Introduction

The Har Ki Dun Trek takes you through enchanting alpine forests with breathtaking views of the surrounding mountain pinnacles in one of the Western Himalayas’ most beautiful valleys. It rises to a height of 3556 meters and is situated at the foot of the majestic peak of Fateh Parvat. This cradle-shaped valley offers a range of enthralling explorations, from taking in the kindness of nature to watching birds. The valley is dotted with Himalayan flowers and teeming with fascinating wildlife. Before making your way to Taluka, which has the feel of vast meadows and the energizing aroma of scented flowers, you will come across Sankri with its breathtaking views of the Garhwal Mountains.

Before strolling to the blissful Har Ki Dun Pass, forge ahead through Osla with favorable encounters with deers and bores. Observe the ice-covered glaciers of Jalandhar and Swargarohini as charming prairie scenes and snowflakes adorn your gaze.

How to Get There

The Har Ki Dun Trek begins in the picturesque Uttarakhand city of Dehradun before setting off on your expedition through the Garhwal Himalayas. Travel to the stunning Dehradun by plane, train, bus, or automobile.

Fly into Dehradun’s 25-kilometer-long Jolly Grant Airport from Delhi and other significant cities, and then take one of the many readily available cabs to the city center. The last station before starting the ascent into the mountains, Dehradun is well connected by rail to major cities.

On these lines, regular service by the Mussoorie Express, Shatabdi Express, and Nizammudin Dehradun Special departs from New Delhi. From places like Chennai, Lucknow, Kolkata, and Amritsar, among others, numerous other trains run frequently.

Numerous buses travel from the ISBT Kashmiri Gate in New Delhi every half-hour and take 6 to 8 hours to arrive in Dehradun. There are scheduled buses from Shimla and Mussoorie operated by Volvo and the government. You can also pre-book luxurious buses or, if you prefer, take a road trip and travel down NH 72’s picturesque roads.

Camp Base

The basecamp of this thrilling expedition is Sankri, the entrance to the charismatic Har Ki Dun. It is a picturesque village with breathtaking Himalayan views that is conveniently located at the astounding peak of 1950 meters in the Tons Valley. It is miraculously situated 13 kilometers inside the Govind Wildlife Sanctuary and serves as the last village road head on the trek route.

There aren’t many privately owned hotels in this area, but there is one government-run guesthouse for tourists and hikers. It not only has incredible grounds for camping and bonfires but also serves as the starting point for many treks.

Sankri is the perfect basecamp for exploring the Himalayas because of the gorgeous sun setting behind them and the shimmer of the Swargarohini peak.

The ideal time to visit

From the renowned city of Dehradun, you can embark on the Har Ki Dun Trek, which includes an exhilarating drive to Sankri, the expedition’s base camp. This is the starting point of many explorative accounts and is a fairly well-liked campsite among tourists and hikers. 

Except for the monsoon season, the entire year has beautiful weather that is ideal for trekking. Snow can be seen during the winter months, which can range from December to the middle of April. The best time to take this trip is in the spring because the views of the flower-filled meadows and valleys combined with the stray snowflakes make for an exciting journey.

Although nights are generally colder with significant dips below freezing, the average temperature ranges from 1°C to 5°C. Generally speaking, the majority of trekkers embark on this journey any time between May and October, when the weather is safe and the terrain is more predictable.

Itinerary

• Day 1: Fly to Dehradun and then drive to Sankri
• Day 2: Trek from Sankri to Taluka
• Day 3: Taluka to Osla Trek
• Trek from Osla to Har Ki Dun on Day 4 (11 km/5-6).
• Day 05: Trek from the camp at Har Ki Dun to the Jaundhar Glacier (15 km/7 hours)
• Day 06: Trek 11 km (3 hours) from Har Ki Dun to Osla.
• Day 7: Osla to Sankri Trek (26 km; 7-8 hours)
• 8th day: travel to Dehradun (Reach 7-8 PM)

Advice And Techniques

– Drink three times as much water as usual two days before your trek to prevent dehydration.

– Opt for a shoe that is half a size bigger than usual. Choosing a shoe size that is one number smaller than your actual size may be uncomfortable. At the end of the trek, you might have blisters and sore fingers. You can put on two layers of socks—a thin nylon sock on top, then a thick Turkish sock—to prevent blisters.

– If you plan to carry a camera or a phone, be sure to have enough plastic waterproof bags on hand to protect them.

– As soon as the whole group starts hiking together, try to find your natural gait pattern. Never try to walk too quickly or slowly because doing so can cause early fatigue.

– While carrying a windcheater is advised, wearing one while trekking is not. Our body generates significant heat while trekking and the heated muscles of our body sweat a lot to control that. We make the situation worse by donning windcheaters in a hot, humid environment. Overall, it produces a feeling of suffocation. Our recommendation is to keep a windcheater in your bag and only put it on when you need to take a long break.