Earlier this year I was spending a few weeks at my mother’s place in Dehradun. Having been stuck at home for so long, I had been treating myself to a little vacation. Although I’m no expert in trekking, I have done a few hikes before, and now felt like venturing out for one more. I asked around about one night hikes that might suit my level of fitness and expertise, and a colleague referred me to the Nag Tibba Trek package offered by Thrillophilia. Although I had never taken a tour with this particular company before, a positive deluge of Thrillophilia Twitter reviews convinced me to give it a try. I signed up for the Dehradun to Dehradun Nag Tibba trek in March. As per the package, I was to be picked up and transferred to Delhi and dropped back off. The booking of the tour itself was quite hassle free, and I received instant confirmation as well. The tour team was in touch throughout the booking process, and even after. I was to be at the Dehradun Bus Stop sharp at 7, where I was picked up by a tour representative and driven to Pantwari. The drive to Pantwari via Mussoorie set off our trip, and was as scenic as I’d hoped it would be. There were three others in the vehicle with me, and we bonded quickly. We made a quick pit stop at the Kempty Falls for breakfast. Here, our group for Dehradun was joined by the other groups that had arrived from Delhi, and we met with the whole party together. We wanted to take a dip in the pool there as well, but unfortunately that would set our itinerary off schedule. Instead, we bundled back into the car and resumed our journey. We reached Pantwari by afternoon. Having checked into the hotel, we squeezed in a little rest and dined in for lunch. Post lunch, the group started on the first leg of the Nag Tibba trek. The initial climb was quite easy, and didn’t take us more than a couple of hours. Besides, we had a trek guide along with us to assist us through the best routes. We arrived at the Base camp before nightfall, and were greeted with a hot serving of tea and snacks. We were assigned tents on a double sharing basis, and spent some time getting acclimatized to our new homes. Dinner was a freshly prepared vegetarian meal cooked by the support staff. The next day, we woke up early to start our trek to the Nag Tibba top. I was just in time to catch a hilltop sunset, an experience I’d recommend to all. After a heavy breakfast at camp, we started our ascent upward. Again, the climb wasn’t too difficult to tackle. The distance didn’t appear to be very long either, and we were at the top before we knew it. The trail took us through dense forests which, in March, was brimming with the fresh beauty of spring. Being the highest peak in Uttarakhand, the views from Nag Tibba are predictably sweeping. Snow capped peaks rose around us on all sides. Fortunately, the day was clear and we could spot and identify all of them- Swarga-Rohini, Bandar Poonch, Kedarnath, and Gangotri. Having spent some time at the top, we gradually made our way back down to the Nag Tibba Base Camp Again. A delicious hot meal was waiting for us by the time we arrived. Having taken lunch, the group decided to stop for a little rest at the camp. Then, by early evening, we started our journey back to Pantwari. As during our arrival, we had a vehicle to drop us back at Dehradun, while those coming from Delhi continued their journey forward. A short, easy and refreshing trek, the Nag Tibba trek can be tried by anyone. While the trek itself can be completed within a day, doubling it up with camping only adds to the experience of adventuring in the mountains. Taking this tour with Thrillophilia turned out to better the experience even more, for I didn’t really have to bother myself about any of the added requirements of camping. Every aspect was well taken care of- we received clean, well maintained tents for stay, as well as freshly prepared meals thrice each day. Moreover, the transfer from Dehradun to Pantwari was arranged by the tour, along with the hotel for stay in Pantwari. Moreover, as the Thrillophilia Facebook reviews had assured us, every place we stopped at, be it the hotel or the camp, was well sanitized and safe to use despite the pandemic. For those desiring to ward off their lockdown blues with a quick trip to the mountains, the Nag Tibba Trek might be the answer, and this Thrillophilia tour might offer a solution!
