Arrive at Dehradun and transfer to the Grand Legacy Hotel, Dehradun (On your own).

The journey to the Dayara Bugyal Trek begins with a drive from Dehradun to Raithal, the basecamp for the trek. The transport for trekkers will be arranged by Purple Routes, with the pick-up point set at Grand Legacy Hotel, Dehradun, at 6:30 AM sharp. To ensure a smooth and hassle-free journey, trekkers are advised to arrive at the designated spot on time. The drive covers a distance of approximately 185 km and takes around 9 hours, offering scenic views of the ever-changing landscape as you move deeper into the Garhwal Himalayas.

The drive takes you through lovely forest stretches as soon as you exit Dehradun. Within an hour, you pass through Mussoorie, one of the most popular hill stations of Uttarakhand. Between Mussoorie and Uttarkashi, you come across a viewpoint, often called the Tingling Point, from where you get astounding views of almost all of the Garhwal Himalayas. Right from the mountains near Himachal (Swargarohini and adjoining peaks) to Mt Bandarpoonch to Mt Srikanth, the Gangotri Peaks, the Chaukhamba massif, all the way to Mt Nanda Devi, you get striking views. This is of course possible only on a very clear day.
The largest town on the route is Uttarkashi, from where you head to Bhatwari. As you approach Raithal, you witness the brilliant colours of sunset over Mt Bandarpoonch, Mt Srikanth, Mt Jaunli and Draupadi ka Danda peaks.

Upon arrival, settle into your camps and relax after the long and scenic journey.

Dinner & overnight at the camps.

PLEASE NOTE:
Transport will be arranged for your return journey. The cost is Rs.1100/- (additional 5% GST) per trekker (one-way). These are non-AC vehicles. Please pre-book your transport through PURPLE ROUTES before your trek.

Breakfast at the camp.

After breakfast, the trek begins from Raithal to the picturesque campsite at Gui. Covering a distance of approximately 4.5 km, the trail takes about 5 hours to complete. The day’s trek starts at an altitude of 7,142 ft and steadily climbs to 9,630 ft, offering breathtaking views of the surrounding Himalayan landscape.

At Raithal, you can see Mt. Srikanth and Gangotri 1, 2, and 3 in the distance along with the mountains mentioned above. These become more prominent as you gain altitude on the trail to Gui.

The forest where the Gui campsite is located is visible from Raithal.

The trail from Raithal to Gui is a gradually ascending one. The initial trail goes out of the Raithal village quickly and takes you through the village fields. Go along the well laid out trail and in an hour you come to a flat grassy clearing which also has a hand pump. Take a small water break here and then proceed.
Post the water point, the trail becomes more wooded. You make your way into a forest that consists mainly of green and brown oaks (moru and kharsu) and rhododendron. This makes it a very rich forest. Unlike other places, you do not find pines here.

The forest opens up to a couple of small clearings before you reach Gui.

The campsite at Gui is located in a small clearing surrounded by forests. There is a small table close by. You will find village huts around – these are used by villagers in the summer. There is also a u-shaped forest department hut at some distance.

Upon arrival enjoy the beauty of the surroundings and rest for the day. With the sun setting over the mountains, the campsite comes alive with a magical charm, making it the perfect end to your first day of trekking.

Dinner & overnight at the camp.

Breakfast at the camp.

After breakfast, the trek continues with a short yet rewarding hike from Gui to Chilapada, covering a distance of 2.5 km over 2 to 3 hours. The trail gradually ascends from an altitude of 9,630 ft to 10,515 ft, offering a relatively easy day of trekking amidst the serene Himalayan wilderness.

The day’s trek sees you carrying on along the trail the climbs out of Gui towards Dayara. As you climb up from Gui, you start seeing mountains on the other side, which were earlier hidden from view.

Today is a short day (3 km) with gradual ascends punctuated with flat sections. Once you start from Gui, join the main trail and start climbing to Gui Thatch. This is a small meadow in the forest. On one side we have 5-6 Chania (shepherd) huts. Right in front of these huts is a compact pond. Just by the pond is a mound.

You gradually start ascending once the relaxed forest walk ends. You cross a couple of streams which may be flowing, dried or frozen depending on the season.
Barely five minutes after crossing these streams, you see an umbrella-shaped rain shelter. This is the rest point. Chilapada is not far from here. Catch your breath, stretch your legs and pause for 10-15 minutes before proceeding further.

Chilapada is 20 minutes from the rain shelter. Five minutes into the trek from the rain shelter, notice a broken trail on your left. Leave the main trail and start trekking on this broken trail. This goes to Chilapada, a small opening between the meadows.

Upon reaching Chilapada, you’ll find a beautiful clearing surrounded by dense woods, making it a peaceful campsite for the night. This location serves as the perfect spot to relax and acclimatize for the higher altitudes ahead. Upon arrival rest under the clear mountain sky, as the adventure to Dayara Bugyal draws closer.

Dinner & overnight at the camp.

Breakfast at the camp.

After breakfast, the trek takes you through the most anticipated and exhilarating part of the journey as you ascend to Dayara Top before descending to Nayata. Covering a total distance of 9.5 km, the trail takes approximately 6 to 7 hours, with a significant altitude change from 10,515 ft to 9,186 ft, reaching a high point of 11,830 ft at Dayara Top.

Chilapada is pretty close to the start of Dayara Bugyal giving you almost the whole day to explore the massive meadows. Climb through the forests and in half an hour the tree line ends and you find yourself at the edge of meadows. You do not see the full magnitude of the meadows yet.

Here you can spot the Chania huts in front. The trail goes right on the edge of the meadow. Look up to your right to see the magnificent view of Bandar Poonch and Kala Nag. All the summits which were with you from Raithal and Gui are now a lot bigger adorning the panorama behind.

Spend at least a couple of hours exploring the Dayara meadows before retracing your steps to the Chania huts. The trail to Nayata goes below the huts and immediately enters the forest. The wooded trail is well laid out again. About 45 minutes of descent brings you to Nayata.

Arriving at Nayata, you can rest and rejuvenate after the day’s challenging yet rewarding trek. The campsite, surrounded by the tranquility of nature, provides the perfect setting to relax under the starlit sky and reflect on the incredible experience of conquering Dayara Top.

Dinner & overnight at the camp.

Breakfast at the camp.

After breakfast, the final leg of the trek takes you from Nayata back to Raithal, covering a distance of 4 km over 4 to 5 hours. The trail descends gradually from an altitude of 9,186 ft to 7,142 ft, allowing you to enjoy the final stretch of this incredible journey at a leisurely pace.

It takes about 4 hours to reach Raithal, so start your days trek by 9 am. From the Nayata campsite, continue on the main trail you came down from Dayara yesterday. The trail continues to descend under a heavy canopy of forest cover.

Fifteen minutes of descent brings you to the rain shelter from where you diverted to Barnala on the way up. Continue moving down on the main trail.

Continue further for an hour before coming to the grassy clearing with the water source. Take a break here before completing the final hours descent to Raithal. The arch of Raithal marks the end of the trek. Our Campus is half a kilometer down the paved road.

Continue till you reach the community campus. It brings an end to your enchanting Dayara Bugyal trek.

Dinner & overnight at the camp.