What should be my first trek? Is Dayara Bugyal recommended for beginners?

Me, a beginner opting dayara bugyal trek as my first trek in the month of November was one of the best random decision ever made by me. Was I scared - 100%, under confident - 100%. What made me complete the trek anyways? The awesome company of the fellow trekkers with me and the willingness to do something new.

If I have to describe my first trek experience in Uttarakhand, I would say my experience was surprisingly decent. There were a few things that I was worried about before starting the journey.

The first one was my food allergies, being allergic to a lot of things, my family and I were worried if I will get enough and desirable meals to sustain myself. Thankfully Moxtain took a note of everything and I was well fed.

The second challenge was the long tedious hilly journey from Dehradun to Raithal. It felt like never ending, longest journey I have ever been on. But it passed and on finally reaching raithal the excitement of finally embarking on my first trek started.

And finally, the trek distance itself was a challenge for me. Dayara Bugyal being my first trek ever and it is no easy trek for a beginner. It is definitely doable and I completed it with flying colours. But this happened after giving up a million times on day 1. Day 2 felt comparatively easier and fun. A big shout out to all the fellow trekkers because without their constant push, motivation, comments it would have been impossible. 

Here is the 3 days customized itinerary for dayara Bugyal trek that we followed-

Dayara Bugyal trek itinerary is of 4 days/3 nights but we completed it in 3 days/2 nights. Here is the basic itinerary that we followed -

Day 1 - Drive from Dehradun to Raithal, the distance is 180 km which takes 7-8 hours. Reach Raithal by afternoon and start trekking from Raithal to Gui Campsite after Lunch. The trek distance is 5 km that took an eternity to cover. Reach the campsite by evening and have a overnight stay here. Meals that were served were evening snacks, tea followed by dinner and dessert.

Day 2 - After breakfast, start trekking from Gui Campsite to Dayara meadow and Dayara top. The total trek distance covered in day 2 for to and fro trek is 12 km. Reach the campsite back by evening. Packed lunch was provided to enjoy at the top.

Day 3 - Start trekking after breakfast from Gui Campsite to Raithal. The descent is comparatively easier and quicker than the climb. Reach Raithal by afternoon. From Raithal drive back to Dehradun.

What to expect from Dayara Bugyal Trek - 

1. Long distance from Dehradun to Raithal. For all those who have a problem of motion sickness this is quite a long journey. 7-8 hours is way too long.

2. Soothing village vibes at Raithal. 

3. Decently challenging trek trail, mostly covered with rocks. Carry a good pair of shoes that provides a grip to your feet and are suitable for trekking.

4. A good start for a beginner that will give you a clear idea on how treks are graded on the basis of difficulty and what to expect.

5. Best part of trekking in the month of November was the sun felt good on my skin. Precipitaion was minimal, weather was plausible and the trail was devoid of snow that was a relief for me. 

6. Cell phone connectivity is good, better than what was expected. Till Raithal the connections are perfect, after Raithal as the trek commences, they might be erratic but at the gui campsite there is a point where you get networks to stay in touch with your family. Thus network connectivity in dayara bugyal trek is good.

What all things should be avoided on your first trek - 

1. One of the major mistake that I made was carrying too much luggage/bags. As I mentioned earlier being allergic, I carried food items with me. It added an extra bag and since everything was taken care of by the company, if I had known earlier that, food is never an issue, it would have been easier.

2. When its cold, it's cold no amount of sleeping bags, liners helped. I even carried my own sleeping bag (another added luggage) but nothing worked. Nights are super cold. After having a beautiful bonfire, music, dance it was still cold. I didn't sleep for the first night, there is no solution for this. Just carry extra layer of warm clothing with you if you are always feeling cold like me.

Extra bags was the only problem that I faced. My day 2 was easier as we didn't had to carry any bags, just our water bottles and lunch box thus, it was super easy for me to even walk calmly in the ascent.

Don't forget to capure the beautiful night sky, its mesmerizing, filled with so many stars. Just UNREAL!

The trek is considered easy but for first timers who embark on this journey without preperation, like me it can be exhausting. In the month of November, Dayara Bugyal trek is mostly dry with golden brown meadows but the peaks are all covered in snow.

If you want to experience snow covered trail then planning dayara bugyal trek in winters will be the best. The best time to enjoy snow in dayara bugyal trek will be from December to March. The trek is possible all round the year and is accessible. Avoid monsoon seasons to protect yourself from slippery trek trails and wet clothes, it can be quite uncomfortable in monsoon seasons. The best seasons to trek for me has to be Spring and autumn. Thus, did dayara bugyal trek in november.