An adventurous trek through the scenic landscapes of Kyrgyzstan, organized by Indiahikes.

Ala-Kul Trek in Kyrgyzstan

The price includes the trek fee. Travel to the starting point is not included.

Ala-Kul Trek organized by Indiahikes for tourists located in India.

Experience Kyrgyzstan’s Pristine Glacial Lake 

Trek Difficulty

Trek Duration

Highest Altitude

SUITABLE FOR

Trek to Kyrgyzstan’s Pristine Glacial Lake

The Ala-Kul or the Ala-Kol trek in Kyrgyzstan is a grand crossover trek that takes you close to the most beautiful glacial lake we have seen outside India, the Ala-Kul. Kul or Kol in Kyrgyz means a ‘lake’, hence the name means the ‘Ala Lake’ trek.

The milky-blue Ala-Kul lies at approximately 11,580 ft in the Tien Shan mountain ranges of Central Asia. You’ll have to cross the thrilling Ala-Kul Pass at 12,750 ft to get to this lake.

This challenging trek takes you through the most beautiful coniferous forests and grasslands of the Altyn Arashan and Karakol Valleys, where the landscape is dotted with wildflowers of varying colours and gushing rivers.

As you gain altitude, the lush green valley opens up to alpine meadows sprinkled with juniper shrubs, moraine and scree. This combination of scenery is rarely seen elsewhere. It’s like a combination of our treks from Jammu & Kashmir and Uttarakhand, where you get to walk on the green carpet of meadows lined with coniferous trees, and see snow-capped mountains, witness a glacier, and camp next to a glacier-fed lake.

Kyrgyzstan also has a striking resemblance to India. So much so that when our founders and the rest of the team landed in Bishkek, they felt like they were in a city that is much like Srinagar in India. They felt welcomed in a land that is so far away from home.

Not just the city, it has a rich culture and tradition, and the people are very approachable. Just like shared taxis here in India, Kyrgyzstan has ‘marshrutkas’ (maxi-van type shared taxis) and buses that keep you well connected across cities. Whether it is stays, food or travel, everything is pocket-friendly.

The Ala-Kul trek is suitable for trekkers who have experienced high-altitude treks before. And if you are a beginner, you’ll have to be in the best of fitness to do this ‘moderate-difficult’ level trek.

Please note that the experience of this trek will be different from a typical Indiahikes experience:

The trek will be run in an assisted Do-It-Yourself (DIY) style: This means we are going to be doing the trek all by ourselves, without the regular Indiahikes support team. In terms of safety, our highly trained Trek Leaders will be with you. You will not have to carry any tents or sleeping bags but you have to help with cooking meals and pitching tents, including toilet tents.

The food will be different: You may not find your usual Indiahikes food. Instead, you will be served good local cuisine. On camp days, the food will be Indian.

Apart from these, you can expect to see our own tents, our toilet tents and our Green Trails practices.

This fee includes everything from base camp to base camp.

Watch these videos to get a glimpse of the trek

We have always wanted trekkers to be well-informed before they go on a high altitude 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 Ala-Kul 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.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeW9wBGHRlOkX3ebrRznJnA71WstYDswhKnSzKLYWnW2n5xDw/viewform

Have questions about the trek? Fill this form to schedule a call

This trek will be run in a Do-It-Yourself (DIY) style. This means we are going to be doing the trek all by ourselves, without the regular Indiahikes support team. You have to help with cooking meals, pitching tents, including toilet tents. You will not have to carry any tents or sleeping bags, but you will have to help with other things and work together with the team.
Expect the experience to be different from a typical Indiahikes experience. In terms of safety, our highly trained Trek Leaders will be with you. You can expect to see our own tents, our toilet tents (much better than the current system there!) and our Green Trails practices.
In terms of food, you may not find your usual Indiahikes food. However, on camp days, the food will be Indian.

If you're planning to travel to Bishkek, opt to fly via Tashkent in Uzbekistan. If you have a couple of days to spare, Uzbekistan has a lot of places of interest like Samarkand, Madrasa etc., that cannot be missed if you are travelling all the way to Kyrgyzstan.

While returning, you will reach Karakol by late afternoon. Plan your travel by keeping a couple of spare days in hand. Visit Issyk Kul lake, Osh Bazaar and many other tourist attractions in Kyrgyzstan.

Swathi Chatrapathy heads the digital content - marketing team at Indiahikes. She is also the face behind India's popular trekking video channel, Trek With Swathi. Unknown to many, Swathi also writes a weekly column at Indiahikes which has more than 100,000 followers. A TEDx speaker and a frequent guest at other events, Swathi is a much sought after resource for her expertise in the digital content world. 

Here, Swathi Chatrapathy is in conversation with Arjun and Sandhya about one of the 'Best Treks for Summit Views in Kyrgyzstan'. 

Here, we rate Ala-Kul as a ‘moderate-difficult’ trek. It is a high-altitude trek that takes you close to 13,000 ft. The trek climbs rapidly and your safety depends a lot on the preparation you put in for the trek.

The trek is long and strenuous. It also climbs quickly. Having prior experience trekking in the high altitudes helps accustom you to hardship. Having know-how about Acute Mountain Sickness greatly helps in dealing with altitude issues you may face on the trek.

At Indiahikes, while rating a trek difficulty we consider a number of factors. These include altitude gained every day, length of trek everyday, highest altitude, nature of the terrain, weather etc. Based on this we rate a trek as easy or difficult or somewhere in between.

The best time to be on this trek is from the beginning of July to the middle of September. In fact, that’s the only time you can trek here. In all the other seasons, The Ala-Kul lake trail is buried under snow.

July to September happens to be peak summer transitioning to Autumn and the best time to trek in Karakol. The landscape comes alive during this window. And even though the window is tight, you notice the landscape changing colour and texture as the months proceed.

This is peak summer in Karakol. The upper reaches of the trek starts crawling out of the snow blanket in July. It’s warm and you experience light evening showers during this month.

The trail to Ala-Kul opens in the first week of July. Snow still remains at higher altitudes, at Ala-Kul Pass and at the Ala Kul lake. But the trek is more or less accessible.

Caution: It’s risky to attempt a pass crossing when there’s too much snow. So hold back and exercise safety.

As the snow melts, colourful flowers start appearing on the meadows. You see flowers throughout the Ala-Kul trekking season. But the colours of these flowers vary based on the month.

The landscape has lush green meadows punctuated with the Ala-Kul lake that is still frozen in parts.

After mid-July, a robust trekking season begins on the Ala-Kul trek. Expect bright sunny mornings with some evening showers.

The trail is carpeted with green meadows everywhere. They look dramatic in contrast with the rugged, grey mountains around it. The best part is, these meadows are densely dotted with wildflowers!

Frozen chunks of ice in the Ala-Kul lake, and on the trail would have melted.

Ala-Kul Trek from mid-July to the third week of August

After the end of August, cold sets in.  Rains reduce giving way to one of the best times to do the trek. The clouds part during this time of the year and you witness brilliant blue skies. Their reflection deepens the blue of the Ala-Kul lake.

Photography Point: It's a sight to behold from Ala-Kul Pass. You can catch Mt Palatka with its glacier, Mt Karakol, the rest of the snow-clad mountains, and the Ala-Kul lake in one frame. The lake flashes a milky-blue colour under the clear sky.

Another stark change that happens in early September is the change in colour of the meadows. The grass no longer retains the soft, fresh green tinge. The flowers change. And yet, there’s a beauty to this change of tone.

We usually stop our trek after the second week of September. It turns colder and chances of snowfall increase. That raises the difficulty of the trek and it's highly risky to cross the Pass.

Ala-Kul Trek from end-July to mid-September

Carry these medicines with you, easily accessible at all times. Do not take any medicine unless you have consulted your trek leader. 

Diamox (1 Strip): Be on a course of a half tablet Diamox starting from Karakol every 12 hours (125 mg). Carry on the medication until you descend down to Karakol. Being on a preventive course of Diamox greatly reduces the chances of Acute Mountain Sickness on the Ala-Kul trek.

Dexamethasone (1 Strip): This is part of the Live Saving Drugs kit. Do not take this on your own. Your trek leader will inform you in case the need arises. 

Nifedipine (5 tablets): Again part of the Live Saving Drugs kit. Do not take this on your own. Your trek leader will inform you in case the need arises.   

Dolo 650 (5 tablets): This is a paracetamol. It helps to tackle fever, mild pain

Avomine (4 tablets): Carry this especially if you are prone to motion sickness. Pop one half hour before the start of your road journey.

Combiflam (5 tablets): Take a Combiflam if you get a sudden twist of the leg or a muscle strain. It is a pain reliever. It also contains paracetamol. 

Digene (4 tablets): Take it if you feel the food that you’ve taken is undigested. Alert your trek leader immediately. It could be a sign of AMS. 

ORS (6 packs): Consume a pack of ORS water at least once a day, usually mid day when you are in the middle of your trek. It replenishes essential salts lost while trekking. Tip: It also makes cold water easier to drink.

Knee Brace (optional): Carry this if you are prone to knee injury or have known issues of knee pain.

Our trek leaders carry a high altitude medical kit with them which also consist of Life Saving Drugs. If there is an emergency our trek leaders know how to tackle it. Meanwhile, contact your trek leader before consuming any of these medicines listed here.

Pro Tip: We find that these medicines by trekkers are rarely used. But you cannot do away with them. At the end of the trek please donate unused medicines to your trek leader. Some of these medicines get distributed to villages on the trek and some are added to the Indiahikes medical kit. 

These are documents required for legal purposes by Indiahikes and the forest department. Without any of these, you will not be allowed to trek.

Original and photocopy of government photo identity card. Anything such as a driver’s license, Aadhar card, passport will do. This is required by the forest department for your identification.  

Disclaimer certificate: There are two sections in this. The first part is a personal medical record.  The second part is a legal requirement. Download the PDF, read carefully, fill in and sign it. This must be handed over to your Trek Leader during registration at the base camp. – Download disclaimer certificate

Medical certificate: The medical certificate needs to be filled out by an MBBS doctor, without which the forest department will not issue permissions for your trek. It is also a requirement by Indiahikes – Download medical certificate.

Note: Indiahikes has a panel of doctors who can help you with a medical certificate. They are available for online consultation. To get in touch with them, please write to trekmedicalcertificates@gmail.com. They will respond to you within 24 hours.
Consultation fee: Rs 300

Keep important documents in a clear plastic cover and slide them into the inner pocket at the back of your backpack. This keeps them from getting wet.

Here is a list of everything you need for your trek.

Warm layers: 5 layers - 1 pair of thermals, 1 woollen sweater, 1 fleece, and 1 padded jacket
(Cross Fleece Cap and Crosstrek Neck Warmer are available for purchase)

3 Full sleeved, dry fit, collared t-shirts (Wear one, carry two)

2 quick-dry trek pants (Wear one, carry one)

Sun cap, preferably with flaps (Available for purchase)

Synthetic hand gloves (with waterproofing on the outside and padded lining on the inside). Alternative - wear a tight fitting fleece hand glove inside the synthetic hand gloves. (Waterproof gloves - Available for purchase)

Balaclava or woollen cap (Cross Fleece Cap and Crosstrek Neck Warmer are available for purchase)

Woollen socks (2 pairs of Dry fit + 1 pair of woollen) (Available for purchase)

Rain jacket + pants/poncho (Rain jacket available for purchase)

Toilet paper (Wet wipes are strictly not allowed on our treks)

Reusable plastic covers (for used clothes)

Steel lunch box, spoon and a coffee mug (coffee mug available for purchase)

Once you run through this list, don't miss this ultimate guide on what gear to take on a trek. It contains tips on what gear to choose, where to get it from, and how much to spend on it.

Our only tip: Keep your backpack light. Indiahikes practices low-impact, sustainable trekking in every aspect of the trek. Carrying your backpack reduces your impact on the mountains by 20%. We expect all our trekkers to carry their own backpacks unless they have a justifiable reason not to.

We go to great lengths to keep you safe on your trek. However, trekking with the safest organization in India comes with certain commitments from your end.

Over 20,000 people trek with Indiahikes each year and vouch for our

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Trekker's share their Experience with Indiahikes

Here are unedited reviews shared by trekkers.

Complete information on the Ala-Kul Lake trek. Trek details, itinerary, reviews, cost, maps, photos, videos and more.

Ala-Kul Lake Trek 2024 - Treks In Kyrgyzstan - Indiahikes

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The Atsunta Pass trek, we believe, is the greatest trek in Georgia. We don’t say this without reason. The trek passes through the most breathtaking mountainscape of the Caucasus Mountains. 

The grasslands, for which the trek is famous, are perfectly landscaped. They extend as far as your eyes can reach. The lush greenery of these grasslands, with wildflowers growing almost every inch, is something so unique to the Atsunta Pass trek. These wildflowers extend not for a few hundred metres but for kilometres together!

Nestled in these grasslands are the charming Georgian villages that give you an insight into the culture. At Omalo and Dartlo, you stay in these villages, experience the warm hospitality and delicious local food. 

In addition to the villages, the ruins of ancient fortresses decorate the entire remote trail. These are not just heritage but history, many centuries old. While you marvel at these towers jutting out of the grasslands, at Dartlo, you even get to explore one.   

The thrill of climbing the high Atsunta Pass is pure adventure. Not many treks in Europe give you the high of a pass crossing as much as the Atsunta Pass. It is no less than any high-altitude Himalayan pass crossing. The landscape shifts dramatically from lush green grasslands to moraine terrain. The changes in the scenery during the pass crossing are stunning.

The drive before and after the trek are as thrilling as the trek itself. You drive to the country parts of Georgia on the bone-jarring dirt tracks. But the scenery on both sides compensates for that. You wouldn’t want to close your eyes, even for a second. The drive and the trek combined give you a unique experience of crossing a mountain pass before, during, and after the trek. This is a rarity on any trek.

Most people have not heard of Georgia, but when you get there, you will be somewhat taken aback. Georgia in itself is worth visiting. The history, tradition, and culture are vibrant. Tbilisi, the capital, is modern and yet holds on to its deep roots. Theatre, music, and the arts are thriving. There is a lot of heritage to see and discover. The food is delicious and wonderful. Georgians are extremely warm and friendly. For us Indians, it is amazing how affordable everything is. 

Please note that the experience of this trek will be different from a typical Indiahikes experience:

The food will be different: You may not find your usual Indiahikes food. Instead, you will be served good Georgian cuisine. On camp days, the food will be Indian.

The trek is open only for a short window, from July to September. This is when the snow and rain are less, making the pass accessible. The meadows are at their greenest in July and transition to golden towards September.

Atsunta Pass - Complete Trek Information 

We have always wanted trekkers to be well-informed before they go on a High-Altitude 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 Atsunta Pass 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.

Refer this chart to get an idea of altitude gain or loss on each day of the trek

Keep at least 3 buffer days in your travel plan. One before the trek, when you arrive at Tbilisi, two days after your trek. This is because the Atsunta Pass trail is susceptible to heavy rain, which could delay your return from the trek. 
For buffer day, we will charge only if we use it on the trek. The charges are €80 (approx. GEL 270). You will have to pay this in cash to your Trek leader on the last day of the trek. We accept both Euros and GEL. Keep this cash in hand.

This trek will be run in a Do-It-Yourself (DIY) style. This means we are going to be doing the trek all by ourselves, without the regular Indiahikes support team. You have to help with cooking meals and pitching tents, including toilet tents. You will not have to carry any tents or sleeping bags, but you will have to work together with the team.

Expect the experience to be different from a typical Indiahikes experience. In terms of safety, our highly trained Trek Leaders will be with you. You can expect to see our own tents, our toilet tents and our Green Trails practices.  
In terms of food, you may not find your usual Indiahikes food. You will not find Gulab Jamun after crossing the pass. :P Instead, you will be served good Georgian cuisine. On camp days, the food will be Indian. 

Given that it's an international trek, you might have more questions. Head over to our FAQ section.

The Atsunta Pass trek is rated as a moderate-difficult trek. Although the trail on the trek is well-marked and almost straightforward, do not mistake it for an easy trek. You cover a distance of more than 80 km in 5 days. That, coupled with a total elevation change of 5,481 ft makes it very challenging. And not to forget, that you have a backpack to carry throughout. 

You can tell that the trek requires a great amount of cardiovascular endurance as well as functional strength training. You should be able to run 5 km in 32 minutes.  Refer to this section for more details on how to get fit for your trek.

At Indiahikes, while rating a trek difficulty we consider several factors. These include, altitude gained every day, length of a trek every day, highest altitude, nature of the terrain, weather etc. Based on this we rate a trek as easy or difficult or somewhere in between.

Georgia is a Eurasian country, which means it sits right between Europe and Asia. It shares its border with Russia in the North, Azerbaijan in the Southeast, Armenia in the South and Turkey in the Southwest. Being at the crossroads of eastern and western civilisation, the country is a happy mix of eastern and western influences. It is seen in their architecture, culture and food.

Tbilisi, Georgia’s capital, is a charming blend of modern and classical. On one hand, there are orthodox churches and monasteries, reflecting the country’s overwhelming Eastern Orthodox Christian population. On the other hand, there are casinos and clubs mushrooming across the city, signifying a fairly active nightlife.
The buildings you see, especially in Tbilisi’s old town, seem to be from old Soviet time. Yet, the moment you walk in, you see that interiors are entirely modern! All of these old buildings seems to have their interiors renovated, with their crumbling exteriors dating back to Russian imperial times. Old Tbilisi has narrow, cobbled streets that wind around the town, with stray cats flitting in and about.

In the mountains, the houses are simple stone houses. You find homes with fruit trees growing out of them.  The sight of them fill you with warmth. On the trail, ancient ruins of stone towers and shrines are many, a remnant of an era gone by. They add to the charm of this trek.

The people of Georgia are extremely hospitable, polite and friendly. They will often go out of their way to help you – even if you don’t share the language. There is also an abiding sense of integrity. They even get offended if you entertain the idea of them cheating you!

They are also extremely rooted – the people have a strong sense of belonging to Georgia and they take pride in their unique culture. They celebrate it! In the city, you will find multiple events centered around art, theatre, dance and music. You will see some of the music and dance on the streets. Our founders caught a folk performance (incidentally from the mountain folk of Tusheti, the region we trek in!) in the airport!

On the trail, the mountain folk are quite like the ones you find in the Himalayas. The locals love to host, feed you, regale with their stories of their life and culture.

Most people speak Georgian, Russian in some places and very basic English. The owners of guest houses you stay at will converse with you in this basic English.

Georgian cuisine has a healthy mix of vegetables and meat. Which means, there are a fair number of vegetarian dishes along with non-vegetarian dishes on the menu. Options for vegans, however, are difficult to find.

Expect bread and cheese with every meal, or cheese-filled breads or steamed dumplings with vegetables, meat and cheese. There are multiple varieties of cheese in their cuisine. 

Eating together seems to be the norm. Food often comes in sharing plates and every serving is for at least 3-4 people. The portions are quite large. So come to Georgia with a healthy appetite!

The price of food seems to be quite standard, with very little difference between the regular and higher end restaurants. Say, if a meal costs you GEL 7 at a regular restaurant, the same dish will cost you about GEL 8 lari at a higher end restaurant. Expect the prices of food go higher up in the mountains.

Here are some special Georgian dishes you must try:

Khachapuri (Cheese-stuffed bread) **Recommended

Khinkali (Also called Totori in the Tusheti region) (Georgian Dumplings) **Recommended

Badrijani Nigvzit Roasted Eggplant (badrijani)

Mtsvadi (Shashlik, meat skewers) Fire-roasted chunks of pork, salted.

Satsivi – Poultry (chicken or turkey) served with a thinned paste of walnut, garlic and herbs.

Of course, Georgia is famous for its wine! We recommend sampling some after your trek.

Also, we loved gorging on the locally grown fruits. They grow in abundance and cost lesser than normal food. Try the cherries, peaches and plums that thrive in trekking season.

Additional information:

– Most of the country follows a standard pricing. You can bargain only for your transport.

– There seems to be no culture of tipping. So you can just pay what you have been charged.

– Don’t try to pet the dogs in the mountains. The shepherd dogs are not friendly. They are trained to guard their flock and will attack you if they see you as a threat. The best thing to do when you find these dogs on trail is to wait for their owner/shepherd to come around, so you can go ahead.

Diamox (1 Strip): Be on a course of a half tablet Diamox starting from Delhi every 12 hours (125 mg). Carry on the medication until you descend down on the last day. Being on a preventive course of Diamox greatly reduces the chances of Acute Mountain Sickness on the Ali Bedini Bugyal trek.   

Combiflam (5 tablets): Take a combiflam if you get a sudden twist of the leg or a muscle strain. It is a pain reliever. It also contains paracetamol. 

ORS (6 packs): Consume a pack of ORS water at least once a day, usually mid day when you are in the middle of your trek. It replenishes essential salts lost while trekking.  Tip: It also makes cold water easier to drink.

Knee Brace (optional): Carry this if you are prone to knee injury or have known issues of knee pain.

Our trek leaders carry a high altitude medical kit with them which also consist of Life Saving Drugs. If there is an emergency our trek leaders know how to tackle it. Meanwhile, contact your trek leader before consuming any of these medicines listed here.
| Pro tip: We find that these medicines by trekkers are rarely used. But you cannot do away with them. At the end of the trek please donate unused medicines to your trek leader. Some of these medicines get distributed to villages on the trek and some are added to the Indiahikes medical kit.   

Government approved Identity proof- original and photocopy

Proof of accommodation for all days besides the trek days

Travel insurance. Average cost: 2k INR for a 30-day insurance by Religare & 68 USD for a 10-day insurance by World Nomads. 

Sufficient cash- it’s advisable to carry at least GEL 600 for the trip/trek.

Physical & Digital copies of your passport picture.

Medical certificate: The medical certificate needs to be filled out by an MBBS doctor, without which the forest department will not issue permissions for your trek. It is also a requirement by Indiahikes – Download medical certificate

Note: Indiahikes has a panel of doctors who can help you with a medical certificate. They are available for online consultation. To get in touch with them, please write to trekmedicalcertificates@gmail.com. They will respond to you within 24 hours.

| Pro tip: Keep important documents in a clear plastic cover and slide them into the inner pocket at the back of your backpack. This keeps them from getting wet.  

Ali Bedini Bugyal requires trekking shoes that are sturdy, have good grip, have ankle support and can handle snow. Here is a quick video on how to choose your trekking shoes.

| Buying Tip: The Trek series and MH series are good options by Decathlon. They are tried and tested. There really isn’t any necessity to buy the higher priced models. Here is a list of other budget shoes that trekkers are using.

| Rental: We have the Trek series and the MH series by Decathlon available on rent from the Indiahikes store. They are already broken into and in good condition. Rental shoes are not dirty or unhygienic. This is how they are kept clean. Rent here.

For a trek like Ali Bedini Bugyal, you need a 50-60 litre backpack. Make sure your backpack has good hip support, shoulder support and quick access pockets. Here is a guide on how to choose a backpack.

| Buying Tip: Wildcraft, Decathlon and Adventure Worx usually make good backpacks. While Wildcraft has more expensive ones, the other two brands have budget-friendly backpacks to choose from. 

| Rental: The 48 litre backpack by Adventure Worx is available on rent from the Indiahikes store. They are custom-made for our Himalayan treks. Rent them if you don’t have a backpack. Rent here.

Wearing layers is the mantra in the mountains. Layers give you maximum protection from all elements. And when the weather changes in the mountains (as it happens every few hours), you take take off or put on layers as required. 

Wear one T-shirt and carry two. Carry full sleeve dry-fit T-shirts (preferably collared). These prevent your arms and neck from getting sunburnt. In the rarified air on the trek, especially at high altitudes, UV rays can burn you in no time.

Dry-fit T-shirts quickly dry your sweat, they are easy to wash and in case of a rainy day, they dry quicker. Round neck T-shirts are ok, but collared ones are better.

| Cotton or Synthetic? As Indians, we love cotton. Down in the plains when the heat is a blistering 40°C it makes sense to wear cotton. But it takes a long time to dry when it gets wet. In the mountains, where it is cooler, synthetic is what you wear. They wick sweat rapidly and keep you dry. (But they do tend to smell quickly, so carry a roll-on deodorant with you.)

| Buying Tip: You can get dry-fit T-shirts from Decathlon. Also, stores like Reliance Trends, Max have dry-fit T-shirts. They don’t usually cost much.

| Pro Tip: If you are extra susceptible to cold, you could get a set of thermal inners. In our experience, wearing two T-shirts over another works as a better thermal. And they save you weight and space, since you’re already carrying them. 

The Ali Bedini Bugyal trek is primarily a winter trek. If you’re going any time between December and March, you will need at least 5 warm layers.

You will need 1 pair of inner thermals, 2 light fleece layers, 1  light sweater and 1  padded jacket. Do not get your grandma stitched sweaters, which can be very heavy. You need sweaters and fleece jackets that can fold into compact rolls.

For your outer later, a padded jacket serves the purpose here. You don’t really need a water resistant material. But you need an outer padded jacket that keeps the wind and cold out. Ensure your padded jacket has a hood as well.

| Do you need a down/feather jacket? Not really. A regular padded/shell jacket will do. This video here will help you to learn more about the difference.

| Note: Down/feather jackets are really not available these days. Many jackets masquerade as down/feather jackets. They are essentially fine polyester-filled jackets. They mimic the function of a down jacket but are usually expensive.  

| Rental: Padded jackets made by Fort Collins are available on rent at the Indiahikes store. They are custom made for Indiahikes and trekkers find them terrific, even in winter. Rent here.

A minimum of one pair and maximum of two pairs of trek pants should suffice for this trek. Wear one pair and carry one just in case it rains/snows. Trek pants with zippered cut offs at the thighs are very suitable for treks. Also, choose quick-dry pants over cotton. They dry up soon even in the cold climate.

| Buying Tip: Go for pants with zippered pockets. They come in handy to keep your phone, handkerchief or pocket snacks.

| Track pants or trek pants? Stretchable track pants make a good backup and can double up as your thermal bottoms. But track pants are not trek pants — so don’t use them as your main outerwear. Keep them only as a backup. 

Mandatory Accessories, without these too you won’t be able to do the trek.

These accessories are mandatory. Don’t go to Ali Bedini Bugyal without them. Trekkers generally put off purchasing / borrowing the accessories for the last minute. We suggest the opposite. Start gathering these accessories first. 

Sunglasses are to prevent snow blindness. On a winter trek like Ali Bedini Bugyal, expect to walk on long stretches of snow. A small overexposure to direct sunlight on snow can lead to snow blindness (about a half hour’s exposure). That’s because fallen snow is like thousands of mirrors that reflect direct UV rays. So you need sunglasses with UV protection. 

| Wearing tip: Wear sunglasses if the trekking day is bright and sunny (on open sections, meadows). On a snowy section you must absolutely never take off your sunglasses until the section has been fully crossed.

| Buying Tip: Try getting sunglasses that wrap around instead of those that have openings on the side. Even peripheral UV ray exposure is not a good idea.  

| If you wear spectacles: If you wear spectacles, you can get oversized sunglasses that you wear over your regular glasses (available at Decathlon). If that is cumbersome, photochromic lenses work equally well. Here’s a quick guide on managing sunglasses with spectacles.

| Contact lens users: If you use contact lenses, you can use them on the trek too. The lens solution will not freeze. You will also not face any problems in changing your lens in your tent. Just carry enough cleaning solution with you to clean your fingers well. Wear your sunglasses over your contact lens. Read this article for more guidance on managing contact lenses on treks.

A sun cap is mandatory. Trekking without a sun cap can lead to headaches, sun strokes, quick dehydration and a sharp drop in trekking performance. 

| Tip: In the mountains, the general rule is to keep your head covered at all times. During the day a sun cap protects you from the harsh rays of the sun (it is doubly stronger with naked UV rays). A sun cap keeps your body temperature in balance. In the evening/early morning, the reverse is true. Your head loses your body heat quickly. A woolen cap prevents heat from dissipating from your head.

| Pro Tip: Sun caps with flaps are a blessing for trekkers. They cut out almost all UV leaks. They prevent sun burns in every possible way. They are a lot more effective than sunscreen lotion. A wide-brimmed sports hat also helps to prevent sunburn in a big way. 

On a trek like Ali Bedini Bugyal you are going to be handling snow quite a bit. You’ll need gloves to grip something or to steady yourself in snow. You also want the gloves to keep you warm. Get synthetic hand gloves that have waterproofing on the outside and a padded lining on the inside. If you find the combination difficult to get (not likely), wear a tight fitting fleece hand glove inside a synthetic hand glove. Hand gloves are mandatory on this trek.   

Ensure these cover your head. In the cold mountains, you lose maximum heat from your head, not from your hands, feet or the rest of your body. Which is why you need to keep your head protected, especially when the sun is down. Early mornings, late evenings, a cold trekking day are when you must use your woollen cap.

Your ears are sensitive too, so a woollen head cap that covers your ears is absolutely essential. A balaclava is a modern version of the woolen cap. It covers your ears, neck and parts of your face as well. If you get woollen cap that only covers your head, you will need a neck warmer or a woolen scarf.

Apart from three to four pairs of sports socks, take a pair of woollen socks. Sports socks give you cushioning plus warmth. Again the mantra is to wear synthetic socks or at least a synthetic blend. Cotton socks soak in water and sweat. They are very hard to dry.

As for woollen socks, they help you to keep warm and snug in the night. If you cannot get woolen socks, wearing two sports socks serves the purpose as well. 

Trekkers are often confused about whether they need to get a headlamp or a handheld torch. You need to get a headlamp because it leaves your hands free to do other activities. On the Ali Bedini Bugyal trek you’ll need your hands free to wash dishes, pitch tents and hold your trek poles. 

| Buying tip: Ensure your headlamp covers a wider area and is not too focused as a single beam. On a trek, your headlamp must help you see around you as much as ahead of you.

| Rental: Headlamps are available on rent on the Indiahikes store. Rent here.

Trekking poles give you stability and balance. They reduce your energy consumption by almost 40%. On the Ali Bedini Bugyal trek there are steep ascents and descents. A pair of trekking poles will make the difference between a comfortable and a strenuous trek. In India we tend to use a single trekking pole. However, two trekking poles give you greater stability and balance. They also increase your walking pace.

| Rental: Imported side-locking trekking poles are available on rent on the Indiahikes store. Rent here.

On a trek, the weather can change quickly. A bright sunny day can turn into a downpour in a matter of minutes. Carry a poncho or a rain jacket to tackle this. A poncho is a big rain cover with openings for your arms and your head. It is extremely effective because it covers both you and (partially) your backpack. It is extremely light and weighs next to nothing. 

| Pro tip: Rain jackets are more streamlined and less cumbersome but weigh more. Rain pants are really not required. Dry fit trek pants dry quickly even if soaking wet.  

| Rental: High grade ponchos are available on rent on the Indiahikes store. Rent here.

Backpacks are your life. You carry all your dry clothes, your warm gear in your backpack. It is important that your backpack stays dry at all times. Modern backpacks usually come with built in rain-covers. If your back pack does not have a rain-cover, ensure you get a rain cover by either (a) buying a rain cover (b) or cutting a large plastic sheet to the size of your backpack. You can roll the plastic sheet around your backpack and keep it in place with a string or elastic.  

| Pro tip: It’s good practice to compartmentalise your clothes, accessories and other things in plastic covers inside your backpack. That way, even if it rains and your backpack gets wet, your things are water-proof inside the backpack.

Some trekkers opt to offload their bags to a mule on the Ali Bedini Bugyal trek. While we do not encourage this practice, in case you opt for offloading, then carrying a daypack is mandatory. In your daypack you carry essentials like water bottles, rainwear, emergency medicines, headlamp, some snacks and a warm layer. Your main backpack that carries most of your equipment is accessible only at the campsites. 

A daypack is a smaller backpack that is usually of 20-30 litre capacity. Laptop bags are not daypacks. Do not get them. 

Keep your toilet kit light. Carry just the basics — toothbrush, toothpaste, small soap, toilet tissue roll, a small moisturiser, lip balm, and a roll-on deodorant. You will not be able to have a bath on the trek, so don’t overload on soaps and shampoos.

| Pro Tip: Carry miniature-sized items. You will not need more than that. If you’re travelling in a group, share one toothpaste for all.

| Pro Tip: Avoid getting large toilet rolls. The smallest size roll is more than enough for a trek like Ali Bedini Bugyal. 

| For Women: If you are likely to have your periods on your trek date, don’t worry about it. You can use your pads, tampons or menstrual cups on the trek. There will be toilet tents where you can get changed. Make sure you carry ziplock bags to bring back your menstrual waste. Don’t leave behind any waste in the mountains. Watch this video to learn how to dispose your sanitary waste.

Carry a lunch box, a mug and a spoon. Your lunch box must be leak proof. You are expected to wash your own cutlery. Trekkers often expect Indiahikes to wash their cutlery. When you allow Indiahikes to wash your cutlery, your cutlery becomes part of a mass washing system. You immediately invite germs, bacteria to settle on your cutlery. Incidence of stomach disorders rises exponentially.  

| Pro Tip: Carry stainless steel cutlery. Avoid fancy high grade plastic cutlery. Stainless steel cutlery is infinitely easier to wash in cold water. Grease is easier to remove and hygiene is at the highest. 

| Two 1 litre bottles or a 2 litre hydration pack: Ali Bedini Bugyal has many hours of trekking everyday (approximately 6 hours). You need to carry two one litre water bottles to keep yourself hydrated over the distance. If you are used to a hydration pack, then that is ok too. If one among the two bottles is a lightweight thermos, then that helps you to store warm water on a really cold day or for late evenings and early mornings.   

| Rental: You could rent lightweight thermos flasks from the Indiahikes store. Rent here.

Carry 3-4 old plastic covers to keep your used clothes. You could use them even for wet clothes. Re-use old plastic bags for this and do not buy new ones.

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