• Gaumukh Tapovan Trek

    Uttarakhand | India (500+ Reviews)

  • Trek Fee

    16,500

Max Altitude : 14600 Ft
base camp : Gangotri
Time duration : 8 days
trek difficulty : Moderate to Diffcult
trek length : 46 KM
Time Best Months : May | June | September | October |

Overview

The Gaumukh Tapovan trek is an amazing adventure in the Indian Himalayas, taking you to the source of the River Ganga. Over 8 days, you’ll hike 46 kilometers through the beautiful scenery of Gangotri National Park. Starting and ending in the lovely town of Gangotri, this trek offers stunning views of Mt. Shivling, one of India’s most beautiful mountains. You’ll also see the impressive Bhagirathi sisters, which tower over the landscape.

The trail is filled with lush valleys, clear rivers, and rocky paths, letting you enjoy the natural beauty around you. You’ll camp in peaceful meadows and enjoy the fresh mountain air as you hike. While the trek is considered moderate to difficult, it’s suitable for beginners who are prepared and fit. With some training and the right guidance, you can take on this exciting journey. The Gaumukh Tapovan trek is a chance to connect with nature, see breathtaking views, and create unforgettable memories. Whether you’re a seasoned trekker or new to hiking, this adventure will leave you inspired and refreshed!

Itenirary

- Distance: ~242 km
- Time: 10-12 hours
- Your trek begins with a scenic drive through the Himalayan foothills, passing along the Bhagirathi River and lush valleys. En route, you’ll visit towns like Uttarkashi and picturesque villages. The drive takes you to Gangotri, one of the four Char Dham pilgrimage sites, where you can visit the sacred Gangotri Temple and offer prayers to the goddess Ganga. Overnight stay at a guesthouse/hotel in Gangotri.

Spend the day in Gangotri acclimatizing to the high altitude. You can explore local temples, enjoy the serene environment, and hike around nearby trails to help your body adjust. Take time to visit nearby spots like Pandava Gufa or enjoy the surrounding coniferous forests. Rest well for the trek ahead.

- Trek Distance: 9 km
- Trek Time: 5-6 hours
- The trek begins early, following a well-defined trail along the Bhagirathi River, with awe-inspiring views of the Bhagirathi Peaks (6,856m) and Mount Shivling (6,543m). The route passes through pine forests and offers glimpses of waterfalls and glaciers. The trail gradually ascends to Chirbasa (meaning "place of pines"). The campsite at Chirbasa is surrounded by tall trees, offering panoramic mountain views. Overnight stay in tents.

- Trek Distance: 5 km
- Trek Time: 3-4 hours
- Continue trekking towards Bhojbasa. The terrain becomes more barren, with fewer trees and more rocky, open spaces. The trail is relatively easy, following the riverbank with spectacular views of the Bhagirathi Peaks and the glacier. You’ll arrive at Bhojbasa, the last campsite before Gaumukh. The campsite here is surrounded by rugged mountains and offers stunning sunset views. Spend the night in tents near the Bhagirathi River.

- Trek Distance: 9 km
- Trek Time: 7-8 hours
- Today is one of the most challenging and rewarding days. The trek from Bhojbasa to Gaumukh (the mouth of the glacier) is a relatively easy 4 km walk. Upon reaching Gaumukh, you will see the source of the holy Ganges River, originating from the glacier. After spending time here, you’ll begin the steep ascent to Tapovan, crossing the glacier and navigating rocky terrain. Tapovan is a high-altitude meadow with incredible views of Mount Shivling, Meru, and other surrounding peaks. Camp overnight at Tapovan.

Spend the day exploring the high-altitude meadows of Tapovan. Enjoy stunning up-close views of the towering Mount Shivling, Meru, and the Bhagirathi Peaks. Tapovan is also known for its meditative atmosphere, and many sadhus stay here in isolation. You can take short hikes, rest, or meditate while soaking in the peaceful surroundings. Overnight stay in tents at Tapovan.

- Trek Distance: 14 km
- Trek Time: 7-8 hours
- After breakfast, begin your descent from Tapovan, retracing your steps down the glacier. The trek back to Bhojbasa and then to Chirbasa is long but offers stunning downhill views. The descent provides a different perspective of the landscape, with river crossings and rocky sections. Set up camp at Chirbasa for the night.

- Trek Distance: 9 km
- Trek Time: 5-6hours
- Start the final leg of your trek early in the morning as you walk back to Gangotri along the Bhagirathi River. Upon reaching Gangotri, you will drive back to Dehradun/Rishikesh. The drive will take around 10-12 hours, bringing an end to this thrilling adventure in the Himalayas.

Location

Photos

INCLUSIONS/EXCLUSIONS

Inclusions
  • Food as per menu on the trek.
  • Forest Camping charges
  • Safety Equipment
  • Hiking Equipment
  • Trek guide, cook, helpers, and mules for carrying common luggage
  • Transportation if Specified in Itinerary
  • Accommodation in Tents, or Homestay
  • All meals from Lunch on Day 1 to Breakfast on Day 7
  • Group Transfers in tampu traveller/Innova/Xylo
  • All logistics and meals during the trek like tents, guide, cook and porters.
  • All currently applicable taxes including service tax

Exclusions
  • Meals during road Journeyss
  • Any king of Insurance
  • Any expense of personal Nature
  • Any expense not specified in the inclusion list
  • Carriage of personal laggage during the trek
  • Any private individual Transfer Cost
  • Any kind of personal expenses or optional tours, extra meals and beverages ordered
  • Insurance, laundry and phone calls, medical expenses
  • Bottled water, soft drinks and alcoholic beverages
  • Anything that is not included in the Inclusions list (see above)
  • Any expenses caused by reasons beyond our control such as road blocks, accidents & any medical evacuations. Weather conditions. Any train delays, or re-scheduling etc.

CANCELLATION POLICY

Life is unpredictable and we understand that sometimes you have to cancel or change your trip dates and it is our endeavor to make it as easy as possible for you. However, please understand that we plan everything including guide fees, permits, accommodation and ration in advance. Therefore, any cancellation means inconvenience and certain losses to the people involved in various stages of the programme. Keeping that in mind, our cancellation charges are as below –

Cancellations prior to 30 days from the start of the event: Full refund as cash

Cancellations between 30 days and 15 days to the start of the event: 50 % refund as cash.

Cancellations less than 15 days to the start of the event: No refund.

If for some reason you wish to cancel the trek, email intimation (wetrekkers.in@gmail.com) needs to
be sent to along with telephonic information.

Note: WeTrekkers reserves the right to cancel a programme before departure in the event of logistical problems arising due to natural calamities, strikes, wars or any other circumstances that make the event inadvisable. In this case, we will refund 50% of the event fees.

Itinerary Changes & Trip delays: We plan itineraries based on the information available at the time of planning and in rare circumstances, they are subject to change. In the event that the itinerary is changed or delayed due to unforeseen circumstances such as bad weather, transportation delays, government intervention, landslides etc., we will always aim to give you the best experience possible. However, WeTrekkers cannot be held responsible for the cost of delay or changes.

Please note: In case of refund, there will be a deduction of 5% (bank charges) from the total fee you have paid. Also, if you have opted for a trek insurance, the amount will not be refunded.

Refunds will be processed within 7 – 10 working days from the date of cancellation

THINGS TO PACK

  • • Backpack & Rain Cover (40-60 Litres)
  • • Trekking Shoes
  • • LED Torch
  • • One Water Bottle (one litre)
  • • Basic Medications (or prescribed if any)
Clothes
  • • Trekking Jacket
  • • Three (Five in winter) Warm Layers
  • • Two trek pants (one Wear and one carry)
  • • Two collared t-shirts
  • • Thermals
  • •Extra Pair of Clothes
  • •woolen sweater
Accessories
  • • Sunglasses
  • • Sunscreeen Lotion (SPF 50/70)
  • • Lip Balm (SPF 30)
  • • Sun cap
Normal Cap
  • • Synthetic hand gloves
  • • Three pair of Socks
  • • Raincoat/Ponchos
  • • Plastic cover (for wet clothes)
Mandatory Documents

Original and photocopy of government photo identity card- (Passport, Aadhaar Card, Driving license or voters ID) etc

Reviews

Stellar Ratings across different platforms.

4.7/5

from 2000+ reviews