Gaumukh Tapovan Trek Highlights Overview Bringing passion, spirituality, and adrenaline in one single trek is a menacing combination, and the mesmerizing Gaumukh Tapovan trek promises much more than that! The trek cuts through Gaumukh, the source of the river Ganga which can be seen cascading down the snout of the Gangotri glacier. While numerous neighboring massifs like the Bhagirathi twin peaks, and Mt. Meru can be seen, the most ensnaring sight is the majestic Mt. Shivling which chaperones the entire trek, unfolding bit by bit every hour until it looms over you in stark entirety, rendering you dumbfounded. Another marvel in the form of the stunning meadow of Tapovan awaits you, perched right above Gaumukh.
Itinerary
Day 1 : Report To Base Camp - Gangotri On day one, trekkers will be driven to Gangotri from Dehradun, which makes for a 10-12 hours drive. Shaded by lofty mountains and beautiful Deodar forests, Gangotri is also the base village for the Kedartal Trek. Rest overnight, and gear up for the trek beginning the following day to the source of river Ganga. Meals : Dinner Only Accommodation : Hotel Time Taken : 10-12 hours Altitude : 10,001 ft. Distance : 250 km
Day 2 : Trek from Gangotri to Chirbasa Begin early in the morning by driving from Dharali to Gangotri. Start trekking towards Chirbasa, the trail to which snakes through a lush forest. In a matter of a few minutes, the mighty Sudarshan Parbat (21,345 ft.) greets you. Take trail proceeding towards the left side of the mountain, to the right of which the roaring Bhagirathi river can be seen. A little further up, you can see one of the first streams and waterfalls of the trek. Crossing a makeshift bridge and a few more streams will bring you mindblowing vistas of the valley. A few hours of trekking will land you at the Chirbasa campsite sitting beside the Bhagirathi river and affording great views of the Bhagirathi peaks. You will camp here overnight. Meals : B, L, D Accommodation : Tents Time Taken : 6 hours Altitude : 11,716 ft. Distance : 9 km
Day 3 : Trek from Chirbasa to Bhojbasa, Acclimatization Walk to Gaumukh As you begin your trek from Chirbasa, other towering peaks loom out gracefully. You now embark on the Gaumukh trail. A few minutes later, the beautiful Chirbasa campsite can be seen below, after which the terrain seems rugged and broken in places. Soon, you will face the first ridge of the day. The twin Bhagirathi peaks appear closer as you trek further up the trail. It is not advisable to loiter much as there may be many falling rocks to watch out for. Once you reach Bhojbasa, you are gifted with the first magical glimpse of Mt. Shivling. Go on a short trek to Gaumukh, which takes about 2.5 hours to reach, and is flanked by Mt. Shivling on the right. Meals : B, L, D Accommodation : Tents Time Taken : 3 hours Altitude : 12,450 ft. Distance : 5 km
Day 4 : Trek from Bhojbasa to Tapovan via Gaumukh Take the same trail to Gaumukh as the other day. The most challenging day of the trek, the trail from Gaumukh to Tapovan takes you through rugged glacial moraines and the stunning Gaumukh glacier. Making your way through the landslide-prone regions, and the glacial stream AkashGanga sends a rush of excitement through your body! A deadly combination of ice and rocks adds to the difficulty level, making it slightly slippery. The initial leg of the climb up to the top of the glacier is a stark ascent of about 100 meters. Soon, you must wade through the chilling Akash-Ganga, post which, a steep ascent of 1.5 hours will bring you to Tapovan. Pitch your tents here for the night. Meals : B, L, D \ Gaumukh forms the mouth of the Holy Ganga river as seen in its purest form. \ Witness the magnificence of Mt. Shivling, Mt. Meru, and the twin peaks of Mt. Bhagirathi. \ Experience spiritual reverence like never before! 2/3 Accommodation : Tents Time Taken : 7 hours Altitude : 14,202 ft. Distance : 9 km
Day 5 : Acclimatise and Explore Tapovan An alpine meadow nestled right at the foot of Mt. Shivling, the mountain can be seen rising from base to summit in breathtaking entirety. Such a splendid view of mountains is something few treks can boast of. The section right beside Mt. Shivling is believed to have been used by sages for meditation, and a few wise men have even made it their abode. Another hour’s trek treats you with jaw-dropping views of yet another behemothMt. Meru. Ensure that you return before 01:30 PM, since the weather conditions tend to change unexpectedly after that. Meals : B, L, D Accommodation : Tents Time Taken : Altitude : Distance :
Day 6 : Trek from Tapovan to Chirbasa Trekking back to Gaumukh demands about 4-5 hours of trekking, post which Bhojbasa is only an hour away. Take the same trail back to Chirbasa from there. Meals : B, L, D Accommodation : Tents Time Taken : 8 hours Altitude : 11,761 ft. Distance : 14 km
Day 7 : Trek from Chirbasa to Gangotri The trek back from Chirbasa to Gangotri is quite smooth and can be traversed comfortably. The trail back follows the same route taken while ascending. Meals : B, L, D Accommodation : Hotel Time Taken : 5 hours Altitude : 10,001 ft. Distance : 9 km Day 8 : Drive to Dehradun On this day, you will drive back to Dehradun. You will reach Dehradun by 6 or 7 pm. Meals : Breakfast Only Accommodation : Not Included Time Taken : 10-12 hours Altitude : Distance : 250 km
Inclusions
Accommodations at Trek:
All accommodations on the trek will be on twin sharing basis in Tents or Homestays. Any accommodation in a hotel/guest house/hostel will be in a budget hotel.
Trek Leader and Guides: An experienced and certified Trek Leader, as well as a professional guide, will accompany you for the trek. The team will have years of experience and well equipped for any emergency situation.
Services of a Professional Trekking Team: A team of an experienced Cook, Camp Staff, Porters/Mules will accompany you for all the arrangements on the trek. Meals: All Meals on the Trek are included. We will serve Vegetarian Indian food on the trek which will be cooked by our high altitude chefs. It will be a fivecourse meal plan.
Camping and Safety Equipment: All the camping equipment such as Tents, Sleeping bags, Toilet Tents, Dining Tent, Mattresses, and other things will be provided by us and we guarantee the quality. Safety Equipment including Medical kit, Oxygen Cylinder, Oximeter, Crampons & Gaiters(if required) will be provided by us. We recommend you to bring your own sleeping bags if possible.
Trek Permits and Forest Camping Charges: Only for Indian Clients, All the applicable trekking permits, Camping Charges, Forest Entry Fee, etc will be paid by us. Foreigners have to pay these charges if not mentioned.
Note: Prior to booking any adventure with Trekmunk, it will be mandatory to sign the waiver form and get a medical certificate from a doctor in due time, without these, you will not be allowed to start the trek. All this will be done online without using any paper.
Exclusions
A Life-Changing Experience: We assure you that by trekking in the Himalayas you will have a life-changing experience and we will do everything we can to provide you with the best services and make your venture in the wild an unforgettable one.
GST and Other Taxes: The goods and services tax is not included in the price mentioned with the trek. They are subjected to change according to the government rules of India.
Accommodation and Food in Dehradun: Food and stay in Dehradun and during transit are not included in the package. You can book your hotels or homestays in Dehradun, we can recommend a few good options.
Flights and Transportation to Dehradun: Flights or other means of transport are not included in the package. Transportation from Dehradun to Gangotri and back Dehradun is not included in the package. We can arrange a cab for which you will be liable to pay.
Personal Equipment: Your Rucksack, personal clothing, shoes, trek poles, and other personal trekking gear is not included in this package. You have to bring your own gear according to the weather and difficulty of the trek.
Portage of Personal Bags(Offloading): We highly advise you to carry your own burden (your rucksack) but due to any reason, if you wish to not carry your rucksack, we can arrange for a porter/mule to carry it. For this service, you will be charged over and above the trek cost. The charges for offloading vary with every trek.
Travel Insurance: Travel Insurance is not included in this package. We recommend you to have travel insurance before opting for such adventures. You can buy insurance from us while booking the trek, it is optional.
Personal Expenses: Any personal expenses incurred (Laundry, Bottled Water, Beverages, Snacks, Orders at tea houses or dhabas, Tips for guides, Camera fees, etc) are not included in the package.
Emergency Expenses: Any costs arising out of unforeseen circumstances such as accidents, bad weather, landslides, road conditions and any other circumstances beyond our control are not included in the package.
Anything not mentioned in Inclusions of the package.