TAILOR-MADE EXPERIENCES IN INDIA

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Source of the Ganges, Dodital & Valley of flowers

Source of the Ganges, Dodital & Valley of flowers

€1800 per person

A 20-day tour & trek that take you to Gangotri, the source of the mythical Ganges, then to Dodital where, according to legend, Ganesha, the elephant-headed god was born and finally to the breathtaking valley of flowers near Badrinath.

This trip combines a tour and three easy-to-moderate treks in Uttarakhand. The first trek takes you to the Ganges source or more precisely the Bhagirathi, which springs out of the Gaumukh Glacier in the Gangotri National Park; the Ganges is formed in the small town of Devprayag, born from the marriage of the Bhagirathi and Alaknanda rivers. The second trek takes you to Dodidal, a lake which, according to Hindu mythology, is the birthplace of Ganesha, the elephant-headed god. The third and last trek, the valley of flowers, will take place near Badrinath, the sacred city of Lord Rama.

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TREK-PILGRIMAGE
18-day Tour & Trek in the footsteps of Hindu pilgrims walking towards the Chota Char Dham, the four most sacred abodes of the the Himalaya Garhwal : Yamumontri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath.
18 days
TREK & TOUR
Tour & trek that take you to Gangotri, source of the mythical Ganges, then to Dodital where, according to legend, Ganesha, the elephant-headed god was born and finally to the breathtaking valley of flowers near Badrinath.
20 days
Day 1

Delhi - Rishikesh

Namaste! We welcome you warmly in Delhi Airport and we head directly to Rishikesh. Overnight in Rishikesh.
Day 2

Rishikesh, the city of the Rishis

This day will be dedicated to the visit of Rishikesh, the city of the Rishis (saints), also called 'the world capital of yoga' due to the large number of yoga schools in the city. Rishikesh is crossed by the most sacred river of India, the Ganges, and because of this, this city has always attracted yogis and ascetics in search of spirituality ... including the Beatles! We will go for a walk in the city, along the Ganges, with several stops in temples and ashrams and then we will have a refreshing bath in the waterfalls of Neer Garh, 5 km from the city. Overnight in Rishikesh.
Day 3

Rishikesh - Haridwar - Rishikesh

Departure for the holy city of Haridwar located 20 km from Haridwar. Haridwar is known as one of the seven most sacred cities of India called 'Sapta Puri'. It is therefore a major Hindu pilgrimage site where millions of people flock every year to perform the last funeral rites for their loved ones. Haridwar is also famous for being one of four Indian cities hosting the incredible Kumbh Mela, the largest religious gathering in the world. Haridwar is also the gateway to the Ganges, which, after traveling more than 250 kilometers from its source in the Gangotri Glacier, enters the Indo-Gangetic plain for the first time through this city. We will take a stroll along the banks of the Ganges stopping especially at the 'Har-Ki-Pauri' ghat, one of the most sacred places in Haridwar where funeral rituals take place. We will then visit the three temples perched on three hills around Haridwar that are supposed to fulfill the wishes of the faithful: Mansa Devi, Chandi Devi and Maya Devi. Finally, we will drive to Kankhal, a small village 3 km from Haridwar. It is also one of the five holiest places in Haridwar. There, we will visit the temple of Daksha Mahadev dedicated to Shiva and the Ashram of Sri Anandamayi Ma. Overnight in Rishikesh.
Day 4

Rishikesh - Uttarkashi - Agora

We leave for Agora, a small hamlet perched in the mountains. On the way, we will stop at Uttarkashi to visit the famous 'Kashi Vishwanath' temple dedicated to the god Shiva. In front of the Vishwanath Temple there is the intriguing temple dedicated to the 'Shakti'; The goddess Durga is represented here in the form of a 6 meters high giant trident that would be over 1500 years old and is therefore considered one of the oldest vestiges of Uttarakhand. After visiting this temple, we will take the road to Agora, one hour away from Uttarkashi and we check in a guesthouse nestled in nature. Overnight in Agoda.
Day 5

Agora - Manji (9 km Trek - easy level)

After breakfast, we start our trek towards Dodital lake. It is done gradually in 5 stages (Agora - Manji - Dodital - Dawra - Agora). Dodital Lake is located at an altitude of 3,050 meters, surrounded by forests of oaks, pines and rhododendrons and it is home to the famous Himalayan fish, the Golden Mahseer (huge carp). The trek begins in the Bhagirathi valley, nestled at 1350 meters above sea level, then crosses a dense forest and rises slowly to an altitude of 4150 meters (Dawra Top). Overnight at Manji camp, in a dome tent.
Day 6

Manji - Dodital (Trek 5 km - easy level)

After breakfast, we continue our trek for 5 km and arrive at Lake Dodital. Dodital is also called Ganesh-Ka-Tal (Ganesha Lake) and it is one of the most sacred lakes in the Garhwal Himalayan region. Legend has it that it is the birthplace of Ganesha, the Hindu god with an elephant's head. Overnight at Dodital camp, in a dome tent.
Day 7

Dodidal - Dwara top - Dodidal (10 km trek - easy level)

Early in the morning, we start our trek towards Dwara (4 150 m), the first 5 km (3-4 h) is rather steep, but the magnificent panorama of the Banderpoonch mountain range is well worth all these efforts. After admiring the surroundings of Dwara, we trek down to Dodital camp (2 hours walk). Overnight at Dodital camp, in a dome tent.
Day 8

Dodital - Agora (Trek 15 km - easy level)

After breakfast, we trek down to Agora. Overnight in Agora.
Day 9

Agora - Gangotri

In the morning, we head to Gangotri, the source of the Bhagirathi River, one of the tributaries of the Ganges. After having refreshed yourself at the hotel, we will have lunch in one of the streets of Gangotri and we will stroll through the busy streets to soak up the atmosphere of this pilgrimage town. In the evening, we will attend the ceremony of the arati in the temple of Gangotri. Overnight near Gangotri.
Day 10

Gangotri - Gaumukh (18km Trek - easy level)

After breakfast, we will start our trek to the source of the Bhagirathi river (Gaumukh) through the magnificent landscapes of the Gangotri Park. The trek is of easy level, it climbs gradually and does not present major difficulties. There is 14 km (4 to 6 h) to Bhojwasa Base Camp (3,790 m), and another 4 km (1 hr 30) to reach Gaumukh. Arriving at Gaumukh, we will spend time around the glacier from which the Bhagirathi river emerges. We will then return on the way and we will stop at Bhojwasa base camp to spend the night (basic accommodation in dormitories or tent).
Day 11

Bhojwasa camp - Gangotri (trek 14 km)

After breakfast, we trek down to Gangotri (14 km). Overnight near Gangotri.
Day 12

Gangotri - Rudraprayag

Departure for Rudraprayag, step city where we will spend one night. Rudraprayag is the confluence point of the Alaknanda and Mandakini rivers. The Mandakini, from Kedarnath, is bright green in color and blends with the white robe of Alaknanda from Badrinath. Overnight at Rudraprayag.
Day 13

Rudraprayag - Joshimath

We leave for Joshimath, 20 km away from Badrinath. The town of Badrinath - the last 'dham' - is located at an altitude of 3,000 meters on the banks of the Alaknanda River. According to the sacred texts of the Bhagavata Purana, it is here that the god Vishnu, in his incarnation as Narayana, did a great penance for the welfare of all living beings. Overnight in Joshimath.
Day 14

Badrinath and Mana

This day is dedicated to the visit of Badrinath and the village of Mana. We will first go to the Badrinath Temple and then to the hot springs, which are the main attractions of the city. We will then head to Mana, 3 km from Badrinath, the last village before the border between India and Tibet. Overnight in Joshimath.
Day 15

Joshimath - Govindghat - Ghangharia (9 km trek - moderate)

After breakfast, we leave for Govindghat, starting point of the trek towards the valley of flowers. This 9 km trek leads to the village of Ghangharia and follows the Pushpawati River on a paved path with sometimes stairs. We will arrive at Gangharia (3,049 m) before in the late afternoon. Overnight in Ghangharia.
Day 16

Ghangharia - Valley of Flowers - Ghangharia (8 km Trek - moderate)

The trek to the valley of flowers is of 4 km, 5 hours walk approximately. We picnic there while admiring the valley. It is forbidden to camp in the valley, so we have to trek down to Ghangaria (4 km). Overnight in Ghangharia.
Day 17

Ghangharia - Govindghat - Joshimath

After breakfast, we will trek down to Govindghat and we will drive to Joshimath. Overnight in Joshimath.
Day 18

Joshimath - Srinagar

Departure for Srinagar, step city on our way back to Rishikesh. In Srinagar, we will visit the temples of Kamleshwar Mahadev and Kilkileshwar Mahadev located on the banks of the Alaknanda River. It is said that this temple was built by the saint Adi Shankaracharya himself. overnight in Srinagar.
Day 19

Srinagar - Rishikesh

Departure for Rishikesk via Devprayag considered the most sacred of the five confluences. This is where the rivers Bhagirathi (from the Gangotri Glacier) and Alaknanda (from the Satopanth Glacier) meet to form the Ganges, the most sacred of river in India. Ovenight in Rishikesh.
Day 20

Rishikesh - Delhi

Way back to Delhi. End of the trip. Looking forward to meeting you again. Namaste.
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