Itinerary -
Day 1: Haridwar – Kund (Drive/7-8 hrs, Hike/1 hrs & Mountain Biking/ 5 km downhill)
We will meet at Haridwar at around 7:00 am and from here drive up to Kund. This is an interesting drive. For most part of the journey you will drive along the Ganga & Alaknanda river before turning into the Mandakini valley from Rudraprayag. Enroute you will be crossing the holy towns of Rishikesh, Devprayag and Rudraprayag. Check into the lodge at Kund, have lunch & relax in the beautiful environs for some time. Towards evening we will go on short but steep acclimatization hike to Ukhimath. The trek from our lodge to Ukhimath is an uphill trek of about 2 kms and will take about an hour to complete. After reaching Ukhimath, our instructors will familiarize you with the mountain bikes (cycles) and brief you on safety. Post this we will do a practice run of about 5 kms from Ukhimath to our lodge. In the evening, bonfire & dinner under the canopy of stars. Overnight in the lodge.
Day 2: Kund – Sari - Deoriatal (Drive/45min, Trek/2-3 hrs & Mountain Biking/20 kms mostly downhill)
Wake up to the sounds of birds chirping and the Mandakini river playing river music. Freshen up, have breakfast and get set for an exciting day ahead. We will drive from our lodge to Sari village (45 min) and begin the trek for the high altitude lake, Deoriatal. The trek would take anything between 2-3 hrs depending on your pace. This trek is through a beautiful mixed forest region. The lake with reflections of the mighty Himalayan peak of Chaukhamba is a sight to behold. We will spend a couple of hours at the lake and explore the beautiful surroundings. Also this is a fine place for photography and bird watching. Post lunch hike back to sari which will take an hour and from Sari we will get on our bikes and ride downhill for about 20 km back to the lodge. The trail is beautiful with incredible views all around and with very little traffic. You will ride along many terraced fields with mountain homes interspersed in them and completely enjoy the experience. Head back to the lodge take a refreshing hot shower and enjoy hot cup of masala tea with pakodas. In the evening bonfire & dinner. Overnight in the lodge.
Day 3: Kund –Chopta – Chandrashilla peak (Drive /1 hr, Trek/4-5 hrs & Mountain Biking/35 kms downhill)
We will have an early start today. After breakfast we will drive to Chopta (35 km), known as the Switzerland of India because of undulating meadows and views of snow capped mountains all around. From Chopta we trek to Tungnath temple which is the highest Shiva shrine in the world. On reaching this ancient temple enjoy the breathtaking views of snow clad Himalayan giants and golden meadows. The serene beauty and the vibrations in the air are going to create an experience which you will remember for long. Packed lunch would be provided on the trek.
Continue trekking for another 1 km through a steep terrain to reach the summit of Chandrashilla Peak at around 4000m. Enjoy a uninterrupted & breathtaking views of the majestic Himalayas and underlying valleys all around. Late afternoon, head back to Chopta. The return trek will take around 90 mins or so. Have a cup of tea in the Dhabha and mount your bikes for another exhilarating ride on the cycles. One can decide to ride for as many kms as one wants today. We will go all the way back to the lodge which is close to 35 kms of downhill riding and will take 2-3 hrs. The ride today is going to be a lot of fun. In the evening, relive the events of the day by a bonfire, followed by dinner. Overnight in the lodge.
Day 4: Kund – Jayalgarh (Drive/3 hrs & Rafting / 25kms stretch)
After breakfast we will drive down to Jayalgarh where a refreshing shower and hot lunch awaits you. The riverside camp at Jayalgarh has a spectacular location with Alaknanda river in front and a fresh water stream on the right flank. We will relax here for some time and have lunch. Post lunch we will be briefed on the sport of rafting and given safety instructions by the trip leader. Today we will raft for about 25 km from the camp till Devprayag. Today’s stretch will have rapids of class II – III. Another interesting aspect of the trip is that you raft through the confluence of Bhagirathi & Alaknanda which meet to form the Ganga at Devprayag. After the run we will drive back to the camp. Evening at leisure. Overnight in the camp.
Day 5: Jayalgarh – Marine drive – Rishikesh - Haridwar (Rafting / 25kms & Drive / 2 hrs)
The excitement continues with rafting on the holy Ganga today. After breakfast we will drive down to Marine drive (2 hrs) and from there raft down till Rishikesh through a section having class II – IV rapids. There will be many rapids today. Some of the well known one’s are Three Blind Mice, Crossfire, Return to the Sender, Roller Coaster, Golf Course, Clubhouse and Double Trouble. After a thrilling time on the river we finish our trip at Rishikesh. We will have lunch here after which the guests will be dropped to Haridwar from where they can proceed with their onwards journey.
Trip Ends With Sweet Memories !!!
ESSENTIALS
Below is a list of essentials you would require at the camp:
Small day pack/back pack
T-shirts/Shirts
Shorts
Comfortable fit Jeans/Track Pants/trekking pants
Jacket/Sweater (please see the section on weather)
Windproof jacket ideally with a hood
Floaters
Comfortable trekking shoes
Sneakers or any other low ankle shoes for riding(cycling)
Poncho (rain coat)
Water bottle
Riding gloves
Sunscreen Lotion
Cap
Flashlight
Sunglasses with holding strings
Medicines, if requiring any specific medication
Camera (optional)
LOADS OF ENTHUSIASM!!
Carry rain cover for your bags
Carry your stuff in a duffel bag, soft shoulder bag or a rucksack. Avoid suitcases, trolleys or any other hard luggage
For Departure Dates just call 7350530009 / 7350540009 / 7350550009
Transport Options (Delhi – Dehradun – Delhi)
For travel to Dehradun and back one can choose between air, rail & road. For air travel, the closest airport is the Jolly Grant Airport (at Dehradun) and is well connected to Delhi and other parts of the country by Air India, Jet Airways, Kingfisher Airlines & Spice Jet. Train travel is highly recommended with enough options being there.
There are frequent Public Transport buses including Volvos available from Delhi to Dehradun that cost about Rs. 200-700 per person. These buses depart from Delhi ISBT every 30 mins. or so and take about 7 hrs to cover the distance. The same is also applicable on the return journey. A private vehicle could also be arranged for if you require the same.
Weather Details
In the period mid Mar – May day time is going to be mildly warm at lower elevations and very pleasant at higher locales. Evenings are going to be mildly cold. Night temperature will be around 12 -20 deg Celsius in Mar - Apr & around 20 - 25 deg Celsius in May. Again keep in mind that Chopta and beyond we might catch lots of snow in March & early April so come prepared with some winter clothing. May also you will need some protection during trekking. In March & April do factor in the wind chill during biking. The water in the rivers for rafting is going to be moderately cold and extremely inviting. So you might end up spending more time off the boat than on it.
In Oct – Nov period night temperature will be around 10 – 15 deg Celsius and you will need some protection from the cold. The water in the rivers during rafting is going to be cold but not freezing cold. A dip in the river is going to initially feel cold but couple of dips and you will start enjoying the water. Wind chill is going to be a factor while biking down from the high altitude meadows of Chopta so factor this in while packing stuff for the trip. Speak to our expert if there is any doubt on packing front
In the period Oct to Dec day time is going to be warm and pleasant if the sun is out, which mostly is around this time. Evenings are going to be moderately cold in Oct & Nov and cold in December. With a bonfire next to you it is going to be an enjoyable experience. December the night temperature can go down to about 3 – 5 deg Celsius so come prepared with some winter clothing. As this is a lodge based trip with no camping you don’t need to bother too much about the cold at night. Do keep in mind that while on the trek to Chandrashilla it is going to be cold with good possibility of snowfall around end December so come equipped accordingly.
Duration: 5 Days
Season: Mar-May, Oct-Dec
Grade: Moderate +
Region: Garhwal (Uttarakhand)
Description
This trip is for travelers looking at active holidays in the Himalayas. People who are not happy with just one activity and would like to try their hand at different activities which allows them to experience the Himalayas in a very different sort of way. During the trip, you get to trek through an absolutely enchanting landscape, Raft on two big and beautiful rivers and Cycle through the spectacular trails in the Mandakini valley. This trip is set in the Alaknanda & Mandakini valleys in Uttarakhand
We have two beautiful hikes put into the program. We start with a hike to the high altitude lake, Deoriatal on day 1. This beautiful lake at an altitude of 2438 m has captivating surroundings with forests & mountains all around. The famous Chaukhamba peak feels like it is an arms length away and the reflection of the mighty peak in the crystal clear waters of the lake creates a beautiful effect. On day 2 we first hike up to Tungnath temple through almost golden meadows and from there climb further to summit Chandrashila peak at about 4000m. At an altitude of 3680 m, Tungnath is the highest Shiva shrine in the world and offers an unmatched experience to an outdoors lover. Big attraction of this trek is the 180 degrees view of the snow clad peaks and the valleys all around. For this trek we drive to Chopta, popularly referred to as the Mini-Switzerland of India because of its undulating green meadows (carpets of snow in winter!!) and breathtaking view of the majestic Himalayan peaks
The cycling part of the trip is designed in a manner that the rides are mostly on even level or downhill so that even non mountain bikers can enjoy the rides. The thrill of riding through awe inspiring landscape with crisp & cold mountain air hitting your face is second to none. We ride through a reserved forest area and on roads which have practically no traffic. One will have the option of not riding a certain section and hitching a ride in the accompanying vehicle, if so desired. The last part of trip will take us to 2 beautiful rivers; Ganga & Alaknanda. We raft on both the rivers through some very exciting rapids. We will be rafting long stretches so dont worry about not getting enough time on the river
What makes this trip extra special is the Himalayan Eco Lodges & Camps (H.E.L & C) lodge at Kund & riverside luxury camp at Jayalgarh. These two H.E.L & C lodges/camps are set in spectacular locations and have good quality facilities which enhance the overall experience on the trip.