How can a trek feel this good? How can the services be this thoughtful? And how does each day on this trail feel happier than the last? These were the words of one of our trekkers who recently completed the Dayara Bugyal trek and was really amazed by the experience. She shared her story with us, and we couldn’t help but share the essence of her warmth and appreciation here on our blog.

Ritu, from the Dayara Bugyal (16 Nov–20 Nov) batch, shares:

So, almost on a feeling, I chose the trek with TTH and began my first real trekking journey. As a beginner, I wanted a trek that would give me everything, that too on an easy trail, and Dayara was the answer. And as for why TTH… I’ll keep that a little secret for now, and instead tell you what this trek gave me.

I had never really done a proper trek before; mostly, dayhikes were all I knew about. But they say, you only know when you experience it. So, I packed my bags, left my comfort zone behind, and decided to go to a completely new world. A world of mountains, meadows, moments, and more that I will remember for a very long time.

At first, I thought a trek was only about walking on rough trails, seeing big forests, water streams, silence, and high mountains. And yes, Dayara had all of this, even more than I imagined. But what changed me was the real experience. The experience of taking that first fresh breath after pulling down my neck gaiter, wishing everyone a “good morning,” and sharing a cup of black tea with the same people who felt like strangers just a day before.

Yes, the mountain peaks were there, as if they had woken up before us. Seeing them up close and having tea right in front of them, or you can say almost with them, was beyond anything on my checklist, and I'm glad I got to live it without knowing this is one of those “moments”!

On this trek, there were the landscape, the trails, the forests, the water streams, the peaks, the fallen leaves, the fallen trees, the chirping birds, the drifting sky, and those beautiful sunsets. Everything had always been there. The only thing missing was me… me being present to witness it all and finally understand what a trek truly feels like.

The fellow trekkers!

Well, if I ever keep my thoughts away from its beauty, I will now think about my fellow trekkers. Oh can I call them friends now? Some strangers…who aren’t strangers anymore? This is what TTH gave me. They promised a well-organized trek, but what they delivered was a surprise… a surprise in the form of this wonderful experience.

The journey that began as strangers soon turned into trail buddies and then tent buddies. Somehow, we even became rival teams during our silly little games. Oh not so silly games..!

And did I tell you about Mr. Pavan? A 44 year young man? How could I forget about him and his game strategies and his non-stop enthusiasm. Honestly, a game without him didn’t feel like a game at all. We wanted him in every single activity, all the time.

Then there was Manan, the 21-year-old, the youngest in our group and always the first one on the trail. This kid, I tell you, could have easily gotten tired of us “oldies,” but instead, he waited for us at every resting point. That said a lot about him. From “trek mates to teammates”, that’s how it slowly turned out. And that’s what made this trek feel so alive and special.

And then there was this lady I was fooling around with, hanging around, laughing all the time. Later, she casually mentioned she was 45! I was not ready for that at all. So much liveliness, so much excitement. It was really inspiring!

This is the kind of experience I wanted… and didn’t even know I needed. Because a trek is not just about the trail and its beauty. It’s also about the people you meet and the journey you share all together.

This was all about the trek and my trek mates! Another experience that left me awestruck was the food!

The higher the altitude, the higher the food standard! I never thought that after trekking for 3-5 continuous days, I would actually gain weight instead of losing it. As funny as it sounds, that’s how serious it was… we just couldn’t stop eating. And honestly, even if TTH had offered me more, I probably still wouldn’t have said no. :)

The food service was amazing. The variety of dishes was next level, and the love that went into cooking and serving them could make even the simplest meal tastiest. It felt like we would just think of a dish, and it was already on our plates. Momos and samosas were beyond my expectations, and each passing day, those expectations were met again and again. Not to forget, the warm water was always ready when we needed it.

At this high altitude, even the cold woke up our nerves. No matter how much layering we wore, the wind of Dayara didn't leave us! :)) But to rescue, the kitchen team was all set to provide us yummy evening soup. The kitchen tent was our playroom too! We sang, interacted, played games …and what games!! Goofy me, 28 years old, ended up losing so many games to these 40-year-young trekkers!!

The friendship and the conversation grew deeper when we all made our way to Dayara Bugyal Trek summit. We had our snacks, and just before we reached the top, we dropped our bags. Some started clicking pictures and some just sat there. The view, the happiness… it all hit us so suddenly. It was like the door was about to open, and on the other side, we finally saw the beauty that Dayara had been hiding all these days.

We had tea, some snacks, took multiple photos, refilled water bottles, and then continued toward Dayara Top. At this point we were not really looking for the final summit, because we were so immersed in its beauty along the way.

All around were meadows…rolling meadows, flat meadows, ridge meadows, big, small, at the top… and everything in between. With just a few steps, you could be anywhere, anytime.

I sat there, sometimes alone, sometimes near a group of trekkers scattered ahead and behind like tiny figures. I walked, and then rested wherever I wanted. The land was all open, the land was all mine. I was completely within myself, taking it all in and letting nature have a little of me in return. My emotions were with me…Some I left behind, and some I carried home.

We were all lost, lost in happiness, lost in its beauty, some in photographs, some in moments. But then, oh TTH! To pull us out of our dreamy world, they surprised us once again with steel cups… filled with tea! Oh, what else do you need? Your trek destination, you in the mountains and a cup of tea. Sometimes, that’s all we all need, right?

Jumping around like monkeys, trying to leap high enough to touch the peaks… we were happy, genuinely happy. It felt as if Bandarpoonch, the Gangotri range, Mt. Jaonli, and Draupadi ka Danda II were our old friends, standing there just for us. And between them, Kala Nag, the Black Peak appeared subtly, with a gentle, shy presence. Just like Bishal, the soft-spoken member of our trekking group.

And this is where I will disclose my secret Why TTH? Because, let’s just say, when a team makes you feel safe and confident at every point of the trail, and when there are surprises of such delicious food and summit tea, then the answer speaks for itself.

If you are starting your trekking journey, or if you just need an escape that fills your mind with calm and your heart with warmth, Dayara Bugyal will welcome you the same way it welcomed me! Beautifully, and with open arms!

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