Bali Pass Trek

Sankri (1,920 m) to Seema (2,560 m) - 1-hour drive to Taluka and then trek to Seema (5-6 hours trek):

• After a fulfilling, healthy morning meal, you will be transported to Taluka by private car.

• Now, the trek starts on a stony path near the gushing river Supin.

• You can also see planted fields of the red-colored Himalayan crop amaranth, locally known as cholai. Under the shades of walnut, pine, deodar, and maple trees, the walk is as pleasing as the villagers will be greeting you on the way.

• A few hours and crossing over a few small rivers later, you will see the small country town of Gangad across the river on the left.

• Then you need to carry on the trek and after about an hour, you can see the charming village of Osla unfolding itself.

• Osla is a household name among mountain walkers. Home to about 200 families, it gives us a peek into Garwahli culture. Seema is a very small living place opposite Osla on the other side of the river.

• You can put base here or stay in a hut with a nearby family in the village.

Seema (2,560 m) to Roiltia or Waterfall camp (3,350 m) - 6-7 hours trek.

• Leaving the last of human settlements behind, you have to go on along the true left of the valley along the river Supin.

• Supin goes together with Rupin near Netwar village to form Tons, which is the biggest tributary of river Yamuna.

• An ascending through deodar trees will lead you to a beautiful field - Devsu Thatch. This 1km expanse of green land is set against the looming Swargarohini ranges.

• You can also see Kalanag (Black Peak) (6387m) straight on. On the left, you can see Har Ki Dun Valley. At its lowest part lies the confluence of the Har Ki Dun and Ruinsara rivers.

• After sloping down from the field, you must move into the Ruinsara valley.

• At the end of this trek, you can camp at the side of the small river close to the waterfall locally known as Roiltigad or Roiltia.

Roiltia to Ruinsara lake (3,600 m)- 2 hours trek.

• Today’s journey is going to take under 2 hours even at a slow speed. And within this trek itself, you will notice a stark change in vegetation.

• Pine and fir trees give way to birch and rhododendron trees. The thick forest through which you will pass is frequented by the endangered Himalayan Brown Beer.

• If you are very lucky, you might witness this unusual and unique creature.

• Then you will arrive at one of the highlights of the trek - Ruinsara Tal, an Alpine tarn, surrounded by rich, pleasing rhododendron trees, with their distinct pink bloom in the summers.

• You will be left enchanted by this sacred lake in Uttarakhand Himalayas. It is one of the trio of inland waters in the Garhwal division, the other 2 inland waters being Marinda and Maldaru.

• You will be living under camp overnight near the Ruinsara Tal lake.

Ruinsara lake Acclimatization – Getting Accustomed for the entire day to the atmosphere of Ruinsara Lake.

• Placed at a higher altitude of about 3500 m, Ruinsara lake is a good place to get used to new conditions before getting to the Bali Pass camp base the next day.

• Ruinsara Tal is known for its strikingly beautiful appearance. The small and pristine lakes lie within a vast field, alpine vegetation, and surrounding rhododendron bushes.

• There is a great range of alpine flowers growing around the lake. The river Supin is placed 100 meters below the lake, next to a ridge.

• It is the perfect place to play games with trek mates, read a good book, or just be seated quietly to dive through nature's peace.

• You can also use up the day exploring nearby places. You can trek in the direction of the Banderpunch glacier or Kyarkoti which is the base camp for Kalanag and Dumdar Kandi pass.

• Then you must return to the camp in the evening.

Ruinsara lake to Odari (4,100 m)- 4-5 hours trek.

• Start the day early to reach the destination before the afternoon.

• You can descend the shallow river bed, cross over to the opposite bank and walk uphill to another beautiful field - Thanga. This field also offers awe-inspiring views of the Swargarohini ranges. Kyarkoti valley lies towards the left.

• Then reach Odari. The word ‘Odari’ means a naturally made cave rock. This place has mythological stories connected with it. It is believed that Bali, Hanuman's brother, had stayed here for one night.

• Here too you might discover the unique Himalayan brown bear. Then you have to camp below Bali Pass along a glacial moraine. This is one of the best places for a camp, with the valley below and the Pass behind us.

• The temperatures at night go to sub-zero degrees. Camping under such altitude is a unique experience that very few treks offer.

Odari (4,100 m) to upper Dhamni (4,000 m) via Bali pass (4,900 m)- 7-8 hours trek.

• This day of crossing Bali Pass too begins very early. You need to get to the summit by 8 am. The trail heads down south, over a ridge. It is fairly short but slopes go up to the Pass.

• A mass of glacial scree will be encountered here. The time needed to get to the top ranges from 45 minutes to one and a half hours.

• Once you get to the top, you will see the Yamunotri valley for the first time. The view is breathtaking.

• You can see small signs of the Saptrishi Kund, which is the source of the river Yamuna. You will also get to witness the Banderpunch peaks from the top of the Pass. The summits of Dayara Bugyal, Barua Top, and Dokrani Bamak are visible too.

• Then you must come down carefully via a connecting ridge and reach the camping grounds of upper Dhamni.

Upper Dhamni (4,000 m) to Yamunotri to Janki Chatti (2,400 m)- 7-8 hours trek.

• Then you must go down further to a tree-covered trail. This path leads to the famous shrine of Yamunotri with the very beautiful Bandar punch in its background.

• One of the temples in the Char Dham circuit is dedicated to the goddess Yamuna.

• After paying obeisance to her black marble idol, you can make your way down conventional pilgrim to Janki Chatti.

• Stay in this place overnight in one of the guesthouses here. You will get electricity but no telephone network.

Janki Chatti to Dehradun - 7 hours drive.

• This is the last day of the journey and you will drive back to Dehradun.

• You can make the most of this journey by visiting other well-known places that fall on this way such as Kempty waterfalls, Nainbagh, and Mussoorie.

• With equally beautiful memories of an offbeat long, hard journey and touristy sightseeing, you will have a cherishable experience.

These are documents needed for lawful purposes and the forest department. Without any of these, you will not be allowed to trek.- Original and photocopy of identity card- Anything such as a Driver's License, Aadhar Card, or Passport will do. This is needed by the Forest divisions of an organization for your identification.- Passport-size picture- This is needed to get the trekking permits.- Disclaimer certificate- This is another legal document needed. Download the PDF, read carefully and sign it. This must be handed over to your trek leader during the registration at the base camp.- Medical certificate- There are 2 parts to this. The first part must be filled by a practicing medical expert. The second part must be filled by you. Without the medical certificate, the Forest department will not allow your trekking journey.

To start the Bali Pass trekking, first, you have to reach Dehradun, the capital of Uttarakhand. It is one of the most popular tourist destinations in India. There are many ways to reach Dehradun, but the most popular and convenient way is by air.

By Air: Jolly Grant Airport is the nearest air-plane station to arrive at Dehradun by flight. Also, Dehradun is almost 25km away from Delhi. You can book regular flights from Delhi to Dehradun. However, if you want to reach Dehradun by flight, then it is better to come one day before the trekking day.

By Train: In case, you need to get to Dehradun from Delhi by train, then 2 express trains are quite convenient. The train journey is an overnight journey.

By Bus: From Delhi, you can find regular bus service to Dehradun. ISBT Kashmere Gate is the main bus station in Delhi from where you will find both AC and Non-AC buses for Dehradun. However, it is always better to take government buses from Kashmere Gate ISBT.

The best time to do the Bali Pass Trek would be in the summer- May and June. The slow changes of the trail from snow to greenery are something beautiful to see. Also, the flowering rhododendrons, the possibility of watching the unique alpenglow phenomenon, and the vibrant fields make it one of the best times to go for the trek.

Another good time to do the Bali Pass Trek is in the post-monsoon and Autumn season - September to October. The trail is rich, pleasing green in September, a little cold from the monsoon burst-out. As you move in the direction of Autumn, the area changes its color to sudden, surprising yellows and oranges. You will also get the best views of the mountains during this time division.

• Bali Pass Trek in Summer

Day time: Between 12 and 17 degree celsius | Night time: Night time temperature will drop to zero.Existence of snow: If the winter season for the year has weighty snowfall, you can look for snowy patches on the ridge for the first few weeks of May. The snow gradually starts to slope back and the field and flowers come up brightly.

• Bali Pass Trek in Autumn

Day time: Between 10 and 14 degree celsius | Night time: Will drop to temperatures between 0 and -3 degree celsius.

Existence of snow: The last days of November witness the first snowfall because of, mostly western climatic troubles.