Saru Tal Trek

Day 1: Dehradun to Sankri: Drive 187 KM in 8 to 9 hours

Day 2: Sankri to Sikolta: 11 KM trek in 5 hours

Day 3: Sikolta to Bhoj Gadi: 10 KM trek in 5 to 6 hours

Day 4: Bhoj Gadi to Pushtara via Phulara Ridge: 6 KM trek in 4 hours

Day 5: Pushtra to Saru Tal (4,150 m) & return to Pushtara 16 KM total, 8 hours trek

Day 6: Pushtara to Taluka: 5 KM trek in 3 hours, 10 KM drive to Sankri

Day 7: Sankri to Dehradun: 187 KM drive in 8 to 9 hours

At Himalaya Shelter, we provide you with the option to customize your Saru Tal Trek Tour. Whether you're an avid mountaineer, an adventure seeker or a group of friends, you can opt for our personalized tailor-made expedition program. This customized program will be exclusively designed for you, taking into account your specific requirements for transportation, accommodation, meals, technical equipment and any other premium facilities you may need during the trekking. 

 Starting from Dehradun where you will be picked up all the way through Sankri and taking in the peaceful sights in and around and trek to Saru Tal before returning back to your pick-up destination you will get a once in lifetime experience. 

Himalaya Shelter ensures your journey is safe and memorable with experienced local guides, technical support and all necessary permits. You can even request offbeat routes or sunrise hikes for a more immersive Himalayan experience. 

Moreover, no other participants will be added to your group. Choosing a customized program will enable you to enjoy your journey without any hesitation.

The locals consider this lake to be sacred and often refer it as the fifth dham because its believed to be the only place from where you can see all the four major Himalayan Shrines namely Badrinath, Kedarnath, Yamunotri and Gangotri in the four directions. They visit this site annually to take a dip in this believed sacred lake.

The origin of this lake is still mysterious as it must have some significance due to its close proximity to Kedarkantha and the water of it is believed to seep into the Kedarganga, a tributary of the Yamuna. 

As it is not so much mythologically proclaimed it is not much explored and hence offers a surreal and pristine experience

Abundance Natural Beauty – as it’s a high altitude trek the ascend to the region offers panoramic views of the Gangotri peaks and other prominent mountains like Swargarohini, Kalanag, and Bandarpoonch. This trek also offers wide variety of landscapes like forests, lush green meadows and a ridge walk.

Flora And Fauna – In the season one can spot countless variety of flowers, including the brahma Kamal and fan Kamal, that bloom during summer. The ridge has been named “Phulara” for good reason. Also feel the excitement at spotting the rare monal pheasant, the state bird of Uttarakhand. one can spot langurs and other wildlife too enroute.

Phulara Ridge – A ridge is a chain of mountains that form a continuous crest for some distance. Its narrow edges drop into valleys on either side. This grants you an unobstructed view of some of the most majestic Garhwal Himalayan Mountain ranges – including Swargarohini and Bandarpoonch, in 3 directions. You would be awestruck, to say the least.
Once the ridge ends, you descend into the vast, undulating Pushtara bugyal i.e. Pushtara meadows.

Saru Tal Trek is a high-altitude trek of 13,615 feet (4,150 meters) and is considered to be of moderate difficulty level. The trek is of about 48 kms spanning 7 days.

The Saru Tal trek is generally considered moderate difficulty. It requires good physical fitness due to steep ascents, rocky terrain, high altitude, and potential for unpredictable weather. At high terrain one will even be required to traverse the region on snow or ice.

The trek is not suitable for families with young kids less 10 yrs old due to its uneven terrain and long walking hours. Acclimatization is also crucial as nights at high-altitude can be colder than expectations. During summer time, temperatures are comfortable but unpredictable weather can add difficulties.

For climbing technicalities, there are no major technical sections, so no particular mountaineering skills are required but a prior trekking experience is beneficial while undertaking this trek. The guidance of a professional mountaineer or experienced guide is important here. Solo trekking is not advisable. Trekkers should make the preparations after seeing all perspectives.

Summer months of May - June and Late September October is the best time to trek Saru Tal. During these months the weather is pleasant and accessible for trekking. The day time temperature ranges from 10- 20 degree C and night time temperature can fall as low as even 0 degree owing to its high altitude.

Months of monsoon July - August early September should be avoided due to danger of landslides and slippery terrains due to rains.

This trek is not advisable during winter months due to extreme cold temperatures with heavy snowfall and icy terrains

The starting point for the Saru Tal is Dehradun. The nearest airport is Jolly Grant airport which is in Dehradun itself. From Dehradun it is about 190 kms which will take about 7- 8 hrs to complete.

Dehradun is well connected to all major cities of Uttarakhand and major cities like Delhi and Chandigarh.

The trek is of about 48 kms starting from the base camp at Sankri.

Clothing and Backpack

Get a good backpack (50 L) with a rain cover. Look for a bag that can provide you good back support. Pack 4 quick-dry t-shirts and 2 trekking pants. Get a pair of thermals (upper and lower) for night. Pack a fleece jacket or woolen sweater as a mid-layer. Get a waterproof wind breaker for sudden rain and chilly winds. For winter trekking, get a good down jacket. Now pack a woolen beanie and a balaclava. Get two pairs of gloves (woolen and waterproof). You should also pack a suncap for the daytime.

Footwear

You should look for good quality trekking shoes. Your shoes must be waterproof and provide good ankle support. Do not wear a new pair of shoes on the trek. Your feet must be familiar with the shoes. Now pack 4 pairs of trekking socks and 2 pairs of woolen socks. Pack a pair of comfortable slippers or sandals for the campsite.

Personal Care

For personal care items, start packing with your toiletries. Get a small zipper pouch and pack all the toiletries. Now look for a quick-dry towel and a toilet roll. You should also pack hand sanitizer and moisturizer. Pack a sunscreen that can protect your face from sunburn. You can also pack some snacks for the trek.

Physical Fitness Preparation for Trek:

To overcome the difficulty level of  trekking, it requires strong cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength, and overall physical fitness. Incorporate these exercises into your routine to increase strength, stability, and stamina, which will help you tackle difficult terrain sections of the trail at high altitudes.