overview
Roopkund Trek also, most popularly known as Mystery Lake or skeleton lake is a high-altitude glacial lake in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. This trek is world famous not just for the sake of magnificent meadows, amazing views of the peaks like Trishul and Nanda Ghunti, but also famous for the thousands of human skeletons found at the edge of the lake for hundreds of years. The rock-strewn glaciers and snow-clad mountains will make this trek fulfil all your adventurous spirit. This is a must-do for any trekker or a nature lover and the best time for this trek is May to June or September to October.
Trek to see thousands of human skeletons lying around the mysterious lake, Roopkund!
Itinerary
- Day 1: Drive from Rishikesh to Lohajung (distance 250km – 9 hours)
- Day 2: Lohajung to Gharoli via Wan village (Trek distance 8 km-5 to 6 hours)
- Day 3: Gharoli to Pathar Nachuni Via Bedni Bugyal (Trek distance 9km-7 to 8hours)
- Day 4: Pathar Nachuni to Bhagwabasa (Trek distance 4km-3 to 4 hours)
- Day 5: Bhagwabasa to Roopkund and back to Pathar Nachuni. (Trek distance 11km – 8 to 9 hours)
- Day 6: Pathar Nachuni to Didna village (Trek distance 13km- 5 to 6hours)
- Day 7: Didna to kuling village and then drive back to Lohajung (trek distance 4km- 2 to 3 hours)
- Day 8: Drive from Lohajung to Rishikesh (distance 250km – 8 hours)
Cost
14,999 INR per person.
- Rishikesh to Rishikesh (including transport)
- 12999 INR for food, stay and trek; 2000INR for transportation.
Trail length
Approximately 56km
Highest Altitude
16,400 feet/5000 meters
Basecamp
Lohajung
Detailed Itinerary
DAY 1 : RISHIKESH TO LOHAJUNG
Distance: 250 km (Rishikesh to Lohajung), Drive Duration: 8-10 hours
We begin our journey to Lohajung from Rishikesh latest by 7 AM. It is located at a distance of 250 km from Rishikesh and would take around 8-10 hours to cover. The landscapes throughout this drive are exhilarating, as you drive along the river Ganga, river Alaknanda and river Pindar.
It’s an uphill drive, that takes us through the Kumaon region into the Himalayan Belt of Garhwal. The roads here are extensive and tranquil. We travel through three of the five iconic places: Devprayag, Rudraprayag and Karnaprayag on the way to Lohajung. The iconic towns filled with trekkers, bird watchers and nature lovers.
Expect to reach Lohajung by late evening with the welcoming sight of mighty Nanda Ghunti peak. If you would want to buy any extra basic clothing or gear for your trek, you are likely to get it in Lohajung.
You stay tonight at our place with tasty food and warm beds, acclimatizing with the altitude.
DAY 2 : LOHAJUNG TO GHAROLI VIA WAN VILLAGE
Distance: 8 Km, Trek Duration: 5-6 hours
It’s officially our first day of our actual trek, an excited morning it’s gonna be. We leave as early as 8 AM after a healthy breakfast. A 16 km drive on a bumpy road gets us to Wan, from where we are all set to start our 8 km hike to Gharoli Patal.
Gharoli Patal is the first campsite for the day, and the site is situated in the middle of the jungle from where you will get the first look of the mighty peak Mt.Trishul clearly. You can rest for the night after the star gaze, with a healthy dinner and get charged up for the next day.
DAY 3 : GHAROLI TO PATHAR NACHUNI VIA BEDNI BUGYAL
Distance: 9 km, Trek Duration: 7-8 hours
Early morning after Breakfast, we will leave to Pathar Nachuni through the never ending, Bedni bugyal. The climb is not that steep until Bedni, hence the walk won’t be tougher, but once you cross Bedni, the climb might be challenging until Pathar Nachuni, where the grass lands become rocky to walk on. We will camp at Pathar Nachuni and the rest of the evening is for you to explore the land and the meadows we left behind.
DAY 4 : PATHAR NACHUNI TO BHAGWABASA
Distance: 4 km, Trek Duration: 3-4 hours
After Breakfast, we will leave to Bhagwabasa which is a bit more challenging than the previous days, as the steep climb continues till Kalu Vinayak Mandir. After which it’s an exhilarating walk through the ridge until Bhagwabasa campsite. The peaceful evening can be enjoyed with scrumptious food, and sound sleep in the campsite.
DAY 5 : BHAGWABASA TO ROOPKUND AND BACK TO PATHAR NACHUNI
Distance: 11 km, Trek Duration: 8-9 hours
This is the summit day; hence we need to start the trek by 4am to reach Roopkund Lake. The trek starts with a normal walk, but as we keep reaching Roopkund lake, there is a steep climb that tests your endurance and that part of the trek is all time covered with ice. From Bhagwabasa, it’s a 5km gradual ascent till Roopkund lake. Once we reach there, we can have the sight of the magnificent lake and thousands of humans’ skeletons lying around there for hundreds of years. After Roopkund lake, we will visit Junar Galli from where we can get uninterrupted view of Mt. Trishul and Mt. Nandha ghunti top to bottom. After spending time there, we can head back to camp site at Pathar nachuni.
DAY 6 : PATHAR NACHUNI TO DIDNA VILLAGE
Distance: 13 km, Trek Duration: 5-6 hours
After breakfast, we will hike back to Didna village, with a gradual descent all the way down. From Pathar Nachuni we can descend down to Ali bugyal through the lushy meadows all around you, and walking through the thick jungle filled with oak trees and Rhododendron trees. You can reach Didna village by mid evening. You will spend the night in a guest house/home stay with satisfying dinner.
DAY 7 : DIDNA TO KULING VILLAGE AND THEN DRIVE BACK TO LOHAJUNG
Distance: 4 km, Trek Duration: 2-3 hours
From Didna Village, you will start hiking down, after your breakfast. Till river it will be a descent for around 1km, then after crossing the river bridge, you need to hike up again for another 1 km, to reach Kuling village. As we walk up to the near end, we can get us a cab, and drive back to Lohajung. The way back could be a bumpy ride due to the rough patch, but before you think we will reach our homestay in Lohajung, warm ourselves up with delicious food and a good rest. Possibility of having bonfire, music nights with pizza or cakes to celebrate your accomplishment.
DAY 8 : DRIVE FROM LOHAJUNG TO RISHIKESH
Distance: 250 km, Drive Duration: 8-10 hours
Last day of your memorable trek in Uttarakhand. You will wake up a little early, have mountain breakfast and then the vehicle will take you back to Rishikesh, which could be a 9 hours drive. So you should reach Rishikesh around 5pm. You can then head back to home, sweet home- carrying friendship, memories, strength and a piece of mountains in your heart.
What's Included
- Accommodation and food for 7 nights and 8 days (in Lohajung and during trek)
- Forest permit/Camping charges
- Tents/sleeping bags/mats
- Trek leader/Cook/helpers/mules to carry common luggage
What’s not included?
- Meals or extended stay during or after the road journey
- Basic, healthy food will be given for 3 times a day. Extra food/snacks will not be covered.
- Transportation to reach Rishikesh before the trek commences.
- Insurance.
- Any expenses not specified.
Stay and Food
- Your stay at Rishikesh is at your expense.
- You will be given accommodation at Lohajung, either in a Backpackers’ hostel or guest houses. Twin/quad sharing basis.
- Tents will also be shared. Twin-sharing.
- During your stay, 3 basic meals will be provided a day, with coffee/Tea. During the trek, it will be the same with nutritious snack to keep up your energy level.
Transportation
- You will be picked from Rishikesh in a 4-wheeler early in the morning around 7am.
- Pick up from and to Lohajung before and after trek can also be arranged.
- You will be dropped back in Rishikesh once the trek is completed. After Rishikesh, Primal Himalayas is not responsible for your stay/food/transport etc.
What to carry?
- Mandatory documents: ID proof like Aadhaar, Driver’s license or passport (Original and photo copy). Must for forest department Identification. And passport size photograph
- 65 litres Backpack and hiking shoes
- Rain gears
- Warm layers of clothes. 3 layers for Spring season, 4 layers for Autumn, 5 layers for winter
- 3 T shirts and 2 quick dry trek pants.
- Snacks/medical kit/toiletries.
- Trekking poles and headlamps (available on rent)
- Caps/sunglasses/towels/woollen socks/ gloves/ Balaclava/ sunscreen lotion/moisturizer/lip balm/toilet tissues/sanitary napkins
Fitness level
Able to do a basic walk for 5 km within 30 minutes. Should not have any medical conditions like heart ailments, diabetes, obesity, etc. Mountain sickness can be worrying anyone, but you just have to keep yourself hydrated, with right amount of physical activity before the trek. If you have any allergies to any food/insect bites/medicine do inform the team prior hand, to avoid mishaps.
Conduct
Say no to bullying. Let’s all be nice to self, to staff, fellow trekkers and to nature as well. We are here to enjoy the peaceful day, not to disrupt it. No rude talks.
Say no to plastics. If you’re carrying any kind of plastic during your trek you take it back to the basecamp and dump only in dumpsters, and not anywhere else.
Consent matters. Ask people before you want them to be involved in any kind of activity like sharing food, taking photographs etc.
HAPPY AND SAFE TREKKING!!
WE HOPE YOU ENJOY THE TREK WITH PRIMAL HIMALAYAS, AND COME BACK FOR MORE SUCH TREKS!
Book Online
For bookings: For more details please contact info@primalhimalayas.com or call us on
+91 82182 50393
Activity
We also offer
