Gidara Bugyal Trek

About Gidara Bugyal Trek

Lying in Uttarkashi district, the Gidara Bugyal trek goes up to an elevation of around 13,900 feet above sea level. This is an easy to moderately difficult trek, spanning across 29 kilometers in length. This trek can be done over a period of 4 days with extra 2 days of road journey.

The trek to Gidara Bugyal starts from the small quaint village of Bhangeli, which is located at a distance of around 188 kilometers from the city of Dehradun. The trek further passes through the small charming villages of Rikoda and Thalotya, before finally reaching Gidara via Bugyal.

Nestled amidst lush deep forests and surrounded by sky-high mountain peaks, the Gidara Bugyal trek passes through picturesque rolling meadows, pristine lakes, breathtaking pine forests, and umpteen varieties of colorful flora. Once you reach the summit, you are rewarded with mesmerizing 360 degrees panoramic views of the mountain peaks of Bandarpunch, Srikanth, and Jaonli.

Gidara Bugyal Trek Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival at Bhangeli from Dehradun
Day 2: Trek from Bhangeli to Rikoda
Day 3: Trek from Rikoda to Thalotya
Day 4: Trek from Thalotya to Gidara Bugyal and Descent to Thirya
Day 5: Descent from Thirya to Bhangeli to Maneri
Day 6: Departure from Maneri to Dehradun

Total distance to be covered: 188 kilometers

Duration: 8 to 9 hours

Altitude: 7,550 feet

  • On the first day of your Gidara Bugyal trek, you will be transported from Dehradun to Bhangeli.
  • Once you arrive at Bhangeli, you will check-in to your room at a pre-booked homestay.
  • You will spend the rest of the day at leisure, preparing for your trek to Gidara Bugyal that starts the next day.


Total distance to be covered: 5 kilometers

Duration: 4 to 5 hours

Altitude: 7,550 feet to 10,950 feet

This day will mark the beginning of your trek to Gidara Bugyal.

Wake up to a refreshing morning and enjoy a fulfilling breakfast.

Check out from your homestay and embark on the short trek to the Rikoda campsite. The trail will be easy at the beginning and will gradually become steeper as you tend to reach the campsite.

Total distance to be covered: 5.5 kilometers

Duration: 5 to 6 hours

Altitude: 10,950 feet to 12,200 feet

  • Wake up to the first morning on the trek and enjoy a hearty breakfast to fill yourself with energy.
  • Embark on your trek to the Thalotya campsite, covering a slightly greater distance as compared to the previous day.
  • As you follow the trail, you will initially descend before ascending, and finally descend again to reach the Thalotya campsite

Total distance to be covered: 9 kilometers

Duration: 7 to 8 hours

Altitude: 12,200 feet to 13,900 feet, Descend to 10,750 feet

  • This day will be the longest trekking day on your Gidara Bugyal trek.
  • Wake up to a lovely morning on the trek and enjoy a fulfilling breakfast.
  • Embark on the trek and ascend to the Gidara Top via Bugyal. This will be followed by a descent to the Thirya campsite, where you will rest overnight.

Total distance to be covered: 6.5 kilometers

Duration: 3 to 4 hours

Altitude: 10,750 feet to 7,550 feet

  • Freshen up and start your day with a hearty breakfast.
  • Embark on your trek to Bhangeli.
  • Upon reaching Bhangeli, drive to Maneri, visiting Gangnani on the way.
  • Once you reach Maneri, check-in to your room at a pre-booked homestay and rest overnight.

Total distance to be covered: 155 kilometers

Duration: 7 hours

  • This day will mark the end of your Gidara Bugyal trek and you will drive back to Dehradun.

What to Pack for Your Gidara Bugyal Trek

Clothing
Toiletries
Trekking Gears
Other Essentials
  • Moisture-proof full sleeves t-shirts
  • Waterproof pants
  • Fleece pants
  • Sweatshirt
  • Long underwear
  • Water-proof jacket with hood
  • Heavy fleece jacket
  • Raincoats /poncho
  • Trekking pants
  • Hiking socks
  • Warm thermal socks
  • Hiking boots
  • Toilet paper/ wet wipes
  • Face Wash/ body wash/ hand wash
  • Sunscreen
  • Lip balmDeodorant
  • Fem
  • Moisturizer
  • Toothpaste/ toothbrush
  • Shampoo/ conditioner
  • Sanitizer
  • inine hygiene products
  • First aid kit
  • Personal prescriptions
  • 40L daypack
  • Rain cover for daypack
  • Sleeping bag
  • Travel pillow
  • Stuff sacks for used clothes
  • Headlamp with additional batteries
  • Cameras with additional batteries
  • Hand warmers
  • Trekking poles
  • Reusable water bottles
  • Lightweight portable water filter

Refreshments:

  • Ready to eat foods
  • Energy bars
  • Dry foods
  • Thermos to carry hot beverages

Important Documents:

  • Passport
  • Visa
  • Travel insurance
  • Passport-size photographs
  • Cash
  • Maps

Additional Supplies:

  • Power bank
  • Cell phone
  • Universal Adapter

Know Before You Go for Gidara Bugyal Trek

How to Reach
Important Tips for trekkers
Trekking Routes
Best Time to Do

You can first reach the capital city of Uttarakhand, Dehradun, which is well-connected to other important cities of the country. You can either take a flight to Dehradun directly or first fly to Delhi and then take a train to Dehradun city. Once you reach the city, you can take a taxi to reach Bhangeli, which is considered to be the basecamp for the Gidara Bugyal trek. From here, you can start your trek and hike via the villages of Rikoda and Thalotya to finally reach Gidara top via Bugyal.

  • While doing the Gidara Bugyal trek, you are advised to follow the instructions of your guide/ trek leader to ensure safety.
  • You are advised to take enough rest on each day of your trek and not push yourself harder than your limits.
  • You must carry sufficient cash with you as you would not find ATMs higher up in this region.
  • Remember to pack your daypack efficiently to make sure you are able to include all your trekking essentials.
  • It is a matter of fact that the chances of getting sunburn increases as you gain altitude. Hence, make sure you protect your skin with a good sunscreen and eyes with a pair of UV protected sunglasses.
  • Batteries generally die faster in the colder regions. Hence, make sure you keep extra batteries for your head torch and other electronic gears handy.
  • Avoid taking intoxicating materials on the trek.

The trek to Gidara Bugyal starts from the village of Bhangeli, which is considered to be the basecamp for the trek. From Bhangeli, the trail takes an ascent to the Rikonda campsite, which is around 5 kilometers away. From here, the trail will initially descend before ascending, and finally descend again to reach the Thalotya campsite. The trail then ascends to reach Gidara top via Bugyal and then descends to reach Thirya campsite. From Thirya, the trail leads back to Bhangeli, from where the trekkers will be transported back to Dehradun via Maneri.

The best time to go for the Gidara Bugyal trek is during the summer and autumn seasons.

  • Summer: The summer month of June is a great time to do this trek as you can see colorful flower beds and lush meadows on the way. You can also see beautiful patches of snow as you reach higher altitudes.
  • Autumn: The autumn month of September is another good time to do this trek as the trek looks immensely beautiful in its vibrant golden-brown hue. Since the sky is clear during this time of the year, you can also enjoy unobstructed mountain views.

FAQ's about Gidara Bugyal trek

How long is the Gidara Bugyal trek?

The trek to Gidara Bugyal is around 20 kilometers. This trek is generally covered over a period of around a week.

Where is the Gidara Bugyal trek?

The Gidara Bugyal trek lies in the Uttarkashi district of the Indian state of Uttarakhand. It can be reached from Dehradun with the trek starting from Bhangeli base camp.

How difficult is the Gidara Bugyal trek?

The difficulty level of the Gidara Bugyal trek is moderate to hard. The terrain starts off from a moderate level of difficulty and gets gradually steeper as you ascend towards the top.

What is the best time to do the Gidara Bugyal trek?

The months of June and September are the best times of the year to do the Gidara Bugyal trek. If you want to enjoy snow on the trek, you must consider planning your trek in the month of June. However, if you want to see the trek in its vibrant golden-brown hue, plan your trek in the month of September, when the snow has melted and autumn has set in.

What is the highest altitude of the Gidara Bugyal trek?

The highest altitude of the Gidara Bugyal trek is around 13,900 feet above sea level. You will reach this height over a period of around 6 days.

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