Dayara Bugyal
A short alpine-meadow trek above Raithal village near Uttarkashi, climbing through oak-rhododendron forest to the vast Dayara meadows and Bakaria/Dayara Top (~3,640 m), widely sold as one of the most beginner-friendly high-altitude treks in India.
Where you’ll sleep, on real terrain
The elevation profile traces the full climb and descent; tap a camp on the map and the SpO₂ gauge and safety numbers follow.
Reconstructed from real per-day distance, ascent and camp altitudes. The line between points is a straight approximation — not a surveyed terrain profile.
Best months
Curated season (Year-round (except monsoon Jul-Aug); popular winter snow trek)— off-months reasoned from the region’s monsoon and winter.
Stage by stage
Distances are approximate operator-standard figures. Times are computed— Naismith’s rule (pace + climb + descent) slowed for altitude, for a fit trekker with breaks — not copied from brochures. Plan generously; groups move at the pace of their slowest member.
Night by night, stop by stop
Each stop is where you sleep — the altitude that drives acclimatisation. Exact camps and per-day distances vary by operator; the safety flags are computed from this profile.
- 1Raithal2250 m · est SpO₂ 92%
- 2Gui2900 m (+650 m) · est SpO₂ 90%
- 3Chilapada3100 m (+200 m) · est SpO₂ 89%Big summit pushClimbs ~740 m to 3640 m in a single day. Summit day is when AMS/HAPE most often strikes — start pre-dawn, pace slowly, and turn around at the first symptoms.Sleeps lowerDescends to sleep 540 m below the high point — good, it gets you off the summit overnight.
Sold as "Easy–Moderate"; our numbers put it at Moderate. Broadly consistent.
Overnight lows lapse-adjusted to the high camp (~3100 m).
Uttarakhand: forest & national-park permits per route — usually arranged at the range office or roadhead.
Descend to the roadhead; arrange onward transport to the nearest hospital. Carry evacuation insurance.
Approximate planning info — confirm with your operator. HAPE/HACE signs = descend immediately.
- •Hard-packed snow and ice on the slopes above treeline in winter (Dec-Mar), when microspikes are needed
- •Sudden whiteouts and thunderstorms on the exposed, treeless meadow between Dayara and Bakaria Top
- •Lightning exposure on the open bugyal with no shelter above ~3,300 m
- •Sub-zero camp nights at Gui and Chilapada in winter despite the trek's easy billing
On the trail
Necessary preparations
Fitness
- Build to a comfortable 5 km jog/brisk-walk in ~40 minutes, 3–4× a week for 4–6 weeks.
- Expect ~5 km of walking a day — train on stairs and inclines, not just flat ground.
- Do a few hikes carrying your actual daypack weight so your legs and shoulders are used to it.
Acclimatisation & health
- Know the AMS golden rules: don't ascend with symptoms; if worse, descend; HAPE/HACE = descend now.
- Stay hydrated (3–4 L/day), eat well even without appetite, and avoid alcohol at altitude.
- Carry a personal first-aid kit; tell your operator about any medical conditions in advance.
Gear & clothing
- Layering system: moisture-wicking base, fleece/down mid, waterproof-breathable shell (jacket + pants).
- Broken-in waterproof trekking boots with ankle support + 3–4 pairs of wool/synthetic socks.
- 40–55 L backpack with rain cover; a 20 L daypack if porters carry the main load.
- Deep-cold kit: insulated down jacket (−10 °C or better), thermal innerwear, balaclava, insulated gloves + liners.
- Microspikes/crampons and gaiters for hard snow; trekking poles are essential on icy descents.
- −15 to −20 °C sleeping bag (confirm what your operator provides).
- Monsoon-proofing: full rain gear, dry-bags for electronics, quick-dry clothing, leech socks/salt.
- UV protection: category-4 glacier sunglasses, SPF 50+, lip balm — UV is brutal at altitude and on snow.
- Headlamp (+ spare batteries), 1 L insulated bottle, and a power bank (cold drains batteries fast).
Documents & permits
- Government photo ID (original + several photocopies) and passport photos for permits.
- Forest/national-park entry & camping permit — often arranged at the roadhead or by your operator.
- Travel + trek insurance that explicitly covers high-altitude trekking and helicopter evacuation.
- Emergency-contact card: family contact, blood group, allergies, and your day-by-day itinerary.
Dayara Bugyal copilot
Grounded strictly in this trek’s data — route, computed times, AMS grade, permits and field notes. It won’t invent water sources or clear you medically. Ask in English or Hindi.
Reviews from trekkers
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