Marchoi Valley Winter Trek

Starting from INR 10500

Overview Details

Duration6 days

Group Size8

SeasonJanuary - April

Description

The Marchoi Valley trek traverses some of the hidden jewels in the Kashmiri mountainscape – the pristine alpine meadows along with pine and silver birch forests.

Overview

Kashmir with its unparalleled beauty, postcard perfect scenes and almost European vistas frankly needs no introduction. If you are looking for green meadows filled with colourful wild flowers, pristine colour changing water, meandering streams and amazing Himalayan views from high up, then the Marchoi Valley trek is the most highly recommended trek. Starting from the popular hill station Naranag, the trail follows ancient routes taken by the gujjars, the nomadic shepherds of Kashmir. Every day on the trail, trekkers are treated to breathtaking views of rugged snowcapped mountains, colourful grasslands, and trout filled crystal clear streams. There are also stream to be crossed. It goes without saying that it is a physically easy and mentally challenging trek and would require the trekkers to be physically fit to traverse through snow in the winter month of December and to have a penchant for the Himalayan remoteness to enjoy this trek.

Inclusion

- Accommodation in dome tent (2/3 per tent). - Meals mentioned in the itinerary on a fixed menu/ buffet basis. - Naranag homestay on Day 1. - Camping Equipment: Tents, Sleeping bags, mats. - All charges for guides, cook, helpers, horses and permits.

Exclusion

- Air fares, airport taxes and anything not mentioned in the inclusions and itinerary. - Transport cost from Airport to Naranag and from Naranag to Srinagar. - Naranag homestay on day 5. - Meals, tea, coffee, mineral water, tips, transfers not mentioned in the itinerary. - Doctor, telephone, laundry and other personal expenses. - Cost of personal emergency exit or expenses due to external factors such as climatic conditions. - Travel insurance. - Naranag homestay on Day 5 or Srinagar houseboat charges.

Itinerary

Day 1 – Drive from Srinagar to Naranag (2128m, 57kms).

- You are expected to assemble at the Naranag village by 6 pm. To reach Naranag, take a shared taxi from the Srinagar Tourist Reception Center at the latest by 2 pm. - The Western Mountains can also arrange for taxis on request and trekker expense to pick you from the Srinagar TRC and drop you at Naranag. Please let us know during registration if you would like to opt for the pickup service. - It is a scenic drive from Srinagar to Naranag and has a wonderful mix of grasslands, scattered forests and snow covered mountains. - Overnight stay in homestay. - Meals: (Tea& Snacks, Dinner).

Day 2 – Trek from Naranag village to Dumail (2 hr)

- Begin early morning and start towards the Dumail campsite on a Maple and Pine tree-lined route. Enjoy beautiful views of Naranag Valley and the forests en route the campsite.• You would cross Naranag Temple built by Lalitaditya Muktapida during Karkota Dynasty which is also a start point of the trek. - Descend into the Dumail grazing ground through a Silver Birch & Pine forest, it is an easy trail and would take around 2 hours to reach the campsite. - Overnight stay in tents. - Meals - Breakfast, Lunch, Tea& Snacks, Dinner.

Day 3 – Trek from Dumail to Marchoi Valley via Shingdi (4 hrs)

- Today’s trek will comprise of a forest patch and few ascent to cross over to the Marchoi Valley. - You would be crossing Shingdi which is a grazing ground for shepherds during the summer months of July, August, & September. - It would take around 4 hours to reach Marchoi from Dumail, the trail has couple of stream crossings with wooden bridges. - Overnight stay in tents. - Meals - Breakfast, Lunch, Tea& Snacks, Dinner.

Day 4 – Rest day

- Today you get to relax by the valley or go up to Shadmarg top based on the weather conditions and explore surrounding meadows, soak in the magnificent mountainscape, uncover a few local legends about the lakes, share travel stories, meditate, exercise your photography skills and do anything that soothes your soul (without disturbing others trekkers/nature) - Overnight stay in tents. - Meals – Breakfast, Lunch, Tea & Snacks, Dinner.

Day 5 – Trek from Marchoi to Naranag (5 hours)

- On the final day, we trek back on the same trail to Naranag past a tree line, some grassy lands and towards the pine forest cover. Follow the forest line for about 5 hours and descend into the Naranag village. - For people opting homestay at Naranag at an additional cost, you will be provided lunch on arrival, Once you are refreshed you could explore the Naranag Temple built by Lalitaditya Muktapida during Karkota Dynasty till evening.

Day 6 – Check out after breakfast for people opting Naranag stay.

Naranag temple located at the serene meadows in Naranag Valley is one of the main attractions to tourists and it is an important archeological site, the temples form a cluster facing each other and with reference to history, it was dedicated to Lord Shiva built by Lalitaditya Muktapida during Karkota Dynasty. The 8th-century architecture is believed to be dedicated to Nagas by which the name Naranag was derived, the Nagas belonged to Hindu Kashmiri Kayasthas of Naga sect. The temple has an Aryan structure to it and the temple is now in ruins state. It is also one of the start point or the base to the popular Gangbal-Vishnusar trek which is popularized these days as Kashmir Great lakes trek taken from the Sonamarg side, it has a popular Harmukh peak in this route at Nandkol and Gangabal lakes. There is an annual Gangabal Yatra taken by the Kashmiri Pandits during late September where people hike till the lake and perform their religious duties on the banks of the lake.

Accommodation

Accommodation in dome tent (2/3 per tent).

Cancellation Policy

- Cancellations prior to 30 days from the start of the event: Full refund as cash - Cancellations between 30 days and 15 days to the start of the event: 50 % refund as cash. - Cancellations less than 15 days to the start of the event: No refund. - Cancellations will be accepted only by email. Note: The Western Mountains reserves the right to cancel a programme before departure in the event of logistical problems arising due to natural calamities, strikes, wars or any other circumstances that make the event inadvisable. In this case, we will refund 50% of the event fees.