Itinerary -
Day 1:Bandaronch & kalanag
Check into the cottages/tents and relax for some time in the beautiful environs. Post lunch set out on a hike starting from the lodge itself. This hike is through a very interesting terrain and will take 4 to 5 hours with pit stops in between. Along the trail one gets a magnificent view of some of the famous Himalayan peaks like Bandarponch &Kalanag. The landscape is totally untouched by anything, its nature in its purest form. We will cross Chaurani, a famous campsite in the olden days used by Britishers. Chaurani with its Deodar trees and a wide view of the snow capped Himalayas offers quite a compelling sight. Continuing further we hike up to a vantage point to experience the absolutely enjoyable sunset and after that head back to the lodge, where a hot cup of tea/coffee awaits us. Enjoy a hot meal under the star spangled sky. Overnight stay at the lodge
Day 2: We give you 2 options today so take your pick
Option 1: After breakfast we get familiarized with our bikes/cycles (Merida – 22 gears) and bike for about 20 kms to reach Chakrata town. This stretch is a mostly moderately uphill and goes through beautiful forest sections and viewpoints. We will explore the cantonment town of Chakrata on cycles and from here we continue cycling down to the famous Tiger falls (18 kms). This stretch from Chakrata is mostly downhill. We will take a dip in the refreshing pool of water and enjoy packed lunch at the falls. Late afternoon we will load our cycles on the truck and board our vehicle and drive back to the lodge. Time permitting you can try your hand at rappelling/rock climbing. Late evening enjoy a bonfire along with the fabulous views of the Doon valley all lit up.
Option 2: After breakfast we will drive to Chakrata. From here we will trek to the beautiful Tiger falls. It will take us a couple of hours to reach Tiger fall. This a beautiful hike (mostly downhill) through the forest and with excellent view of the underlying valleys, Chakrata town and the big mountains. Tiger falls is quite a sight and quite a fall. Get ready to be clobbered by the waters of the fall as you get under it. We will spend some time here, have packed lunch and start on the drive back to the lodge/camp. A few kms before the lodge we will stop at Chaurani and will indulge in activities like abseiling, Jumaring and other rope activities. In the evening we drive back to the camp where a hot cup of masala tea/coffee awaits you. Late evening enjoy a barbeque and bonfire along with the fabulous views of the Doon valley all lit up.
Day 3: Yamuna
Wake up to the sound of birds chirping outside your cottage/tent and have a hot cup of tea before setting out for the day. Today it’s all about being in the water. After a sumptuous breakfast we will drive down to the Yamuna bridge. Here we have the option of indulging in various activities like Bridge Slithering, River Crossing, Cliff Jumping, Duckie Rides (inflatable kayaks), Rappelling, Body Surfing & Swimming. Once done with the activities we get down to business and set out on a memorable rafting trip on the Yamuna river. The rafting stretch starts from Yamuna Bridge and goes down till Judoo covering approximately 12 – 14 kms. This rafting stretch has several rapids of class I to III and keeps one very excited throughout. Another attractive aspect is the quality of landscape you cross while going down the river, you are sure to remember this experience! After an eventful afternoon we will enjoy a picnic lunch (packed), change into fresh clothes (changing tents will be provided) and proceed with our onwards journey. Herbetpur is about a 75 mins drive while Dehradun would be 2 hours.
TRIP EXTENSION PLAN: if one would want to extend the trip there is a lovely option of camping by the river side on this day using small tents in one of the sandy beaches here. Also next day if required one can do another round of rafting or do a long stretch on Duckies (inflatable kayaks) before departing for Herbetpur/Dehradun
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
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. For train details, you could log on to www.indianrail.gov.in and for online railway ticket bookings you could log on to www.irctc.co.in .
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 Oct to mid December day time is going to be warm and pleasant if the sun is out, which mostly is around this time. Yamuna water is surprisingly quite pleasant compared to other rivers and a dip in the river is going to initially feel cold but couple of dips and you will start enjoying the water. Evenings are going to be reasonably 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 5 deg Celsius so come prepared with some winter clothing. In Oct – Nov period night temperature will be around 10 – 15 deg Celsius and you will need protection from the cold
In the period Mar – Apr day time is going to be warm and very pleasant. The water is going to be moderately cold and extremely inviting. So you might end up spending more time off the boat than on it. Evenings are going to be moderately cold in Mar & Apr. Night temperature will be around 12 -20 deg Celsius in Mar - Apr so come prepared with some light winter clothing
In the period May – Jun day time is going to be warm but while one is on the river it is going to be very pleasant. The water is going to be moderately cold and extremely inviting. So you might end up spending more time off the boat than on it. Evenings are going to be pleasant. Night temperature will be around 18 -24 deg Celsius do carry some light winter clothing as it can get windy and slightly cold.
Duration: 3 Days
Season: Mar-Jun, Sep-Dec
Grade: Moderate
Chakrata with its wilderness and natural beauty is an ideal place for a multi activity holiday trip. This region is blessed with many vantage points having magnificent view of the snow clad Himalayan range also it has a delightful green forest cover on its hills comprising of Deodar, Himalayan Oak and Rhododendron trees. Situated above the Yamuna valley it can be approached from either Dehradun-Vikasnagar or Dehradun Mussoorie side. Chakrata town is a very small & quaint town and was established as a British cantonment about 125 years ago. Other attractions of the region are old forest guest houses set up by the British in remote locations, the enchanting tiger falls, ancient temples, sparsely located villages and high alpine meadows. The incredible beauty of this region had been cut off from any tourism related activity till a couple of years back owing to an army intelligence establishment here. Foreigners are still not allowed to visit this area. Being cut off the entire area is still very pure in natural beauty and completely untouched by any haphazard development. This region is inhabited by people of Jaunsar Babhar tribe
For this trip you will be based at the scenically located Himalayan Eco Lodges (H.E.L) - Chakrata. This lodge having cottages and tents is set atop a series of step farms overlooking the Yamuna valley and is 24 kms from Chakrata town. Standing in splendid isolation at an altitude of 1900 m, the lodge offers breathtaking views and holds special promise for genuine nature lovers. Far from the hustle bustle of urban life, all you are likely to hear are sweet bird songs and the rush of mountain winds sweeping across the valley. This lodge can be reached easily by road from Dehradun, Saharanpur or Mussoorie
On this multi activity trip you get to go on a beautiful hike starting from the camp and ending at an old British campsite at Chaurani. One look at the place and you know why this was a famous campsite for the British officers. Fabulous views of the Himalayas and majestic deodar trees create a truly beautiful picture. Next day you will explore the beautiful region on wheels and cycle through an interesting section. Your cycling trip will take you to the famoud Tiger falls. Third day of your trip is all about having fun in the water. Yamuna is a relatively unexplored river and is full of excitement for people rafting on it. The rafting stretch is mostly through a gorge and is quite scenic. Other than rafting you will also get to indulge in variety of thrilling activities at the Yamuna Adventure Park at Yamuna Bridge. Activities include duckie rides, bridge slithering, river crossing, body surfing & swimming, splashing in natural pools, Rappelling and so on.
Next on our trail is Chopta, popularly referred to as the Mini-Switzerland of India because of its undulating green meadows (carpets of snow in winter!!) and a breath taking view of the majestic Himalayan peaks. Camping here is a totally enjoyable experience. From here we will trek up to the Tungnath temple, which at an altitude of 3680m is the highest Shiva shrine in the world. All along the route, in addition to the abundant flora and fauna, one gets wonderful views of the Himalayan giants including Bandarpoonch, Kedar, Chaukhamba peak and may more. From Tungnath you can trek up a further 1 kms to the summit of Chandrashilla peak at about 4000 m. The 180 degree view of the snow-capped peaks and the underlying valleys all around make this trek well worth it.Another interesting and beautiful part of this trip is the opportunity to spend time at Himalayan Eco Lodges & Camps at Kund . This lodge overlooks the Mandakini river and is in the shadow of the Kedar peak and is a beautiful base to begin.