Firstly, we would like to thank our college department who gave us a lot of holidays hence we were able to go on this trek. As we are engineers we always have an attendance problem, that’s why every time we need holidays to execute any trip plan. This time our trip was a little different from our previous trips. It was not a general excursion, it was a “trekking trip”. And, we made this plan just one day before leaving. This time we went for instant planning.

We learned two basic things required for good traveling from this trip.

Instant planning really works and it always has more fun and excitement. So just make the plan in your mind, pack your bags and March Out!!.
Never wait for anyone. Just see whoever is ready, take him & move.

About Nag Tibba Trek

The Nag Tibba trek is a stunning and ideal choice for beginners. If you're new to trekking, this is the perfect introduction. The trail offers a mix of Himalayan beauty, dense forests, snow (in winter), rocky terrain, and diverse flora and fauna. One of the key advantages of this trek is its short duration, allowing you to complete it over a weekend, making it perfect for students and working professionals alike.

Nag Tibba, also called “Serpent’s Peak”. It is the highest peak in the lower range of Himalayas. It is located in the Tehri district of Uttarakhand state. The peak is situated at an altitude of 3022 meters (9915 feet) and from the summit, one can experience the magnificent views of Bandarpunch and Swargarohini peaks.

Nag Tibba Trek Routes

There are two main routes to trek to Nag Tibba: the Pantwari route and the Devalsari route. The Pantwari route is shorter but steeper and more challenging, while the Devalsari route is longer and relatively easier. The best time to visit Nag Tibba is throughout the year, except during the monsoon season. If you want to experience snow, plan your visit at the end of January or early February. However, snowfall can occur unexpectedly, as seen in March this year due to unusual weather conditions, so it’s also a matter of luck.

Trek Features

• Total Trek Distance: From Panthwari: 17 km (up to Nag Tibba Base and down) & 3 km further Nag Tibba Top.
• From Devalsari: 28 km (up to Nag Tibba Base and down) & 3 km further to Nag Tibba Top.
• Maximum Elevation: 2900 Metres (Nag Tibba Base) & 3022 Metres (Nag Tibba Top).
• Level: Easy
• Region: Mussoorie-Dehradun
• Duration: 2-3 Days
• Best Time: Round the year except for the monsoon

Do’s & Don’ts for Nag Tibba Trek:

• Carry enough water to stay hydrated.
• Avoid overloading your bag with unnecessary items.
• Pack energy-boosting food like fruits, dry fruits, juices, and chocolates.
• Don’t rush; maintain a pace that suits your stamina and stick to it.
• Wear comfortable shoes—trekking boots aren’t necessary unless you're trekking in the snow.
• Bring a raincoat, as mountain weather can be unpredictable.
• Hire a guide if it’s your first time trekking.

Cheapest Trek Ever

Before the trip, we were sure that we will make it cheapest and Yes, we made it the cheapest trek. So, here is the cheapest itinerary for Nag Tibba Trek.

Nag Tibba Trek Itinerary:

Short Itinerary:

Day 1: Delhi-Mussoorie-Panthwari
Day 2: Trek Day, Reach Nag Devta Temple & Nag Tibba Top and Back to Panthwari
Day 3: Panthwari-Mussoorie-Dehradun-Delhi

Long Itinerary:

Day 1: Delhi  - Mussoorie - Panthwari

As usual, our trip started from the national capital, Delhi. No, we are not Delhiites, we are only studying in NCR (National Capital Region). We all came from different places but belong to the same state “Uttar Pradesh”. We made our first step towards our destination from Kashmere Gate ISBT. We bought three tickets for Mussoorie and the cost was ₹317/head. If you are traveling through this ISBT, then don’t buy tickets from the people who stand near the bus. They are brokers. They will charge you more or you may have some problems as well. So either buy tickets only from the ticket counter or from the conductor. Our bus departure time was 21:30, but it left a bit late because the driver was busy with his work. Our journey time was around 8 hr. We reached Mussoorie in the morning at 6:00. The weather was cold.

After the journey, we got a little tired so we decided to rent one room in a hotel for some hours. We got a room in the Hotel Sartaj for 5 hours at ₹150/-. The hotel was located near the Mussoorie library chowk. After taking some rest and having breakfast, we boarded our bus for Nainbagh from Mussoorie library chowk. Nainbagh is a town situated near Pantwari. Since there was no direct bus available for Pantwari, we had to break our journey. Only private and shared taxis/jeeps were available for Panthwari from Mussoorie. The bus took 2 hrs to reach Nainbagh and charged ₹140/head. Then from Nainbagh, we took Mahindra jeep to reach Panthwari. It took 1 hr and charged ₹60/head.

But we recommend you to go by taxi/jeep. Don’t choose a bus for traveling, because the way to Panthwari is full of curves and the bus remains rushed most of the time so you won’t be able to get a single seat in the bus. This makes the journey more hectic and you may feel nauseous on the bus. We made a mistake by choosing a bus for which we had to pay for it. My friend “Ashwini” and I started feeling nauseous and puked. So if you go there, then don’t make this mistake. It can waste your time and spoil your journey.

We reached Panthwari, starting point of the trek at around 17:30. The weather was so cold. There was a shop named “Parmar Sweet Shop”, from there we ate samosas. Then we took a room for ₹550/day- for two days. As we were first-timers so we booked a guide for the trek. The guide’s name was “Suman” and he charged ₹850/-. After having dinner at the same shop, we slept.

Pantwari is a small village, settled in the valley of Garhwal Himalayas. It has a very small population. The residents of Pantwari are very kind and have a very helpful nature. There are no big restaurants and hotels available.

NOTE:
There are very fewer buses available from Mussoorie to Nainbagh. The timings for these buses are 10:30 & 13:30. Do check the timings once.

Day 2: Trek Day, Reach Nag Devta Temple & Nag Tibba Top and Back to Panthwari

We started our trek at 7:00 am with our guide. The total length of the trek is 18 km (up and down). Initially, the route was lesser steep and easy. As we were moving towards the peak the route was getting difficult and steeper. After completing our first hour I asked the guide “Bhaiya aadha raasta toh ho gaya kya?” (Have we completed our halfway?) and the guide replied, “abhi aadhe ka aadha bhi nahi hua”(You haven’t completed one-fourth of the way yet). At that moment we felt that trekking is not that much easy as it looks.

Then we continued until we reached halfway. After reaching, we decided to take some rest and drink some juices and then filled our water bottles before resuming. The guide told us that further there were no sources of water. The scenic view from the trail was breathtaking and it was getting more beautiful with every step we were taking towards the peak. At 12:00 we reached Nag Tibba Base. Firstly, we visited the Nag Devta Temple and then we had our lunch. We brought juices, bread, biscuits, chips, and jaggery in our lunch.

After all this, we resumed the trek to reach the summit of Nag Tibba. The trail to the summit was much steeper than the previous one. The route was full of snow. Around 13:50 we reached the top. The view from the top was wonderful, it seemed like we were standing at the door of heaven. Really nothing is more beautiful than nature. After spending some time at the top and clicking photos, we started coming down. While coming down, the weather turned and we experienced hailstorm and rainbow as well. By around 18:30 we came back to our room.

During the entire trek, we haven’t met a single trekker on the route. The guide told us that “you came a little early, most of the trekkers come in March and April”. But we haven’t faced any problem while trekking alone. It was a very safe trek.

NOTE: No mobile networks available at the top. On the way, only Airtel and Idea networks work (not properly).

Day 3: Panthwari - Mussoorie - Delhi

At 8:00 we hopped on Mahindra jeep and said, “bye” to Nag Tibba. After 3 hrs, we reached Mussoorie and there we did our lunch. At Mussoorie library chowk there was a restaurant named “Laxmi Misthan Bhandar”. Its food was really delicious and it was not very costly thats why we are featuring this restaurant. We ate sandwiches, samosas, chole-bhature, bread-pakoda, gulab-jamun, ras malai, and some pan wali mithai. Every cuisine was tasty and desserts were just mouth-watering. If you go there, you must try some dishes at this restaurant.

Then we took a bus to Dehradun. Mussoorie to Dehradun buses are available after every half an hour but direct buses from Mussoorie to Delhi are less. From Dehradun till 23:30, every minute you can get a bus for Delhi. We reached Dehradun at 14:00 and we were left with the whole day, so we decided to watch a movie in a mall. We watched “Kingsman – The Secret Service” and after that, we came back to Delhi. The cost of the tickets from Mussoorie to Dehradun was ₹140/head and Dehradun to Delhi was ₹550/head.

Important:

• Don’t forget to bargain.
• Don’t listen to people who say, “Don’t go to Nag Tibba, there is nothing”, “there are no availability of rooms at Panthwari” and blah blah!!. Just stick to your plan.

Must Read: How to Reach Nag Tibbaa