How far can you go in the name of thrill? Enroll for Auden’s Col Trek, an extreme expedition journeying across glacial moraines, immense natural beauty, and much more. A complete adventure package for avid hikers, reaching an astonishing height of 17716 ft. above sea level.

The expedition to Auden’s Col begins with your arrival in Delhi. Meet our representative, check in to your hotel and head out for a sightseeing trip in the heart of India. After a fulfilling trip in Delhi all day, take an overnight journey to Haridwar followed by a cab ride to Uttarkashi.

Also See: Brahmatal Trek

The hiking part of the expedition begins now. Pick up your trekking tools & essentials from Nehru Institute of Mountaineering, Uttarkashi if you missed any. Later, continue journeying along spellbinding natural beauty, magnificent peaks, and endless adventure. Starting from the first stop at Gangotri.

Gangotri is a well-known Hindu pilgrimage town on the banks of the Bhagirathi River. The holy town is located on the Greater Himalayan Range, at the height of 10,200 ft. The place has a connection with a popular Hindu legend. According to which, it was here that the Goddess Ganga descended when Lord Shiva released the mighty river from the locks of his hair.

Acclimatize at one of the Chota Char Dham pilgrim circuits, enjoying the company of numerous sadhus meditating at every turn. Meanwhile, spend a day visiting the holy Bhagirathi Shila and the Pandava Gufa. Later after spending enough time in the quaint town, retire back to your hotel and rest for the day.

Wake up on a fresh morning, have your breakfast and start your trek to Gangotri 1 Base Camp via Nalla camp. Start hiking on the left section of the Bhagirathi River, crossing birch and maple trees towards the Rudragaira Nalla. After which, you will make a steep climb over a meadow followed by a river crossing. Keep trekking over the glacial moraines to reach the base camp. Spend an overnight stay followed by a day of acclimatization at the Gangotri 1 Base Camp.

After you are properly acclimatized, you will head towards the Auden’s Col Base Camp. In this 6 hours hike to 15748 ft. height, you will cross the Gangotri Range (G1, G2 & G3) to the north and the Jogin group (J1, J2) to the south. Upon arrival, pitch your tents at the foot of the col and relax for the day with hot meals. Take proper rest, as you will cross the Auden’s Col the next day.

The following day, get fresh, have your breakfast, and buckle up to reach the highest point (17716 ft.) in the entire expedition. Take a steep snowy ascend to reach the Auden’s Col. There awaits the magical view of Khatling Glacier, and the mountain peaks of Jaonli, Kedarnath, Jogin & Gangotri. The best part is that the adventure doesn’t end here.

Once spending enough time at the col, start descending to the Khatling Glacier Camp I. Get one of the most thrilling experiences of passing the heavily crevassed Khatling Glacier. Descend with a fixed rope on the vertical ice walls. Sounds like a scene from the Hollywood movie- Vertical Limit, that you’ll surely be re-enacting here.

Later, descend to the Khatling Glacier Camp II. Considered the best part of the trek which is surrounded by high Himalayas jutting next to each other. Khatling is joined by other small glaciers, hanging up on high mountains and nearly complex ice formations. Furthermore, descend down on the glacial moraine with ice walls rising 100 feet beside Bhilangana River. Later, get a unique experience of spending a night at the Khatling Cave/Tambakunda.

The weather is unpredictable up there, which makes this expedition more challenging and exciting at the same time. Besides, you will be accompanied by professional experts and guides who will make sure you have a safe and memorable journey.

Walk through the dense mixed forest of Oak, Birch, Deodar, Fir & Rhododendron, crossing small groups of mountain villages to reach Haridwar. Post reaching Haridwar, board on the Shatabdi Express to Delhi, marking the end of Auden’s Col Trek Package.

Itinerary

Auden’s col 16D/15N

Day 1: Reach Delhi

Stay: Stay in a hotel on a sharing basis

Meal: Dinner

• Reach Delhi, meet our representative and get transferred to your hotel.
• Take a market walk around the property and enjoy the vibe of Delhi city.
• Rest in the property, have your dinner and board the overnight journey to Haridwar.

Day 2: Haridwar to Uttarkashi

Meal: Breakfast + Dinner

Stay: Stay in a guest house on a sharing basis

Transfer: 200 km

• Reach Haridwar early in the morning, board your cab to Uttarkashi.
• A long drive in the mountains and we have breakfast and lunch on the way to our guest house in Uttarkashi.
• Reach your guest house, freshen up and check for personal equipment from the NIM to rent it if anyone is short of.
• Have your dinner at the guest house and retire for the night.

Day 3: Uttarkashi to Gangotri

Altitude: 10006 ft

Meal: Breakfast + Dinner

Stay: Stay in a guest house on a sharing basis

Transfer: 100 km

• Wake up in the morning, have your breakfast and board your cab to Gangotri.
• Reach holy town of Gangotri, inhabitat by many sadhus and pilgrims. Take a small tour of beautiful temples around.
• Arrive at your guest house and rest for the day.

Day 4: Gangotri (Acclimatisation day)

Altitude: 10006 ft.

Meal: Breakfast + Dinner

Stay: Stay in a guest house on a sharing basis

• Wake up to a cozy morning, have your breakfast and enjoy your day at leisure.
• We will take a small acclimatisation walk around Gangotri to acclimatise and loosen our muscles a bit.
• Take proper rest and retire for the day at the guest house.

Day 5: Gangotri to Nalla Camp

Altitude: 12335 ft

Trek: 4 hours

Meal: Breakfast + Lunch + Evening Snacks + Dinner

Stay: Stay in tents on a sharing basis

• Wake up on a fresh morning, have your breakfast and start your trek to Nalla camp.
• The trek route is gradual, you walk on the left section of Bhagirathi River.
• You will pass through birch and maple trees towards the Rudragaira Nalla.
• Pitch your tents and with hot meals retire for the day.

Day 6: Nalla Camp to Gangotri 1 Base Camp

Altitude: 14763 ft.

Trek: 4 hours

Meal: Breakfast + Lunch + Evening Snacks + Dinner

Stay: Stay in tents on a sharing basis

• Wake up excited, have breakfast and prepare for Gangotri 1 base camp.
• The trail starts with steep climbs over a meadow followed by a river crossing and another to Rudugaira base camp.
• Keep trekking over the glacial moraine to the base camp, overnight in the camps.

Day 7: Acclimatization Day

Altitude: 14763 ft.

Meal: Breakfast + Lunch + Evening Snacks + Dinner

Stay: Stay in tents on a sharing basis

• Wake up to a relaxed morning, have your breakfast and rest for the day.
• Do some side walks around the camps in order to adapt and acclimatize.
• Have your hot meals and retire for the day in tents.

Day 8: Auden’s Col Base Camp

Altitude: 15748 ft.

Trek: 6 hours

Meal: Breakfast + Lunch + Evening Snacks + Dinner

Stay: Stay in tents on a sharing basis

• Wake up to an exciting morning, have your breakfast and proceed towards the head of the valley.
• You will cross Gangotri Range (G1, G2 & G3) to the north and the Jogin group (J1, J2) to the south.
• Pitch your tents at the foot of the col. And retire for the day with hot meals.

Day 9:  Cross Auden’s Col & descend to Khatling Glacier Camp I

Altitude: 17716 ft. and to 16765 ft.

Trek: 6 – 7 hours

Meal: Breakfast + Lunch + Evening Snacks + Dinner

Stay: Stay in tents on a sharing basis

• Wake up to a fresh morning, have your breakfast and prepare for a steep deep down snow climb.
• Auden’s Col offers magical views of the Khatling Glacier, and the mountain peaks of Jaonli, Kedarnath, Jogin & Gangotri.
• From the col start your descent with vertical ice walls on fixed ropes, pass through heavily crevassed Khatling Glacier.
• Pitch your tents at the Khatling Glacier Camp 1 and retire for the day.

Day 10: Glacier Walk, Khatling Glacier Camp II

Altitude: 13812 ft.

Trek: 5 hours

Meal: Breakfast + Lunch + Evening Snacks + Dinner

Stay: Stay in tents on a sharing basis

• Wake to the best part of the trek as you are surrounded by high Himalayas jutting next to each other.
• Other small glaciers join the Khatling, hanging up on high mountains and nearly complex ice formations.
• Pitch your tents at the Khatling Glacier Camp II and retire for the day.

Day 11: Khatling glacier to Cave/Tambakunda

Altitude: 11154 ft

Trek: 4 hours

Meal: Breakfast + Lunch + Evening Snacks + Dinner

Stay: Stay in tents on a sharing basis

• Wake up to a lazy morning, have breakfast and complete your descent short hike.
• Descend down on the glacial moraine with ice walls rising 100 of feets beside Bhilangana River.
• Reach Khatling Cave/Tambakunda and pitch your tents for the overnight stay.

Day 12: Contingency Day

• This is an extra day in case of any bad weather day.

Day 13: Kahtling Cave to Kharsoli

Altitude: 9448 ft.

Trek: 4 hours

Meal: Breakfast + Lunch + Evening Snacks + Dinner

Stay: Stay in tents on a sharing basis

• Wake up have your breakfast and start your walk through the dense mixed forest of Oak, Birch, Deodar, Fir & Rhododendron.
• Reach Kharsoli campsite which is again very magical, pitch your tents next to the gushing stream.

Day 14: Kharsoli to Gangi

Altitude: 8694 ft.

Trek: 4 hours

Meal: Breakfast + Lunch + Evening Snacks + Dinner

Stay: Stay in a guest house/camp on a sharing basis

• Wake up to a warmer morning than other colder days, have your breakfast and prepare for the day.
• Cross a small group of houses by the Bhilangana River and take a steep climb to Gangi Village.
• Rest for the day at camps or at GMVN guest house at Gangi.

Day 15: Gangi to Ghuttu

Trek: 7 hours

Meal: Breakfast + Lunch + Evening Snacks + Dinner

Stay: Stay in a guest house on a sharing basis

• Wake up early, have your breakfast and start your long walk day.
• The trail slowly descends down to pine forests, crosses Reeh village and reaches the roadhead.
• Arrive at Ghuttu and enjoy your overnight stay at GMVN Guest House.

Day 16: Ghuttu to Haridwar and to Delhi

Drive: 390 km (9-10 hours)

Meal: Breakfast + Dinner

• Give a relaxing start to the day, have your breakfast and start your day back to Haridwar.
• Post reaching haridwar, board the evening Shatabdi Express to Delhi and end this trek.

Things To Carry

1. Shirts / T-shirts –5/6, Trekking Pants -5-6

2. Windproof jacket of decent quality preferably with a hood

3. Warm and thick Fleece / Full-sleeve Woollen sweater

4. Thermal inner wear (upper & lower), Scarf/muffler

5. Woollen cap, Woollen gloves, Woollen socks & regular socks (5-6 pairs)

6. Comfortable Trekking (Waterproof shoes with a thick sole are recommended)

7. Lightweight floaters/sandals/slippers

8. Raincoat / Poncho, Small quick dry towel

9. Water bottle (sturdy ones)

10. Cap / Hat to keep the strong sun away from your face

11. Sun glasses (polarized/UV Protected), Walking stick / Trekking pole

12. Sunscreen Lotion, Lip Balm, Torch / Flashlight (with extra batteries)

13. Medicines, if requiring any specific medication

14. Personal toiletries

15. Day pack/small bag in case if you are planning to offload your regular backpack

16. Hand Sanitizer

17. Extra face masks

18. Valid government ID proof (Passport)