If there is one trek we suggest to beginners of all ages, Dayara Bugyal tops the list.
Dayara Bugyal is an easy-to-do trek, therefore, the best one to sign up for as a beginner. One of the prettiest Bugyal treks, Dayara offers splendid views of majestic peaks, walks on beautiful alpine meadows, and the true essence of mountaineering culture.
Bhagirathi keeps you company for most of the drive on your way to the basecamp, Barsu – an ancient and quaint village. Barsu boasts rich Himalayan culture, local tradition, and a minimalistic style of living.
Perched at an elevation of 2200 mt amidst the lush greenery, the village is surrounded by Gangotri Massif. Mt. Sreekanth. You will enter Barsu with the perfect alpine glow on Mt. Jonali and DKD peaks.
After an initial gradual climb out of the village fields, you’ll find yourself, making your way through the dense Oak and Rhododendron forests. As soon as you enter the woods, you’ll feel an intense and electric connection with your surroundings, courtesy of the rich and diverse flora in a well-balanced Himalayan ecosystem.
As you approach Dayara, the tree line gives way to small huts set against the stunning backdrop of Mt. Bandarpunch. The snowy slopes of the mountain range exude both power and humility. However, be careful not to wander too far into the Bugyals as you can lose sight of the route.
Dayara Bugyal is an all-year trek as it offers distinct experiences across the seasons, all charming and unique on their way. The trail that leads to Dayara Bugyal remains comfortable throughout the year. In winter, it becomes trickier as snow covers the entire path. Nevertheless, Dayara is a perfect trek to begin exploring the outdoors.
The base camp of the Dayara Bugyal Trek is Barsu, a remote village near Uttarkashi. To reach the base camp, plan your travel to the nearest airport or the railway station well in advance. The base camp in Barsu is a 9 – 10 hours drive from Dehradun city.
OWLS arranges pick-up from Dehradun to Barsu for the participants. The pick-up will be available at the Inter-State Bus Stand, Dehradun (ISBT Dehradun). Reach the pickup location at 6 a.m.
The base camp Barsu is around 293 km and is a 10- 11 hrs drive from Dehradun. Dehradun is easily accessible by air, train and road. The nearest airport is Jolly Grant International Airport in Dehradun. You can book your tickets well in advance till Dehradun to avail of tickets at cheaper rates. You can choose to travel by air from any metro city to Dehradun. The other option is to reach Delhi by air and travel by train or bus from Delhi onwards.
If you are reaching Dehradun by air, here are a few options for planning your travel. Dehradun Airport is well connected with all the metro cities. Book a direct or connecting flight to Dehradun. If you are flying to Dehradun, ensure to land in Dehradun on Day 0.
Dehradun city is 32 km away from the Jolly Grant Airport. It takes 1 hour to reach the city. You can opt to hire a cab/auto directly from the Airport. The other option is to exit the Airport complex and book an auto. The charges for prepaid cabs at the airport are exorbitant. Another low-cost alternative to get to Dehradun city is to travel on a city bus. Walk towards the Dehradun – Rishikesh highway and hop on a shared auto or city bus. You will have to wait for the bus. Regular city buses run between Dehradun and Rishikesh almost every half an hour.
If you land in Dehradun on day 0, book a hotel or dorm near ISBT, Dehradun. Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam’s hotel is 10 minutes away from ISBT and offers rooms at reasonable rates. They have economical as well as deluxe rooms.
OWLS pick-up will be available on Day 1 at ISBT Dehradun at 6. a.m.
This option will be economical for you. Flight to Dehradun will be slightly priced higher than flight to Delhi. To cut down your travel budget, fly to Delhi, then get on a bus or train from Delhi to Dehradun.
You can book and find bus options at UTC Online or Redbus. Another option is to go to Kashmiri Gate and book a bus offline. Board a bus or train which will arrive in Dehradun on the evening of Day 0. Reaching Dehradun on Day 0 helps you to rest before your trek starts on Day 1.
If you want to travel overnight, Nanda Devi Express runs daily and departs from H. Nizamuddin at 11.35 p.m. and arrives at Dehradun early at 5.40 a.m. Overnight Volvo AC buses also run frequently between Delhi and Dehradun. It takes 6-7 hours to get to Dehradun from Delhi.
Your Trek is 6 days, including travel to and from the base camp. The team will be back in Dehradun on Day 6. You reach Dehradun in the evening, between 7 to 8 pm.
While returning, you can fly directly out of Dehradun to your city. The second option is to travel by bus or train to Delhi.
If you go with the first option, you can book a direct flight from Dehradun to your city on Day 4.
The second option requires you to travel to Delhi by train or bus. Once you reach Dehradun in the evening, you can head to ISBT Dehradun and book an AC Volvo bus to Delhi and travel comfortably. The other option to reach Delhi from Dehradun is to book a train.
If you prefer the second option, book a flight that departs late morning or early afternoon of Day 5. The overnight buses from Dehradun arrive in Delhi in the wee hours. Book a flight departing in the afternoon to avoid rushing.
Some trekkers prefer to stay back for a day and use the buffer day to explore Rishikesh or Mussoorie. You can either stay for a night and explore Dehradun city or proceed home the same evening if flying out of Delhi.
