This guide is about the Dayara Bugyal Trek — dates, price, day-by-day itinerary and booking are on the trek page.
Quick answer: On the Dayara Bugyal trek in March, you get the last month of the December to March snow season. The trail is under snow, days are 4°C to 11°C and nights at Gui camp -10°C to -2°C. From April the snow gives way to green meadows. Batches run in March; the fee is ₹7,800 + 5% GST.
This guide is for trekkers deciding whether to take a March batch, and how March differs from April, the month when the trek page's spring season begins. The trek facts come from our Dayara Bugyal trek page.
Is there snow on Dayara Bugyal in March?
Yes. The trek page sets the snow season at December to March and says "The trail is under snow from December to March." March is therefore the last month of the snow season, and the page groups it with winter for temperatures and clothing.
In the snow months, the page describes:
- Meadows "buried under a thick blanket of snow"
- Snow on the forest trail and the meadows, with the steep sections towards Chilapada and Dayara Top on snow
- Gui Lake and Barnala Tal frozen and ringed with snow
- Snowfields at the summit running out to a full circle of peaks
The trek page's advice for snow is direct: "For snow – and for Dayara at its most dramatic – book a December to March batch." Check snow conditions with the trek team before you travel.
How is March different from April on Dayara?
March sits in the trek page's winter band; April opens its spring and summer band.
| What changes | March (winter band) | April (spring and summer band) |
|---|---|---|
| Trail | Under snow | Snow melting; the meadows turn green |
| Days | 4°C to 11°C | 13°C to 18°C |
| Nights | -10°C to -2°C | 7°C to 12°C |
| Warm layers the page asks for | 5, plus a balaclava | 3–4 |
| What you see | Snowfields, frozen Gui Lake and Barnala Tal | Wildflowers and red rhododendrons; full bloom in May and June |
By the trek page's figures, even the coldest April night (7°C) is 9 degrees warmer than the mildest March night (-2°C). Pick March if snow is the reason you are going. Pick April or later if you want green meadows and milder camping; the page recommends April to June for meadows, wildflowers and birdlife.
What does each day look like in March?
- Day 1: Dehradun to Raithal (2,256 m), about 180 km and 8–9 hours by road. The cab leaves Dehradun Railway Station at 7:30 AM; the night is in a guesthouse or homestay in Raithal.
- Day 2: Raithal to Gui (2,936 m), 5 km in 3–4 hours, gaining about 680 m. The page's advice for a snow-covered trail: "take shorter steps and use your poles."
- Day 3: Gui to Dayara Top (3,749 m) and back, 10 km in 8–9 hours, starting at sunrise. After a steeper ascent of about half an hour towards Chilapada, the final stretch to Dayara Top is a steeper climb across undulating snowy slopes. Put on microspikes if your trek leader asks you to.
- Day 4: Gui to Raithal, 5 km in 2–3 hours, then the drive back to Dehradun.
The page notes that walking on snow takes more energy than walking on dry ground, and on snow or ice the trek team fixes ropes and cuts steps where needed. From the top, the page lists a 360° view taking in Bandarpoonch, Black Peak, Mt Srikanth and Draupadi ka Danda.
What should you pack for a March batch?
Our Free Trekking Gear covers the snow kit: Decathlon trekking shoes, a -10°C jacket, trekking poles, gaiters and microspikes, against a ₹3,000 refundable deposit and a ₹200 washing charge. The camp gives you tents shared by 3 (men and women separate) and -20°C sleeping bags.
Because March is in the winter band, the trek page asks you to plan on 5 warm layers rather than the 3–4 it suggests from April, and to bring a balaclava, which it lists for December to March departures. Our Dayara Bugyal weather guide has the October–November and April–June figures in full.
Who is a March batch right for?
March suits a trekker who wants a snow trek on a short, 4-day plan. The trek is graded Easy–Moderate and suits beginners with some prior trekking experience; the minimum age is 8, trekkers under 18 come with a parent or guardian, and there is no upper age limit. The trek page recommends 4–6 weeks of preparation, and names the summit day, 10 km over 8–9 hours with steep and snowy sections, as the hard one.
If you would rather not camp below freezing, choose April to June. If you want to compare Dayara with another snow trek, see Dayara Bugyal vs Kedarkantha.
What does the trek cost in March?
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Trek fee | ₹7,800 + 5% GST = ₹8,190 | Pure vegetarian meals from Day 1 dinner to Day 4 breakfast; -20°C sleeping bags |
| Shared cab, Dehradun to Raithal | About ₹6,500 per 5–6 seat vehicle, one way | Paid directly to the driver and split among trekkers |
| Free Trekking Gear | ₹3,000 refundable deposit; ₹200 washing charge | Shoes, -10°C jacket, poles, gaiters, microspikes |
| Backpack offloading (optional) | ₹1,000 + 5% GST | Up to 9 kg; no suitcases, trolleys or duffel bags |
| Single tent (optional) | ₹2,000 + 5% GST | Per tent, for the whole trek |
The trek page shows EMI from ₹402 a month. Transport is not included in the trek fee: we help the group book shared cabs, paid directly to the driver and split among trekkers. Each batch takes up to 20 trekkers, with one trek leader or guide for every 8, and online booking closes at 5 PM (India time) the day before the batch starts. Every trekker brings a medical certificate signed by a doctor (the form is in My Bookings), and travel insurance is mandatory and not part of the fee. Luggage you don't need on the trail can stay in Trekkaro's store at the base camp, free of charge. Bhatwari, about 1 hour before Raithal, has the last reliable ATM and the last stable mobile signal. Before you leave, check the warnings on the IMD Meteorological Centre, Dehradun page.
See Dayara Bugyal dates and book | Dayara Bugyal in December | Dayara Bugyal weather by season
Frequently asked questions
Is March a good month for the Dayara Bugyal trek?
Yes, if you want snow. March is the last month of the trek page's December to March snow season, with the trail under snow and nights of -10°C to -2°C at Gui camp.
Is Dayara Bugyal colder in March than in April?
Yes. The trek page puts March in its winter band, with nights of -10°C to -2°C, and April in its spring and summer band, with nights of 7°C to 12°C. Days rise from 4°C to 11°C in March to 13°C to 18°C from April.
Are Gui Lake and Barnala Tal frozen in March?
The trek page says both lakes freeze within a ring of snow in winter, and it counts December to March as the snow season. Ask the trek team about snow conditions before your batch.
Do I need microspikes on Dayara Bugyal in March?
Microspikes and gaiters are part of the Free Trekking Gear, for snow on the trail. On summit day the trek page asks you to put them on when your trek leader tells you to.
When do the meadows at Dayara turn green?
As the snow melts in spring, from April, the meadows turn green and the forest fills with wildflowers and red rhododendrons. The trek page names May and June as the months of full bloom.
