Day Wise Detailed Itinerary of Roopkund Trek

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The Roopkund Trek is a well-known high-altitude trek in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand, famous for its glacial lake at an elevation of nearly 16,000 ft. The trek takes you through dense forests, wide alpine meadows, and rocky mountain trails before reaching Roopkund Lake, often called the Mystery Lake.

Starting from the base village of Lohajung, the trail passes through traditional Himalayan villages like Didna, open meadows such as Ali Bugyal and Bedni Bugyal, and high-altitude camps including Bhagwabasa. As the trek progresses, the terrain gradually changes from forested paths to alpine landscapes with limited vegetation.

Roopkund is suitable for trekkers with good fitness levels and prior trekking experience. It involves long walking days, steady altitude gain, and cold conditions at higher camps, making it a rewarding but challenging Himalayan trek.

• Altitude 7,662 ft.
• Stay in guest house.
• Drive 210 km (10 hrs drive).
• Local market and network is available.
• Pick up time 06:00 am at the parking of Kathgodham railway station.
• Route:- Kathgodam - Bheem Tal - Almora - Kausani - Gwaldam - Dewal - Lohajung.

 The journey will take not more than 10 hours, which includes one or two breaks. The serpentine road goes through the region of Kumaon and covers deep valleys of Shivalik mountain ranges. The road will take you to Gwaldam which lies under the administrative district of Garhwal. The road goes through coniferous forests and unrelenting curves. Though there is a direct road from Gwaldam to Deval, the final destination of the day, Via Nandkesri the distance to be covered is less, around 11kms, but it is better to walk on a longer, but safer trail through Tharali, which is around 36kms. Around 2 hours of the ride will take you to Deval.  The days last stretch of the journey is from Deval to Lohajung. The extremely curvy and winding road gains considerable height. The roads are so thrilling to drive on that sometimes even the slightest of oncoming cars and trucks send Goosebumps. It is generally rainy and foggy most of the time and temperatures remain very cold. The night is spent at a tourist rest house or nearby lodges. 

• Trek 6.5 km.
• 7,662 to 8,045 ft.
• Reach Didna before lunch.
• accommodation in village home stay.
• No local market but Network is available.
• Till ruan bagad bridge gradual descent (4.5 km).
• Refill your water bottle at ruan bagad bridge from Neel Ganga river.
• After ruan bagad bridge 2 hours of a steep ascent to Didna Village (2 km).

 The actual trek begins today. After a good home prepared breakfast, the walk starts on the level ground with slight ascent on the jeep road; the road goes till the village of Wan. An hour and a half walk on the flat surface will take you to Kulling, which is located at a distance of around 6km form Lohajung. Kulling is a peaceful village in the district of Garhwal, with a small pool of the population; it is filled with the beauties of nature. Exotic birds can be spotted very easily; the air feels crisp and fresh. After a break at Kulling, you take a right turn and gradually descend towards the village. At the start, you will notice a narrow concrete plain which cuts through houses and fields and takes you to a small stream. This small stream is fed by Neel Ganga. You descend further till you reach the bed of Neel Ganga. Go ahead and cross the cemented bridge and then start climbing the ridge on the right side of the bridge. The road ahead is moderately steep and ends at the village of Didna, situated at an altitude of 2450mts, 8000ft. The trail encompasses evergreen alpine forests and trees which are huge in size. After a climb of around two hours, you reach the top of the ridge; the view ahead is magnificent. It is surprising to find huge open lands at such a high altitude on the lap of the mountains. There are two villages very near to each other Didna and Kuling, basically they host the same type of people and trekkers. The first village is habited during the summer and monsoon months while the second one is popular during winter. The days trek is over at around 3pm, after which a hot lunch is enjoyed. Total distance covered during the day is approximately around 10kms, and the night is spent in a traditional guest house. 

• Trek 10.5 km.
• 8,045 to 11,320 ft.
• Accommodation in tent.
• Carry water and ors both.
• Reach Ali Bugyal by late noon.
• Keep your wind and waterproof handy.
• Tolpani is the last point for drinking water.
• First half of is through oak and rhododendron forest (Steep ascent).
• Second half of the trek is through big alpine meadows (gradual ascent).

 Today's trek involves trekking through the beautiful village of Ali Bugyal, which located at an altitude of 3400mts or 11000ft, is one of the highest inhabited locations of the country. Ali Bugyal is on top of the mountain and is clearly visible from the backdrop of Didna. The trek will take you to climb on top of this mountain, after the start the trail will take out of the village. On the right, the trail is slightly ascending with a very gentle gradient. On the way, temporary settlements of local shepherds known as Tolpani and their huge herds of sheep are a site to behold. They are very friendly and warm in welcoming people; you can even share their lunch, which they think as a friendly gesture. On the other hand, the trail on the left side is short in length but is steeper. But it doesnt really matter which trail you take, eventually both of them will take you to the same destination. Oak, Birch, and Rhododendron trees are the only trees that grow in these areas, and are magnificent and huge in size. According to locals, anyone visiting the place during the spring season can see the unbelievable view of the valley covered with thousands of Rhododendron flowers in vibrant colours. After reaching the mountain top, the tree line gradually recedes, and the plain grasslands start. The climb takes around 3 to 4 hours, after which right in front of your eyes, the Himalayas most attractive meadows, Ali Bugiyal welcomes you. The view is very similar to the default wallpaper of Windows XP and is a treat for the eyes. During summer months, wild horses and cows graze the fields which are filled with vast stretches of grass and flowers of various bright colours. On a clear weather, it is easy to spot the peaks of Trishul and Mrighthuni, the tallest mountain peaks in this part of the Himalayas. The mighty Trishul beckons to be climbed upon and feels as there is some hidden energy which attracts towards itself. After crossing the meadows, there comes a small face on the way, and another half an hour of trekking will take you to Bedni, the camping spot for day 3. After lunch, visit the nearby temple in Bedni Kund, if the weather is clear you might be able to view the Garhwal Himalayan ranges at its glory. 

• Trek 7 km.
• 11,320 to 12,818 ft.
• Easiest day of the trek.
• Accommodation in tent.
• Reach Patar Nachauni before lunch.
• Ali Bugyal to Bedni Bugyal (gradual ascent 2 km).
• Bedni Bugyal to Ghora Lotani (gradual ascent 4 km).
• Ghora Lotani to Patar Nachauni (gradual descent 1 km).
• Spend some time at Ghora Lotani good for acclimatization.
• Ware proper clothing (this is the place where most of the trekkers get AMS).

Today being the 4th day of the trek you can have the choice of starting a bit late and sleeping a little bit extra. Your next camping location is Gora Lutani, which is a perfect camping spot. Keep on walking and enjoy the picturesque locations in the adjoining area. Along the way, you will come across Patat Nacholi, a rather unused and vest able landmass. This day you will make steep altitude gain from around 12,500ft to 14,500ft. The high altitude and the long continuous walks will make your legs hurt, and you will also start feeling the effects of the weather changes and the thin air will make breathing difficult. But don't worry; the wonderful surroundings will give you enough motivation to reach your destination. The positive vibes flowing in the air lets you forget all your troubles. After a travel of around 10kms, the campsite for the day is reached. Ghora Lotani will give you a good night's sleep, but the next morning waking up early is very crucial as it is going to be an exciting day ahead.