Satopanth Tal Trek

📅
Duration
8 days 7 nights
🔼
Altitude:
5000m
🛑
Grade:
Moderate+
how we grade
👍
Best Time:
May, Jun, Sep, Oct
🌞
Temperatures:
-5 to 15 deg C
🚩
Starts From:
Mana
🛪
Airport:
Jolly Grant, Dehraoon
🚉
Railway:
Rishikesh, Uttrakhand

Key Geographical Highlights

6 Popular Peaks:

Balakun ( 6471m ), Chaukhamba I ( 7138m ), Chaukhamba II ( 7058m ), Chaukhamba III ( 6974m ), Chaukhamba IV ( 6854m ), Nilkantha ( 6596m )

1 Lakes:

Satopanth Taal ( 4338m )

1 Glaciers:

Satopanth Glacier Bank

2 Rivers:

Alakananda, Saraswati

2 Villages:

Mana, Badrinath

Reach Mana find other treks

Daywise Itinerary For Satopanth Tal Trek

(click to read detailed route briefing, elevation graph, altitude time info and photos from the day)

▼ Day 1Arrival DayJoshimath 1850m
Arrive In Joshimath
Overnight In: Joshimath (1850m )
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: Evening Tea Snacks, Soup, Dinner, Dessert, Hot Drinks
Cost Of Transport Included: NO
Where and How To Reach Mana
Journey from Haridwar to Joshimath is a long one, but definitely not a boring one. As you swirl up, you come across the Prayags ( confluence of rivers) of Uttrakhand, coming down from the Himalayan Glaciers on the higher reaches of the Himalayan state. These rivers unite to form the mighty Ganga which flows down Haridwar to rest for India. Ganga is known as the lifeline of India, and Uttrakhand - The Dev Bhoomi ( God's Land)

The streets are colorful too !!

Travelling in mountain roads for 280 KMS can be really tiring. So take a good sleep in your hotel tonight.
Day 1
555 - Rishikesh
Day 1
1455 - Karn Prayag
Day 1
1400 - Chamoli
Day 1
1850 - Joshimath
250Km, 8 - 9hrs.
▼ Day 2Trekking DayMana 3300m
From Joshimath (1850m ) To Mana (3300m ), Via - Badrinath (3100m ) - 5 - 6 Hrs. 3 Kms
Overnight In: Mana (3300m )
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: Morning Tea, Breakfast, Lunch, Evening Tea Snacks, Soup, Dinner, Dessert, Hot Drinks
After resting last night, we start our trek today. Early morning we pay our visit to the holy shrine of Badrinath. We may also chose to take a hot bath in the hot spring near the temple.

After visiting the temple, we come back for breakfast and then start our trek. We first head to the village of Mana, the last Indian village on Tibet border which is around 35 kilometers from here. In the beautiful village, we witness the confluence of the mighty Alaknanda river and Saraswati river, known as Keshav Prayag. Also located there is the Bheem Pool, which is regarded by the locals as a bridge made by huge rock thrown by Bheem, a Pandava to help Draupadi cross the mighty river.

Mana has lots of important places to visit and its important that we spend a day here to acclimatize better for our high altitude trek. We are already above 3300 meters, and spending time here will give our body the time to acclimatize better for coming days.
Day 2
1850 - Joshimath
Day 2
3100 - Badrinath
Day 2
3300 - Mana
3Km, 5 - 6hrs.
▼ Day 3Trekking DayLaxmiban 3756m
From Mana (3300m ) To Laxmiban (3756m ), Via - Chamtoli (3610m ) - 4 - 5 Hrs. 9 Kms
Overnight In: Laxmiban (3756m )
Accommodation: Camping
Meals Included: Morning Tea, Breakfast, Lunch, Evening Tea Snacks, Soup, Dinner, Dessert, Hot Drinks
We start our day with an easy walk up the Alakananda river towards Vasudhara falls and Chamtoli.

After some gradual climb we hear sounds of gushing water. The sound increases as we keep walking and soon the mighty 400ft tall Vasudhara Falls makes itself visible. The sound of the water hitting the rock is heard from far distance. Its an amazing feeling witnessing the fall so high..

Little climb from here, and the flat walk takes us to a beautiful meadow of Chamtoli. You might find few shepherds here or their vacant caves. From here, cris crossing few boulders, we reach our campsite marked by a small forest of slanting Bhoj Patra trees.

The surrounding views are great with sights of Alkapuri, the snout and starting point of Alaknanda river. The views will increase your heart beat here on the other side of the river. Other glaciers are also visible on the other side. On a clear weather, white peaks show themselves up here.
Day 3
3300 - Mana
Day 3
3610 - Chamtoli
Day 3
3760 - Laxmiban
9Km, 4 - 5hrs.
▼ Day 4Trekking DayChakrateeth 4450m
From Laxmiban (3756m ) To Chakrateeth (4450m ), Via - Pandu Dhara (3993m ), Sahastra Dhara (4095m ) - 5 - 6 Hrs. 9 Kms
Overnight In: Chakrateeth (4450m )
Accommodation: Camping
Meals Included: Morning Tea, Breakfast, Lunch, Evening Tea Snacks, Soup, Dinner, Dessert, Hot Drinks
The route from here gets tricky and is over boulders. Huge cairns mark the way and during a bad weather, it really makes it difficult here. Stick with you guide. Crossing the bouldery area opens out to lots of small streams flowing down.. Its the beginning od Shahastra Dhara.

The trail gets steeper from here and as we move on, grand views of Chaukhamba, Satopanth, Neelkanth, Parvati and Balakun open up making it further exciting to trek. An opening with smaller humps come up where we camp to get the best of the views for the remaining day.

On a clear weather, enjoy the great views of Mt. Neelkanth, Mt. Chaukhamba and Mt. Balakun from here.
Day 4
3760 - Laxmiban
Day 4
3995 - Pandu Dhara
Day 4
4095 - Sahastra Dhara
Day 4
4450 - Chakrateeth
9Km, 5 - 6hrs.
▼ Day 5Trekking DaySatopanth Tal 4600m
From Chakrateeth (4450m ) To Satopanth Tal (4600m ) . Excursion to Chaukhamba Glacier (5000m ). Excursion to Chaukhamba Glacier - 3 Hrs. 5 Kms
Overnight In: Satopanth Tal (4600m )
Accommodation: Camping
Meals Included: Morning Tea, Breakfast, Lunch, Evening Tea Snacks, Soup, Dinner, Dessert, Hot Drinks
Today we will be witnessing the serenity of the pious Satopanth Taal. Today's route is difficult with steep climb over glacial moraine. We stick together with our trusted guide and some serious trek of around 2 .5 hours gives us the glimpse of the beautiful lake surrounded all round by mighty and mesmerizing peaks of Neelkanth, Satopanth, Chaukhamba, Swargarohini and Balakun.

We worship the equilateral triangular lake and spend some good time seeping in the view and clicking photographs for the rest of the day. We specially camp here to see the magic of sunset and sunrise with the lake surrounded by giant snow cladded peaks.
Day 5
4450 - Chakrateeth
Day 5
4600 - Satopanth Tal
Day 5
5000 - Chaukhamba Glacier
Day 5
4600 - Satopanth Tal
5Km, 3hrs.
▼ Day 6Trekking DayLaxmiban 3756m
From Satopanth Tal (4600m ) To Laxmiban (3756m ), Via - Chakrateeth (4450m ), Sahastra Dhara (4119m ) - 5 - 6 Hrs. 10 Kms
Overnight In: Laxmiban (3756m )
Accommodation: Camping
Meals Included: Morning Tea, Breakfast, Lunch, Evening Tea Snacks, Soup, Dinner, Dessert, Hot Drinks
After satisfying views of the place, today we make our journey backwards. We retrace our track till Laxmiban.
Day 6
4600 - Satopanth Tal
Day 6
4450 - Chakrateeth
Day 6
4120 - Sahastra Dhara
Day 6
3760 - Laxmiban
10Km, 5 - 6hrs.
▼ Day 7Trekking DayJoshimath 1900m
From Laxmiban (3756m ) To Joshimath (1900m ), Via - Chamtoli (3610m ), Mana (3300m ) - 4 - 5 Hrs. 12 Kms
Overnight In: Joshimath (1900m )
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: Morning Tea, Breakfast, Lunch, Evening Tea Snacks, Soup, Dinner, Dessert, Hot Drinks
We retrace our track today and reach Badrinath. If we want, we may spare some time to take hot bath in Tapta Kund to relax ourselves.
Post lunch, we head back for Joshimath
Day 7
3760 - Laxmiban
Day 7
3610 - Chamtoli
Day 7
3300 - Mana
Day 7
1900 - Joshimath
12Km, 4 - 5hrs.
▼ Day 8Departure DayRishikesh 552m
Departure From Joshimath
Accommodation: None
Meals Included: None
Cost Of Transport Included: NO
Early morning, we board our cab to return to Haridwar/ Rishikesh.
Day 8
1900 - Joshimath
Day 8
555 - Rishikesh
9 - 10hrs.

Satopanth Tal Trek - An Elaborate Description

The Satopanth Tal Trek is a journey steeped in mythology and natural beauty. This trek is not just an adventure, but also a spiritual journey that holds a special significance for Hindus.

Mythological Significance

The route is believed to have been used by the Pandavas to ascend to heaven, adding a layer of mythological intrigue to the trek.
Satopanth Tal, a triangular lake at the base of the Satopanth peak, is considered sacred. It is believed that the Tridevs - Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahesh - bathe here on the 11th day of the Hindu calendar. A small home built near the lake is inhabited by a Sadhu known as Mouni Baba (Silent Baba).

Scenic Beauty

The trek offers breathtaking views of several Himalayan peaks including Chaukhamba, Satopanth, Neelkanth, Parvati, and Balakun.
The trek route includes the mesmerizing sounds of the Vasudhara falls, which echo long after you’ve passed them.
Despite being a short-distance trek, it is high-altitude, making it a challenging yet rewarding experience.

Preparation and Precautions

Due to the high altitude, it’s advisable to climb slowly to allow for proper acclimatization and descend quickly.
The weather can be unpredictable, often worsening after noon, so it’s important to start early and be prepared for sudden changes.

Post-Trek Relaxation

After the trek, a hot bath in the Tapta Kund hot springs in Badrinath is a must-do for relaxation.
Spending a night in a stone cave adds a unique element to this trek, making it an experience to remember.

In conclusion, the Satopanth Tal Trek is more than just a trek; it’s a spiritual journey through some of the most beautiful landscapes of the Himalayas. With its mix of mythological significance, natural beauty, and adventure, it promises an unforgettable experience for every trekker

Satopanth Tal Trek - Why Its A Must-Do

The Pious and Serene Satopanth Tal: Satopanth Tal, located at the base of the Satopanth peak, is a serene lake considered sacred by Hindus. It is believed that the Tridevs of Hinduism - Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahesh - bathe in this lake, adding a layer of spiritual significance to the trek.
Close View of Giant Peaks: The trek offers close views of several majestic peaks including Chaukhamba, Satopanth, Neelkanth, Parvati, and Balakun. These towering peaks add a sense of awe and grandeur to the trekking experience.
The Border Village of Mana: Mana, the last Indian village on the Tibet border, is a significant stop on this trek. The confluence of the Saraswati river and Alaknanda river near Mana is a sight to behold.
Alkapuri Glacier and Vasudhara Falls: The Alkapuri glacier, the source of the Alaknanda river, and the Vasudhara falls are other notable attractions on this trek. Their natural beauty enhances the overall trekking experience.
Mythological Story of the Pandavas: The trek is steeped in mythology, with stories of the Pandavas attaining heaven from Swargarohini. This adds a unique mythological dimension to the trek.
Hot Water Bath at Tapta Kund: After the trek, trekkers can relax with a hot water bath in the hot springs of Tapta Kund in Badrinath. This is a perfect way to unwind and rejuvenate after the challenging trek.
Night in Stone Caves: If you’re up for it, you can spend a night in a stone cave for a unique and rustic experience.

Each of these elements contributes to making the Satopanth Tal Trek a truly unforgettable adventure. Whether it’s the spiritual significance of Satopanth Tal, the awe-inspiring views of the Himalayan peaks, the cultural richness of Mana village, or the thrill of spending a night in a stone cave, there’s something for every trekker to enjoy.

How We Grade Our Treks and Expeditions

Easy

Usual daily walks of 4 - 5 hours in altitude below 4000 meters. The sleeping altitude on these treks are below 4000 meter and the trails are gradual involving no steep ascent or descent. Sometimes, the trail may be longer, but on level trails. The duration of trek may be a week or lesser than it. The trek is not too remote and evacuation might be possible from almost any point of the trek

Moderate

The trek duration each day may span from 4 - 5 hours, but on some days, it may push up to 8 - 9 days. The trail might involve steep ascents or descents on occasions This kind of treks demand good fitness, and trekkers must involve themselves in cardio exercises regularly to do these treks comfortably. Sleeping altitude are below 4000 meters or little above it, but the trail might go as high as 4500 - 5000 meters. The trek is bit remote and evacuation might be possible from almost all, but not all campsites

Moderate+

This type of treks are bit more demanding than the moderate ones. It might involve few days of very long walks at higher altitude, or serious gradients, exposures, more remote or involves sleeping at higher altitudes for more days.

Strenuous

The trek duration each day may span from 5 - 8 hours, and may go up to to 8 - 9 on few days. The trail involves steep ascents and descents. Good fitness are demand of these treks, and trekkers must involve themselves in cardio exercises regularly to do these treks comfortably. Sleeping altitude may go above 4000 meters or little above it on couple of days, but not more than that. The trail might go as high as 4500 - 5200 meters. These trek are remote and evacuation might not be possible from all the campsites

Challenging

The trek duration each day may span from 5 - 8 hours, and may go up to to 8 - 9 or even more than that on few days. The trail involves steep ascents and descents. Crossing a glacier or a scree zone might be a feature of these treks. You might on some occasions, require technical equipment like rope, ice axe and snow stacks etc to complete these treks. Good fitness are demand of any treks, but these treks demands strong character. Sleeping altitude may goes well above 5000 meters on some days. The trail might go as high as 5000 - 6000 meters. These trek are high or remote or both. The trek usually might be a week long.

Sometimes irrespective of altitude and distance, a trek may ge graded Challenging if the route is treacherous, which might demand some footing skills or assistance of ropes and other equipment

Challenging+

The trek duration each day may span from 5 - 8 hours, and may go up to to 8 - 9 or even more than that on few days. The trail involves steep ascents and descents. Negotiating glacial moraines, scree zones, crossing them, camping on them etc are features of these treks. You might also require technical equipment like rope, ice axe and snow stacks etc to complete these treks. Good fitness are demand of any treks, but these treks demands strong character. Sleeping altitude may goes well above 5000 meters on some days. The trail might go as high as 5000 - 6000 meters. These trek are high and remote. A good technical support team and knowledgeable local guide is a must. Only experienced trekkers are advised to do these treks. The trek goes over 2 week and may be longer than that.

Sometimes irrespective of altitude and distance, a trek may ge graded Challenging if the route is treacherous, which might demand some footing skills or assistance of ropes and other equipment

Page Cost Inclusions and Exclusions For The Satopanth Tal Trek

WHAT'S INCLUDED IN THE PRICE

Duration: 8 Days / 7 nights of the trek cost from Rishikesh to Rishikesh
Accommodation In Base Villages (Joshimath ): 2 nights in a local homestay with emphasis on local organic food and cultural exposure.
Accommodation On Trek: Spacious, sturdy, and High-Quality Dome Tents will be provided on a twin sharing basis.
Sleeping In Tents: Thick Waterproof Mattress complemented with Sub Zero Sleeping bags supported with Warm Fleece Sleeping Bag Inners For Extra Hygiene and Warmth will be provided by us
Dining On Trek: We will provide Dining and Kitchen Tents with camping stools and tables for extra hygiene and comfort.
Toilet On Treks: Dry eco-toilet will be set up with a toilet tent and toilet seat.
Meals: All meals starting lunch on Day 1 till lunch on Day 8 morning. 3 meals (B,L,D) suited for high altitude with evening snacks, soup, hot drinks, and extra energizers/juice for summit days
Trail Safety: Gaiters, Anti Slip Crampons, and Ice Axe depending upon snow conditions.
Communication: For efficient management of the trek, the team will be communicating with each other and trek base with the help of long-range wireless sets.
Medical Safety: Oxygen cylinder, Pulse Oximeter, Thermal temperature scanner, and Emergency Medical Kit accompanied by a trek leader knowledgeable on high altitude medicine and physiology
Trek Leader and Guide: Experienced and Well Equipped English/ Hindi Speaking Trek Leader maintaining guide to trekker ratio of 1:6. That is 1 guide for every 6 trekkers.
Local Support Staffs: Expert and Knowledgeable local guide with cooks, helpers, porters, mules, etc with travel and food allowances throughout the duration of the trek.
Permits: All required forest entry permits and camping fees as per the rules of the state
Transfers: Return transfers from Rishikesh in a private SUV
Max Team Size: Small group of not more than 12 members.

Add Ons: Make A Comfortable Trek

Single Tent Supplement: Rs 8000, for 7 nights
Personal Baggage Porterage: Rs. 5000, up to 10 Kgs

Add Ons: Personal Equipment On Rent

High Ankle Waterproof Trekking Shoes (Quechua): Rs 1000
-20 degrees Down Jackets: Rs. 1200
Windproof/Waterproof Jackets: Rs. 500
Windproof/Waterproof pants: Rs. 500
Headlamps: 200
Poncho: 200
Trek Pole: 200
Rucksack: 200
Waterproof Gloves: 200

WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED

Porter For Personal Bags ( optional at extra cost )
Single Tent Supplement ( optional at extra cost )
Personal Travel Insurance
Personal Purchases
Food Purchased Outside Our Menu
Bottled Water or any other beverages
Personal Gears
Anything not mentioned in the inclusion list

Cost Terms For The Satopanth Tal Trek

Cost Terms

The above-mentioned cost is in the range of minimum to maximum per-person cost for this trek as per 1 - 12 people team.PackageInclusions as per this cost can be read below.
5% GST (goods and service tax) is applicable for all our purchases.
We follow dynamic pricing as per the actual team size on the trek. Going by our standardized service, appropriate safety measures, quality equipment, and ecologically sustainable - small group commitment, a higher team size will lower the cost whereas a lower team size will significantly increase the cost.
Group segmented pricing if not provided here, please write to us using the contact page or text us on Whatsapp number +918017216725.
You may choose to keep the trek open or make it private depending upon your requirements or choice. The actual per-person cost of the trek is subject to the actual team size joining the trek. If you make any customizations that drastically change the itinerary and cost as mentioned here, then it will mandatorily have to be a private group only.
If we have dates listed on our website on Our Upcoming Treks and it is not marked as private, it means other people have booked this trek for that date and have opened it up for other members to join to lower the cost. If your dates and choices match, you may join these treks
You may join an existing open group listed on our website or create your own group as per your convenient dates and choose to either keep it private or open it up to lower the cost if other members join the trek.
At any point, the team size cannot be more than 12 members ( 10 for challenging treks) unless there is a unique exception requested or agreed upon by all the team members.

International Guests

Trek cost for foreigners is slightly higher than the cost for our Indian guests, mainly due to the higher permit fee applicable for admission to National Parks or protected forest areas. Sometimes, it may be higher due to higher local crew wages and other specific arrangements we make to ensure a safe, comfortable and enriching travel experience in India. However, we absolutely DO NOT 'hyper-charge' our International Guests ever and at the same time, ensure that we meet all the standards for highly qualified trek leaders and guides, safety, medical preparation, evacuation strategy, rescue arrangements, eco-sensitive travel, high-value knowledge sharing about the area and customs of the locals.

Extra Cost For International Trekkers Rs. 5000 per person.

Booking Process

Booking can only be done after multiple communication via email / Whatsapp / Calls. After connecting with us and discussing your needs, we finalize the trek and its requirements. After finalization, partial booking fees can be paid online or through direct bank transfers after which we trigger our preparations and arrangements for your trek. International Trekkers can pay the partial booking fees using PayPal, Wise, Western Union or Direct Wire Transfer.

Customized Private Group For Satopanth Tal Trek

Trekking is a very personal activity and is perhaps one of the very few activities that give you enough time to indulge with yourself or your beloved people, a group of special friends, or close family members. It helps you transform personal bonds to the next level as it brings out everyone's best and truest self. Trekking is most enjoyed when it is done in a small private group, personalized to serve your specific needs. The Himalayas are best experienced when there is silence and solitude around and when you are surrounded only by your best people. Your trek is most enjoyable when all the pain of arranging a smooth trek is taken care of by us, and you focus just on your trek and yourself. Most importantly, a small private trekking group is very flexible, personalized, and more enjoyable, is the safest, and follows the principles of Sustainable and Responsible Tourism. Most trekkers book us for arranging personalized private treks catering to their specific and unique requirements - Customize This Trek

ENQUIRE FOR PRICING

We work exclusively on Personalized Private Groups – its perfect for solo climbers, couples, families, friends or teams.

We keep it small for low ecological footprint, better experience, flexible itinerary, highest safety standards and superior success rate on the summits. Team size: 1 to 10 max.

Enquire for detailed pricing based on your preferences and group size.

Email Us

Customize

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