Day 06:
Aagar - Gimtoli (6391 ft / 1948 metres) and continue trek to Forest Camp (5249 ft/ 1600 metres)

It is a 5 hour trek to Aagar Pass (6,624 ft/ 2,019 metres) from where there are great views of Kedarnath (22,769 ft/ 6,940 metres), Kedar Dome and Chaukhamba. Looking down into the valley is the village of Gimtoli (6,503 ft/ 1,982 metres) and below that a school ground.

At Gimtoli there is a motorable road to Kanak Chauri (7,109 ft/ 2,167 metres), a small village on the road. From the village the walk up to Kartik Swami Temple (8,163 ft/ 2,488 metres) takes about an hour. This is a lovely walk through wooded hillsides to the top of the ridge. We pass several houses occupied by Sadhus (holy men). The Temple itself was destroyed on 25 April, 1999 by an earthquake with its epicentre some 60 kms from here. The Temple has now been re-built. It sits right on top of the ridge and is the highest for miles around. Here we have the company of lammergeyers (Gypaetus barbatus) the huge mountain vultures circling above the ridge. Returning to the road we take one of the buses back to Gimtoli from where it is a long descent through terraced fields to the bottom of the valley and the village of Suwarri (5,335 ft/ 1,626 metres). Looking at the opposite hillside you can see the path zigzagging up to the ridge. Descend now for half an hour to a clearing in the forest where we pitch camp for the night. Two years ago on this campsite we were kept awake by the sounds of a leopard nearby! Overnight in tents.

Note - it is possible to trek directly to Kartik Swami Temple from Aagar and to the forest camp without using the bus from Gimtoli. This does make a much longer day and this option can be examined with the leader at the time. The bus ride though is quite an interesting Indian experience!

Day 07:
Trek from Forest Camp to Sodi (2677 ft/ 816 metres) and drive to Rudraprayag

Today the trail is downhill passing through beautiful countryside and the villages of Mangu and Bathwari. The next village is Deodar where there is a government school. From here the road to Kedarnath with the Mandakani River flowing beside it can be seen. Our vehicles will pick us up at Sodi from where we drive to Rudraprayag to spend the night.
Overnight in tents.

Day 08 :
Drive from Rudraprayag to Gangotri ( 10170 ft/ 3100 metres )

From Rudraprayag we drive to Gangotri. Here you will see a lot Rishis, Sadhus and other holy men with a sprinkling of foreigners. Legend has it that Gangotri's spectacular waterfall marks the spot where the Goddess Ganga descended from heaven in ancient times. Here the god Shiva received the shattering impact of the celestial torrent upon his head and the Ganges split into four sacred rivers - Bhagirathi, Yamuna, Mandakini and Alaknanda.
Overnight in guest house.

Day 09:
Trek from Gangotri to Chirbasa (11549 ft/ 3606 metres/ 4 hours)

The walk begins with a gradual ascent through pine forests alongside the roaring Bhagirathi River with towering cliffs on the left. We pass a check post for the Gangotri Conservation Project. The money collected here from our guide on behalf of the group goes towards projects such as collection of litter, re-planting trees and an awareness campaign for trekkers on eco-sensitive tourism. Today's walk is quite short to help us acclimatize to the altitude. We have reached Chirbasa where we will camp for the night. Chirbasa means home of pine trees! From here you get superb views of Manda peak (20,853 ft/ 6511 metres), Hanuman Tibba (17,186 ft/ 5366 metres), Bhrigu Parbat (19,217 ft/ 6000 metres), Bhagirathi I, II and III (21,958 ft/ 6856 metres, 20,857 ft/ 6512 metres, and 20,671 ft/ 6454 metres respectively). These are some of the giant peaks of the Himalayan region. Overnight in tents.

Day 10:
Trek from Chirbasa to Gaumukh (12769 ft/ 3892 metres/ 4 hours)

It is a two hour trek to Bhojbasa (12,145 ft/ 3792 metres) which has an ashram, a tourist guest house and a police outpost. Here the soaring peak of Shivling (20,956 ft/ 6543 metres) comes into view. The trail from Bhojbasa to Gaumukh is a fairly gradual ascent. It is interesting to know the meaning of Gaumukh - "Gau" means cow, and "Mukh" means mouth. Here you can take a dip in the holy waters of the Ganges. Gangotri used to be the source of this river but the glacier has receded now to just beyond Gaumukh.
Overnight in tents.

Day 11:
Trek from Gaumauk to Tapovan (14294 ft/ 4463 metres/ 3 hours)

Although relatively short in distance, today's walk will feel strenuous with the combined effects of the altitude, the glacier crossing and the steep and rocky terrain on the final climb to Tapovan. The trek begins over rocky boulders and becomes noticeably steep gradually over the rocky terrain. The glacier is covered by moraine so you do not need any technical equipment, although a steadying trekking pole is definitely handy. Take the last step up the steep rocky path to enter the Tapovan meadow and view the spectacular sight all around you. You are surrounded by the giants - Shivling, Meru, Manda, the Bhagirathi and its two sister peaks and the Gangotri glacier. Overnight in tents.

Day 12:
Trek from Tapovan to Chirbasa (6 hours)

Rise early to see the spectacular sight of the sunrise on the surrounding 6000 metre peaks. Shivling is undoubtedly the star of the show, commanding instant attention as it soars dramatically into the sky, dwarfing its neighbours.

Today we will retrace our steps to Chirbasa. A steep descent down to the glacier is followed by a rocky traverse of the glacier and a gradual descent to Chirbasa. Overnight in tents.

Day 13:
Trek from Chirbasa to Gangotri and drive to Uttarkashi

It is a 3 hour trek from Chirbasa to Malla from where we have a 6 hour drive to Uttarkashi. This is an attractive little town situated on the right bank of the river Bhagirathi at an altitude of about 4,964 ft/ 1,550 metres. The temples and Ghats have names almost identical to those in Varanasi, the historical holy city in the Indian plains. The most important temple here dedicated to Shiva is known as Vishwanath Mandir. Here stands a magnificent Trishul (trident) one meter in circumference and made of copper and supports a trident four meters long. Each prong is about two

meters in length. Uttarkashi is known for its temples dedicated to Parhsuram, Datatryea, Annapurna, Devi, Kali Bhairon and other gods and goddesses. At one time, there were 365 temples in this town.

Uttarkashi is also known as Barahat, literally meaning "a big market place". In the olden days Kedarnath was a 12 days' trek, Gangotri 7 days, Yamunotri 5 days and Srinagar 6 days away. However, now motorable roads go to most of these places.

Uttarkashi also has a number of ashrams for the sanyasis and mendicants who occupy the banks of the holy river for penance and prayers. It is a modern town with all facilities. The Nehru Institute of Mountaineering is located here. It is situated at a spur at Ladari, dominating the beautiful town and overlooking the entire valley. This national institute imparts mountaineering training to young people to inculcate the spirit of adventure among the youth. The institute at Uttarkashi is the second Nehru Mountaineering Institute which conducts basic and advanced mountaineering courses. Uttarkashi has developed rapidly due to the construction of the Maneri Valley Hydroelectric Project. Overnight in tents.

Day 14:
Drive from Uttarkashi to Rishikesh

The drive to Rishikesh takes about 6 hours. There will be plenty of time in the late afternoon and evening to visit the bazaars and ashrams of Rishikesh. Rishikesh is essentially a pilgrim town and the bulk of the pilgrims are simple villagers whose intense devotion give both Haridwar and Rishikesh a special atmosphere, a taste of the old India that continues to flow in modern times. At sundown each evening there is a service or "Aarti" at the side of the river, at the bathing Ghat where tiny candle rafts are lit and let out into the waters of the Ganga as an offering to the gods. Overnight in hotel.

Day 15:
Drive from Rishikesh to Delhi

Today we drive back to Delhi and check in to our hotel on arrival.
Overnight in hotel.

Day 16:
Delhi - Departure

You will be dropped off at the airport for your flight home.

Tour and travel services end.