Monsoon is over. Finally! And you know what that means...
The lions who were refraining from trekking in the Himalayas due to rains can finally come out of their dens :) You see, the Himalayas become all the more beautiful in the post-monsoon season, newly rejuvenated from the rains.
All the major treks like Goecha La and Bali Pass, which were closed due to landslide probabilities, are finally opening their gates for their last season of the year. The skies are clear, the views more astounding and you get to see infamous peaks with crystal clarity. As if you needed another reason for why autumn is a good time for trekking in the Himalayas.
Another good reason to plan a trek (as if you needed one)? You have a long weekend around Dusshera ahead just waiting for you to go find your home in the mountains. With so many great trekking options in the long weekend, it will be hard for you to resist the adventure.
Let us start with updates from our recent treks
From the Trail
Manali Leh Cycling
The last batch of Manali Leh Cycling faced a start with the bad weather. Despite downpours in the first few days, it did not affect the spirit of our participants, and everyone completed the expedition with flying colors.
The current batch is already halfway through the expedition headed by our leader Lalit Jangird. The last batch of this season leaves on 16 of September. If you are in search of a cycling adventure in the mountains, this is your last chance.
Ready to have the time of your life? Book Manali Leh Cycling Expedition now.
However, this is not your only chance to hop on a cycle. If you are looking for a comparatively less strenuous but equally beautiful trail to bike on, hop on to Manali Chandratal Cycling Ride.
The first batch of post monsoon season has arrived. We are very excited to get updates from our Expedition Leader Jai Singh. The meadows of Ali and Bedni Bugyal are sprawling wide and green. The weather was in favor of the trekkers throughout the trek. They could see the crystal clear views of peaks from Junargali Top. Check out the images.
The next batch leaves on 16 September- check back in our next newsletter to hear their stories.
Our Expedition Leader Sandeep led one of the most challenging yet beautiful treks in the Himalayas. Participants faced rain on first few days but it was sunny till the Pass day. At 5,298 meters, when the participants reached the pass, they saw a lot of snow and crevasses- a view only seen by those who earn it. Our participants tackled all the challenges they faced on Pin Parvati Pass with great zeal and courage.
Hampta Pass went spectacularly well. After downpours on the first two days, the crescent shaped moon lake, Chandratal was gleaming in a blue-green color.
The weather from Bhrigu Lake was kind of mixed with rain showers and sunshine. The mornings were greeted with the sun hidden behind the clouds. There were light showers in the afternoon. The temperature dropped to 2-3 degrees in the night. The trek to the high altitude alpine lake is attracting a lot of crowds these days. The clear sky let our participants glance a peek at Mount Hanuman Tibba. Book yours now!
Everyone enjoyed the refreshing weekend hike to Nag Tibba. The sky was clear and the weather was a treat for anyone who lives in the adulterated air of the city. Nag Tibba never fails to impress for a weekend getaway in nature.
Gangotri III Exploratory Expedition
In a search of a brand new thrill and adventure, Bikat is testing its waters in Gangotri III Expedition. A team of participants with our senior-most Expedition Leader Wakeel Ahmed has gone to scale the summit on one of the highly difficult and revered peaks. Unfortunately one of the participants had to recede from Base Camp due to AMS but rest of the team is still very positive. If everything goes well, we will be planning to launch the expedition very soon. Fingers crossed for our team @ Gangotri III.
Himalayan Hall of Fame
A graduate from IIT- Delhi and an entrepreneur, Ankur Bansal has always had a penchant for trekking and adventure. He has done two treks with us before; Roopkund and Khauli Pass. Always on a lookout for adventure, he decided to join us for Manali Leh Cycling Expedition last month. His love for cycling could be seen in his marvelous performance on the cycling tour. Being the only one in the batch to complete the whole expedition, Ankur is an inspiration for young cyclists out there. He is currently pursuing his Ph.D. from IIT Delhi. While many of us struggle with the work life balance, he manages his work and leisure very well just as he maintains his balance on his bicycle.
We wish you more adventures, Ankur!
Last Call
Attention! All trekkers and cyclists are being informed that that few of their favorite treks and expeditions have arrived at the closing season. To make it to the last batch and be the lucky ones, book them NOW.
10 amazing days! And 10 amazing reasons to go on Pin Parvati Trek. Hurry! The last batch leaves on 23 September.
After three successful months of running Manali-Leh Cycling Expedition, we are all set to send off our last batch on 16 September. For all the avid cyclists out there, this is your last call.
Manali Chandratal Cycling Expedition
Half the days and same the thrill as Manali-Leh, the last batch of Manali Chandratal Cycling leaves on 30 September.
Coming Up Next
Confused about what trek you should go to next? Why wouldn’t you be when you have so many amazing options of the Himalayan trek to choose from.
Fuel the local economy by trekking to Roopkund Lake- a trek that gives back to locals. Many verses have already been written in the praise of the lake and the trek. Need I say more?
Going for Rupin Pass? Try to find these ten hidden gems of Rupin Pass Trek. This beautiful trek has treasures on the trail it is not just about the scenery.
The beautiful yet most virgin trek is why you should do this trek. In this monsoon, you will get to witness the peaks like Swargarohini, Bandarpunch, and Black Peak. Climbing to an altitude of 4,950 meters, this is one of the challenging trek that every avid trekker should have on their list.
The jewel of the north-east, Goecha La is the best option to explore the mountains in the north east. The scenery, landscapes, and the culture are different from what we have in the Northern Himalayas.
Walk over the glaciers for miles to arrive at a beautiful high altitude glacial lake- Vasuki Taal. the challenging trek takes you to the height of 4,880 meters
The best time to do these treks is NOW!
View from the tent on Vasuki Taal Trek
Get a sun tan beside the crescent moon shaped Chandratal Lake till the season lasts. Hampta Pass is one of the beautiful treks in the Himachal region that should be on your list. It is your only chance to explore Manali before the trek and Spiti Valley after the trek.
Beas Kund is an exciting choice for beginners who are looking for a fulfilling trek. Bakar Thach, the campsite for Beas Kund, is a place surrounded 360 degrees with notable peaks like Friendship Peak, Hanuman Tibba, Shitidhar and likes.
Bhrigu Lake is attracting a lot of crowd to the color changing lake located at the height of 14,000 ft. The lake is believed to be the place where Sage Bhrigu meditated for years.Puffy clouds
Puffy clouds on Bhrigu Lake Trek
Bikat Blog
5 September is marked as Teacher’s Day in India which we celebrated with remembering all the great lessons that mountains taught us.
Finding an inspiration to scale the mountains? Here. Get some motivation from Stok Kangri and these men from 60’s who will teach you a lot about life and trekking.
How to become a #BikeBoss? Everything you need to know about bicycle maintenance in 5 minutes.
Contest Alert
The much awaited Instagram Photo Contest September 2017 has been launched. We are inviting photos on Instagram from all the wandering trekkers out there.
All you have to do is:
- Follow bikatadventures on Instagram.
- Upload your best trekking photos using #bikattrekking till 30 September 2017.
- Post as many pictures as you want using our hashtag.
The winner will get voucher prize of INR 10,000 followed by runner up prizes worth INR 6,000 and INR 3,000.
There are participation vouchers too.
So what are you waiting for? Get, set, post!
In Other News
KJ Alphons has been appointed as the new in charge of Ministry of State for Tourism. "There is a lot of potential in our tourism sector but first we will have to love ourselves and love India then we can attract tourists from other countries," he said, a day after taking the oath.
Wishing him all the best.
