Itinerary Description
Grade:
Moderate
Location:
India
Maximum Altitude:
0 mts
Duration:
6 Days
IntroductionDodital Darwa Pass trek is an offbeat trek hidden in the Garhwal Himalayas of Uttarakhand. The trek is a stunning amalgamation of a tranquil freshwater lake, a high-altitude pass, dense forests, and gurgling streams. When you reach the top of Darwa Pass (4,151 m), you will be blown away by the majestic views of the revered peaks like Mt. Srikanth Peak, Deoli, Bandarpoonch, and Draupadi ka Danda. Another highlight is its jaw-dropping campsite. The sacred lake of Dodital is a treat to sore eyes. The fresh water from the lake feeds the Assi Ganga river before it merges with Bhagirathi. Beside the lake is Ganesha Temple. It is believed that this place is where Lord Ganesha was born. A night spent by a lake and under the stars is an unforgettable experience.The lofty mountain slopes covered with tall oak trees keep you humble throughout the trek. And, if you are attentive, you can spot birds like the Himalayan Monal, Pink Finch, Grey Shrike, Tailor Bird, and Bush Robin.Best Time to TrekThe trail to Darwa Pass is open for half a year, divided between the summer and winter seasons. Each season has something unique to offer in terms of scenery and experience.Summer: Enjoy pleasant weather during April-June. The mountains are covered with thick green oak forests. You may find some snow at the top in the early months. The quaint lake surrounded by lush greenery looks serene and peaceful.Winter: October-December is the time when the trail is laden with snow. The lake is frozen in its sheer glory. The snowflakes rest on the oak trees. The whole landscape is covered in snow as far as your eyes can see. Difficulty LevelDodital Darwa Pass Trek lies somewhere between easy and moderate on the difficulty level scale. The trail is easy, including some steep sections and boulder zones. However, the trek demands cardiovascular endurance. It is recommended that you jog or bike every day to get yourself fit before the trek. The views will keep you motivated throughout the trail. The 5-day trek is a suitable choice for first-timers and beginners who have not experienced camping in the woods before.
Brief Itinerary
Day 1:?Arrival at Agoda Village (2,251M)
Day 2
Agoda (2,251M) to Dodital Lake (3,024M) via Manjhi (2,880M)
Day 3
Dodital Lake (3,024M) to Darwa Pass (4,151M) to Dodital Lake (4,151M)
Day 4 Dodital Lake (3,024M) to Agoda (2,251M) via Manjhi and Bhebra
Day 5
Agoda (2,251M) to Uttarkashi (1,158M) to Dehradun (640M)
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1
Day 1:?Arrival at Agoda Village (2,251M)
Distance: 164 kms
Time: 7 hours drive
Day 01 is reserved for the participants to make their way from Dehradun to a picturesque village in the Bhatwari Tehsil of Uttarkashi which goes by the name of Agoda and doubles up as the base camp for this trek. If you have signed up with The Wanderin' Man for transportation from Dehradun to Agoda, we assemble at the designated meeting point in the early morning hours.
In case you plan to reach Agoda village on your own, this article can come handy to plan your journey.
The route to Agoda offers rustic mountain views through and through. The divergence towards Dhanaulti on the Mussoorie road takes you towards the Garhwal interiors. A jade-shaded Bhagirathi river becomes prominently visible from Chinyalisaur all the way up to a small town of Maneri. The way is bordered with conical pine trees. A smaller route from here diverges towards Sangamchetti on the left, parallel to streams of Assi Ganga River. An uphill dirt track from Sangamchetti, the confluence point of Assi Ganga and Varna river, leads us up towards our basecamp village.
Once settled and well rested in the homestay, we conduct our formal briefing about our trek schedule, know-how, basic do’s and don’ts and environmental conservation practices.
Day 2
Day 2 Agoda (2,251M) to Dodital Lake (3,024M) via Manjhi (2,880M)
Distance: 17km
Time: 8 hours
We start early in the morning today. Post a healthy breakfast, we follow a small passageway upwards to move away from Agoda and towards Dodital campsite. The route opens up into an oak forest which is followed by a few thousand steps on the side of a huge rock face. A small patch of silver oak jungle follows, taking us into the deeper pockets of Uttarkashi. The pleasant fragrance from the oak trees gives out a soothing vibe all the way up to Bhebra village.
Gurgling streams collect into a translucent green pond which makes for a fascinating sight. On crossing a bunch of streams and a boulder zone, the trail gets a bit steeper in ascent for the next 4 km. A longer parallel trail also exists but the steeper one is preferable to reach the campsite at a reasonable hour. We pause for lunch at the Manjhi settlement before pushing off again towards Dodital. From Manjhi, the curvy pathway is comparatively levelled in gradient. Small streams amidst dense forests add to the charm of this trail today. For the last one hour, the path descends smoothly towards Annapurna temple that finally leads to the ground surrounding Dodital via the Lord Ganesha temple.
The campsite for today overlooks the Dodital Lake; the setting is gorgeous to say the least. We reach here before sunset. Snacks and dinner follow in the dining tent. Since it has been a long day, we tuck ourselves in right after dinner to get the much deserved rest. Night temperatures at this campsite can go as low as -15°C in mid-December.
Day 3
Day 3 Dodital Lake (3,024M) to Darwa Pass (4,151M) to Dodital Lake (4,151M)
Distance: 10 kms
Time: 6 hours
We start early today to make our way to Darwa Pass. It is quite an undertaking since it requires us to gain approximately 1,127M of vertical elevation from our current campsite. After a good breakfast, and double checking if we are properly layered, we leave for the pass which is covered with snow for most of the year.
Since we have to come back to the same campsite, we only carry essentials for this journey in a day pack and leave the backpack behind in the campsite.
The trail from Dodital to Darwa Pass is heavily guarded with golden oak trees and a thick coat of vegetation. Multiple streams formed from the melting of the snow over the pass are encountered on the way early on. As we move higher up, the views shift from a backdrop of lakes to accommodate large mountains of the Garhwal range into our field of vision. Availability of water starts to get scarce as we go up.
The last stretch of Darwa Pass is a steep ascent. Darwa Pass offers mesmerizing views of Mt. Srikanth Peak, Deoli, Bandarpoonch, DraupadikaDanda and Hanuman Ganga Valley.
After spending some time on the pass, we start our descent to make it to camp in time before the light starts to fade out. At some point on the descent, we take some time to rest and to eat our packed lunch before we head on down all the way to our campsite.
We usually reach the campsite by late afternoon. Snacks and games follow all through the evening till an early dinner and rest. The next day is going to be long as well.
Day 4
Day 4 Dodital Lake (3,024M) to Agoda (2,251M) via Manjhi and Bhebra
Distance: 17 km
Time: 5 hours
Today, we leave from Dodital Lake towards our homestay at Agoda village which was the basecamp of our trek. We take the same trail we took the first day to get here.
Post a warm-up session and much delicious breakfast, we pay a visit to the Ganesha temple and then start our descent.
Once again, we pass through the dazzling trail via forests and little streams of Assi Ganga river reminiscing about our mountain experiences and sharing our personal adventure stories from the trek in the company of woods.
On reaching Agoda, evening snacks and debriefing precede dinner. Post dinner, we spend time with our fellow trekkers and rest.
Day 5
Day 5 Agoda (2,251M) to Uttarkashi (1,158M) to Dehradun (640M)
Distance: 169 kms
Time: 7 hours drive Post breakfast we get into our cab which is to drive us to Dehradun. Since it is a 9 hour long drive, we might stop on the way for lunch.
If you have booked your trip back to Dehradun with The Wanderin' Mans, we leave around 10AM in the morning. Expect to reach Dehradun by late evening. You may make arrangements for your journey onward accordingly. Given that journeys on mountain roads are rife with unpredictability, we would recommend you make your bookings out of Dehradun for the next day.
Mobile network is available within an hour into our drive from Agoda, as soon as we reach Uttarkashi.
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- ●Meals during the trek (Starting dinner on Day 1 till breakfast on Day 5)
- ●Forest Permits/Camping Charges (Upto the amount charged for Indian nationals)
- ●Tents on twin sharing basis, Sleeping bags, mats
- ●All technical equipment as required
- ●Trek guide, cook, helpers, porters & mules for carrying common luggage
- ●Porters or mules for carrying common supply
- ●Mountaineering course certified Trek Leader with First Aid certification and special rescue course from NIM, Uttarkashi
WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED
Are you eligible for this adventure?
Annapurna Base Camp Trek takes you to a height of 4,130M and is rated a moderate level trek for its long trekking distances. For its elevation and distances, it is recommended for trekkers with some prior experience in the high-altitudes.
Grade
Moderate
Max Altitude
0 mts
Distance
40 km
WIMRS Level Required
Terrain
Prerequisite Skills
Fitness Benchmark
WIMRS Level Required
WIMRS 4
Annapurna Base Camp Trek is a level 4 adventure on the Bikat Rating Scale.
This makes it mandatory for you to have high-altitude experience of preferably multiple treks marked at level 3 on the WIMRS. The altitude, the terrain, and the nature of the climb demand a certain level of endurance and a need for you to be aware of how your body reacts to the various features of the high-altitude environment.
If you do not know what level of WIMRS trek would suit you best, worry not! Fill out this Form:
We will send you a progression chart to help you comfortably get out of your comfort zone in order to level up and ultimately reach your highest potential in the big, bad world of outdoor adventure.
Packing List
This is a list of essential items for individuals doing the trek with Bikat Adventures. This list contains only those items which the participants are required to bring with them. The list excludes those items which are provided by Bikat Adventures on the trek. We have divided the items into five categories. All the items in the list are essential except for those marked as optional.
🟩 Trekking Gear
- Ruck sack bag with rain cover. Qty -1
- . Day Pack Bag - Recommended for treks with summit day
- Head Torch with spare Batteries. Qty -1
- U V protection sunglasses. Qty -1*
- Water Bottles: 2 bottles of 1 liter each*
🟩 Footwear
- Non-skid, deep treaded, high-ankle with water resistant trekking shoes Qty -1
- Pair of light weight Crocks/Sandals Qty -1
🟩 Clothing
- Quick Dry Warm lower or Track Pants. Qty – 2*
- Full sleeves T-shirts/ Sweatshirts. 1 for every 2 days of trekking
- Pair of thick woolen socks. 1 pair for every two days of trekking
- Thermal Body warmer Upper & Lower. Qty-1
- Undergarments. Qty - 1 for every day of trekking
- Warm jacket closed at wrist & neck .Qty-1
- Full sleeves sweater. Qty -1
- Rain wear (Poncho/ Jacket & Pants) . Qty-1
- Pair of waterproof, warm gloves. Qty-1
- Woolen cap. Qty-1
- Sun shielding Hat. Qty -1
🟩 Toiletries
- Personal toiletries kit (Small Towel, Toilet paper, paper soap, Bar soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, cold cream, etc.)
- Sun screen lotion small pack. Qty -1 (Minimum SPF 30)
- Lip Balm small pack. Qty-1
🟩 Miscellaneous
- Camera (Optional)
- Carry your medicines in plenty in case you have any specific ailment. Consult your doctor before joining the trek.
- Dry fruits, Nuts, Chocolate bars (Optional)
Here are a couple of tutorials on What & How to pack your rucksack for your upcoming trek from our experts:
Note-
- *For long trek please carry one spare sunglass
- *In winter trek please try to carry one hot water bottle
- * For long and winter trek to carry warm pent one pair
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Wanderin Man?
(SET- Safety, Expertise & Trust )
Safety
- ●Small Group Size in the ratio of 6:1 (participant to leader)
- ●No compromise on safety and sustainability promise
- ●Experienced and Certified Mountaineering Professional Leaders
- ●Region Mapped with Emergency Evacuation Plan
- ●Certified Standard Equipment by UIAA (International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation certification) & other Similar Bodies
- ●Minimized Risk Management Standard Operating Procedure are applied for every Trek and tour
- ●Certified First Aid Support and Doctors* with constant availability of Safety Equipments like Medical Kit, Rescue Kit
- ●Constant communication is aided with the help of Communication Devices
- ●Certified and registered Transporter for transportation purpose
Expertise
- ●Founders of the company have extensive experience of 15 years having organized 8k+ peak expeditions.
- ●Under the umbrella of Wanderin’ Man Adventures 15+ adventure activities Programs have been organized
- ●Founders have mountaineering certifications from the esteemed mountaineering institutes of India.
- ●Team is composed of experienced mountaineers and trek leaders with thorough understanding of norms and procedures.
Trust
- ●Trust has been the hallmark of our company since its inception be it any program on the list.
- ●Special emphasis is laid on the use of standard procedures and equipments as per the mountaineering norms
- ●95% of our clients have availed our service on repeat basis.
- ●Our business has expanded primarily based on the “word of mouth” from our existing clients to new ones
What Our Customers Say
Cancellation Policy
Cash Refund (All events including Friendship Peak Expedition except other Mountaineering Expeditions) - Cash refunds are only available for bookings made without any discounts, such as promotional codes or dynamic discounts. Additionally, cash refunds are not available for shifted batch bookings or if the booking status is "Booked". The amount of the refund will be determined based on the following guidelines:
Cancellations made up to 45 days before the departure date
Cancellations made up to 31 days before the departure date
Cancellations made between 30 and 21 days before the departure date
Cancellations made between 20 and 11 days before the departure date
Cancellations made less than 11 days before the departure date are not eligible for a cash refund.
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