Trekking in snow can be extremely thrilling. Yet, one wrong foot can send you tumbling down several feet. It’s important to know how to walk in snow, whether you’re trekking in peak summer or winter. There are different snow conditions you may be dealing with, and different weather circumstances. 

And that’s why, from using the right gear, to packing enough layers - it is important to understand the nooks and crannies of trekking in snow. 

In this article, you’ll read about the different types of snow, necessary gear to carry, methods of trekking in snow, and of course, how to keep yourself safe. Don’t forget to look out for the advanced tips from trekkers! 

Stay out too long in the snow and you will get wet. Protect yourself with ponchos or rain jackets. 

“Snowflakes are one of nature’s most fragile things, but just look at what they can do when they stick together." - Vista M. Kelly. 

First, understand the different types of snow 

If there’s a snowfall when you arrive at the mountains, you know that it’s good. No scratches or scrapes for a while. Then you hear someone talking about crud snow. But what does that mean? Isn't all snow just the same? 

Once you learn more about snow trekking, you realize that not all snows are of the same type. Then you begin to wonder - how do you trek on different types of snow? What techniques are you supposed to use?

To begin with, let’s understand the two primary types of snow you will encounter during your trek, and how to tackle them.

A frozen water system at Indiahikes campsite. 

The two main types are fresh and hard-packed snow. 

Fresh snow, as the name suggests, is newly fallen, cold, dry, and has not been compacted. Sometimes, when the snow is fresh, you sink in all the way to your knees or calf. Lifting your leg from the deep snow to take a step every time can get tricky, to say the least. So, you might have to create a path by plowing through it. 


Hard snow, on the other hand, is the product of snow accumulating and becoming firmly packed due to the cold climate. On hard snow, you might need to learn some specialized skills. As the snow hardens, your shoes must find a grip on the hard surface that can help you move in balance. We will cover more about this in the next section.

Other varieties of snow also exist depending on multiple factors such as the altitude and temperature. When the heat or wind melts the upper layer of snow powder, cold air temperature may soon follow, thereby creating a crust. Crust snow has a hard surface on top of powder snow. But what is powder snow? It is quite easy to spot: powder is fresh, untouched, and feels soft. They appear in the form of tiny flakes that create a smooth surface on the mountains. 

Imagine a lot of trekkers walking on powder snow. The snow will eventually get piled up at certain spots and become hollow at the other points: this is a type of snow called crud. The snow goes through a lot of phases too. So when the temperature becomes slightly warmer than the freezing point, the crud snow starts melting. You will see the snow crystals slowly become large packs of ice: this is when a slush forms. 

Can you guess the next phase of snow? It’s ice! Although you will rarely come across real ice on the slopes, the ice you find is usually due to the change in temperature. The ice you see occurs when the snow melts and freezes over and over again. When that happens, a hard surface of snow forms which we refer to as “ice”. 

Since there are many different forms of snow, you should also be aware of what type of gear to use and when!

A trekker traversing a steep snow section with the help of microspikes.

We notice several trekkers making a mistake here. They treat all kinds of snow similarly, often using the wrong gear in the wrong kind of snow. For instance, very often we see trekkers using microspikes in very fresh snow, which doesn’t create any extra traction. 

Keep reading to find out how to plan your gear. 

1) Microspikes: For hard-packed snow, it is advisable to use microspikes. While your normal trekking shoes stop providing traction in ice, microspikes give you Spiderman-like grip in snow. 

2) Trekking poles: Using trekking poles gives you extra support and balance. It is so very effective to propel yourself forward when you are stuck or feeling tired. Make sure your trekking poles have their baskets on, to keep them from sinking into snow. 

3) Gaiters: When you climb on fresh or semi-fresh snow, you will find that a lot of snow enters  your shoes from the top. This is a worst nightmare for a trekker. Snow starts entering your shoes, making your feet cold, wet and numb. Even worse, it never dries for the rest of the trek. Wearing gaiters creates a seal around your shoes, and will keep the snow from entering in. 

4) Gloves and mittens: Trekking on snow can be very fun, but the chances of tripping are high. Although it is fun to fall on snow and feel the fluffiness, you don’t want your hands to meet the cold surface. On hard snow, you might even end up scraping yourself. To avoid all of this, always carry extra gloves. 

5) Crampon: While trekking on snow, you may sometimes have to cross glaciers, snowfields or icefields. Crampon is a device that you attach to your boots. It gives you incredible traction in these snow conditions, and improves your mobility during the climb. 

6) Sunglasses: During your trek, if you notice the sun shining, immediately wear your sunglasses. The reflection of sunlight on bright white snow can damage the eyes and cause snow blindness. Ensure to wear sunglasses with UV protection to protect your eyes.

Sunglasses on snow become indispensable. Pro-Tip: People with glasses often use clips or magnets for sunglasses atop their regular eyewear.

What are the different methods of trekking in the snow?

Similar to choosing gears, there are different methods of trekking based on the type of snow. Sometimes, you may also have to choose a combination of methods to reduce risks and increase the level of effective trekking. 

1) Kicking steps: In fresh snow, you will need to use your trekking shoes to kick with your toe box and create small dents in the snow. With every step, you’re creating a small, flat resting spot for your foot. However, when the snow gets too thick or if it is too difficult to kick steps, you can use a crampon.

2) Stomping steps: When the snowpack are much wetter, you may need to stomp on them to climb comfortably. Here’s how you do it: stomp the sole of your feet on the snow to support your weight or use a combination of this and kicking steps. 

3) The French technique: If you are planning to follow this, be assured that it is an invaluable technique to climb big mountains. In essence, French technique means you have to keep your crampon flat on the snow surface, instead of kicking your toe area into the ice. You need to place your foot flat and make sure that all points of the crampons are in contact with the ice. (Keep in mind, do not use this technique when the slope is too steep). 

Trekkers using ropes and microspikes to traverse a difficult section

Although we covered the logistic areas like types and gears, the most important thing to keep in your mind is safety. While ascending, the biggest challenge you will face on fresh snow is your footing. Here is a classic tip to tackle the situation: cut through the fresh snow using ice axes to move freely. Cutting through the snow will also help you stay in balance — a key factor!

On the other hand, when you descend the slope, the snow might become slippery. To avoid any risks, we provide microspikes to trekkers to ensure that everyone has a good grip. 

Slippery snow also means that you can slip or slide down the snow. To avoid this, do not hesitate to use your full body. It is quite common when trekkers feel embarrassed to get on all their fours to slide down. But really, it is the best way to minimize risks and use our body to the fullest potential. 

On a snow-filled trek, only your two legs aren't enough. Trekkers seen helping each other. 

And lastly, here are some advanced tips for trekking in snow! 

1) Snow in the mountains can wipe out everything sometimes. Yes - including the trekking trails. It might become too hard if you lose sight of the trails, so always stick with the team and follow the path of the trekker who is in front of you. But what if you are a solo trekker? Well, we have answers for that too. 

2) When it comes to solo or DIY treks, a smart idea would be to book your trekking slots cautiously: either before, during, or after Indiahikes treks. We recommend this because if Indiahikes is trekking on similar dates, you can immediately reach out to them if you face any difficulties during your trek. 

3) Here are some simple but effective ideas to stay warm throughout the trek. Keep sipping warm water at regular intervals, and place the bottle inside your sleeping bags. You can even keep them near your feet. Your body will stay warm due to the lukewarm water. Remember the classic tip? - it is always easier to stay warm than to get warm! 

4) Here’s a great tip from one of our trek leaders: work hard on your leg muscles. Winter trekking might be just a little harder than what you experience on summer treks. Your primary balance and weight will be on your legs and you really need to strengthen them up! So, other than ensuring that you have the basic fitness, try to focus more on those leg muscles too. 

Trekking in winter is a great experience! You will do great if you learn how to trek in snow and if you keep the advanced tips in mind. 

Let us know in the comments section if you have any questions (or more tips to add), and we’ll be happy to answer you. Happy trekking! 

Article on how to trek expertly in snow. Includes topics such as different types of snow, essential gears to use in snow trekking, safety in snow, and advanced tips to trek comfortably in snow

How To Trek Expertly In Snow (Includes Advanced Tips)

Trek in snow, types of snow, essential gear, trekking methods, safety on snow

The most important aspect of trekking or hiking is knowing where you are, and where you are going. I feel that everyone who enjoys the outdoors should learn and practice navigation. This is especially important if you travel solo. However, even in a group, relying on someone who knows the trail is not good enough. Sometimes circumstances could force you to get separated from your group and lose the trail. According to a study by SmokyMountains.com, wandering off trail is the number one reason, ahead of bad weather, that hikers get lost and require rescue.

In this article, we will take a look at the following navigation techniques:

Navigation by observing topography and maps

The more options you have for navigating, the better. Your ability to navigate shouldn’t depend on a single device or technique. So, let’s get started!

In my opinion, the most important navigation technique is to pay attention to your surroundings. As you walk through the wilderness, observe everything that is around you. Observe the trees, the rocks, the mountains, the streams. These features can be important navigation aids. Pay close attention to what they look like, and how they are different from similar features around you. Once in a while, turn back to see the terrain from the perspective it would appear during your way back. The same features look different from a different perspective. 

Whenever I go to an unfamiliar trail, I take a few moments to observe the things around me. Then, as I walk, I continue this process to develop an “internal map”. This process also helps me stay connected with my surroundings.

Next, try finding the features that you see around you on a topographic map (we will talk about topographic maps later in this article). Using this technique, you won’t even need to pull out your GPS or compass to keep track of your position. Using a map and continuously observing the terrain is often sufficient.

Using a GPS device is probably one of the easiest ways to navigate. Most of us use smartphones that are already equipped with GPS capabilities. So, there really is no excuse for not learning to use one. GPS based navigation works even when you are outside network coverage. However, you do need an internet connection to download maps. So, make sure you download offline maps prior to your trip.

There are many apps that can be used for offline navigation on a smartphone. Recently I have been using OsmAnd+ and I’ve found it to be quite capable. You can use this app to download topographic maps, plan routes, see the gradient of slopes, etc. It’s a lot more suited for trekking compared to Google Maps (which comes preinstalled on most Android devices). However, even with Google Maps, you can download offline maps.

AllTrails - this app contains GPX files for many popular trails.

GPX Studio - a free online tool for preparing your own GPX files.

I won’t cover how to use apps for navigation, as that is beyond the scope of this article. Here is a complete guide by India Hikes on using GPX files with the Gaia GPS app: A Complete Guide on How to Use GPX Files.

Make sure you carry extra batteries or some charging device for your smartphone.

Use a sturdy case that will protect your smartphone.

Whenever you reach a campsite (or other important landmark), save the location on your app. This way, if you wander off, you can find your way back.

Using a GPS device is easy and convenient. However, as I said earlier, your ability to navigate shouldn’t depend on a single device or technique. What would you do if your GPS device runs out of batteries, or your waterproof device isn’t as waterproof as you had hoped?

A compass is a simple tool and doesn’t require any batteries. I believe every outdoor adventurer should learn the art of using the humble map and compass. It may seem a bit daunting at first, but it gets easier with practice. I’m sure you will find learning this skill quite rewarding. Moreover, you will feel like the old-time explorers and adventurers who relied on nothing but a map and compass on their adventures! There is something very satisfying about using our planet’s magnetic fields to guide us. Using a map and compass also requires paying more attention to your surroundings compared to a GPS. With a GPS, you just have to follow a line. However, the more options you have, the better. So, don’t ditch your GPS device. Keep this unreliable luxury as a backup.

There are many different types of compasses. The one best suited for use with maps is called a baseplate compass. These have a transparent base, and a rotating compass housing marked in degrees.

Map and compass navigation at Rola Kholi on the Bhrigu Lake trail

There are many companies that manufacture them such as Suunto, Silva, Brunton, etc. At Decathlon, you can find baseplate compasses made by Geonaute that aren’t too expensive and will work just fine. I have been using a Suunto M3 for many years, and it has been a dependable tool.

A typical baseplate compass contains the following parts:

Transparent baseplate: The transparent base plate contains straight edges for use with a map.

Direction-of-travel arrow: This tells you which direction to follow when you’re taking or following a bearing.

Bearing index: This is for reading the current bearing.

Magnetic needle: This needle rotates and the red end of the needle always points towards magnetic north.

Orienting arrow: The orienting arrow is aligned with the magnetic needle to find the bearing to a target.

Orienting lines: The orienting lines are used to align the compass housing with the meridian lines on a map.

Rotating housing: The rotating housing is used to align the orienting lines with a map to get a bearing. This is also used to “box the needle” (discussed later).

A bearing is the direction of one place from another, measured in degrees with respect to true north.

A compass is used for the following basic tasks regarding bearings:

To take a bearing between two points on a map.

To take a bearing to a location in the field.

We will talk about each of these in the coming sections.

The curious case of two north poles (correcting for declination)

Our planet has two north poles - the geographic north pole (aka “true north”), and the magnetic north pole. A compass needle always points towards the magnetic north pole. The deviation of the compass from true north is called “declination”. Declination has been a nuisance for navigators for centuries because it varies with location and time. So, before you begin using your compass, you should always check what the declination is in your area. You can use this online tool to find the magnetic declination - https://www.magnetic-declination.com/. Topographic maps typically mention the declination near the bottom. By convention, declination is positive when magnetic north is east of true north, and negative when it is to the west.

2020 World declination map (published by NOAA)

As you can see in this map, the magnetic declination across India varies by only about +/- 2 degrees. So, the error is not significant and can be ignored in most scenarios. Of course, if you are walking a very long distance in featureless terrain, this error would add up.

You can correct declination with some arithmetic:

For easterly declination, subtract the declination from the true reading to obtain the magnetic reading. Magnetic = true - easterly declination

For westerly declination, add the declination to the true reading to obtain the magnetic reading. Magnetic = true + westerly declination

Protip: Some compasses have a declination correction screw that automatically corrects the error. If yours has one, make sure it is adjusted. This way, you don’t have to perform any mental arithmetic on the field.

Topographic maps are the best type of maps for trekkers. These maps show the three-dimensional terrain of a region on a two-dimensional map. To depict topography, they make use of “contour lines” that represent constant elevation levels.

Contour lines: The most important aspect of a topographic map is its array of contour lines. Each line represents a constant elevation as it follows the shape of the landscape.

Contour interval: The contour interval is the difference in elevation between two adjacent contour lines. Every fifth contour line (called an index contour) is darker than the other contour lines and is labeled with the elevation.

The closer together the contour lines are, the steeper the terrain is, and vice-versa. Some of the features that you can identify by looking at the contour lines are:

Gentle slopes: Widely spaced contour lines.

Steep slopes: Closely spaced contour lines.

Cliffs: Contour lines extremely close together or touching.

Peaks: A concentric pattern of contour lines with the peak being the innermost circle at the highest elevation.

Ridges: Contour lines in the shape of Us or Vs that point downhill.

Valleys, ravines, gullies: Contour lines in the shape of Us and Vs that point uphill.

See how many of these features you can find in the topo map of Bhrigu lake below.

Topographic maps are not easily available in India as far as I know. However, you can generate topo maps using free online tools such as CalTopo - https://caltopo.com/

You can even import a GPX file into CalTopo to overlay the trail on the map. For my recent Bhrigu Lake trek, I was able to find a GPX file on AllTrails.

When printing a map using CalTopo, it asks you to define the map’s scale. The scale determines how much land area is visible on the map. If the scale is 1:24000, it means 1 inch on the map equals 24000 inches (2000 ft) in the real world. Smaller scales (such as 1:24k or 1:25k), contain more detail but cover a smaller area. A larger scale (such as 1:50k) covers a larger area and may be better for planning multi-day routes.

I guess it doesn’t really matter which scale map you are using as long as you know how to use it. The map should contain enough detail for the activity you are doing. I generally print multiple maps on A4 size paper and use a mixture of 1:25k and 1:50k maps. I make sure that the maps contain enough geographical features that I can use for navigation.

 When visibility drops, many of the geographical features that you see on your map may not be visible in the real world. For example, on the Bhrigu Lake trek, I realized that Patalsu Peak and Mt. Hanuman Tibba were not visible when the clouds rolled in. So, even though these peaks are big and easily identifiable, they may not always be visible. So, I would suggest paying attention to features that are closer to you, even if they are unnamed on your map.

Carry your maps in a ziplock bag to keep them dry. Keep the bag somewhere where it is easily accessible. I like to carry my maps in the waist strap pocket of my backpack or in the patch pocket of my trousers.

By orienting a map, you are positioning it so its north is actually pointing towards north. This helps you relate what you are seeing on the map, with your actual surroundings. Here’s how you orient a map:

Rotate the map until the northern upper edge is aligned with your compass needle. The red end of the compass needle is where magnetic north is.

To determine how to get from point A to point B on the map, you first use your compass to determine the direction of travel on the map. Then, you transfer that direction of travel to the real world.

1. Place the compass on the map between the starting point (A), and your target (B).

2. Rotate the compass housing until the orienting lines inside the capsule are parallel to the meridian lines on the map (with N on the bezel pointing towards north on the map).

3. Hold the compass at waist height and turn until the red portion of the magnetic needle is inside the red orienting arrow. (This process is sometimes referred to as boxing the needle.) Remember to compensate for declination as needed.

4. Find a visible target in the direction your compass is pointing and walk towards it. Repeat steps 3 and 4 until you reach the destination.

You can use a compass to find your location on a map (similar to a GPS)! This works using a technique called triangulation. Here’s how this works:

Find a landmark on the map that you can identify in the real world. Use your compass to take a bearing to that landmark. This is done by pointing the direction-of-travel arrow towards the landmark and “boxing the needle” (as described earlier).


Read the bearing at the index line. Correct for declination if necessary. 

Place the compass on your map, and align the orienting lines on the compass with the north-south meridian lines on the map.

Move your compass so that the top end of one edge ends at the landmark. Make sure the orienting lines are aligned with the meridian lines as you do this.

Draw a line along the edge of your compass from the landmark. You are somewhere along this line.

Repeat this process by taking a bearing from another landmark and drawing it on your map.

Where these two lines intersect is your approximate location.

Using two peaks to find our location on the Bhrigu Lake trail

Getting from one place to another usually just involves watching the landscape and occasionally glancing at your map to stay oriented. If there are trails or natural features that you can use, you often don’t even need to use a compass. However, if you can’t see your objective, or you are moving through terrain that lacks sufficient features (snow, dense forest), it is easy to get disoriented. In these situations, you can use a compass to take a bearing from a map, and follow it to your destination. However, often times a straight-line path to your goal won’t exist in the wilderness. Let’s look at a few of these situations and strategies for dealing with them.

When following a compass bearing, you may encounter an obstruction on your path such as dense brush, rocks, or a lake, that will prevent you from following a bearing. Let’s look at a few ways to deal with them.

If you can see over the obstruction, find an identifiable target (such as a tree or rock) that lies exactly on the bearing line. Then move over the obstruction or around it (whatever is easiest) and get to that target. When you get to that target, you can be confident that you are still on the bearing line. You can continue following the bearing as usual.

If you can’t find an easily identifiable target around the obstruction that lies on the bearing line, you can send a trekking buddy to the other side of the obstruction. You can guide them left or right until they are exactly on the bearing line. Then you walk to your buddy and continue following the bearing as usual.

If you are trekking alone and can’t find an easily identifiable target past the obstruction, you could create a temporary landmark at your current position by piling stones or logs that you can see from the other side of the obstruction. Then, walk around the obstruction and take a back bearing to the landmark you created. A back bearing is simply the opposite direction of a bearing. In degrees, this would mean 180 degrees off from the bearing. For example, if you are following the 90-degree bearing (east), the back bearing would be 90 + 180 = 270 degrees (west). If the original bearing is greater than 180, you subtract 180 to get the back bearing. If you are traveling 270 degrees (west), the back bearing would be 270 - 180 = 90 degrees (east).

Tip: You don’t need to perform any mental arithmetic to get the back bearing. Your compass can do that for you! Keep the original bearing set on the compass, and rotate until the south-seeking end of the magnetic needle (which could be black or white) is inside the red orienting arrow. This is just the opposite of how you typically “box the needle”. This technique can also be used to double-check if you are correctly tracking a bearing line by taking a back bearing to your starting position.

If you cannot see across the obstruction:

If you can’t see around the obstruction (such as a hill), you can use a different strategy. After you approach the obstruction, travel 90 degrees left or right and walk until you clear the obstruction. Count your steps as you walk perpendicular to the intended course. Then, walk past the obstruction following the original bearing. Finally, turn 90 degrees again and walk the same number of steps to return to the original course. The turns don’t need to be 90 degrees. It could be anything that you can use to return to the original course. The image below explains this process:

Navigating around an obstruction when you can’t see across it

Suppose your campsite is next to a river, and you are following a compass bearing to return to it. If you are off by a couple of degrees, you will reach the river, but may miss the campsite. If you can’t see the campsite (because of fog, dense vegetation, etc), you’ll have to guess which direction to walk to find your campsite. You may end up walking in the wrong direction before you realize your mistake. In situations where your destination is next to a long-running feature (such as a river or a road), you can deliberately aim off to remove the guesswork. For example, you could aim 10 degrees to the left or right of the campsite. When you reach the river, there will be no doubt which direction to walk.

There are many navigation techniques that rely on using celestial bodies to determine direction. These techniques may not be as accurate or convenient as using a GPS or a compass, but it is a good idea to learn a few of those techniques in case you ever need them.

If you have a clear view of the night sky, you can look at the stars to navigate! This isn’t as difficult as it may seem. Most of the stars in the sky move with time. However, there is one star that doesn’t appear to move! This star is called Polaris (or the North Star). It appears directly above the North Pole. For thousands of years, countless sailors and adventurers have relied on Polaris to navigate!

Polaris is at the tip of the Little Dipper constellation. However, since the stars of the Little Dipper are not as bright as Big Dipper (aka Ursa Major), it is often easier to use Big Dipper to find Polaris. Big Dipper kind of looks like a big saucepan. After you find Big Dipper, find the two stars at the end of the saucepan. These are called the “pointer stars” as they point towards Polaris. Polaris will be about 5 times the distance between the two pointer stars in the direction that they point.

Finding Polaris using Big Dipper (source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DjJ3r4XG0E)

Keep in mind that Big Dipper will rotate in the sky depending on the time and season. It rotates anti-clockwise about Polaris. However, the relationship between Polaris and Big Dipper will not change, and this constellation will always lead you to Polaris.

Watch this video to learn how to find Polaris

Apparently, dung beetles also use stars to navigate!

A quick (but not so accurate) technique to find south using the moon works as follows: Imagine a line that connects the horns of the moon and extend this line down to the horizon. In the northern hemisphere, this will give an approximate indication of south (or north in the southern hemisphere). This technique works best when the moon is high in the sky and not too close to the horizon.

Here’s one method to determine direction using the sun: Place a stick in the ground at some point before the middle of the day. The stick will cast a shadow on the ground. Place a stone at the end of the stick’s shadow. Using a string or rope attached to the stick, draw an arc around the stick which has a radius equal to the length of that shadow. As the day progresses, the shadow will shorten and move away from the arc. When the sun starts moving towards the west, the shadow will lengthen and touch the arc again. Place another stone where it intersects the arc. Draw a line between the two stones and you will get an accurate east-west line.

Wilderness Navigation: Finding Your Way Using Map, Compass, Altimeter & GPS (Bob Burns and Mike Burns)

Be Expert with Map and Compass (Bjorn Kjellstrom)

Natural navigation techniques - The Natural Navigator

We covered a lot of navigation techniques in this article. Next time you go on a trek, try a few of these techniques. Practicing navigation techniques on a familiar trail is a good way to learn without the risk of getting lost. With practice, you will get the hang of it. I’m sure this makes your trekking experience even more interesting. Keep exploring!

Never want to be lost on an outdoor trail? This artcile provides a detailed information for people to learn and practice navigation in the outdoors

Navigation Techniques for Trekkers

Navigation Techniques for Trekkers GPS GPX KML Compass Maps

4 Navigation Techniques That Trekkers Must Learn

Today we will discuss the difficulty level of Beas Kund Trek and tips to get fit. This trek is quite old, but its popularity has increased over the past few years.

The Beas Kund Trek is a Moderate | Level 1 trek in difficulty. We look into many factors while deciding the level of the trek, like, altitude, distance, weather, strain from travel, exit points, etc. So, the Beas Kund Trek is moderate | Level 1 due to the following reasons: 

Altitude: Beas Kund trek is a four-day trek and within four days. The climbing starts from 9000 feet, and you must climb to 12000 feet, 3000 feet climb is considered high for a short trek. Usually, 5-6 days are required to climb such an altitude. The first two days are not challenging, but the difficult part comes on the third day; the third day will test your endurance, which includes steep ascents and descents.


Weather: Beas Kund is best done during the monsoon months of July, August, and September. You have to be prepared for slushy trails if it's raining. The trek is open from mid-June to the end of September. You expect a few snow patches in late June and early July, making your trek a little challenging. 


Strain from travel: Reaching Manali and then to the starting point of the trek could add a strain, and you need to be prepared for that. This doesn’t matter if you are physically fit and well prepared for the trek. 

The days will be four-five kilometers long, not more than that, you will get a lot of time to relax and enjoy the beautiful meadows.

1) Target running 5kms in 35 minutes. Start running 1.5 months in advance and gradually start covering long distances.

2) Start setting up a timer once you reach 5km and gradually reduce the time to 35 mins. 

Monsoon makes the trek beautiful with lots of flowers, and you will get to see the source of the River Beas.

Prepare well for the trek and capture the beauty.

If you have any questions, drop a comment below, and I will get back to you.

How difficult is the Beas Kund Trek Near Manali? This post gives a detailed description of the Beas Kund trek difficulty and what you can do to get fit.

How Difficult Is The Beas Kund Trek Near Manali

How Difficult Is The Beas Kund Trek Near Manali?

DeoriaTal and Chandrashila are two separate locations situated in the state of Uttarakhand, India.

Deoriatal is a lake about 3 km from the village of Sari on the Ukhimath-Chopta road. It is around 24 km from Chandrashila. This distance between Deoria Tal and Chandrashila is worth trekking.

Chandrashila is a summit above the Tungnath temple which is the highest Shiva temple in the world.  The word Chandrashila means ‘Moon rock’ and is at a height of 3690m elevation. 

The nearest point from where you can commence your journey for Sari is Dehradun/Rishikesh.  You can reach Dehradun via air/train/road or Rishikesh via bus/road. 

Once you are in Dehradun/Rishikesh, you can take a bus till Rudraprayag. You have a morning 5:30 bus available and you should reach Rudraprayag by 11:30am. You can take the next bus to Ukhimath from Rudraprayag. Bus frequency for Ukhimath is not a problem and therefore you can reach the bus stand at any time to take the next bus to Ukhimath. The bus fare is around Rs. 80.

Once you reach Ukhimath, hire a shared cab to Sari. Ukhimath is a small town and cabs are available at the marketplace from morning until afternoon. The fare ranges between 50 - 60 INR per person.

If you wish to book your own cab, you can pre-book from Rishikesh up till Sari which costs around 600 - 1000 INR/person

The journey is not too long and can be completed in one stretch. There are many restaurants and dhabas (eating stalls) available at all the stops mentioned. So commuting is not an issue.

2. Rudraprayag - Gopeshwar - Mandal - Sari

This route while available is not recommended as it is a deliberate round about increasing the distance and time to reach Sari. This route is applicable for trekkers coming from the northern part of Uttarakhand like Joshimath.

The best way to reach Sari is via Rudraprayag - Ukhimath. The commute is easily available with loads of places to eat. 

Journey from Dehradun to Rudraprayag is picturesque with hills around and serene sun rays bathing the alpine forest across the hills. As you reach Rudraprayag, you will see the confluence of Alaknanda and Mandakini rivers. It's a sight to behold. The union of gushing Mandakini and the calm Alakananda is a view that cannot be missed. 

As you travel through the narrow roads from Rudraprayag to Ukhimath and subsequently to Sari, you will come across a lot of farms growing Rajma (kidney beans), potatoes and mustard. As you reach closer to Ukhimath, you will pass through Guptkashi from where you take a left turn to Gaurikund which is the starting point of Kedarnath. As you get closer to Ukhimath, you will also experience the first view of Mt. Chaukhamba. 

The journey from Ukhimath to Sari is short but sets you up for the forthcoming trek as you are able to view the Chandrashila summit for the very first time.

This article gives a detailed explaination on where the Deoriatal Chandrashila trek is and how you can reach there in the best way possible

Where is Deoriatal Chandrashila Trek?

Dayara Bugyal is located in Uttarkashi district which has a couple of villages nearby – Barsu – 9km, Raithal - 11km and Bhatwari - 12km.

You have to reach Dehradun first to be able to proceed on your onward journey to Dayara Bugyal. Depending on your location, distance and budget, you can decide the conveyance to reach Dehradun.

Once you arrive in Dehradun, you can reach Dayara Bugyal through two villages – Barsu or Raithal.

You have many options to commute up till Raithal/Barsu – the closest village to Dayara Bugyal. There are state buses plying near Mussoorie bus stand, next to railway station between 5:30 to 8:30 am up till Uttarkashi (Estimated ticket fare 350INR per head). There are private buses available as well that ply on an hourly basis.

You can take a shared cab from Uttarkashi to Raithal/Bhatwari. Buses are available as well from Uttarkashi up till Bhatwari but frequency is not so good. Cabs up till Barsu is not so common and therefore, it's a good idea to drop near taxi stand in Uttarkashi and get the required cab as per availability either to Barsu/Raithal/Bhatwari

Taking a cab from Bhatwari to Raithal (70 INR to 100INR per head) should be considered mostly in afternoons as locals return back from the main town and there’s good frequency at that time.

Raithal village is the basecamp for Dayara Bugyal trek and that’s where you can take rest overnight and start your trek next day.

Here are tips to spend less on your travels to the treks

What to expect from the journey to the basecamp

The first stretch from Dehradun to Uttarkashi is quite scenic. As you pass Mussoorie, you will enjoy the lush coniferous forests till Moriyana top. The view from Uttarkashi to Bhatwari is also beautiful as you go along the Bhagirathi river which changes its colours from pure blue to greyish-blue as per different seasons.  Views from Bhadwari to Raithal are spectacular and cannot be missed. When you take the deviation towards Raithal from the highway off Bhatwari, you will experience the drop in temperatures  and the mountain view starts opening up as you gain altitude. It just gives you a good trailer of what to expect during the trek.

 If you are accustomed to travelling on road using cabs/buses, journey till basecamp is very smooth. If not, I would recommend you to keep candies and motion sickness pills handy with you so that you can use them if required. Keeping yourself hydrated at all times is essential irrespective of the season you are travelling.

Buses can be very crowded at times as the route till Uttarkashi is always in high demand. I advise that you start early from Dehradun to be able to cut the traffic/ crowd. You can also stay overnight at Uttarkashi and then take the shared cab to Raithal the next day to break the long journey of around 8-9 hours.

Buses do stop for lunch and dhabas (eateries) are available throughout till Bhatwari. Paranthas of all kinds (all vegetarian options available) is a great option as it’s a staple food that is easily available in all dhabas. If you like buttermilk/ lassi, that’s a great way to end your meal.

In case, if there’s no commute available for Raithal, you can hitchhike from Bhatwari till Raithal which is just 30 min with approximately 11km distance. Bhatwari checkpost is a good point from where you can opt for hitchhiking.

Your search to reach the Dayara Bugyal Trek ends here . A comprehensive guide on how to reach one of the prettiest treks of the country!

How To Reach The Dayara Bugyal Trek

There are multiple ways to collect and purify water in the wilderness. On a trek you'll find water flowing streams, dripping from rocks, in the catchment areas, from melting snow, seeping out of underground sources. Many times, you need to make do with the water source you find.  

And it's not difficult if you know how to purify water that you find on treks.

In this video, we are sharing some practical approaches to collecting and purifying water for the Himalayan treks. These tips can become very useful on your next do-it-yourself trek.

Watch this video and let us know which of these techniques have you applied. If you have any questions, please drop them in the comment section below and we will address them promptly.

Here are some practical and effective ways to purify water on a trek

How to Purify Water on Trek

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