Plan The Unplanned in association with IWasThere brings you one of the finest Himalayan Winter treks out there suitable for those looking to attempt their first Himalayan trek as well as the more experienced trekkers looking for a quick Himalayan getaway.

Winters being extreme in the Himalayas makes it difficult to access the higher reaches of it during the peak winter months starting from November-December to end of March. During this time, Himalayas receive a lot of snowfall which makes a lot of treks inaccessible. It is the same very reason which makes Brahmatal Trek a unique affair as this is among those rare treks nestled in the Garhwal Himalayas during that period wherein the trekkers can tread through snow and indulge in a magical experience.

This trek offers varied experiences as we walk through the dense Oak and Rhododendron forest for the most part of the trek but the trek also offers the trekkers with an opportunity to walk on snow-covered meadows along with camping next to Bekal Tal. The surroundings of the high altitude Brahmatal lake is serene and on a clear day, one can see the perfect reflection of mountains in it. The trek also offers majestic views of Mt. Nandagunti and Mt. Trishul from the highest point on the trek and a panoramic view of other Himalayan peaks. Add to the fact that this is a fairly easy trail with most parts of the trek in the treeline in a gradual ascend which makes it accessible for beginners by reducing the chances of altitude sickness and you can select this to be your first adventure in the Himalayas. Two beautiful lakes, thick Oak and Rhododendron forest and majestic mountain views from the top is a recipe to make it a perfect winter trek in Garhwal Himalayas.

STAY:

• Homestays or lodges on arrival at Lohajung on Day 1 and Day 5.

• Camping in tents on all the days during the trek on twin/triple sharing basis.

• Accommodation at Kathgodam on Day 6 not included

MEALS:

• All meals since arrival at Lohaung till the dinner on Day 5
• During the trek – Breakfast, Lunch, Evening Snacks and Dinner will be provided. Tea will be a part of breakfast and evening snacks.
• The food will be vegetarian and eggs may be provided.
•  Personal expenses like Soft drinks, bottled water, beverages, etc. not included.
• Any meals not mentioned above, not included
• Food during the transit from Kathgodam to Lohajung and back is not part of the itinerary in order to give our trekkers an opportunity to indulge in some local cuisine. Feel free to stop at any of the Himalayan Dhabas on Day 1 and Day 6.

TRANSPORT:

•  Non AC coach from Kathgodam to Lohajung on Day 1 and back on Day 6
•  Airfare/Train tickets not included

OTHER INCLUSIONS:

•  An experienced Trek Leader
• Professional and experienced local trekking guides
• Entry fee to the park
•  Environment levy fees
•  Any other permits that may be required

OTHER EXCLUSIONS:

• Any charges for carrying still/video cameras etc
•  Personal expenses like tips, telephone calls, laundry, etc.
•  Trekking equipment like trekking bag, shoe, trekking pole etc.
•  Any costs arising out of unforeseen circumstances like landslides, roadblocks, bad weather, etc.
• Travel insurance

LUGGAGE:

• We expect our trekkers to carry their own bag, however, if someone wishes to load their trek bag on a mule or take the assistance of a porter and carry only the day backpack, an additional charge of Rs 1200 for the entire duration of the trek is applicable.
• Part offloading of the backpack is not allowed. One bag per trekker is accepted for offloading and the bag can not weigh more than 10 Kgs.
• We do not accept trolleys, suitcases, duffle bags or travel bags for offloading and only trek bags are accepted.

MEDICAL DECLARATION:

• Trekkers need to deposit a medical declaration form duly signed by a Doctor before the start of the trek. Trekkers failing to get the medical form will not be allowed on the trek.

HOW TO REACH KATHGODAM:

• You need to arrive at Kathgodam Railway station at 6 am on Day 1 from where Plan The Unplanned shall arrange for your cab to Lohajung.
• Kathgodam is well connected with Delhi and Dehradun via train, buses, and taxis
• Trains from Delhi to Kathgodam:
  • Ranikhet Express- Departure from Delhi 10:00 pm, Arrival at Kathgodam at 5:00 am
  • Sampark Kranti-Departure from Delhi 4:00 pm, Arrival at Kathgodam 10:45 pm
• Overnight buses are also available from Delhi’s Anand Vihar ISBT to Kathgodam. (No online bookings, only on the spot bookings available)
• Trains from Dehradun to Kathgodam:
  • Naini-Doon Jan-Shatabdi Express – Departure from Dehradun 4:15 pm, Arrival at Kathgodam 11:50 pm
• Overnight stay can be arranged by yourself at Kathgodam if required. You can try the government tourist guest house right next to the railway station.

DETAILED ITINERARY

Day 1: Kathgodam to Lohajung

Altitude : 7,650 ft

Drive Time: 10 Hrs

Lohajung is the base camp for the Brahmatal trek, for which we pick you up from Kathgodam at 6 AM. It will be a 10 hours drive through the beautiful hill station of Nainital – the city of lakes. The drive is along the course of Kosi River which later gives way to Pindar River thereafter, alongside a spectacle of snow-capped mountains. Most of the drive is in the beautiful serpentine roads of Kumaon before entering Garhwal and not before passing through some of the beautiful villages of this region. The last point to buy any provisions en route is Dewal. There is good connectivity of phone and internet along with ATMs. Some last minute shopping can be done here before heading towards the final journey for the day. The gain is considerable from Dewal to Lohajung through very narrow and curvy roads. It will mostly be foggy or rainy along with cold weather and certainly marks the true beginning of the wilderness. You reach Lohajung, our base camp – a little hamlet in Chamoli district in Garhwal Himalayas. On arrival at Lohajung, check in to a guest house or lodge for overnight stay. (Food during the transit from Kathgodam to Lohajung is not a part of the trek. Please stop over at many of the Himalayan Dhabas to relish local cuisine en route).

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Brahmatal Trek

Plan The Unplanned in association with IWasThere brings you one of the finest Himalayan Winter treks out there suitable for those looking to attempt their first Himalayan trek as well as the more experienced trekkers looking for a quick Himalayan getaway.

Winters being extreme in the Himalayas makes it difficult to access the higher reaches of it during the peak winter months starting from November-December to end of March. During this time, Himalayas receive a lot of snowfall which makes a lot of treks inaccessible. It is the same very reason which makes Brahmatal Trek a unique affair as this is among those rare treks nestled in the Garhwal Himalayas during that period wherein the trekkers can tread through snow and indulge in a magical experience.

This trek offers varied experiences as we walk through the dense Oak and Rhododendron forest for the most part of the trek but the trek also offers the trekkers with an opportunity to walk on snow-covered meadows along with camping next to Bekal Tal. The surroundings of the high altitude Brahmatal lake is serene and on a clear day, one can see the perfect reflection of mountains in it. The trek also offers majestic views of Mt. Nandagunti and Mt. Trishul from the highest point on the trek and a panoramic view of other Himalayan peaks. Add to the fact that this is a fairly easy trail with most parts of the trek in the treeline in a gradual ascend which makes it accessible for beginners by reducing the chances of altitude sickness and you can select this to be your first adventure in the Himalayas. Two beautiful lakes, thick Oak and Rhododendron forest and majestic mountain views from the top is a recipe to make it a perfect winter trek in Garhwal Himalayas.

DETAILED ITINERARY

Day 1: Kathgodam to Lohajung

Altitude : 7,650 ft

Drive Time: 10 Hrs

Lohajung is the base camp for the Brahmatal trek, for which we pick you up from Kathgodam at 6 AM. It will be a 10 hours drive through the beautiful hill station of Nainital – the city of lakes. The drive is along the course of Kosi River which later gives way to Pindar River thereafter, alongside a spectacle of snow-capped mountains. Most of the drive is in the beautiful serpentine roads of Kumaon before entering Garhwal and not before passing through some of the beautiful villages of this region. The last point to buy any provisions en route is Dewal. There is good connectivity of phone and internet along with ATMs. Some last minute shopping can be done here before heading towards the final journey for the day. The gain is considerable from Dewal to Lohajung through very narrow and curvy roads. It will mostly be foggy or rainy along with cold weather and certainly marks the true beginning of the wilderness. You reach Lohajung, our base camp – a little hamlet in Chamoli district in Garhwal Himalayas. On arrival at Lohajung, check in to a guest house or lodge for overnight stay. (Food during the transit from Kathgodam to Lohajung is not a part of the trek. Please stop over at many of the Himalayan Dhabas to relish local cuisine en route).

Day 2: Lohajung to Bekaltal

Distance: 6 KMs

Time: 5 Hrs

Altitude: 9,700 ft

Trek begins from Lohajung post breakfast, it will be a gradual ascend through the nearby villages until you are in the middle of the forest. The trail is serpentine with zig-zag paths throughout making it easier to climb. There are a few villages en route where the trekkers can refill their water bottles. Also, there are many water streams flowing on the trail and these springs can be used for stocking water. Soon, we will be crossing a confluence of 2 mountain rivers Kali and Pindari in the splendid green Kali Valley.

The next water point available is at a stream which we will be crossing via a notable wooden bridge which also acts as a landmark for the trekkers, this is at around 8500 ft. It is approximately 1-hour hike to reach our campsite from here. At Bekaltal, we will be served hot lunch at the campsite. Bekaltal lake is a 15 minutes walk from our campsite is surrounded by Oak trees and can be seen in semi-frozen condition during the winters. Evenings are reserved and are utilized by exploring the vicinity.

Day 3: BekalTal to BrahmaTal

Distance: 7 KMs

Time: 7 Hrs

Altitude: 10,500 ft

The start of the trek will be a steep ascend through the Oak and Rhododendron forest. This section of the forests is one of the densest and it is a nice setting to be walking under the shade of these trees before the sight opens up to the meadows of Telandi. This is certainly one of the most fun and adventurous section of the trek as winters fill these meadows with an abundance of snow and the trekkers need to plough their way through it to reach the Brahmatal campsite. The gradual ascend in the meadows will take you to the highest point of the day at 11,500 ft. From here the descend takes you to the BrahmaTal Lake. The campsite is set approximately 500 meters from the lake. Expect to see breathtaking views of the mighty Mt Trisul and Mt. Nandaghunti along with other Himalayan ranges in the distance. There are no water sources available today so it is necessary to carry sufficient water to last till the arrival at the campsite.

Brahmatal lake is only 500 meters away from the campsite.

Day 4: Brahmatal to Tilbudi via Brahmatal Pass

Distance: 7 KMs

Time: 8 Hrs

Altitude: 10,450 ft. to 11,250 ft.

Being the Summit day, expect an early start. We start our walk through the magical Oak and Rhododendron forests all the way until Brahmatal lake. On a bright sunny day, you with recall your science lectures about reflection and refraction due to the change in colours when the sun changes its angles.

After walking for a while and crossing the meadow, the final climb towards the pass begins. As soon as you reach the top you will be greeted with a magnificent view of Mt. Trishul and Mt. Nanda Ghunti, spend some time here and accept the fact that you are in real witnessing all of these and of course click some amazing photos for your collection. 180 degrees of Himalayan ranges will be visible from here. The descent will follow a different route towards Tilbudi from Brahmatal Pass, as we start our walk you will experience a panoramic view of distant peaks like Chaukhambha, Mandi, Mana, Nilgiri, Neelkanth, Trishul, Nanda Ghunti, Maitoli along with Tharali and Gwaldam(Places that you crossed on the way from Kathgodam) at a distance. As we descend further you reach our campsite for the night at Tilbudi.

Day 5: Tilbudi to Lohajung via Wan

Distance: 3.5 KMs

Time: 7 Hrs and 1 hour of drive

Altitude: 11,250 ft. to 7,650 ft. via 8,000 ft

We start our descend after our breakfast through the thick Oak and Rhododendron forests all the way till Chota Tilbudi, which is also our water source for our refills. We continue further for some time to reach the village, Wan. Here a vehicle will be arranged which will be dropping us to Lohajung where we retire in a Guest House.

Day 6: Lohajung to Kathgodam

Distance: 210 KMs

Time: 10 Hrs Drive

The taxi would arrive in the morning to drop the trekkers back to Kathgodam Railway station to continue with their return journey. It is always a good decision to start early in the mountains as the weather is very unpredictable. Onward journey from Kathgodam can be booked post 8 PM.

ADVISORY:

• Please be informed that trekking is an adventure activity and a lot depends on the weather conditions in the mountains. In case of bad weather or health issues of any trekker at any point during the trek, the trek itinerary will be changed by the Trek Leader after evaluating all the available options.
• We make sure that our trekkers are informed at all the times and a common consensus be arrived after discussing with the participants, however, the decision of the Trek Leader will remain final.
• Also, in case of any unforeseen circumstances like landslides or bad weather, we promise to provide services only for 7 days. It will remain the responsibility of the Trek Leader to get the trekkers back to safety irrespective of the number of days, however, the cost will be borne by the trekker themselves.
• Please be clearly informed that we are committed to providing a safe, secure and a magical experience in raw nature and hence, smoking, drinking and littering is completely prohibited during the trek and on the campsites. People found to be indulging in any of the above activities will be abandoned from the group.

SAFETY:

• We take a lot of pride in providing the best safety standards to its trekkers while trekking along with supporting sustainable tourism.
• Experienced Trek Leaders will be leading the group with a full-fledged first aid kit along with an oxygen cylinder. The Trek Leaders will also be carrying medication pertaining to high altitudes.