This guide is about the Brahmatal Trek — dates, price, day-by-day itinerary and booking are on the trek page.
Quick answer: Pick a Brahmatal trek company by what its batch carries for the snow ridge: microspikes and gaiters for the climb above Bekaltal, SpO2 checks at every camp, oxygen and a stretcher, a 1:8 leader ratio, what the fee covers in Lohajung, and fair cancellation terms. A Trekkaro batch includes Free Trekking Gear, and SpO2 is checked twice a day at every campsite.
What does a Brahmatal batch have to handle?
Start with the trek, because the trek decides what a company must bring. The Brahmatal Trek starts and ends at Lohajung (2,316 m) in Chamoli, about 250 km and 8 to 10 hours by road from Rishikesh. It climbs to Brahmatal Top at 3,734 m (12,250 ft), and Trekkaro runs it from October to March.
| What the trek asks | Where it happens | What the batch needs |
|---|---|---|
| Snow 2 to 4 feet deep on the trail, December to February | The trail above Lohajung | Waterproof shoes, gaiters and microspikes for every trekker |
| The steepest climb of the route, about 800 m | Day 3, Bekaltal (2,798 m) to Jhandi Top | Microspikes on from the Bekaltal camp upward |
| Wind on an open ridge | Jhandi Top and Brahmatal Top | A jacket rated for sub-zero cold; cap and gloves kept on, even for photos |
| Three nights in tents at two camps above 2,700 m | Bekaltal and Brahmatal base camp (3,106 m) | -20°C sleeping bags, hot water and health checks twice a day |
| A long road day at each end | Rishikesh to Lohajung and back | A pickup point and a cab plan you know in advance |
Our Jhandi Top guide describes the Day 3 climb and the ridge in detail.
Which questions should you ask a Brahmatal trek company?
Ask each company the same questions and compare the answers line by line. This is how Trekkaro answers them for Brahmatal.
| What to check | Why it matters | With Trekkaro |
|---|---|---|
| Are trekking shoes, a jacket, poles, gaiters and microspikes in the fee? | Without them you rent or buy the kit before the drive, and the Day 3 snow slope needs microspikes. | Free Trekking Gear: Decathlon trekking shoes, a -10°C jacket, poles, gaiters and microspikes. No rental fee; a ₹3,000 refundable deposit and a ₹200 washing charge. Buying the kit costs about ₹13,395. |
| When is SpO2 checked? | Without a baseline and regular readings, a drop at altitude has nothing to be compared against. | SpO2, pulse and blood pressure twice a day at every campsite, starting with a baseline in Lohajung. |
| What emergency kit is on the trail? | Without oxygen and a stretcher with the group, an evacuation waits for a team from the road. | One portable oxygen cylinder, one stretcher and a full first-aid kit with every batch, and HF radios across the team. |
| How many trekkers per trek leader or guide? | With too few leaders, nobody stays back with a slow trekker on the ridge. | Up to 20 trekkers per batch, one trek leader or guide for every 8. |
| What exactly does the fee cover? | Without a list, the Lohajung nights or permits can appear as extra charges. | ₹9,000 per person plus 5% GST (₹9,450 with GST). The next section lists the inclusions. |
| What are the cancellation terms? | Without them you cannot judge the risk of booking early. | 70% back at 30 or more days, 50% at 15 to 29 days, or a 100% TrekCash voucher, reschedule or transfer up to 8 days before. |
| Is there an EMI option? | Without one, the whole fee is due at booking. | EMI starts at ₹463 a month. |
| Is a night in Lohajung after the trek included? | Day 5 ends after a 10 km walk; without a booked room you drive on tired or pay for one. | Yes, two guesthouse nights in Lohajung. |
| Is there a luggage store at the base? | Without one, your travel bag rides up the trail or stays in a cab. | A free store in Lohajung, kept at your own risk. |
What does the Brahmatal fee include?
On Trekkaro's batch the fee covers two guesthouse nights in Lohajung, camping at Bekaltal and Brahmatal base camp on a triple-sharing basis, and pure vegetarian meals from Day 1 dinner to Day 5 dinner. It also covers the forest entry permits and checkpost fees for the route, tents and -20°C sleeping bags, the trek team and the Free Trekking Gear. Tents are shared by three, with men and women in separate tents.
Transport between Rishikesh and Lohajung is not included. The cab leaves from Jumping Heights in Tapovan, Rishikesh, in the morning of Day 1. We help the group book shared cabs at ₹6,500 one way per 5 to 6 seat vehicle, paid directly to the driver and split among the trekkers in it, which is ₹1,083 each when six share. Your travel to Rishikesh, optional backpack offloading and anything from an early exit or an evacuation are also outside the fee. Our Brahmatal cost guide adds these up. Live batch dates and fees are on the Brahmatal Trek page.
How is safety handled on the ridge and in camp?
Safety on Brahmatal is mostly about the high days: Day 3 over Jhandi Top to base camp, Day 4 to the summit, and Day 5 back over the ridge to Lohajung. On a Trekkaro batch your readings start in Lohajung, so the team knows your normal level before the climb, and they are taken twice a day at every campsite.
No doctor joins the trek. Trekkaro's trek leaders are trained in wilderness first aid, carry a full first-aid kit and lead with local guides. Ropes are not used on this trek. On the ridge the rule is simple: keep your cap and gloves on at Jhandi Top and Brahmatal Top, because taking them off in the morning wind on an open ridge is dangerous. The mess tent gives hot water at every camp, and you fill your bottles there.
Check the Chamoli district forecast on the India Meteorological Department's Dehradun centre in the days before you travel, and ask the company how it will tell you about a weather change.
Who can join, and what papers do you need?
Brahmatal is graded Easy to Moderate, and the minimum age on Trekkaro's batch is 7; trekkers under 18 come with a parent or guardian. Every trekker brings a medical certificate signed by a doctor (the form is in My Bookings). Travel insurance is mandatory and not included, and it must cover high-altitude trekking and helicopter evacuation. These checks are there for your safety on the ridge.
Online booking closes at 5 PM (India time) the day before the batch starts. Cash refunds after a cancellation are processed within 10 working days of approval, to the original payment method, and the gear deposit and washing charge come back in full if you cancel before the trek starts. Within 7 days of departure, or after a no-show, there is no refund. See the trek page for live batch dates.
See Brahmatal Trek dates and book | Is Brahmatal trek safe | Lohajung village guide
Frequently asked questions
What should I look for when choosing a company for the Brahmatal trek?
Start with microspikes and gaiters for the 800 m Day 3 climb above Bekaltal. Then check SpO2 readings from a Lohajung baseline, an oxygen cylinder and stretcher, a 1:8 ratio, what the fee covers, refunds and a Lohajung luggage store.
Do I need microspikes for the Brahmatal trek?
Yes, in the snow months. On Trekkaro's batch microspikes are worn from the Bekaltal camp upward on Day 3, and they come free with the Free Trekking Gear along with gaiters.
Is transport from Rishikesh included in the Brahmatal fee?
No. The drive from Rishikesh to Lohajung, about 250 km, is not in the fee. Trekkaro helps the group book shared cabs, paid directly to the driver and split among trekkers.
What is the minimum age for the Brahmatal trek?
The minimum age on Trekkaro's Brahmatal batch is 7. Trekkers under 18 come with a parent or guardian.
Where are the camps on the Brahmatal trek?
You sleep two nights in a guesthouse in Lohajung and camp at Bekaltal and Brahmatal base camp. Tents are shared by three, with men and women in separate tents.
