialherbdistinguishedbyitsbeautiful,closelycompoundleaves,withnumerouspairsofleafletsofnearlyequalsize.Flowersarelarge,yellow,few,usuallyonstemsaslongorlongerthantheleaves.Petalsareyellow,obovate-circular. The sepal cupissilky-haired.Leavesareupto20cmlong,mostlyatthebase,silvery-hairedwhenyoung,oblong,withmanyoverlappingoblong,deeplytoothedleaflets,mostly1.3-2.5 cm long,withlongsilveryhairsbeneath.HimalayanCinquefoilisfoundataltitudesof3,000-4,500meters.
Flowering time: June to August
Location in the valley: Within1kmofthegate.Behindthehelipadarea.
Senecio Laetus (Cheerful Senecio)
Senecio Laetus (Cheerful Senecio) – Sunflower Family
General Information: CheerfulSenecioisatallperennialherbreaching2minheight.TheflowerismostlyavailableduringthetrekfromJunetoSept.However,fromMidJulytoMidAugust,wecanseethisinabundance.Asperthelocalbeliefs,itisusedforbodyswellingandthroatpain.
Flowering time: JunetoSeptember
Location in the valley:Mostlyfound1kmbeforeGhanghariya,afterthemaingateandinsidethevalley.
General Information:HimalayanThymecontainsessentialoilsincludingthymolwhichisastrongantisepticthatisgentleontheskin.InadditiontobeingantisepticHimalayanThymeisknowntobeanexpectorant,antispasmodicandcarminative(relievesdigestivegas)HimalayanThymehasbeenusedtotreatgastrointestinalproblems,respiratorydisordersandagainsthookworm.Europeanherbalistshavelonguseditforrelaxingbathsorincompressesandgargles.Itisreportedlybeneficialintreatingtheheadachefromahangoverandtoothache.
Flowering time: April–September
Location in the valley:Foundinsidevalleyofflowersafterthelargerock.Itisstronglyscentedandprovidespinkcolourtothevalley.
Epilobium Laxum (Evening Primrose or Willow herb family)
Epilobium Laxum – photo was taken before Pushpawati bridge around 750 meters from the main gate
General Information:LaxWillowherbisoneofthemostdistinctivespeciesintheregion,withitslargeflowers,ovateandacuminateleaves,sessilecapsulesandlargeseeds.ThisspeciesisverycommoninthewesternHimalayasatmiddleandupperelevations.LaxWillowherbisanerectperennialwhichcangrowupto30cm,withoftenbranchingstem.Leavesellipticaltonarrowovate, long-pointed,distinctlytoothed.Flowers purplish-pink,erectorslightlynoddinginclustersoccurringattheendofbranches.Petals6-16mm.LaxWillowherbisfoundinWesternHimalayasfromAfghanistantoKumaun,ataltitudesof2,100-4,200m.
Flowering time: JulytoSeptember
Location in the valley:Mostlyfoundthemiddlepartofthevalleynearstreams.
Parnassia Nubicola (Himalayan Bog Star)
Himalayan Bog Star. The photo was taken near the riverbed behind the helipad
General Information:HimalayanBogStarisaperennialherbeasilydistinguishedbyitssolitarywhiteflower.HimalayanBogStarisfoundintheHimalayas,fromAfghanistantoKumaon,ataltitudesof2,900-4,300meters.Theplantextractisusedforsnakebiteandfoodpoisoning(asperlocalbeliefs).
Flowering time:JunetoSeptember
Location in the valley:FoundnearthegateofValleyofflowersandafterfirststeam.
General Information:RedMountainFleeceflowerisanerectperennialherb,withovate-heart-shapedstemleaves,claspingthestem.Lowerleavesarelong-stalked,5-15cmlong,minutelytoothed.Deepredtopinkflowersareborneinerectspikes5-15cmlong,usuallysolitary,sometimesbranched.Flowersaretiny,3-6mmlong,numerous,crowded,with5tepals.Stamenshavedarkblueanthers.RedMountainFleeceflowerisfoundintheHimalayas,ataltitudesof2,100-4,800meters.
Flowering time: June-September
Location in the valley:Generallynotfoundinsidethevalleyofflowers.CanbefoundbeforeGhanghariyaonthetrekrouteorbehindhelipad.
Inula Grandiflora, Showy Inula (Sunflower family)
Inula Grandiflora, Showy Inula (Sunflower family)
General Information: ShowyInulaisanattractiveHimalayanplant,withgolden-yellowflower-headsatbranch-endsandsolitary,4-6cmacross,borneonerectleafystems. ShowyInulaisfoundintheHimalayas,fromPakistantoC. Nepal and W.Asia,ataltitudesof2,000-3,300meters.ApostalstampwasissuedbytheIndianPostalDepartmenttocommemoratethisflower.ThewordGrandiflorameans a grand-looking flower.
Flowering time: July-September
Location in the valley: Mostlyfoundaftertheentrygateandonthetrekroute–1KmbeforereachingGhanghariya.
Pedicularis Hoffmeisteri (Haldya Phool)
Pedicularis Hoffmeisteri (Haldya Phool)
General Information: Hoffmeister’sLousewortisaperennialherb0.5-2fttall.Flowersareyellow,sometimesverypale,inaclusterborneonaveryshortstalk,eachflowerwithaverydistinctivelongslenderflower-tubemanytimeslongerthanthecalyx,andwithwhatappearstobeahoodedbell-shapedflower,lookingdown.Upperandlowerlipoftheflowerisrounded,equal,encirclingthelongslenderbeakwhichiscurvedinacircle,laterallobessmall,triangular.Hoffmeister’sLousewortisfoundintheHimalayas,fromHimachalPradeshtoE.Nepal,ataltitudesof2,500-4,500meters,inshrubberiesandopenslopes.
Flowering time:JunetoAugust
Location in the valley:Generallyfoundnearandafterthegate.Also,nearthePushpawatiriverbed.
Meconopsis Aculeata (Himalayan Saxifrage)
General Information: HimalayanSaxifrageisfoundinshrubberiesandopenslopesintheHimalayas,fromUttarakhandtoBhutan,ataltitudesof1,900-4,500meters.
Flowering time:AugusttoOctober
Location in the valley: TheseflowersarefoundinsidetheVallyafterthebigrockorduringthelaststretchintheHemkundSahibTrek.Thisphotowastakennearastreaminsidethevalley.
Spiraea Canescens, Jhair-Mairala, Kathmantiyal
Spiraea Canescens, Jhair-Mairala, Kathmantiyal
General Information: GreyStemSpireaisastiffdeciduousshrub,1-5meterstall,witharchinggrey-hairedbranches.Leavesaresmall,elliptic-obovate,entireorhave3-5teethattheapex.Leavesarehairy.Whiteflowers,4-6mmacross,innumerousdenseflat-toppedclusters.Theclustersareborneonshortsidebranchesformingalonginflorescence.Ripecarpelsarelong-haired,partlysunkinsepaltube.GreyStemSpireaisfoundinthickets,thicketmargins,valleys, riverbanks, streamsides,dryplaces,ataltitudesof1,500-3,000meters.
Flowering time:May–June
Location in the valley:TheseflowerscanbefoundintheGovindghattoGhanghariyatrek.Theyarealsofoundinsidethevalley.
Himalayan Knotweed – commonly found flower inside the Valley of Flowers
General Information:Himalayanknotweedisabeautifulplant,whichishoweverapersistentweed.IntroducedforgardenpurposesintheWestinthe19thcenturyfromtheHimalayas,itisnowestablishedinafewplacesinthewild–onroadsides,slopesetc.Theleafyshootsgrowuptoabout6feethighfromundergroundrhizomesandproduceclumpsofsmallwhiteorpalepinkflowersinlatesummer.Thestemstakeonastrikingredcolour,andthesmallwhiteflowers,occurringinrichbranchedclusters,alsohaveareddishtinge.Theinflorescencesarepaniclesoccurringattheendofbranches.Flowershavewhiteorpinkishpetalswhichareoblongtoobovateinshape.Stamensareprominentwithredorpurpleanthers.
Flowering time:JulytoSeptember
Location in the valley: ThisflowerisactuallyaweedandisfoundinmostplacesinsidetheValleyofFlowers.Asaweed,thisisaparasiticplantand the governmentplannedtoremoveitafewyearsback.ThevalleyisfilledwiththisplantinlateSeptemberandisresponsibleforitsrusticcolor.
Himalayan Fleabane (Erigeron)
Himalayan Fleabane of the Sunflower family
General Information:Erigeronisagenusofabout200species–Themostwidelyusedcommonname,fleabane,issharedwithrelatedplantsinseveralothergenera.Himalayanfleabaneisabeautifulperennialwitherecthairystems up to 12-30cm,andaster-likeflowers.Leavescanbeinverselyovateorlance-like,pointedorblunt,entireorcoarselytoothed.Flower-headsvaryinsize1.5-5cmacross,solitaryorclustered, long-stalked.“Petals”orrayfloretsaredarkpurple,long threadlike,spreading.Thecentraldiskisyellow.HimalayanfleabaneisfoundintheHimalayas,fromKashmirtoBhutan,ataltitudesof2,600-4,400m.
Flowering time: AugusttoSeptember
Location in the valley:TheseflowersaremorecommoninlateSeptember.Theycanbefoundjustafterthemaingate,beforePushpawatiRiverBridgeandsometimesinsidethevalleynearstreams.
Himalayan Marsh Orchid
Himalayan Marsh Orchid – a very rare medicinal flower
General Information:HimalayanMarshOrchidisamedicinalherbthatisnowconsideredcriticallyendangered.Itisaperennialherbwitherect,leafy,stoutandhollowstems.Leavesareoblong-lance-shaped,withsheathingbase.Pinkpurpleflowersareborneinanuprightspike.Flowersarepurpleandthebractsgreen,narrowlylance-shaped,lower longer than theflowers,upperslightlyshorter.Flowersareabout1.8cmlong,includingthecurvedspur.Sepalsandpetalsarenearlyequal.Threeofthemformahood,andthetwosidesepalsspreadoutwards.Thelipisroundedandshallowly3-lobedspotteddarkpurple.MarshOrchisisfoundinshrubberies,openslopesandmarshes,intheHimalayas,fromPakistantoSETibet,ataltitudesof2,800-4,000m.Flowering:June-July.Rootsaretuberous,dividedinto2or3lobes.
Source of Information: Flowers of India, Google, Wikipedia, Our trek photos. Please write to us if we have incorrectly identified a flower. Please share your pictures and information on flowers to include in our blog.
Kashmir is undoubtedly one of the most heavenly places on Earth. With pristine high altitude lakes such as – Gadasar, Satsar, Nundkol, Gangbal, Vishansar, and Krishnasar, the Kashmir Great Lakes Trek (commonly called KGL) explores these lakes and is one of the most sought after treks in the region. So, if you wish to do the trek, you have may have a few queries, this blog on the Kashmir Great Lakes trek faqs will help answer your queries and get you ready for the trek!
Kashmir Great Lakes trek FAQs – Answered
1. What is the best time to do the KGL Trek?
The Kashmir Great Lakes trek opens up for trekkers between the months of July to September. The reason being all the other months, you will find Kashmir engulfed in snow due to extreme weather conditions which makes it difficult to trek in the snow.
While the rest of the country experiences the monsoon season during this time, including most trails in Uttarakhand like Valley of Flowers. However, Kashmir is an exception. This is primarily because, the Pir Panjal range that separates Kashmir from the rest of the Indian subcontinent, blocks the monsoons.
In fact, July to September is considered to be peak summers transitioning to Autumn. This is also one of the reasons why Kashmir is just breathtaking during these months. The colors you get to see and the landscape keeps changing over a period of three months and Kashmir gets ready to welcome Autumn.
What to expect between July – September:
Early July – Patches of snow at higher altitudes (Nichnai and Gadsar Pass), fresh green colors, flowers beginning to bloom.
Mid-July – Mid-August – Most of the snow would have melted. This is also the warmest period in Kashmir. You will find dramatic landscapes with breathtaking colors. There will be mild showers here and there but nothing to be concerned about. (You might experience evening showers on certain days during this time of the year. This is why it is a good practice to cross the pass early in the day and reach the next campsite by or before 4 PM.)
Mid-August to September – You will see a considerable drop in the temperature. Also due to which flowers start to wither away, skies are mostly clear and blue with intermittent showers. You will notice snowfall post-mid-September.
Kashmir does not have Monsoon spills so the KGL trek is probably one of the best Himalayan Monsoon trek in India.
2. What is the difficulty level of the Kashmir Great Lakes trek?
One of the most common questions we wish to address with this Kashmir Great Lakes trek faqs blog is the difficulty level of the trek. The KGL trek starts from Sonamarg which lies at an altitude of 9,186 ft (2,800 m) and gradually takes you to the highest altitude of 13,800 ft (4,200 m). As per our experience and given the terrain of this trek, we rate it as a moderate trek.
You will be trekking for 7 days with one day as buffer/rest. The average distance covered will be between 12 Km every day. This also means that you will spend anywhere between 5 to 8 hours climbing during the day. This can change based on your fitness level and the pace of the group. The climbs are steep and hence require a good amount of physical fitness from Nomads who wish to take on this trek. There is a combination of ascending 1500 ft and descending 1500 ft every day during the trek.
While the photos of KGL may show you vast meadows and mostly flat surfaces, this trek can get challenging.
We have observed three different challenging – difficult sections that you will come across on this trek:
1. The climb to Nichnai Pass
2. The climb to Gadsar
3. Tricky, boulder section after Satsar
1. The climb to Nichnai on the first day of trek:
This is the only trek with such a challenging first day. You gain more than 3,000 ft in a span of 6-7 hours. It is safe to say that this climb will definitely test your endurance.
Also, since you gain such an altitude rapidly, you may also show signs of Altitude Mountain Sickness (AMS). If you notice yourself having any of the AMS symptoms, please inform your trek lead/captain immediately.
2. The Climb to Gadsar Pass:
This is a steep one and can leave you tired if you have not prepared well for the trek. The climb is steeper, arduous, on the stark landscape of the Kashmir Valley. Although you climb in a series of switchbacks, to keep going requires physical as well as mental toughness.
3. Boulder section between Satsar to Gangbal:
On this day, you will come across a 40-minute long section filled with big boulders. There is no trail here. You will need to hop skip and jump on this section to cross it. It could get difficult if you are not nimble on your feet or are not mentally prepared for this.
3. What is the temperature like?
Weather and temperature are some of the most important aspects one should know before heading out on a trek. This Kashmir Great Lakes trek faqs blog helps cover all aspects of weather and temperature that can you help prep right for the trek.
As mentioned above, due to the Pir Panjal mountain range, Kashmir lies in the rain shadow region. This is the reason why Kashmir receives mild rainfall during this period (July to August).
July, when we start the Kashmir Great Lakes trek is peak summer. While the days at the plains of Srinagar can be warm between 25 to 30° C, the mountains are pleasant. The sun can be harsh during the day when overhead. Evenings and nights are balmy hovering around 5 to 8° C at the high camps.
Temperature and weather in July to mid-August:
These are easily the warmest months in the Kashmir Valley. The temperatures during the day can easily go up to 20° C and nights are cool and calm with standard temperatures around 5° C. This same temperature can be noticed in the higher camps as well.
#TrekNomadsRecommends: Wearing a sun cap can be a lifesaver as it saves your head from the harsh sun.
As mentioned earlier, there will be mild rain on the trail, however, nothing can stop you from trekking. There may be rain in the late afternoon and evenings. But don’t be surprised if you see rains throughout the day sometimes.
#TrekNomadsRecommends: Good rain gear like a rain poncho or a raincoat with a good pair of waterproof boots should help you trek with ease.
Temperature and weather in the end of August to September:
As you proceed towards the end of August, you will notice a dip in the temperatures in the Kashmir Valley. September sees a drastic dip of at least 3-4° C week on week. Night temperatures can go beyond -3° C and sometimes up until -5° C, as you increase your altitude.
#TrekNomadsRecommends: If you’re trekking in the last week of August or in September, make sure you are well-prepped with winter gear to save yourself from the cold.
It is also noticed that the Satsar campsites experience windchill with strong cold winds during the evenings decreasing the temperatures even further down. This is primarily due to its positioning as a plateau.
4. What to pack for the Kashmir Great Lakes trek?
Packing right for your trek is as important as physical training that helps you prep for the trek. This will not only ensure you have all that you need during the trek, it will also ensure that you have a great trek experience which can otherwise be ruined when you find out you’ve either carried too much or too little.
5. What are the COVID protocols to be followed while traveling to Kashmir?
With the current ongoing pandemic and changing protocols, you may be wondering what the current set of COVID protocols are. Don’t worry, this Kashmir Great Lakes faqs guide covers that too: *(last updated on 19 July 2021)*
Jammu & Kashmir requires all travelers to carry a negative RT-PCR report not earlier than 72 hours from an ICMR approved laboratory.
If you do not have a COVID negative report at the time of travel, you will be required to get a rapid antigen test at the airport. This test is free of cost. Once you do the test, you can leave the airport and proceed to your hotel/stay, however, you will need to be quarantined until you get the test results. If you end up testing positive, you will be expected to quarantine at your respective hotel/resort or at a designated quarantine facility. (**TrekNomads will not be responsible for arranging your quarantine stay at Srinagar in the case that you test positive.)
Adding to the above, during departure to your destination, you will be expected to follow the rules of the arrival of your particular state. (**TrekNomads is not responsible for arranging or booking your COVID swab collection or test report before you travel back to your hometown.)
6. Where is the assembly point of this trek and how to get there?
The trek starts from Srinagar in Kashmir. While this is not the base camp of this trek, this is where we all assemble, meet, and greet fellow trekkers, and prep for the trek.
By Air: The easiest way to reach Srinagar is via Air. There are also flights from Jammu, Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, Amritsar, Kolkata, Bangalore, and Lucknow.
By Bus: The Jammu and Kashmir State Road Transport Corporation operates an inexpensive bus service from the airport to the Tourist Reception Center in Srinagar. Otherwise, expect to pay about 1,000 rupees for a prepaid taxi (2018 prices). App-based taxi services such as Uber and Ola don’t operate in Kashmir.
By Train: If you’re traveling on a budget and are feeling adventurous, you may try taking an Indian Railways train to Jammu (these trains start from Delhi or pass through Delhi from other cities in India), and then go by shared jeep/taxi to Srinagar (traveling time around eight hours). Buses also run but they are much slower, taking around 11-12 hours for the journey.
7. What Documents to carry for the Kashmir Great Lakes trek?
When it comes to Kashmir Great Lakes faqs, we want you to be completely prepped and that includes what documents you need to carry for the trek as well.
Original and 3 Photocopies of your Government ID proof anything such as Aadhaar/Passport/Driver’s License will do. This will need to be submitted to the Forest department for your trekking permit
Passport Size photos – 3 to 4 copies
Medical Certificate (will be shared with you post-registration)
Indemnity bond (will be shared with you post-registration)
Please carry these documents in a plastic cover and place them securely inside your backpack so that they do not get wet.
8. What about accommodation on the trek?
Accommodation during the trek will be as follows:
At Srinagar on arrival – 1 Night stay on a deluxe house-boat at Dal Lake (Sharing basis)
During the trek – 7 Night Camp stay along the trail during the trek (Sharing basis)
Post trek stay – 1 Night stay at a three/four-star hotel in Srinagar (Sharing basis)
How are we maintaining safety and hygiene during the trek?
We are following strict COVID safety protocols on all our treks, this includes treks with camping accommodation as well. As per travel regulations, trekkers will need to be COVID -ve to take part in the trek, our guides and trek lead in Srinagar will also be tested 72 hours before meeting the teams.
As a part of our extensive COVID safety protocols, our on-ground teams will be sanitizing your tents and your sleeping bags every day before and after usage (for all 7 camping days). We recommend that you carry a sleeping bag liner for your safety and hygiene purposes.
9. Is food included in the trek?
During your trek, we ensure that you do not have to worry about which includes making sure you eat healthy, nutritious, and delicious food during the entire duration.
Breakfast, lunch, dinner, evening snacks during the trekking days
Breakfast and dinner during your stay in Srinagar
10. What type of food can be expected on the trail?
We serve standard vegetarian food on the trail, we also make sure we keep in mind any kind of food allergies that you may have. We believe in hearty meals and that is what we aim to provide on our treks so that you and your tummy are happy and healthy. There will be a cook and a kitchen assistant who will trek with us to ensure they cook scrumptious meals for you every day.
11. Will I have to carry my own rucksack or can I hire a porter?
You can either choose to carry your backpack or you can hire a porter for an extra cost. The same can be conveyed during the time of booking.
12. What about electricity on the trek?
Unfortunately, there is no electricity on the trail. It is only available till Srinagar. The trekkers camp on the second day during which electricity is not available. It is recommended that on your day of arrival and during your stay at the boathouse, you charge all your camera batteries and your power banks.
13. How to charge mobile phones/cameras?
You can carry two fully charged 20000mah power banks and make sure you keep your phone on flight mode to save battery.
14. How is the connectivity in Srinagar?
If you have a cell phone with a prepaid connection, your SIM card will not work as roaming has been blocked in Kashmir due to security reasons (postpaid connections are fine). Only a postpaid connection works in Srinagar. During the trek, you may find intermittent networks here and there for calling only for BSNL, Vodafone, and Airtel. Internet may or may not be there.
15. Which is the nearest hospital on the trek?
In case of a medical emergency, the closest hospital will be found around Sonamarg, at Baltal or Kangan. If you need serious medical attention, head to Srinagar for better facilities.
This is a backup plan to accommodate unforeseen circumstances such as bad weather on the trek or in the case of political instability where we can’t travel back to Srinagar immediately. This depends completely on the circumstances of the trek and the situation in Kashmir.
17. Can we get alcohol in Srinagar?
No, alcohol isn’t served in restaurants and most businesses shut for prayer at lunchtime on Friday in Srinagar. Bars can be found in select upmarket hotels though.
18.Is Kashmir safe for visitors and trekkers?
Yes, Kashmir and the Kashmir Great Lakes trek is safe. However, with this Kashmir Great Lakes trek faqs blog, we would like to keep you well-informed on this sensitive topic.
The trek trail is in a remote region of Kashmir away from the turmoil and unrest which also happens to be a touristy region. Further, there are about 3 army camps on the trek trail which ensures that the trail is safe.
Political unrest is something that may happen in Kashmir and if it does, we are prepped to ensure the safety of our trekkers without compromising on this aspect. We travel only during non-curfew hours and take all measures necessary to pick up and drop trekkers from and to the airport.
In the case the situation gets worse, we will take a call and call off the trek. This is a worst-case scenario that has not happened yet. But if it does, we will make sure you get accommodation in Srinagar or you can leave for your hometown.
We always keep our trekkers in mind while conducting treks, and so, you can be rest assured that trekking is safe.
There’s some good news for all you Nomads who were eagerly waiting for the Valley of Flowers opening dates 2023. The Valley of Flowers & Hemkund Sahib Trek – UNESCO World Heritage Site, falls in the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve. The place is home to 500+ incredible species of flowers such as marigold and orchids. Besides, one can also observe a wide range of flora and fauna in the region. Government has finally reopened the Valley of Flowers trek for trekkers, pilgrims, and travelers on June 1st, 2023. The Senior forest department officials went to Ghangariya and Valley of Flowers and returned back to Joshimath to do a thorough inspection of the Valley.
Our on-ground teams who went to the Valley also brought to our notice that as of yesterday. They spotted about 51 species of flowers on the Valley of Flowers trail and including blue poppy and fritillaria. Both these species are endangered. They also spotted another endangered flower called Dactylorhiza on the trail. Our teams also confirmed that Government officials have also cleared out the trek routes for our Nomads.
This comes as great news for all trekkers and pilgrims who have been waiting to do the Valley of Flowers and Hemkund Sahib treks since 2019. While there is no update on the Char Dham yatra reopening, we are happy that our flagship trek is finally open to all Nomads.
With 500+ different species of flowers blooming between the months of June – September every year, this Indian National Park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site exhibits plush meadows with endemic alpine flowers and diverse fauna. This is a great considered to be on of India’s most popular beginners Himalayan trek.
Some FAQs regarding the Valley of Flowers dates 2023:
1. Has the Valley of Flowers dates 2023 been announced?
The Valley of Flowers opening dates 2023 were announced on June 29, 2023. The Valley is open for tourists and trekkers from July 1st, 2023.
2. What are the current travel protocols for Uttarakhand?
Dehradun requires all travelers to carry a COVID RT-PCR negative report not older than 72 hours.
Dehradun has also made it mandatory for travelers to be registered on the Dehradun Smart City portal. This will be checked before leaving the Dehradun airport.
If you do not have a COVID negative report at the time of travel, you will be required to get a rapid antigen test at the airport. This test is free of cost. The results will be shared with you in 5 – 10 minutes.
These rules apply for people traveling via air and via trains.
3. Is there a fixed departure for the Valley of Flowers trek?
Yes, we have the following fixed departures for the trek:
8 July 2023
15 July 2023
22 July 2023
29 July 2023
4. How do I book the Valley of Flowers trek?
You can simply click on this link – https://www.treknomads.com/valley-of-flowers and register for the trek by making 20% upfront payment and the rest can be paid 20 days before departure. We have a host of payment options to make it super easy for you to book your trek. Once you register, we will send you a detailed email on the next steps and important points to get you started on your trek preparation.
5. Is there an eligibility criteria for the trek?
Valley of Flowers is a good beginner’s Himalayan trek owing to its trails. Anyone who is physically fit with prior trekking experience in the Sahyadri’s, Western Ghats, or any one-day hiking experience can take up this trek with ease. The trails also have transport options like mules, dholi’s which can be availed through the trail.
Yes. The Valley of Flowers trek is one of the very few Himalayan treks that can be taken up by kids. We have seen young couples with toddlers, children of all ages trek to Valley of Flowers. While some opt for ponies, most children climb by themselves. At TrekNomads, the minimum age for kids who can trek with us is 7 years and above. The trails also have transport options like mules, dholi’s which can be availed through the trail.
One of the most common questions we get asked when people wish to book their trek is “how much does the trek cost?”. It goes without saying that longer International Treks or even multiple-day Himalayan treks need preparation in terms of not just fitness and mental preparation, but financial preparation as well. If you have or are deciding to go on a long trek, and the thought of your finances is worrying you, this trek planning guide is here to help you out!
Trek Planning Guide for dummies
Trekking trips are always exciting. We plan for the trips for months (sometimes for years in advance). I planned my first trek to the Himalayas (Valley of Flowers), for over 3/4 years. Multiple factors may come between you and your perfect trek. Leaves from office, personal commitments, physical fitness, alternate leisure options (e.g. Goa with friends), discouragement from family (I won’t let you go to the mountains, it’s too risky), finances, natural calamities are few such blockers.
Longer treks – Indian Himalayas, international treks (Everest Base Camp, Annapurna Base Camp, Kilimanjaro) also costs more. Not everyone can afford the cost. Indian Himalayas trek can cost up to around Rs 30-40 thousand including air tickets, food, extra days stay, and the main trek fees. The international treks can cost even more. Nepal treks may cost around Rs 80 thousand to a lakh.
This blog is about how to plan and finance your treks. From my personal experience, I will teach you how you can plan, save money and use various hacks to minimize your expenses and still have a good experience.
In this trek planning guide, we will take the Everest Base Camp trek as an example. We will also assume that it will cost around Rs 1 Lakh in total (travel, stay, trek, food, shopping etc). Also, we will assume that you as a trekker are looking for a semi-premium and relaxing experience. So, this blog is not about how to do a trek on a minimum amount. This blog is about how to smartly get the best value for your buck.
The costs involved in a trek
Let’s start by first analyzing all the costs involved in a trek. In our example,Everest Base Camp. I am putting estimated costs under each item.
Trekking Fees: Around Rs 98,999+: In a premium trek, this cost would involve staying before/after the main event i.e. in Kathmandu, Flight from Kathmandu/Ramechhap to Lukla, 3 times food and coffee/tea during the trek, 2 litres of mineral water/hot water during the trek, porters for your extra luggage along with water proof duffle bag to carry and premium twin-sharing accommodation with private washrooms during the trek. By the way, food during this trek is very expensive. A single boiled egg may cost around Rs 500! If you do not have all meals included during the trek, you may end up spending upwards of Rs 30,000 on food only. So if someone provides a similar trek at a lower price, check the inclusions properly.
Airfare:Around Rs 20,000+: This is the second biggest cost during the trek. The airfare may vary depending on the available price and the discount received.
Trekking Clothes, Accessories: This depends if you are a first-time trekker or a regular trekker. I recommend that a first-time trekker should NOT attempt the Everest Base Camp trek. However, if you are going for another Himalayan trek, you may want to buy warm clothes, trekking shoes, a jacket and few other accessories. The best place we recommend is Decathlon for your needs.
Extra day stay, sightseeing: If you wish to extend your trip, you may have to plan for the costs involved in stay, food and travel during this period.
Shopping: This is completely discretionary spending. Not everyone will shop. However, if you are planning to get few souvenirs for your friends and family back home, you need to consider this.
We can see that the Everest Base Camp or similar trek can cost you somewhere around Rs 1 Lakh to Rs 1.5 lakh for a 20-25 day experience.
An Indian Himalayan trek (e.g. Valley of Flowers trek) may cost around Rs 50,000 with the above cost elements.
Shelling out this much money may sound like a big task at one go. So how do we make sure that we have this kind of money without making a big dent in our pocket?
Plan Ahead
When it comes to trekking, few trekkers like impromptu plans without further planning. In fact, these trekkers hate planning. Impromptu plans are exciting – however, these are not always pocket-friendly. So how do we plan our finances in advance for a trek?
For example, we want to save Rs 1.5 Lakhs for our Everest Base Camp Trek. We have 12 months to plan the trek. We need to save Rs 12,500 per month. This may be a big amount to save every month. This trek planning guide dives into how you can financially plan a trek even if your plan is impromptu.
Eliminate unnecessary expenses: List down all your expenses and identify the ones which you can eliminate. E.g. going out for food/drinks every week, online shopping, unwanted subscriptions, and such. You can easily remove 10-30% of expenses this way if you scrutinize each very practically.
Income – Saving = Expenses: This is the most powerful advice. As written in the book, “The Rich Dad, Poor Dad”, make sure that you save first. Whatever is left, should be spent. E.g. if your income is Rs 1 lakh a month and you want to save Rs 20,000, you should save this amount at the start of the month itself. Now plan all your expenses based on Rs 80,000. Remember, Savings is not what is left after your expenses, it is before that.
Start SIP: Systematic Investment Plan (SIP), is the best way to save money for the big trek. For our trek, we need Rs 12,500 to be put in SIP every month. How should we do this?
Open account in apps like Kuvera, Zerodha, Groww. Here you can start a SIP almost instantly post-creating your account.
Link your bank account (generally salary account) and put the SIP date a day after your salary credit date. That way, the SIP is withdrawn before you start spending your salary.
Invest in less risky instruments. Debt mutual funds are best, as they are less volatile. It would give you lesser returns but the risk would be low. Remember, we are saving for a year only. So don’t risk it by saving in stocks or mutual funds with higher risks and volatility.
Trek Planning Guide – Hacks to save money while booking your trek
This trek planning guide also covers a few money hacks that can help you save some bucks when you’re planning your trek.
Check for discount coupons: Trekking companies may run promotional offers from time to time. Look out for these offers and try to get available discounts. This will reduce the main trek cost by 5 to 20% – depending on the offer.
Get group discounts: It is always fun to trek with your friends. All trekking companies may provide group discounts. Once you have a group of 5 or more friends, you can reach out to trek organizers for additional group discounts.
Check for No Cost EMI Options: A lot of times your credit card company or the trekking company may run offers where the entire trek cost can be broken into easy pay EMIs. If these are no-cost EMIs, it will remove the interest cost and also take the load off from your cash flow. Even if you have a SIP running, you should go for a no-cost EMI option. At-cost EMI options may charge interest of around 13 to 15% during the tenure. You can use this option if you are unable to save.
Get Equipment on rent or from friends: Trekking equipment like bags, shoes, jackets are expensive if you purchase them. Also, you may not use these regularly. There are companies that rent out these at a reasonable cost. The best option is if you can take it from a friend you know. Make sure that you sanitize the equipment taken on rent. Also, when it comes to trekking shoes, make sure it fits you properly. A bad shoe may ruin your experience completely. Companies like Sharepal can be your renting buddy. Rent anything from Down Jackets to Go Pros for your next trek and save your costs on purchasing equipment and trek clothing.
Good books to read on personal finance
Saving regularly is one of the best things you can do in your life. While spending on material goods gives you happiness, happiness does not last long. However, spending on experiences (like trekking) may give you lifelong memories. Below are good books you can read if you want to learn more about personal finance and saving.
Did you like this trek planning guide? Drop in a comment below about how you choose to plan your trek financially.
About the author:
Mahendra Rathod has done Post Graduate Diploma in Management(PGDM) from the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB) and a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from M.S. University Baroda.
Reading, trekking and running are what keeps him going. He is a thinker with a thirst for knowledge of various subjects including public affairs, economics, fitness, human behaviour, etc. He is also an active business mentor. To know more about Mahendra, clickhere.
Mahendra Rathod has done Post Graduate Diploma in Management(PGDM) from the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB) and a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from M.S. University Baroda.