'Fixed departures' are assured departures that will start on the given date as per the given itinerary.
Arrive at Haridwar by the morning Shatabdi. Alternatively, you can fly in to the Jolly Grant Airport by 12 noon. Board waiting vehicles to be driven straight to Kuflon Basics in the Assi Ganga valley (7hrs). Breakfast enroute. Overnight Kuflon.
Drive 4 hrs to reach the holy shrine of Gangotri (3000m). Visit the temple and the start the 4 hr walk up towards Gaumukh, the source of the river Ganges. The trail keeps following the river and just short of Chirbasa one gets the first views of the Bhagirathi Peaks. Chirbasa (3600m), literally meaning the home of pine is now a cluster of shops and some pine trees. Walk down from the main trail and setup camp close to the river.
Have a relaxed day with only about 3 hrs of walk. Reach the campsite of Bhojbasa, home of birch (now only a few left in the much denuded area) and setup camp. Evening walk to one of the high points close by is recommended for better acclimatisation.
Walk about 2hrs to reach Gaumukh (4000m), the source of the Ganges. Spend time admiring the beauty and the power of nature. It’s a visual treat and an experience in itself to watch the Ganga gush out of the snout of the Gangotri glacier. Cross the glacier and start the steep ascent to reach the beautiful meadow of Tapovan.
An early morning start for a full day trek to Kirti Bamak glacier. From here you can see the Kedardome peak, Kedarnath, Bhartekuntha, Thalay Sagar, Bhrigupanth, Meru and a magnificent view of Shivling from the east. After exploring the area return to Tapovan for dinner and overnight camp.
Rest day at Tapovan – a lush green meadow dotted with wildflowers right at the foot of the giant Shivling. Spend your day doing walks around the campsite, or visiting the sadhus, reading a book or just admiring the mighty peaks of Bhagirathi, Shivling, Meru and others.
Start the trek back to reach Chirbasa in about 5 hrs. Setup camp.
After breakfast carry on the trail to reach Gangotri (4hrs) and board the waiting vehicles to drive back to the camp Kuflon Basics for the comforts of hot shower, barbeque and the campfire.
Have an easy start, let the aching muscles rest. An early lunch / brunch and drive back (5 hrs) to Haridwar to board the 1810 hrs Shatabdi Express to Delhi. Trip ends.
We are one of India’s leading adventure tour operator, that specialises in Treks & River Rafting in the Indian Himalayas and beyond. Offering personalized itineraries and routes you’d be hard pressed to find a more experienced, fun loving, safety conscious tour operator in India.
We are the only Indian adventure outfitter to be on the 2008 & 2009 list of the world’s best adventure travel outfitters in the first Authoritative Rating of Adventure Tour Operators, selected and conducted in a global survey by National Geographic Society.
If you’ve dreamt of a particular journey or an adventure in India, let us know. We’ll make it happen. No matter how bizarre or wild or difficult. If you choose to travel with us all you have to worry about is having the time of your life.
We have been running trips and tours for the discerning traveller throughout the Indian Himalayas since 1995, yet the experience of our travel personnel dates well beyond that, to years of leading trips throughout the Indian Himalayan belt. We believe that an adventure travel outfit is only as good as its guides. Good equipment, food and guides is what makes an outdoor trip an experience to savour.
Payment Terms
The tour price is payable 45 days prior to departure. Failure to pay by that date entitles Aquaterra Adventures to cancel your booking without notice and without refund of the deposit if deemed necessary. Prices may be quoted in Rupees / US dollars / Euros. For some special trips, the booking date may be up to 2 months before departure.
Cancellation Policy
If it becomes necessary to cancel your tour, you must notify Aquaterra Adventures India Pvt. Ltd. immediately in writing. Once we receive your notice, cancellation will take effect. Please note that the following charges will apply to cancellation:
Health and Fitness Requirements
Commitment to Hygiene and Safety Protocol:
I commit to disclose my travel and quarantine history to Aquaterra Adventures, and decide to not travel should I have symptoms of infection related to Covid19 or other disease that may spread due to my participation, thereby endangering other people. I also commit to follow guidelines and protocols set up by Aquaterra Adventures, and overseen implementation by its guides, trip leaders on my journey. If I do not, I understand that I may be asked to do so or leave the trip/expedition/journey, to maintain our hygiene and safety protocol.
Participants must be in good health and reasonable physical condition. It is vital that participants with medical problems make them known to us well before departure. If you suffer from severe muscular, chest, heart or bronchial disorders, or if you are a severe asthmatic, or have high blood pressure, you are strongly advised against participating. Expeditions generally take place in remote areas where there is little or no access to normal medical services or hospital facilities for serious problems. Where necessary, evacuation can be prolonged, difficult and expensive. Medical and evacuation expenses will be the responsibility of the participant.
Tour Leaders
Our Tour Leaders take their responsibilities seriously and if a tour leader believes in his/her judgment that you should not participate in the trip, before your departure, even if you pass your medical, he/she may exclude you from the trip. In this circumstance, you will be offered the option of taking another trip considered suitable for you or a full refund. If during a trip the tour leader considers you should not participate further he/she may direct you not to continue and you must follow the tour leader’s instructions. In this case, you will not be entitled to any refund. Travel insurance may compensate you depending on the circumstances.
Route Changes/Postponement or Delay
Aquaterra Adventures India Pvt. Ltd. may for any reason change the date of departure or conclusion of the tour, or it is possible that a route change, postponement or delay (either in relation to departure or to the duration of the expedition) may become necessary due to inclement weather, snow and ice conditions, political restrictions, epidemics or pandemics or any other cause. In the event of a change, postponement or delay, participants have no right to refund of the tour price (in whole or in part) or other compensation for any injury, loss or damage. Package Prices Package prices are based on ground costs, airfares and exchange rates. Aquaterra Adventures India Pvt. Ltd. tries its utmost not to increase tour prices (in full or part), however sometimes increases are outside its control. We reserve the right to amend tour prices (or any part) without notice at any time before and including the departure date. Amendments may be necessitated for many reasons including, but not limited to, exchange rate fluctuations, increased fuel costs, airfares, airport charges etc. Any increase in tour prices must be paid prior to the departure date. Exclusions From Tour Price The following items are excluded from the tour price: visa, passport and vaccination charges; departure, airport and airline taxes; extra meals not included in the itinerary; laundry, postage, personal clothing, medical expenses, personal travel insurance and items of a personal nature; emergency evacuation charges; and tips and excess baggage charges. Refer to our trip notes for full details responsibility/liability.
Please Note:
If you book an Aquaterra Adventures trek or expedition and then wish to cancel, you will receive a full credit on your current payments for a future trip on the towards one of our already scheduled 2021 departures. You just need to let us know by 45 days before your trip so that we have the opportunity to re-sell spaces and give staff and guides time to plan. Also, if you can’t make a trip within the 45 day period because of travel restrictions that affect your ability to make the trip, we will give a full credit of payments towards a future trip.
THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT, PLEASE READ CAREFULLY
By my online signature/acknowledgement as set forth on the booking form I acknowledge and confirm the following:
I confirm that I have read and understood the terms and conditions of the contract and this agreement prior to signing it and agree that this Agreement will be binding upon my heirs, next of kin, executors, administrators, and successors.
*for 15 pax
The Gaumukh Tapovan Trek is one of the most preferred and oft-trekked routes by the Indian hikers and trekkers. You should also embark on the Gaumukh Tapovan Trek if you want to satiate your inner callings to visit sacred sites and ancient pilgrimage centers apart from the fantastic adventure experience that this trek offers. You can also do the Gaumukh Tapovan Trek solo. Enchanting views of Mt. Shivling and the Bhagirathi Sisters, forming a massif, bordering this region is enough for you to embark on this trek. And if that is not enough, then there lies the highest-altitude grassland of Tapovan and the second-largest Indian glacier-Gaumukh. The latter is the origin of the holy Ganges.
The Gaumukh Tapovan Trek best time lies around the pre-monsoon/summers and the post-monsoons/autumns. The summer season stretches from mid-May to the end-June and offers daytime temperatures of 15 to 20 degrees Celsius near Gangotri, but the campsites might be colder. There could be occasional occurrences of precipitation as the weather is unpredictable. Thus you should always be prepared for early-monsoon or late-spring rainfall. On the other hand, the post-monsoon/autumn season that stretches from mid-September to the end of October is a little colder but has a more stable weather condition. Till Chirbasa, the forest section offers you natural insulation. After this point, you encounter a drastic change in temperature between the day and the night, around 15 degrees Celsius during the day and 3 to 0 degrees Celsius at night.
The Gaumukh Tapovan Trek has been rated moderate to difficult by most of the experienced trekkers and hikers. The sheer gain in altitude increases the difficulty level of the trek, though the trail is mostly straightforward. The round course starts and ends at Gangotri, taking you across 46 kilometers and a height of 4463 meters over eight days. Amongst those eight days, at least one day is reserved for high-altitude acclimatization. You can also stay at picturesque campsites in Chirbasa and beyond, which is included in the Gaumukh Tapovan Trek cost if you travel with reputed tour operators and travel agencies.
Like other treks that fit beginners and first-time trekkers can attempt, the Gaumukh Tapovan Trek can also be done by them. You need to prepare yourself physically and mentally well in advance for the trek. The physical preparation includes custom training and fitness regime like brisk walking, running across undulating topography, jogging, cycling, swimming, etc., amongst other indoor and outdoor activities.
Like all other high-altitude adventures, you should concentrate on getting yourself a pair of sturdy, well-made hiking boots with defined ankles and good grips. Apart from this, a good-quality, sturdy walking stick is one of the essential items to carry. A 50-60-liter backpack, 20-30 liter daypack for offloading purposes, warm clothes consisting of a couple of full-sleeved quick-dry shirts, insulation layers- 2 light fleece layers and one light, full-sleeve sweater, an outer, regular padded/shell jacket, raincoats/ponchos, windcheaters and a pair of quality hiking pants made from the same quick-dry, waterproof material as your full-sleeved shirts should be in you packing list.
You should also carry other essentials, including a pair of sunglasses for UV protection, suncap, balaclava, synthetic and woolen hand gloves, a few pairs of underwear, extra pairs of socks, sports bra (for women), rain cover for the backpack, essential toiletries like biodegradable soaps, excess toilet paper, and wet wipes, sunscreen, lip balm, moisturizers, personal medicines, and a first-aid kit. The best thing to do is carrying your own water bottles and hydration packs to avoid littering the serene Himalayan sceneries with disposable plastic bottles.
If you face any emergency during any adventures in Uttarakhand and the northern parts of the country, you should contact the following:
- Uttarakhand Glacier burst helpline- 1070/9557444486
- Police: 112
- Ambulance: 108/102
- Fire: 101
- Child helpline: 1098
- Women helpline: 1090
- NDMA (Disaster management): 1070/1078/9711077372
- Anti poison helpline- 011-1066 (Delhi)
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