This guide is about the Dayara Bugyal Trek — dates, price, day-by-day itinerary and booking are on the trek page.
Quick answer: The Dayara Bugyal trek is about 20 km on foot over three days: 5 km from Raithal (2,256 m) to Gui camp, a 10 km round trip from Gui to Dayara Top at 3,749 m (12,300 ft), and 5 km back. Dayara Top is about 10 km from Raithal one way; Raithal is about 180 km from Dehradun by road.
This article is for trekkers who searched for the Dayara Bugyal distance, height or route map and want the answer from each starting point: Dehradun, Raithal and the Gui campsite. It also describes each stretch of trail and how high you sleep. All numbers are taken from our Dayara Bugyal trek page; totals and height differences we worked out ourselves are marked.
How far is Dayara Bugyal from Dehradun, Raithal and Gui?
| From | To | Distance | Time on the trek page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dehradun | Raithal | About 180 km by road | 8–9 hrs (return drive 7–8 hrs) |
| Bhatwari | Raithal | Not given | About 1 hour before Raithal; last ATM and last stable signal |
| Raithal | Gui camp | 5 km on foot | 3–4 hrs |
| Gui camp | Dayara Top and back | 10 km round trip | 8–9 hrs |
| Raithal | Dayara Top, one way | About 10 km (our sum: 5 km + half of 10 km) | Walked over two days |
| Gui camp | Raithal | 5 km on foot | 2–3 hrs |
So the whole trip is about 20 km on foot and about 360 km by road (180 km each way, our sum). The trek starts and ends at Raithal, and the pickup and drop point for the shared cab is Dehradun Railway Station. Half of the walking falls on one day, the summit round trip from Gui.
Dayara Bugyal trek route map: Raithal to Dayara Top, stretch by stretch
The Route Map tab on the trek page marks three points: Raithal, Gui and Dayara Top. The feet figures on that map (7,402 ft and 9,633 ft) differ slightly from the itinerary's 7,400 ft and 9,630 ft; we use the itinerary. Here is what the trail between those pins looks like, as the trek page describes it.
Raithal to Gui (5 km)
The trail starts with a gradual ascent along village paths, then enters dense forest of oak, pine and rhododendron. The trek page calls the gradient steady rather than steep and asks you to go slowly in the first hour while your body adjusts to the height. Gui is a meadow campsite backed by tall peaks. On Day 4 you walk the same 5 km downhill in 2–3 hours.
Gui to Dayara Top (about 5 km each way)
You start at sunrise after an early breakfast. The first stretch climbs gradually through oak, maple and rhododendron forest, then comes a steeper ascent of about half an hour towards Chilapada. Out of the forest, the trail opens onto Dayara Bugyal, which the trek page calls one of the largest high-altitude pastures in India. The last section is a steeper climb across undulating slopes. The way back follows the same route across the bugyal and down through the forest, and you reach Gui by late evening.
The trek page names Bandarpoonch, Srikanth, Gangotri I, Black Peak, Draupadi ka Danda, Jaunli and Bakariya Top among the peaks of this trek.
Snow on the route
From December to March the trail is under snow; the kilometres on the itinerary stay as they are. Microspikes and gaiters are part of our Free Trekking Gear here, with Decathlon trekking shoes, a -10°C jacket and trekking poles, for a ₹3,000 refundable deposit and a ₹200 washing charge (+ GST) and no rental fee. On Day 3, put the microspikes on when your trek leader asks you to.
"Dayara Bugyal trek is an amazing experience. The views are stunning and the trails are well-marked and easy to follow." – Deepayan Datta, Dayara Bugyal trek review on the trek page
How high you sleep and how high you climb
| Point | Metres | Feet (itinerary) | Nights or role | Height above Raithal (our calculation) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raithal | 2,256 m | 7,400 ft | Night 1, road head | 0 m |
| Gui | 2,936 m | 9,630 ft | Nights 2 and 3, tents | 680 m |
| Dayara Top | 3,749 m | 12,300 ft | Summit on Day 3 | 1,493 m |
The trek page's FAQ rounds the total climb from Raithal to the top to about 1,490 m. The highest you sleep is Gui at 2,936 m; you go above 3,000 m only on Day 3 and come back down to Gui the same day.
The Uttarakhand Health Department's high-altitude advisory covers heights above 3,000 m: it says to rest 5–10 minutes for each hour of walking and to descend if you feel unwell rather than go higher. The trek page adds that some risk of altitude sickness exists on this trek, and asks you to consult your doctor before the trek, especially with an existing medical condition.
Before you go: cash, signal and papers
Bhatwari, about an hour before Raithal, has the last ATM and the last stable mobile signal. Signal is weak to non-existent at Raithal and on the trek, and cards are not accepted on the trail, so carry the cash you need from Bhatwari or earlier. Pack an original government photo ID, a photocopy of it, and a travel insurance policy that covers high-altitude trekking and emergency evacuation; the insurance is mandatory and not included. Carry a medical certificate signed by a doctor: each trekker brings one, and trekkers over 60 are welcome if they are fit.
At Gui, tents are shared by 3 trekkers, with men and women in separate tents, and sleeping bags are rated to -20°C. The minimum age is 8, trekkers under 18 come with a parent or guardian, and the trek page says the trek suits beginners with some prior trekking experience.
What the Dayara Bugyal trek costs
The fee is ₹7,800 + 5% GST, which is ₹8,190 per person, Raithal to Raithal, and the trek page shows EMI from ₹402 a month. All meals from Day 1 dinner to Day 4 breakfast are included. Transport is not included in the trek fee: we help the group book shared cabs, paid directly to the driver and split among trekkers. From Dehradun to Raithal that is about ₹6,500 one way per 5–6 seat vehicle, with pickup at Dehradun Railway Station at 07:30 AM on Day 1 and the drop back there by about 9:00 PM on Day 4. Backpack offloading costs ₹1,000 + 5% GST, up to 9 kg.
The trek runs from September to June; see the trek page for live batch dates. Each batch has at most 20 trekkers and one trek leader or guide for every 8, and online booking closes at 5 PM (India time) the day before the batch starts. If you cancel 30 or more days before departure you get a 70% refund; at 15–29 days, 50%; at 8–14 days, no cash refund; and at 7 days or less or for a no-show, nothing. At any point up to 8 days before departure you can take a 100% TrekCash voucher (valid 1 year), a free reschedule (once per booking) or a transfer to another trekker instead of the cash refund.
See Dayara Bugyal dates and book | Dayara Bugyal itinerary | Dayara Bugyal weather | Dayara Bugyal trek cost
Frequently asked questions
How many km is the Dayara Bugyal trek?
About 20 km on foot: 5 km from Raithal to Gui, a 10 km round trip to Dayara Top, and 5 km back to Raithal. The drive from Dehradun adds about 180 km each way.
What is the height of Dayara Bugyal in feet?
Dayara Top, the highest point of the trek, is at 3,749 m, given on the trek page as 12,300 ft. The Gui campsite, where you sleep for two nights, is at 2,936 m (9,630 ft).
How far is Dayara Top from Raithal?
About 10 km one way by our sum: 5 km to Gui on Day 2, then about 5 km more on Day 3. You climb about 1,493 m in total from Raithal to the top.
How far is Raithal from Dehradun?
About 180 km by road. The trek page gives 8–9 hours for the drive up on Day 1 and 7–8 hours for the drive back on Day 4.
Is there a route map for the Dayara Bugyal trek?
Yes. The Route Map tab on the Dayara Bugyal trek page marks Raithal, Gui and Dayara Top. The trail between them runs through forest to Gui, then past Chilapada onto the open bugyal.
