Descriptions

Have you ever been to a mountaintop from where you could witness the fall of a holy river? I guess no. But we have all been curious at some point in our lives, at least about the Ganga. However, nobody quite found anything about the River Ganga except that it originates from the head of Lord Shiva. What if there is one mountain top from which you could witness a holy river originating—the River Alaknanda, to say?

Mount Satopanth is one such peak located near the last Indian village in India, Mana, which takes you through a trail that lets you witness the beauty of the calmly emerging River Alaknanda. That’s not where the surprise stops; following the journey upward along the River Alaknanda, one would reach the mountain top, where you can take a holy dip in Satopanth Lake. It is anciently believed that every year the Trimurti's—Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahesh—take a holy dip in this lake. And another great epic mythology is associated with this journey: the five Pandavas, when routing towards the door to heaven, followed this sacred trail and left their bodies behind. So, the information would be enough to pique curiosity in your veins and make you pack your bag for this adventure.

The itinerary to Mount Satopanth peak takes about 22 days of journeying through thick forest, lush green meadows, a sacred trail along River Alaknanda, walking on rough terrains, etc. And don’t forget about also getting to catch a glimpse of other mesmerizing peaks like Chaukhamba, Nilkantha, Balakun, Kamet, and Badrinath mountains.

We here at Himalayan Holidays carry out this expedition every year, taking a group of adventure enthusiasts to cool down their ache of watching the sunset and sunrise on the mountain top of Satopanth. The snowy, uninhabited Mount Satopanth stands at a towering elevation of 7,138m above the ground and will be an amazing journey for those enthusiasts searching for remains of Indian mythology.

Trip Highlight

• A knowledgeable visit to the Forest Department at Gangotri.
• A spring dip in the River Bhagirathi.
• An evening at the ancient temples of Mana.
• A short trip around the famous places of Badrinath and, most importantly, Badrinath Temple.
• A hot cup of tea at the Last Indian Shop in Mana.

Program

Day 01 – Arrival in Uttarkashi

Upon your arrival at Uttarkashi, you will be heartily received by one of our representatives, who will guide you throughout this expedition. You will then be escorted to your resort in Uttarkashi, where you will first check-in with your government ID and, afterward, enjoy an overnight stay under the influence of a splendid environment.

Uttarkashi is also popularly known as ‘Kashi of North’ and is home to various ancient, sacred temples like Sri Kashi Vishwanath Temple, which is majorly worshipped by the devotees of Lord Shiva and is believed to have been built by Sage Parshuram; Kuteki Devi Temple, a beautiful Shakti Dham located on Hari Parvat, where a local deity, Devi Kuteki, is worshipped with an ardent spiritual belief. If you feel like exploring the locals of Uttarkashi, then you can enjoy a short evening trip to these temple visits and can also try local cuisines.

Meals: Lunch, Dinner

Day 02 – Drive to Gangotri from Uttarkashi: 100km

After having breakfast wrapped up in the arms of beautiful white mountains, you will first enjoy a visit to the Forest Department of Uttarkashi, which looks after the rich forest cover and biodiversity of Uttarakhand. Later, you will be assisted towards the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering, where you will fill in some paperwork for the expedition.

Then, you will get ready to depart for Gangotri today. Gangotri is approximately 100km away from Uttarkashi, and one gets to witness the unhabituated beauty of the mountains along this journey. Upon reaching Gangotri, you will check in to your rooms in a guest house and enjoy the overnight stay.

If your heart desires a walk along the cultural lanes of Gangotri, then you can enjoy a short trip in the evening.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 03 – Gangotri – Bhojbasa: 14km, 4-5 hours

Today, after having breakfast, you will get ready for an early morning trek towards Bhojbasa, which is about 14 km away from here. Firstly, you will enjoy an easy-level trek to Chirbasa, where you will enjoy your first stopover and have lunch to revive your energy for Bhojbasa.

For Chirbasa, you will enjoy walking on a rough-cut, rocky path along the river Bhagirathi. Apart from this, beautiful blue pine and chir trees will make way for your trekking path, so it will be one of those mesmerizing moments you will get to spend that stays in your heart forever.

After having lunch at Chribasa, you will again resume your journey towards Bhojbasa. For Bhojbasa, you will again pass through the thick forest area and stop by the riverside for the camp setup.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 04 – Bhojbasa – Gaumukh – Nandanvan: 20km, 7-8 hours

Again today, you will be asked to wake up early, first finish your breakfast for energy, and then depart for trekking towards Gaumukh. Gaumukh will be your first stopover, which is about 8km away from Bhojbasa. For today’s schedule, here at Gaumukh, you will enjoy lunch and later resume your journey again to Nandanvan.

The journey towards Nandanvan will be a little difficult, as you will walk on rough mountains and trace down the steep paths for this trekking. You will also pass through several alpine meadows during this journey. Nandanvan is also a base camp for Shivling Peak, and at one point here, you will reach the juncture of Chatrungi Glacier, Gangotri Glacier, and all three bases of the Bhagirathi River.

After reaching the campsite of Nandanvan, you will set up camp along the Gangotri Glacier.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 05 – Nandanvan – Base Camp: 10km, 4-5hours

When you finish your breakfast early in the morning, you will harness all your trek essentials once again and depart for the base camp today. This will be a 10-kilometer journey, and it may take around 4-5 hours to cover this distance. The base camp for Mount Satopanth is also known as Vasuki Tal, which is a glacial lake nestled among the great mountains. The lake is surrounded by various rare flowers, like Brahma Kamal and other rare Himalayan flowers.

Upon reaching it, you will enjoy a campsite along this lake and rest for the night under the twinkling stars.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 06 – 19 – Base Camp – Summit – Base Camp

For the next 14 days, you will follow a mesmerizing journey towards Mount Satopanth’s summit and witness the raw beauty of nature. For this journey, you will set up about two base camps and enjoy walking on thick ice shielding the mountain's rocky path.

For Base Camp 1, you will walk along some narrow ridges and a thick ice-glacial path to reach a point from where you will get your first glimpse of Mount Satopanth. Then, you will set up your camping tents and retire for the night so as to wake up with any tiredness and start trekking again.

For Base Camp 2, you start your technical climbing on a thick glacier for the first time during this journey and then juggle with ice axes to reach some gentle humps. To ascend these humps, you will apply your roping skills and reach the Base Camp 2 site, where you will set up your tent and rest for the night.

The next day, we will retire for the summit and reach the very famous mountain top of Satopanth Peak. Here, you will catch a glimpse of many mesmerizing peaks, like Chaukhamba, Nilkantha, Balakun, Kamet, and Badrinath. You will also see the Alaknanda River originating from here.

After some peaceful time, you will descend back to the base camp. Two or three of these 14 days will be reserved for any bad weather conditions so as to avoid any casualties during this journey.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 20 – Base Camp – Bhojbasa

Today, from the base camp of Mount Satopanth, you retrace a long journey back to Bhojbasa and also get another chance to relive this beautiful journey once again. On reaching Bhojbasa, you will set up your tent alongside the river Bhagirathi and get to memorize your whole trip to Mount Satopanth, standing tall and rugged before your eyes.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 21 – Bhojbasa – Gangotri – Uttarkashi

From Bhojbasa, you will trek back to the quaint little town of Gangotri, where you will enjoy lunch with a scenic view. Then, you will hop on a travel bus to depart for Uttarkashi, which will be your layover for today.

You will check in to your rooms at a resort in Uttarkashi and then retire for the night.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 22 – Departure from Uttarkashi

After having breakfast early in the morning, maybe before 10 a.m., your representative will escort you to the Uttarkashi Bus Stand, from where you can take a bus to Haridwar. And from Haridwar, you can try any vehicle option to reach back to your home.

Meals: Breakfast

Price & Inclusions

₹ 2,55,000/-

Inclusion Details

Price Includes:

• Booking of Mt. Satopanth with relevant authority, the IMF (Indian Mountaineering Foundation) and the booking fee
• Accommodation, Meals and Transportation (Uttarkashi to Uttarkashi)
• Accommodation on Dbl / Twin Sharing Rooms in hotels, resorts, and campsites as per program
• All meals as per above-mentioned program
• The national park fee and Expedition fee of state government of Uttarakhand
• First aid kit with Oxygen Cylinder
• Accommodation in tents during Approach March and at Base Camp, i.e., a single tent for each person.
• Transportation by Tempo Traveler/Innova in Delhi and non-AC Jeeps in the mountains as per program.
• Services of an High high-altitude Guide and porter during the expedition
• Services of Cook, Helper and porter till base camp
• Climbing equipment, i.e. Fix rope, Climbing rope, high-altitude tent, Carabiner, Snow bar, Ice piton, etc. All currently applicable taxes
• Transportation for luggage from Uttarkashi to Base Camp and Base Camp to Uttarkashi.
• Complete kitchen and camp equipment, including camp staff, till base camp
• We will provide all Meals till base camp to Guest, All Staff and the Himalayan Holidays expedition guide
• Services of Porters/Pony for transportation of Members luggage, maximum 40 kg per person, up to Base Camp and back.

Exclusion

• Personal clothing and gear required (Climbing equipment)
• Personal high-altitude porter
• Any Airfare
• Personal expenses such as table drinks, room’s services items, laundry, telephone calls at hotels or tips, etc.
• Any additional expenses caused by or liability for a disturbance in the trip program due to or circumstances, such as weather conditions, sickness, natural disasters, riots, etc.
• Liability for or insurance against injury, loss of life, accidents, or loss of goods.
•  Any Cargo and Shipment Charges (Import and Customs Clearance)
•  Personal Belongings such as Sleeping Bags, walking sticks, etc.

General Conditions:

• The prices are on a per-person basis and are net and non-commissionable.
•  Class of travel on trains may change based on availability at the time of booking
•  All prices are subject to any revision to the tax and tariff structure
•  Our kitchen staff and an escort will accompany you until base camp

Note: Please ensure your insurance covers you for the heights you are likely to attain and for helicopter rescue as well. When you have chosen and booked your insurance, please provide Himalayan Holidays with your insurer's name, their 24-hour emergency telephone number, and your policy number with them.

General Conditions:

• All prices are subject to any revision to the tax and tariff structure
• Above price is valid till 29 Nov 2023.
• The prices are on a per-person basis and are net and non-commissionable.
• Upon confirmation of the booking, we would require 50% of the total invoice, and the balance amount can be paid 30 days prior to the date of arrival.
• We reserve the right to cancel the tour in the absence of a deposit, balance, or final payment.

Cancellation Policy

Cancellation Charges: Notice of cancellation must be made in writing in the name of Himalayan Holidays

For cancellations made 60 days prior to the start of the tour, there will be a cancellation fee of 25% of the invoice. For cancellations made within 60 to 30 days of the start of the tour, there will be a cancellation charge of 50% of the invoice. For cancellations made within 30 days of the start of the tour, there will be a cancellation charge of 100% of the invoice.

In certain cases, the cancellation policy (including conditions applicable to the advance deposit made or required for holding the reservation) may differ and would be applicable as per the cancellation policy of that hotel / service provider. This will be charged in addition to the cancellation policy.

Unused Services and Refunds

No refund will be made for any unused services or other arrangements due to any changes in schedule made by passengers while traveling. However, in certain cases, the refund will be considered as per the policy of the carrier, hotel, tour company, or other supplier used for providing services.

A refund request must be made within 2 weeks of the completion of the trip.

If there are any additional expenses due to bad weather or any other reason beyond the control of the tour operator on account of a hotel stay, transportation, meals, etc., an extra bill will be raised. Neither India Travel Pvt. Ltd. nor the participating suppliers or hotels will be responsible for the additional expenses.

Responsibility, Liability

All the packages are sold under the business management of India Travel Pvt. Ltd., and they are in no way to be considered the principal or operator of the subject services. The right is reserved to cancel or alter any package as conditions require. Neither India Travel Pvt. Ltd. nor the participating suppliers or hotels will be responsible for the additional expenses due to loss, delay or damage caused by accident, illness, bad weather, strikes or riots, roadblocks, etc.

Governing Law

This condition and each term shall be governed by and constructed in accordance with the laws of India without reference to conflict of laws principles, and disputes arising in relation hereto shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of New Delhi.

*Making a booking deposit for the above tour will be treated as acceptance of our terms and conditions.*

Follow us on Facebook Instagram

We are also available on Whats-app: +91 9560897784

Enquire Now

Photo Gallery