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Satopanth Tal Trek:

Upcoming summer Satopanth tal trek starting on 26th May 2024 at Badrinath on Day 1 as per the given itinerary.

The mythical lake trek route to Satopanth Tal encompasses the flavor of high altitude feature, walking on boulder, moraine, glacier and knife edge ridge are enthralling. Captivating peak views are hard to believe. This triangular shaped glacial lake lies above 14000 ft, hidden inside the ridge believed to be the “the road to truth” (Satya ki pantha or path) .

The Panch Pandavas of epic Mahabharata took this difficult trail to try to reach the heaven. At different places on the trail, the legends still live, and the names bear the resemblance of the myth. Towering Chaukhamba ridge looms over the lake along with the Neelkanth, Balakun, Parvati and other peaks. Many people believe that the Trimoortis,  Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshswar, take bathe in the lake in an auspicious day. Adventurous devotees and Sadhus visit this lake in the monsoon for pilgrimage.

This trail is a classy example of glacier moraine walk on boulders, loose rock and scree zones to the core of the Himalayas and NOT recommended for the beginners. Trekkers must be having prior high altitude multi day trekking experiences.

After crossing Alaknanda at Mana the trail till Laxmivan is relatively easy and like the usual trekking trails. The trail on the opposite side of the river goes to Vasudhara falls. Campsite of Laxmivan is located on a patch of grass and perhaps the campsites are the only shades of green from now on.

Brief Itinerary for Satopanth trek:

Day 1: Drive from Rishikesh to Badrinath – 290 Km – 11 to 12 hours. Accommodation and meals on your own (NOT included in the TREK FEE).
Day 2: Meet your trek guide and briefing. Active Acclimatisation at Badrinath – Walk towards Charan Paduka or Mana etc, in the afternoon you may visit the holy temple. Accommodation and meals on your own.
Day 3: Trek from Badrinath to Laxmivan – 10 km – 6 hours. Camp on a twin sharing basis.
Day 4: Trek to Chakratirtha – 9 Km – 5 to 6 hours. Camp
Day 5: Trek to Satopanth Tal – 5 Km – 3 hours – spend an hour or so and return to Chakratirtha – Total 10 Km – 8 hours. Camp
Day 6: Trek from Chakratirtha to Mana – 15 Km – 6 to 7 hours – Walk or drive to Badrinath 3 Km – 1 hour or so. Accommodation and meals on your own.
Day 7: Drive from Badrinath to Rishikesh – 290 Km – 1 1o 11 hours. Dehradun airport (DED, Jolly Grant or haridwar railway station is an hour’s drive from Rishikesh.

Important Note:

• You need to reach on their own to Rishikesh on Day 1 morning (by 6 am) or the previous night. Return to Rishikesh on Day 7 evening (by 8 pm).  Arrange your tickets for inward journey and return from Rishikesh accordingly.
• TREK FEE ₹ 15,950 + 5% GST per person is excluding Badrinath and includes everything for the trek to Satopanth and back, i.e. 4 days of trekking.
• For further acclimatisation you may reach Joshimath on Day 0 and then move to Badrinath next day, i.e. Day 1 of our itinerary.

Satopanth Tal trek route and the legend:

We are purely trek organisers and run this trek once or twice in a year for interested and experienced Himalayan hikers.This typical glacial moraine trail into the core of the Himalayas is indeed a delight to any trekker. At the same time 50 Km round trip from Badrinath is tricky in many aspects. It is a full camping style porter run (no horses/mules) trek and there is nowhere you get any food or shelter. This glacier valley is typically low in oxygen and trekkers must get acclimatised once reaching Chakratirtha. If not, there is noway but to return. You need to negotiate boulder zones, moraine debris and scree zones before reaching Satopanth Tal.

We often get requests from people wishing for Satopanth and Swargarohini Yatra. This must be taken as a high altitude Himalayan trek and the pilgrims must have prior trekking experiences like Kailash, Adi Kailash, Manimahesh, Kinnaur Kailash circuit, Srikhand Mahadev or similar, preferably all. Swargarohini area is out of scope of this trek as that is a mountaineering pursuit. On a clear day one can see clearly the legendary Swargarohini steps from Satopanth Tal and its surrounding. Here is how it looks from Satopanth on a clear day.

Camping restricted at Satopanth Tal  (with effect from Sep 2018):

As per Uttarakhand High Court order (Petition No. : 123/2014 ) , one can not camp on alpine and sub-alpine meadows/grasslands, locally called “Bugyal”.  Therefore forest department has revoked the permit to camp at the lake, i.e. Satopanth Tal. Starting from Sep 2018, our highest camp is at Chakratirtha and we visit Satopanth and return to same camp.

Access to Satopanth trek base – Badrinath:

To reach the trek base Badrinath you need to reach Haridwar on your own arrangements. Haridwar is well connected by train from Delhi and Kolkata. Frequent regular and Volvo bus service from Delhi Kashmiri Gate ISBT.

Based upon trekkers request we may arrange a pickup  from Haridwar railway station to Badrinath and back. This will be shared equally by the availing team members on actual basis and paid directly to the driver. The fare is ₹ 8000 for a Tata Sumo/Mahindra Maxx one way. This can accommodate 5 to 6 people. A Tempo Traveller charges ₹ 12000 (12-13 seat) one way. This is NOT included in TREK FEE.

You can reach Badrinath by bus which start very early morning from Haridwar, latest by 4:30/5 am. Its a long journey and may take up to 13/14 hours.

To reach the trek base Badrinath independently/public transportation check the details in GETTING THERE TAB.

Click here to check the List of things to carry in Satopanth Tal trek or Download the PDF list.

Why treks with HT?

Duration	7D/6N
Grade	Moderate
Highest Point	4400 m/14430 ft
Physicality	7/10
Trail Length	50 Km