Two treks to do in Uttarakhand this summer season

 Nag Tibba Trek and Bali Pass Trek are two treks of Uttarakhand that lie on the extreme ends of the spectrum. One is a ridiculously easy trek, suitable for beginners, and the other is an exceptionally thrilling, adventurous, and challenging trek suitable only for experienced trekkers. Both treks however are equally interesting, fascinating, and bewildering. The best time to hop onto either of the treks is during the summer season, between the months of April and June. During summers, the weather remains most hospitable as well as just welcoming.

NAG TIBBA TREK -

Nag Tibba is an admirably vast peak in the Tehri Garhwal region of the state of Uttarakhand. It is the highest peak of the lesser Himalayas that separated from the Greater Himalayas.

Rising to a maximum altitude of 9,910 ft, Nag Tibba offers drool-worthy views of various majestic peaks of the Garhwal Himalayas and remains a perfect getaway from the hustle and bustle of urban lifestyles.

Spanning over two days covering a distance of 16 km, this trek is a children-friendly, easy-grade trek, perfectly suitable for family outings.

Panthwari, a serene hamlet nestled at the foothills of the Nag Tibba mountain, serves as the base camp for this trek. Distanced approximately 100 km from the city of Dehradun, Panthwari is a beautiful and quaint village perched at 4,640 ft with many homestays to accommodate trekkers and travelers from across the country.

Located a little higher than the Goat Village Resort uphill lies Camp 1, snuggled at 7,630 ft, located roughly 4.5 km away from Panthwari. The trek from Panthwari village to Camp 1 is along well-pathed trails that zig-zag their way to the top. The higher you rise from Panthwari towards Camp 1, the better, more refined, and zoomed-out panoramic views of the valley you will receive. After steadily trekking for a while, you will find huts with Thatched roofs signaling the proximity of Camp 1.

The trail from Panthwari to Camp 1 is lined with bright, vibrant, and blooming Rhododendrons during peak summer seasons.

After camping at Camp 1 for a night, you can resume the Nag Tibba trek with a hike to the Nag Tibba Top. The trek to Nag Tibba top begins with a pleasant walk through dense forests of Oak trees that eventually opens into a vast, flat ground that ultimately leads to the Nag Tibba Top.

Towards the end of the flat ground lies a highly revered temple beyond which lie the goosebumps-inducing views of the towering Garhwal Himalayas. A steep climb from here will lead you to the Nag Tibba Summit at 9,910 ft. From the summit, you will be able to fetch grand, clear, and overwhelmingly fascinating views of Mount Kalanag, the Doon Valley, the Gangotri Peaks, and the robust Kedarnath Peak.

After you thoroughly enjoy the engrossing views of the Tehri Garhwal Himalayas, you can descend to the Panthwari village, distanced 8 km away to bring your trek to an end.

BALI PASS TREK

Set in the Gangotri Valley of the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand is the Bali Pass at an appeasing altitude of 16,200 ft. One of the finest treks of Uttarakhand, the Bali Pass trek oddly remains lesser known among travel enthusiasts, and that is precisely what sets it apart from the others.

Connecting several exotic and remote locations of Uttarakhand, the Bali Pass trek offers unique aesthetic pleasures during different seasons.

During the summer season specifically, the landscapes explored on the way remain vibrant, colorful, and overwhelmingly beautiful.

With its starting point at Taluka, the easiest way to kick-start the Bali Pass trek is through a pleasant drive from the city of Dehradun. Sankri lies approximately 200 km away from the easily accessible Dehradun and can be reached in roughly 10 hours. Perched at 6,400 ft, Sankri is an astonishingly pleasant village that connects to Taluka, a tiny hamlet from where the trek to Bali Pass begins.

Distanced 12 km away from Taluka is the enticing village of Seema, situated at an altitude of 8,500 ft. The trail from Taluka to Seema runs in parallel to the meandering Supin River at first and later diverts into a flat ground that opens into the Ghangad village. Dense forests of Oak and Deodar trees further connect the Ghangad and Seema villages.

A pleasant, 10 km long trek from Seema to Rainbasera follows next. Rainbasera, located at an altitude of 10,200 ft, lies close to the Ruinsara Tal and is one of the most endearing locations on the trek. As you trek from Seema towards Rainbasera, you will first walk parallel to the Supin River and then enter the enticing Debshu Bugyal to catch unbelievably entrancing glimpses of the robust Mt. Kala Nag. Closeted in the lush green landscapes of Uttarakhand, the Ruinsara Tal lies 7 km away from Raibansera and is one of the most serene, lesser-known lakes of Uttarakhand.

The trek from Rainbasera to Ruinsara Tal begins along rocky trails with boulders. The trail then introduces you to a meadow that unfolds into a vast open ground with the Supin River gurgling on one end and the pristine Ruinsara Tal, calmly lying on the other end.

The view of Ruinsara Tal is even richer and arresting because of the majestic peaks of Banderpooch and Kala Nag towering high in the Backdrop.

Perched at 13,100 ft at a distance of 4 km lies Odari, the next exotic location on the itinerary. The trail from Odari ascends and descends a couple of times to introduce you to a vast meadow that unfolds into the campsite of Odari.

A challenging yet stirring 5 km long trek from Odari along a mountain ridge embellished with rocks, scree, and boulders will further lead you to the Bali Col camp situated at 15,100 ft.

The next day marks the most adventurous and action-packed day of the entire expedition. You will begin trekking towards the ultimate Bali Pass to eventually descend to Lower Dhamni. You will find the full stretch completely smeared with fresh, powdery snow even during the summer season. It will take approximately 2–3 hours of steady trekking along steep and tricky trails for you to reach the Bali Pass and stand at a whopping altitude of 16,200 ft.

The views from the Pass are exceptionally fascinating and truly other-worldly. You will be mesmerized by the wide-screen, panoramic views of the bewildering Yamunotri valley with the fierce peaks of Mt. Swargrohini and Mt. Kala Nag along with the Garhwal Himalayas and the Banderpooch peaks in the backdrop. A steep and action-packed trek from the Bali Pass will lead you to Lower Dhamni at 11,100 ft.

Enjoy an ultimate 8 km long trek from Lower Dhamni to Jaan Ki Chatti as you bring your Bali Pass trek to an end. The descent is gradual and along well-pathed trails. In roughly 4–5 hours, you will reach Jaani Ki Chatti at 8,500 ft. Dehradun lies 170 km away from Jaan ki Chatti and can be reached in approximately 7 hours.