Overview
Deoban trek, popular as the perfect weekend trek, offers a wonderful opportunity to experience the joy of outdoor trekking in a span of just 2 days.
Located near the Chakrata Hill Station, this trek starts from Lokhandi, passes via Saraswati Campsite and ends at Vyas Sikhar. Vyas Sikhar, the ultimate destination of the Deoban trek, is located at 9,448 ft altitude and stuns you with mesmerising 270° views of Himalayan Peaks and valleys.
Overall, it’s a 15.45 Km trek and can be easily completed within 2 days. Along with being an easy trek, Deoban is known for its vibrant beauty of forests, diverse wildlife, and beautiful birds. The Deoban name itself expresses its Connection with the forest. Deo refers to the Deodar Tree, and Ban refers to the Forest.
The highlight of this trek is that despite being an easy level trek, more than 50 mountain peaks are visible on this hike. From the Vyas Shikhar, you’ll see glimpses of Mount Nanda Devi, Nanda Ghunti, Dronagiri, Bandarpoonch, Gangotri Range, Swargarohini, Sri Kantha, Kedarnath, Badrinath, Trishul, Borasu Pass, Ral Dhang, Santhal Pass, Hans Beshau, Kokshni, Gushu Pishu, and Kand Mahadev.
Geographically, the trek is positioned near the Himachal Pradesh state border, amid Rikhand and Undawa forests. Hence, this trek is known for its forestry charisma. Moving forward, let us know about this short yet magnificent trek in detail. In the below section, we shall elaborate on the trek itinerary, the best time to visit, the Difficulty level of the trek, the Cultural and Historical Connection, flora and fauna, and the nearby attractions to explore.
Trek Itinerary
Drive Distance & Time: 108 km; 4 hours
Trek Distance & Time: 4 km; 3-4 hours
Altitude: 7,300 ft
Today’s Difficulty: Easy
Highlights: Forest Trail
On Day 1 of the Deoban trek, the first target would be reaching Basecamp, Lokhandi Village. Therefore, in the morning, we shall pick you up from Dehradun and then take you on the joyful road journey to Lokhandi.
The distance between Dehradun and Lokhandi village is about 108 Km, and it will take approximately 4 hours to cover this distance. En route, you will see Sahaspur, Kalsi, Sahiya and the quaint hill station Chakrata.
Lokhandi to Saraswati Campsite Trek
From Lokhandi onwards, there is a 4 Km trek to the Saraswati Campsite. The real adventure of the Deoban trek will begin from Lokhandi.
In the initial 1 km, it will seem like the outskirts of a hamlet. Beyond 1 Km, the ascent will rise gradually, and the trails will be surrounded by the long, Deodar trees. On both sides of the trail, the land would be comparatively elevated and covered with dense vegetation. After 5 hours of hiking over this trail, you will reach the Saraswati Campsite, which would be the night stay for tonight.
Here, you will get to watch the beautiful sunset and dusk time in the mountains. Along with being a vast ground, Saraswati campsite is covered with Deodar, Oak and pine trees from all sides. Overall, it looks so refreshing to spend time there between natural landscapes. From the edges of this ground, many attractive scenic views are visible. For the night, we shall set our camps and then you will spend a memorable time and dinner around a bonfire in the mountains.
Trek Distance & Time: 4 km | 4 hrs
Return Hike: 7 km: 5-6 hours
Drive Distance: 108 km: 4 hours
Altitude Gain: 836 ft
Today’s Difficulty: Easy
Highlights: A scenic drive with the view of Uttarakhand Himalayas
On the morning of Day 2 of the Deoban trek, you will open your eyes in front of enchanting views of sunrise, coniferous trees, and the voices of Himalayan birds. Thereafter, you will leave the Saraswati Campsite, and will begin hiking towards the main spot, Vyas Sikhar. As you begin hiking on the trail, it will seem like altitude is increasing way faster. Along with the altitude increase, the trail will be comparatively narrow and covered with pebbles and Himalayan vegetation.
On the rocks, you will see the creepers and the trees will be standing on a pretty steep ascent. It will take about 3 to 4 hours to reach the final spot with the average level of fitness.
As soon as you reach Vyas Sikhar, your eyes will catch the views of more and more Himalayan Peaks. From the top of Vyas Sikhar, you will see approximately 50 peaks of Himalayan mountains.
Return Trek to Lokhandi; Lokhandi to Dehradun
Once you are done with grasping the heartwarming beauty of this spot, you can start trekking down to the Lokhandi. On this return trek, you can find difficulty till the Saraswati Campsite. But beyond that, it’s easy to trek. After trekking for 5 to 6 hours, you will reach the Lokhandi again. From Lokhandi, you will drive to Dehradun.
Package Details
Price Inclusion
Accommodation:
Transportation: .
Meals:
Trek Equipment: All essential trek equipment is included, such as sleeping bags, kitchen and dining tents, utensils, mattresses, personal tents, toilet tents, and crampons (if needed).
Forest Entry and Permits: All required fuel charges, tolls, forest entry fees, and permits are covered.
Experienced and Certified Guides: A qualified, professional team, including a mountaineering-certified trek leader, guide, cook, and support staff, will accompany you.
Emergency Kit: First aid medical kits, oxygen cylinders, and stretchers are provided to ensure the safety, comfort and well-being of all participants.
Trek Certificate & HDT Badges: Receive a trek certificate and HDT badges to celebrate your adventure.
GST (5%): Included in the package cost.
Price Exclusion
Meals during Transfer: Meals are not included while traveling to and from the trek starting points.
Emergency Evacuations: Any charges related to emergency evacuation are not included.
Personal Expenses: Any meals or accommodations outside of the provided itinerary or additional services not listed in the inclusions.
Personal Luggage Carrying: Charges for mules or porters to carry personal luggage are NOT included in fees.
Best Time to Visit for this Trek
The best time to visit the Deoban trek is Spring and Autumn. However, Deoban is one of those treks, which are good to hike in any of the seasons. Therefore, you can decide the season according to your adventure choices. If you want to enjoy hiking with light clothes, then summer is the best season. On the contrary, if you wanna hike on the snow-covered trails, then winter is the best season accordingly.
Temperature: 5°C to 25°C
If you wanna trek on the days when the sun shines brighter, and the weather remains fresh and free of clouds, then summer and spring are the best seasons. The Moderate temperature makes the weather feasible to wear light and flowy clothes. During summer, you can literally experience the beautiful view of sun rays falling into the trail after passing through a web of coniferous trees.
Temperature: (-6°C to -3°C)
To admire the snowy beauty of Dthe eoban trek, you must plan the trek in winter. From Late November to early February, it’s the perfect time to hike on this famous forested trek. In this season, usually, there are foggy days in which sun rays are less intense. But, because the snow covers the entire trail, it looks like a winter wonderland. The nights are always colder than days, so you need to carry enough warm clothes and other required tools.
Temperature: (1°C to 12°C)
To those who want to trek in the weather neither too cold nor too hot, then autumn is the best season. In this season, it will be cold in the morning and evening, while the temperature will be moderate during the afternoon. However, there will be low precipitation, so you will feel free to hike in this season.
Difficulty Level of this Trek
Considering its trek length, en route terrain, ascent, elevation, campsite, and other such parameters, the difficulty level of the Deoban trek is generally easy. As it is only a 15 km long trek, you can complete it in 2 days efficiently. Additionally, you can go for this hike with a basic level of fitness. However, you must practise running or other basic exercises before 5 days of the trek. Besides this, if you are a beginner desiring to go on a trek, then the Deoban trek is definitely one of the best choices.
Trek Essentials
- 45-60 Ltr Bag Pack With Rain Cover & Comfortable Straps
- Hot and Cold Water Bottle Like Borosil and Milton
- Energy Bar, Dry Fruits, and ORS
- Personal Medical Kit
- 1 Pair of Sunglasses (UV Protected)
- 1 Neck Gaiters (Buff)
- Tiffin Box
- 2/3 Full Sleeves (Non-Cotton)
- 1 Full Fleece T-Shirt
- 1 Fleece Jacket (Woolen or Sweater)
- 1 Down Feather/ Hollofil Jacket
- 1 Waterproof Jacket/ Poncho
- 1 Pair of Thermal Inners (Upper and Lower)
- 2 Trek Pants (Avoid Shorts and Denim Pants)
- 1 Pair of Waterproof Gloves
- 1 Pair of Woolen Gloves
- Sun Cap
- Woolen Cap
- 4 Pairs of Cotton Socks
- 1 Pair of Woollen Socks
- 1 Waterproof and High Ankle Trekking Shoes
- 1 Pair of Floaters
- Hand Sanitizer and Sunscreen Lotion
- Toothbrush and Toothpaste
- Toilet Paper
- Quick Dry Towel
- Lip Balm and Antibacterial Powder
- Moisturizer
- Aadhaar Card, Pan, or Passport for Applying Permit
- Trek Insurance
- Medical Certificate
- Self-Declaration Form
- Sleeping Bag
- Common Tent
- Mattress
- Dining Tent
- Camping Stool
- Walkie Talkie (For Team)
- Utensils
Trek Map
Peaks Visible
Weather & Temperature
More Info About this Trek
Cultural & Historical Info
Cultural Connection
In the surroundings of Deoban, there is mainly the Jaunsari tribe living in Jaunsar Bawar region of West Garhwal. The people belonging to this tribe have a deep affection towards Mother Nature and a simple lifestyle. They are adapted to spend life utilising the least resources, and so their way of living is completely sustainable and friendly for the Himalayas’ health.
Talking about their attire, the men style their clothes similar to Karate Dress. In this attire, they wear Chora, Jhangel, Manjan, Judo and Diguwa, which is actually a woollen top, trousers, belt, coat and cap. Generally, these clothes are made of sheep wool. Whereas, women like to wear Ghagra, Jhagga, Koti and head scarves. Besides Mother Nature, they are dedicated to Mahasu Devta. To entertain and celebrate, they are often indulged in folk music and Harul dance.
Historical Connection
Deoban, being a dense forest area since the beginning, had always been a significant resource for the locals as well as wildlife. There are two interpretations of Deoban among locals. Some call it Deoban because it is a forest of Deodar trees, whereas some call it deoban, relating it to the Forest of Deities.
Besides this, Vyas Shikhar, the top of this trek seeks its significance from Dwapar Yug. The legends tell that this point is named after the great Sage and Writer Ved Vyas Ji, the son of Devi Satyavati. It is believed that Ved Vyas ji spent some time here in Deoban while creating the greatest epic ever, Mahabharata.
Flora And Fauna
Deoban Trek, located amid dense forest, is the nest for a variety of high-altitude birds. While trekking, you can observe these birds resting in trees or playing over the shrubs. Some of those are the Spotted Nutcracker, Chukar Partridge, Himalayan Woodpecker and Bar-tailed Treeceeper. Most of these birds are endemic to the Himalayan region. However in winters, some of the migratory birds are also seen in these forests.
Besides birds, this forest is home to many wild animals as well. Usually, the Himalayan deer, black bear, wild dogs, sheep, Himalayan wolves, and sometimes leopards are observed. But generally, the leopards live in dense forests, so it’s rare to catch their glance while hiking.
Nearby Attraction
After completing the trek, if you have an interest in exploring nearby attractions of Garhwal, then here are the sites worth visiting.
- Koti Kanasar Bugyal
- Chakrata Hill Station
- Jadi Waterfall
- Mahasu Devta Temple
- Lakhamandal Shiv Temple
- Budher Caves
SCL, Foreign Permit & Vehicle
During this time, thick snow covers the trail, and trekkers can enjoy fresh snowfall. Sometimes the path becomes a bit difficult due to heavy snowfall, but it is very much liked by trekkers as it adds thrill and challenge to the trek. Trekkers can enjoy walking on the snow and see the snow-capped peaks visible from a distance. The sunrise from the mesmerizing peak is breathtaking, offering views of the mighty Himalayan peaks under bright, clear skies.
Although the months between December to February are the coldest and the temperature remains below zero at night, this is the time when the landscape around the trail turns into a wonderful paradise.
Though these months are mostly cloudy, if you are lucky, you can enjoy the bright landscapes under clear skies. The campsites are covered in a blanket of snow, and near Judha Ka Talab, trekkers can even walk on the frozen lake.
Leave a Comment