NAG TIBBA TREK
Departure Dates:
October to June
Cost : ₹3,950/person (Ex Pantwari to Pantwari) + GST
Major Attraction :
The Nag Tibba Trek is famous for its incredible panoramic views 🌄 of some of the most majestic Himalayan peaks including Swargarohini, Bandarpoonch, and Kedarnath 🏔️, making it one of the best short weekend treks near Mussoorie; with beautiful forest trails through oak and rhododendron trees 🌳🌺, serene campsites under star-lit skies ✨, and a peaceful summit experience above the clouds ☁️, it offers the perfect mix of adventure and scenic beauty for beginners and nature lovers alike 🥾🌿.
Key Info :
Grade: Easy
Highest Altitude: 3004 m (9,856 Feet)
Trip Duration: 3 Days (Pantwari to Pantwari)
Trek Distance: 19 kms
Region : Uttarakhand
Batch Size : Minimum 7, Maximum 15 Participants
Add-ons :
Backpack Offloading: ₹918+ GST
Outdoor Insurance (Indian Nationals Only): ₹124+ GST
Single Tent Accomodation: ₹700+ GST
Transportation Cost (To be paid on the spot) : Dehradun to Dehradun
Sumo (Shared by 5-6 trekkers) ₹8,000 + GST
Tempo (Shared by 11-12 trekkers) ₹12,000 + GST
Short Itinerary :
Day 1: Drive to Pantwari & trek to Nag Mandir campsite (2325 m)
Day 2: Nag Mandir campsite (2325 m) to Nag Tibba Summit (3022 m) & back to campsite
Day 3: Nag Mandir Campsite to Pantwari (1400 m) & drive back to Dehradun Bus Stand
Detailed Itinerary:
Day 1
Drive to Pantwari & trek to Nag Mandir campsite (2325 m)
Distance: 90 kms + 5.5 kms
Duration: 4 hours drive + 4-5 hours trek
The journey begins at 7AM from the Dehradun bus stand. The drive to Pantwari (approximately 90kms) takes around 3-4 hours to cover, gaining an altitude of about 1400 m.
We will be driving through the Queen of hills – Mussoorie and passing by the lovely Kempty Falls along the way. Swift mountain streams run parallel to the roads in many sections. Although the journey is a charming one to behold, the roads can be rather coiled with sharp turns and steep climbs.
After crossing Mussoorie, the roads become emptier, the gorges on the sides seem bottomless and the mountains more rugged & lofty. We will be taking a quick halt on the way to freshen up and have breakfast.
Expect to be at Pantwari, the starting point, by 11 am. We will begin our trek to Nag Mandir as soon as we reach here. Packed lunches will be provided for this day.
The trail to the Nag Mandir campsite stretches over 5.5 kms and will take approximately 4-5 hours to cover. It begins with 2 kms of an uphill trudge on a cemented path that goes through the village market. Soon this path translates to a rocky uneven trail.
All along, one can enjoy the mesmerising views of the layered mountains, the small village of Pantwari lying down in the valley below & patches of farmlands on the way.
The next 1-1.5kms is a dry and narrow shepherd’s trail with gradual ascents and descents. After this the trail nosedives into a dense canopy of Oak and Rhododendron forests that allows only a little sunlight in. The red and pink flowers of the rhododendrons don’t bloom in the winters.
The path inside the forest can be snow-laden in some sections. After trekking for 1 km, the forest finally opens up to a small patch of land. A structure of a temple sits at the heart of this clearing. This is the famous Nag Mandir. We will be setting up camp here for the day.
The campsite offers panoramic views of a snow-covered Himalayan range at the horizon (on clear days).
Tip: The sunsets and starlit night skies are lovely at this campsite. The temperatures can dip down to -7 degrees in the winters. So please ensure you are layered well.
Note: In the winters, when the snow is heavy, we may set up camp at Khatian; a camping ground 2kms before Nag Mandir.
Day 2
Nag Mandir campsite (2325 m) to Nag Tibba Summit (3022 m) & back to campsite
Distance: 2 kms + 2kms
Duration: 2-3 hours + 2-3 hours
The morning begins quite early. After having breakfast, we start the trek around 6AM and carry packed lunches along. The trekkers are also briefly trained for the ascent on the snow trail.
Beyond the Nag Mandir base, the trail climbs steeply uphill making the stretch a demanding one to navigate, especially with the snow. Since this stretch is thickly forested and barely gets any sunlight, the snow does not melt easily even during day time.
Usually, the snow is soft, granular in texture and ankle deep requiring the trekker to pull through at every step. During extremely cold days, the snow can even be knee deep.
Eventually, the trail turns through a ridge and the views finally start to open up towards the summit.
The Nag Tibba summit throws itself open to expansive views of some of the major Himalayan peaks like Swargarohini, Nanda Devi, Black Peak & Banderpoonch. Nag Tibba is one of those rare treks that allow a 180-270 degree summit view of the snow-clad Garhwal ranges on the second day itself.
We pause for a long break at the summit and have our lunch there as well. We then begin the descent towards the campsite by the same forest route we took to the summit.
Day 3
Nag Mandir Campsite to Pantwari (1400 m) & drive back to Dehradun Bus Stand
Distance: 5.5 kms + 90 kms
Duration: 3-4 hours trek + 4 hours drive
We start the day in the morning and prepare for a quick descent to Pantwari post breakfast. This would take around 3 hours to cover considering it is a downhill trek. We would arrive in Pantwari by 2PM and begin the drive to Dehradun at 3PM. It takes about 4 hours (7 PM) to reach the city. This would conclude our Nag Tibba winter trek.
Note: To be on the safer side though, arrange your return journey expecting to be at the Dehradun Bus Stand at around 9 PM. This could help account for any delays we may run into along the way.
Inclusions :
Food as per menu on the trek (Starting Lunch on Day 1).
Forest Permits/Camping Charges , if any (Upto the amount charged for Indian nationals).
Tents, Sleeping bags, mats.
Safety Equipment.
Trek guide, cook, helpers.
Porters or mules for carrying common luggage.
Services of a Trek Leader.
Exclusions :
Meals during road journeys.
Cost of any kind of travel insurance.
Any expense of personal nature.
Any expense not specified in the inclusion list.
Portage of personal rucksacks.
Transportation from Dehradun to Pantwari and back to Dehradun.
Things to Carry :
Trekking Gear
Ruck sack bag with rain cover. Qty -1
Day Pack Bag - Recommended for treks with summit day
Head Torch with spare Batteries. Qty -1
U V protection sunglasses. Qty -1
Water Bottles: 2 bottles of 1 liter each
Footwear
Non-skid, deep treaded, high-ankle trekking shoes Qty -1
Pair of light weight Slipper/Sandals Qty -1
Clothing
Quick Dry Warm lower or Track Pants. Qty - 2
Full sleeves T-shirts/ Sweatshirts. 1 for every 2 days of trekking
Pair of thick woolen socks. 1 pair for every two days of trekking
Thermal Body warmer Upper & Lower. Qty-1
Undergarments. Qty - 1 for every day of trekking
Warm jacket closed at wrist & neck .Qty-1
Full sleeves sweater. Qty -1
Rain wear ( Jacket & Pants ) . Qty-1
Pair of waterproof, warm gloves. Qty-1
Woolen cap. Qty-1
Sun shielding Hat. Qty -1
Toiletries
Personal toiletries kit (Small Towel, Toilet paper, paper soap, Bar soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, cold cream, etc.)
Sun screen lotion small pack. Qty -1 Here is your Sun Protection 101 to stay safe in the bright sunny outdoors.
Lip Balm small pack. Qty-1
Utensils
Small size, Light weight & Leak proof lunch box. Qty-1
Plate. Qty- 1
Spoon.Qty-1
Tea/Coffee (plastic) Mug.Qty-1
Miscellaneous
Camera (Optional)
Carry your medicines in plenty in case you have any specific ailment. Consult your doctor before joining the trek.
Dry fruits, Nuts, Chocolate bars (Optional)
Cancellation Policy :
Cash Refund:
5% Deduction: Cancellations up to 60 days prior to departure date
10% Deduction: Between 60 days upto 30 days prior to departure date
50% Deduction: Between 30 days upto 10 days prior to departure date
No Refund: Less than 10 days prior to departure date
Important Note :
1. Sometimes we change/add places or experiences in the itinerary to make the overall experience unique for each batch depending on group interest, weather, Special occasion and crowd conditions. So please be open to experience something authentic.
2. Instructions and rules have been adopted for the safe enjoyment of the activity and I agree to adhere to those regulations mentioned or instructed during the event.
3. Smoking or drinking alcohol, indulging in drugs or doing anything that leads to
intoxication is restricted during any activities that involve risks. We do not encourage it to do the same anywhere else.
4. Any inconvenience created for fellow participants, organizers, respective owners of the property or locals in terms of intentional delays, property damage, vehicle damage, abuse or misbehave may lead to termination of participation.
Overview :
If you’re looking for a breather from your hectic work schedule and experience the peace and serenity of the mountains just over the weekend, Nag Tibba is the trek for you. It is a beginner level trek near the charming hill station of Mussoorie and is famous for its stunning sunsets from the campsite and terrific summit views. Resting at 3,022 m and spanning over 19 km, this trek is an absolute delight for all trekkers as it is open for the better part of the year and can be done by anyone with a basic level of fitness.
“Nag Tibba” means the serpent’s peak and is said to be the abode of the serpent God. This short trek is wholesome in its own way. It starts from the quaint village of Pantwari over a rocky uphill trudge and eventually envelopes into a local shepherd’s trail with gradual ascents and steep descents.
The trek runs through dense Rhododendron and Oak forests on snow clad terrain that is challenging to navigate in some sections. After trekking for about 5.5 km, the forest opens up to a small clearing with the Nag Mandir at the centre of it, offering mesmerizing views of the surrounding peaks. This is the campsite for the day.
Thanks to the open ground, the sunsets from this campsite are magical to behold only to have the magic surpassed by the starlit skies that follow.
Next day, the trek to the summit is steep and rugged but rewards you with glorious views of some prominent Himalayan Peaks like Swargrohini, Bandarpoonch, Black Peak &Gangotri amongst others.
And this is why the Nag Tibba trek is special. It treats you to an outstandingsummit view of an impressive range of snow-clad Garhwalian Peaks on the second day of the trek itself making it a must-do weekend winter trek in the Himalayas.
Although short in duration, the Nag Tibba trek does not fall short on the many attractions it holds.
The best months to do the Nag Tibba Trek for snow are December to March. The trails are completely snow-laden during these months and can be a challenge to navigate in some sections. We have discussed more about the skillset and gear one requires to complete the Nag Tibba Winter Trek
The trails of Hampta Pass hold surprises at every step and every stop. When we start walking from the base camp, Jobra, the trails are covered with small shrubs, oak, deodar, and maple trees. After crossing through the first campsite Chikka, the trails gain height. Slush and rocks mark the path here. Finally, the trail extends towards the second campsite Balu Ka Ghera through the flower meadows of Jwara. From Balu Ka Gehra, spanning at a distance of 4 kilometers, the trails incline with snow and boulders and reach the pass. From the pass, the nature of the trail completely changes and descends with a 50-degree steep path towards the third campsite, Shea Goru. From Shea Goru the journey gets easy and continues with a simple descent to Chhatru.
Some of the basic challenges we face in Hampta Pass are the constant rains, trails filled with slush, and steep descents. It requires proper gears and skills to safely move ahead. This Himalayan trek comes under category 4 on the Mumbai Trekkers Rating Scale. This makes it a moderate level trek. It is ideal for both professionals and beginners. But, to face the high altitude weather and terrain, one must complete a level 3 trek like the Kuari Pass trek or a couple of level 2 treks like Beas Kund and Bhrigu Lake before this. This will give you the necessary leg strength and lung capacity to finish the trek comfortably.
