Day 1:
Arrive at Uttarkashi
Take your winding and climbing mountain drive to Uttarkashi early morning. Witness the vast Tehri Dam and the vivid streets of Uttrakhand on the way befor reaching Uttarkashi. Checkin to the hotel and take a tour of the locality if time and body permits.
Uttarkashi is a host to the most mountaineering institutes in our country - Nehru Institute of Mountaineering. You may visit the institute. Also, here you get trekking and climbing gears. So if you still need to buy something, you may by it here. Though we advice you to get all your essestials with yourself.
Evening we will get introduced with the team and the trek plan will be shared and discussed.
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 2:
Drive From Uttarkashi to Gangotri. Rest day
Day 3:
Trek From Gangotri to Nala Camp (3760m)
It is gradual beautiful climb through pine and birch forests, and Nala campsite is by the Rudragaira river. First glimpse of the Gangotri III peak.
Accommodation: Tents
Day 4:
Trek From Nala Camp to Rudugaira Base Camp (4350m)
Birch forests give way to green meadows. There are steep climbs and rock fall zones and a river crossing on the way to Rudugaira Base Camp site. Camp site offers views of Rudugaira peak, Gangotri I, Gangotri II, Gangotri III, and Jogin I.
Accommodation: Tents
Day 5:
Rest and Acclimatization Day
Accommodation: Tents
Day 6:
Trek From Rudugaira Base Camp to Gangotri Group Base Camp (4500m)
It is nice, short and gradual climb through moraine. The camp site offers closer views of Gangotri peaks. On a clear day, it is possible to get first glimpse of Auden’s Col.
Accommodation: Tents
Day 7:
Trek From Gangotri Group Base Camp to Auden’s Col Base Camp (4720m)
Again gradual climb on moraine and ridge through a valley surrounded by Gangotri and Jogin peaks, with glacier flowing on the right. Auden's Col becomes clearly visible and increasingly prominent.
Accommodation: Tents
Day 8:
Trek From Auden’s Col Base Camp to Auden’s Col Advanced Base Camp (4975m)
More of gradual climb on moraine and ridge. Camp site is situated at the end of the ridge where glaciers on left and right merge, right before the ice field leading to the Col.
Accommodation: Tents
Day 9:
Cross Auden's Col (5490m), Camp at Khatling Glacier (5000m) :
This is the longest and hardest part. It is better to start really early, preferably by 5:00am, as snow plodding becomes difficult as sun comes up. Approach to Col is littered with crevasses, so team must be roped. On a clear day, Rabbit Ears are a clearly visible, and magnificent views are on offer at the pass. Descend to Khalting side is steep, initially scree and then ice, and might require rappelling. At the base of descend 1-2m wide crevasse runs end to end, and there are a couple of snow bridges. After descend, it is a long roped walk through crevasse infested Khatling glacier. At Khatling Glacier Camp site, there is a small patch of stones, but camping on glacier ice is also possible. Camp site also offers amazing views of virgin unknown pass and valley on the west side.
Accommodation: Tents
Day 10:
Cross waterfall zone to reach Khatling Base camp at Bhilangna river snout (3800m)
Another difficult day regardless of whether one crosses waterfalls or remaining of Khatling. However, after crossing boulder zone at the Bhilangna river snout, the camp site offers much needed respite and greenery. Hard part of trek is over now. An alternate is to descend all the way down to Khatling Glacier and keep walking towards it's snout. This path is not chosen due to dangerous crevasses and a need to cross over the Ice Wall. Till now only a team from Indore is on record, having done it successfully.
Accommodation: Tents
Day 11:
Trek From Bhilangna snout to Kharsoli (2880m)
Green meadows gives way to pine and birch tree forests. Kharsoli is lush green camp site.
Accommodation: Tents
Day 12:
Trek From Kharsoli to Gangi (2500m)
Nice walk through dense Deodar tree forests. With shepherds, first sign of civilization appear. There is a Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam (GMVN) operated guest house at Gangi.
Accommodation: Tents
Day 13:
Trek From Gangi to Ghuttu (1550m) :
Trek ends with a slow descend to Ghuttu village. There is a camp site as well as GMVN guest house. A road connects Ghuttu to Kedarnath highway.
Accommodation: Tents
Day 14:
Drive From Ghuttu to Rishikesh / Dehradoon :
Today we drive back to Rishikesh.
Accommodation: None