The trek to the Bagini Glacier starts from Jumma, which is located nearby to Joshimath.Jumma is 44 kilometers away from Joshimath
The Bagini Glacier is situated at the bases of the Trishuli and Changbang peaks and provides some stunning views. It falls within the limits of the of the Nanda Devi National Park, which is popular for its rich flora and fauna and is a UNESCO world heritage site.
The trek route passes through beautiful Garhwali villages and provides scenic views of the huge Himalayan mountains. The valley is full of flowers which bloom here and are of various colours.
The trek is of a total duration of 7 nights and 8 days. We would first reach Jumma from Joshimath, which is well connected by road with Rishikesh, Haridwar and Dehradun. From Jumma we would kick off our trekking.
We would first trek to Ruing and then to Dronagiri. From Dronagiri, we would continue our journey towards the Bagini Base Camp.
The following day, we would trek to the star attraction of your trip which is the Bagini Glacier. After witnessing the beautiful scenic views here, we would our descent and come back again to Ruing gradually.
From Ruing, we could trace back our journey to Jumma and eventually Joshimath, from where we would start our journey back to Rishikesh, thereby bringing the trip to an end.
Location & How to reach:
The Bagini Glacier is situated at a height of 14816 feet above sea level. The nearest town to Bagini Glacier is Joshimath. Joshimath is well connected with Rishikesh and Dehradun. The trek starts from a place Jumma which can be reached by a car from Joshimath.
The nearest railhead is at Rishikesh and the nearest airport is the Jolly Grant Airport at Dehradun.
Itinerary:
Day 01 : Drive Rishikesh to Joshimath (1890m); Rest and acclimatize
- On the first day of your trek, we will start our journey from Rishikesh to Joshimath. The drive from Rishikesh to Joshimath is picturesque with the river Ganga flowing by the side of it and beautiful views of the hills and the forests along with this.
- We will cover this distance in 9-10 hours. We will stay at Joshimath for the night.
Day 02 : Drive Joshimath to Jumma and Trek to Ruing (2800m); 44 km drive and 3 km trek.
- We will start our day early and mark our way from Joshimath towards Jumma village. It is a 44-kilometre drive from Joshimath to Jumma.
- The trek starts from Jumma. The Dhauliganga river flows by the side of this trail. From Jumma, we will continue our trek towards Ruing.
- Beautiful streams and villages can be seen on the way. Ruing has good places for camping. Once we reach Ruing, we will set up our tents and stay there for the night.
Day 03 : Trek Ruing to Dronagiri (3610m); 8 km, 5 hours
- The next day we will start our day early and start proceeding towards Dronagiri. Around 8 kilometres will be covered approximately in 5 hours. There is well laid path here for this part and it is not a very steep ascent.
- Stunning views of the Hathi Parvat and Ghori Parvat can be seen on the way. In summer, beautiful flowers can be seen growing on the way. We will stay at Dronagiri for the night.
Day 04 : Trek Dronagiri to Bagini Base Camp (4484m); 10 km, 5-6 hours
- We will cover the stretch of 10 kilometres between Dronagiri to the Bagini Base Camp today. It would approximately take around 5-6 hours.
- The landscape changes here becoming arid and devoid of vegetation. The path is laden with rocks and boulders. Prominent beautiful peaks like Satminal, Hardeul and Rishi Pahar can be witnessed from this place.
- The path is a bit steep here. Once we reach the Bagini base camp, we will set up our tents and stay here for the night.
Day 05 : Trek Base Camp to Bagini Glacier and Back to Base Camp; 12-14 km approximately, 7-8 hours
- We will wake up early to witness the beautiful sunrise which is a charming sight. The trek today is challenging with difficult terrain ahead. We will leave our backpacks and belongings in the tent at the base camp and proceed towards the Glacier.
- The path is filled with moraines. Also, several crevasses can be spotted while trekking here. Once you reach the spot, enjoy the mesmerising views of the place. Do not forget to take pictures.
- Peaks that be witnessed from this place are Hathi, Ghori,Satminal, Dunagiri east, Garur peak, Trishuli, Hardeul, Rishi, Kalanka and Changabang.
- After spending some time here, we will start heading back to the base camp. We will cover this whole distance in 7-8 hours approximately. We will stay at the base camp for the night.
Day 06: Trek Base Camp to Ruing; 18 km, 6 hours
- We will start our descent today from the Bagini Base camp. We will trek the whole distance of 18 kilometres till Ruing in approximately 6 hours. We will stay for the night at Ruing.
Day 07: Trek Ruing to Jumma and Drive to Joshimath; 3 km trek, 44 km drive
- It is the last leg of our trek today. After some breakfast, we will trek to Jumma, which is a 3-kilometre distance. We will then drive to Joshimath. We will stay here for the night.
Day 08: Drive Joshimath to Rishikesh; 255 km, 7-8 hours
- Today it is our turn to bid goodbye to everyone and return to our daily routines of life.
- We will wake up early and have some good breakfast. Post this, we will start our journey from Joshimath to Rishikesh. This is a total distance of around 255 kilometres and will be covered in 7-8 hours. This memorable trip therefore comes to conclusion here.
Difficulty Level:
- This trek falls under the moderate to difficulty category. There is steep gradient at some places in the trekking route and might pose challenging at times.
- Having good physical fitness and strong will-power surely helps as the trek requires some good amount of endurance. Prior trekking experience will be helpful. The tough climatic conditions and high altitude might cause difficulties for some people.
- Hiring a guide on this route is advisable.
Weather:
- The best time to do this trek is between April to June before the monsoons or the time post it during the months between September and November
- The temperature is moderate in summer months (April-June) ranging between 15 to 20 Degrees Celsius during the day and 7 to -2 Degrees Celsius during the night.
- During winters (September-October), the temperature hovers around 10 to 15 Degrees Celsius during the day and may drop to temperatures below zero degrees Celsius during the night.
Accommodation:
- The trekkers would be spending the nights in the tents and enjoy the camping time.
Meal:
- Simple and healthy tasty meal would be provided to the trekkers. The package includes all breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
- During the trekking expedition, packed food will be given which will be of good quality. There would be no compromise on the quality of the food.
Inclusions:
- Transport required in the trek.
- Highly advanced and certified mountaineering guide.
- Meals on the trek which includes breakfast, lunch and dinner.
- Rent for camping equipment like tent, sleeping mats and gears.
- Forest permit and camping trip charges.
- Tented accommodation throughout the trek
Exclusions:
- Personal trekking equipment like trekking poles or sleeping bag liners.
- Personal insurance and cost if emergency evacuation. Also exclude other expenses like tips, personal medicines, phone calls etc.
- Any transport support during the trek apart from what is included above.
- Purchase for personal use like mineral water, beverage, chocolates and other stuff.
- Anything else not specified in the inclusions and itinerary.
ATM Points and Connectivity:
- There are no ATMs on the trekking route and ATMs are available only at Joshimath. People should withdraw substantial cash from ATMs here before proceeding towards the trek.
- Mobile connectivity is limited, and it is recommended that you to make all the important calls while you are here before going to trek the Himalayas.
Permissions/Passes/Permit:
- Forest permits may be required for this trek and it is included in the costs.
Things to carry:
- Backpack with all your necessities
- A rain cover and umbrella
- Water bottles and all your refreshments
- Snacks like the dry fruits and the protein bars which would give you instant energy
- Personal Medical Kit with all the necessary first aid items and medicines which you feel you will need. It is always advisable to take medicines for dizziness, upset stomach, headache, and cold and cough while being in Himalayan camps or anywhere.
- Pack your outfits with all the relatable clothing items like wind and waterproof jackets, t-shirts, track pants, thermal inners, trekking shoes and fleece jackets. All the necessary winter outfits for the winter treks.
- All the toiletries products in a bag
- Also, do not forget to take your extra accessories like the sunglasses, caps, gloves, walking stick, torch, and similar other items.
- A good pair of trekking shoes
