Difficulty
Moderate - Difficult | Level 2
Duration
8 Days
Highest Altitude
13,900 ft
Age
8 to 62 years
Duration
8 Days
Age
8 to 62 years
Difficulty
Moderate - Difficult | Level 2
Highest Altitude
13,900 ft
Gidara Bugyal Trek
A trek to the grandest meadows in our bouquet
There is simply no comparison between Gidara Bugyal and any other meadow. Gidara Bugyal is the crown jewel of our bouquet of meadow treks.
Hidden inside the folds of the mountains, the grassland spreads across the valley floor. It takes almost half a day to cross the length of it, so vast are the meadows.
It is the beauty of the meadows that takes everyone by surprise. The meadows flow far and wide across the valley and rise above the valley walls. The only breaks in the expanse of meadows are the clear, running streams.
Miles of grassy rolling hills surround the meadows, enveloping them like an amphitheatre. Even our local staff, who have seen their fair share of meadows, are in awe of the beauty of Gidara. According to them, “agar Gidara nahi dekha, toh kuch nahi dekha.” If you haven't seen Gidara, you haven't seen much of anything.
The jaw-dropping beauty, seclusion, and exclusivity of the Gidara meadows make it a must-do for the discerning trekker.
Gidara Bugyal Videos
Watch these videos to prepare for your Gidara Bugyal trek.
Quick Itinerary
A map of the Gidara Bugyal trek.
Day 1
Drive from Dehradun. Reach Raithal
Drive distance: 185 km | Drive Duration: 7-8 hours
We will pick you up from Dehradun on Day 1. Transport will be organized from Hotel Grand Legacy Lalpul in Dehradun at 6:30 AM. Cab cost – Rs 6,500 per vehicle, for an SUV and Rs 10,000 per vehicle, for a Tempo Traveller. This fare is split among drivers and paid directly to the driver.
Day 2
Drive to Bhangeli. Trek from Bhangeli to Munda ka Thatthar
Trek Distance: 5.2 km | Trek Duration: 5 hours | Altitude gain: 7,630 ft to 10,547 ft
Day 3
Trek from Munda ka Thatthar to Thiriya
Trek Distance: 3.4 km | Trek Duration: 4-5 hours | Altitude gain: 10,547 ft to 10,755 ft
Day 4
Trek from Thiriya to Thalotya
Trek Distance: 4.3 km | Trek Duration: 5 hours | Altitude gain: 10,755 ft to 12,235 ft
Day 5
Trek from Thalotya via Gidara Top to Thalotya
Trek Distance: 7.2 km | Trek Duration: 10-11 hours | Altitude gain and loss: 12,235 ft to 12,235 ft via 13,900 ft
Day 6
Trek from Thalotya to Munda ka Thatthar
Trek Distance: 7.7 km | Trek Duration: 5 hours | Altitude loss: 12,235 ft to 10,547 ft
Day 7
Trek from Munda ka Thatthar to Bhangeli. Drive from Bhangeli to Raithal
Trek Distance: 5.2 km | Trek Duration: 3-4 hours | Altitude loss: 10,547 ft to 7,142 ft
Day 8
Drive from Raithal to Dehradun
Drive Distance: 185 km | Drive Duration: 7-8 hours
We arrange a cab from Bhangeli to Dehradun at noon. It takes 7-8 hours to reach Dehradun. It costs Rs 6,500 per vehicle, for an SUV and Rs 10,000 per vehicle, for a Tempo Traveler which will have to be shared by trekkers. You will reach Dehradun by 8.00 PM.
Please note: The distance between campsites may vary by 100 meters depending the weather conditions and the route you take. The altitude may also vary by 100 feet for similar reasons.
IMPORTANT POINTS
➤Stay facility: Please note that you will be staying in tents on all days of the trek (three to a tent)
➤Stay facility: It is mandatory for trekkers to carry a copy of their photo ID for entry at forest check posts on the trek. Do not bring any packaged food, tags from your new clothes, or any waste with you. We follow a Dustbin Free Zone and No Wet Wipes Policy at our base camps in line with our spirit of Green Trails. Please note that you will be staying in tents (twin sharing) on all days of the trek.
➤Rental of Gears: We have rental gear available for the Gidara Bugyal trek. You will have to order it online in advance. You will receive the gear at Bhangeli and can return it at Bhangeli at the end of the trek.
➤Cloakroom facility for excess luggage: If you have excess luggage that you'd like to leave behind, we have a cloakroom facility at Bhangeli. Every trekker is permitted to leave behind one piece of luggage at no charge. Anything beyond one piece of luggage is chargeable at Rs 500 per luggage. (The luggage could be a backpack/suitcase/duffel bag or anything similar.). Ensure you don't leave any valuables such as laptops or wallets behind.
A map of the Gidara Bugyal trek.
PRO-TIPS
Book flexible flight tickets:
You are going on a Himalayan trek, where there are several unpredictable factors. It's best to book flexible flight tickets, which you can reschedule if required. These are available for a small added cost with most travel companies.
Choose trains over buses:
Trains are a lot more reliable than buses for your final journey to Dehradun. If you're coming from Delhi, the Jan Shatabdi or Nanda Devi Express (Kota SNN) are good options.
Gidara Bugyal is Best Discovered Through Pictures
One of the biggest highlights of the Gidara Bugyal trek is the ridge walk from one end of the meadow to the other. It stretches for almost 3-4 hours, and makes for one of the most pleasurable ridge walks in the country!
Picture by: Nitesh Kumar
The Famous Ridge Walk of Gidara Bugyal
What I Like About the Gidara Bugyal Trek
What I Like About the Gidara Bugyal Trek
Know Your Trek
We have always wanted trekkers to be well-informed before they go on a Himalayan trek. Knowledge is the difference between a safe trek and a dangerous one. It’s also the difference between a wholesome experience and a superficial experience.
Use this section to learn about the Gidara Bugyal trek. It has in-depth information about each day of the trek, what to expect, and how you need to prepare for it. Many years of expertise have gone into this content. Trekkers find that extremely useful.
PRO TIPS
We recommend jogging as the best routine to get fit for a trek. It works on the same muscles that you use while trekking — your calves, glutes and hamstrings. It helps increase your stamina day by day. It is also an easy routine that does not require any equipment or tools.
Fitness target:
To do this trek comfortably, you must be able to cover 5 km in under 32 minutes. This is the minimum fitness required for this trek.
How to achieve this fitness?
- Start jogging at least 4 days a week
- If you cannot run 5 km immediately, start with 2 km and increase to 5 km over 2-3 weeks.
- Once you’re able to run 5 km, increase your pace day by day.
- Gradually increase your pace and bring it down to 5 km in less than 32 mins.
- You must be able to run 5 km in 32 mins consistently for at least 2 weeks before the trek.
This trek requires at least 6-8 weeks of preparation. The longer, the better. So plan your trek soon and start preparing.
Here's a complete guide to get you trek fit.
Strength training tips:
How to get Fitness Approval from the Indiahikes team:
Every trekker needs fitness approval from the Indiahikes team 20 days before the trek date. Without this, you will not be allowed on the trek.
What to upload?
- A minimum of 3 screenshots of your runs/jogs/walks/cycling
- Monthly summary of your routine
Why fitness matters:
Every high-altitude trek comes with a set of challenges. Steep ascents and descents, uneven terrain, snow walks, stream crossings, pass crossings, and summit climb. Even the easiest of treks have some of these challenges if not all of them. Without fitness, trekkers struggle, get injured easily, lag behind, or simply fail to complete the trek.
At Indiahikes, we take pride in the fact that our trekkers are among the fittest in the country. Those who do not meet the fitness requirements are often sent back. Our philosophy is that trekking and fitness go hand in hand. Without fitness, there’s no trekking.
Trek Trivia
Things Nobody Tells You About Gidara Bugyal
Did You Know Gidara Bugyal is Connected to Dayara Bugyal?
Gidara Bugyal is not very faraway from Dayara Bugyal. It might just be around 20 km away as the crow flies.
Our team recently explored a route from Barsu, one of the base camps of the Dayara Bugyal trek, all the way to Gidara Bugyal and Bhangeli.
It was a successful exploration, and makes for a terrific trek on its own!
A lesser-known hot spring - Gangnani
Very few people know or visit the Gangnani Hot Spring, which is just a stone's throw away from Bhangeli.
These are large pools of refreshingly hot water, that bubble out of the core of the mountains. If you've just ended your trek and have time to visit the hot springs, it's a must-do in the region!
(They have separate baths for men and women, but the maintenance of the place is not the best.)
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