After breakfast, we drive  to Kaldu Bugar which is about 5 Km after Karanprayag. On the way we first cross  Devprayag, site where the Alaknanada meets the Bhagirathi to move ahead as  Ganga. The road then follows the Alaknanda River up to Karanprayag. On arrival  we check in to a hotel by the river and run by The Garhwal Vikas Nigam (GMVN).

At around 7am we begin our  5 hour journey drive to Loh Jung and then follow the Pindar River up to  Tharali. The road conditions are good until Karnprayag, thereafter which there  are often rough sections to Mandoli- but we don’t have to worry too much about  these conditions as soon we start trekking down into Gyan Ganga valley. For the  initial two hours, this walk will take you through rhododendron and oak forest  with a steep downhill road by the side of the river after we which we climb up to  Didana to set up our camps for the overnight stoppage.

Today starts with a  serious uphill section through the forest. In about 3 hours you will reach the  tree line from where if the weather allows you will be able to catch a  spectacular view of the Chaukhamba and Nilkanth peaks. At this point we are on  a grassy ridge leading to the meadows of Bedni Bugyal. This high meadow is the  main area used for camping by travelers on the great pilgrimage to Roop Kund  which takes place every 12 years. It is a beautiful and interesting place  dotted with shrines and temples and the alpine camp here rivals the best in the  Himalayas as well as the wildflowers in the meadows remain in bloom until mid  September and are also magnificent during the monsoon months of July and  August. In the morning there will be a tremendous view of Trishul above the Shilasamudra  glacier, as well as Nilkanth to the north-west. Overnight camp after a  strenuous trek of 5 - 6 hours.

We take this day for  acclimatization for which we trek higher for almost 5 hours and then drop back  to the camp at Badni Bugyal meadow. You will feel much more comfortable with  the air once you have finished this drill and can comfortably end the day at  the camp.

The 5 hour trail crosses a  hump to reach Bistola and then climbs up to Bhugu Basa- an improvised stone  shelter that is generally used by local pilgrims.  Frankly compared to the beauty of Badni Bugyal  it is hard to imagine that this coarse stone structure made as makeshift  shelter points could exist in this close vicinity the lower alpine meadows. Never  the less we stop here for an overnight camp.

If the weather is clear in  the morning then you will be lucky enough to get a good view of the Trishul  peak and the other mountains around. An arduous trek of about 3 hours gets you  to Roop Kund. At Roop Kund, if the snow is not too deep, the mysterious  skeletons and remains of human beings and horses can be seen, as detailed in  the books of Shipman and Tilman. There are also great views of the surrounding  glaciers and high peaks. The lake in itself is very scenic and peaceful and is  worth following the trail which is often snow covered till esarly June, making  route finding a problem. Even post monsoons, there are some steep, rocky sections  which may require a bit of scrambling.
We hike another 30 minutes  or so up to the ridge above the lake to explore the area and return back to  Bhagu Basa for an overnight camp.

The route from here is  different than the standard trek to allow a shorter itinerary. Our day begins  with a 3-hour return trek to Badni Bugyal - a long steep descent through a fine  forest of firs and rhododendrons and across a beautiful clearing. After another  drop down, we reach the river which is a good place for lunch.

A well built road is  connected to the village Wan from the other side and we simply have to walk  down for roughly 4 hours to the vehicles lined there to drive (10 hours) back  to Rishikesh, which marks the end of this trek.