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Audens Col Trek
Overview
Beyond Adventure
- Audens Col Trek is one of the most demanding and spectacular high-altitude trekking expeditions in the Garhwal Himalaya, crossing the Audens Col at approximately 5,490 meters in a journey that connects the Jogin group of peaks in the Gangotri region with the Kedarnath area. The col was first crossed by the British geologist and mountaineer John Bicknell Auden in 1935, and it has since become one of the most coveted trekking crossings in the Indian Himalaya, undertaken by experienced mountaineers and high-altitude trekkers seeking one of the ultimate challenges available in the Garhwal range.
- The western approach to the Audens Col begins from Gangotri, following the classic Gaumukh trail before diverging into the remote Jogin Valley that leads toward the col. This approach passes through some of the most spectacular glaciated terrain in the Garhwal Himalaya, with enormous glaciers, crevasse fields, and towering rock walls creating a landscape of raw, elemental grandeur that is rarely accessible to visitors without serious mountaineering experience. The Jogin peaks, a group of impressive summits that flank the approach to the col, are among the most beautiful in the Gangotri region and provide constant visual inspiration during the demanding approach trek.
- The col crossing itself is a serious mountaineering undertaking, involving glacier travel, steep snow and ice slopes, and sections of exposed rock that require full mountaineering equipment and technique. The altitude of nearly 5,500 meters means that even highly fit and well-acclimatized trekkers will feel the effects of the thin air and must pace themselves carefully to avoid altitude sickness. The view from the col, with the Gangotri glacier on one side and the Kedarnath peaks on the other, is one of the most extraordinary panoramas available from any pass in the entire Indian Himalaya.
- The eastern descent from the Audens Col into the Kedarnath region passes through the wild and beautiful Khatling Glacier area before reaching the relatively more accessible terrain of the Bhilangna Valley. The complete traverse from Gangotri to the Bhilangna Valley via the Audens Col is a two to three week expedition that demands the full resources of an experienced mountaineering team with proper equipment, acclimatization, and guide support. The Audens Col Trek is not for the casual adventurer but for those who have made the commitment to high-altitude mountaineering and who seek the ultimate trekking challenge in the Garhwal Himalaya.
Duration: 6 days
Best Period: July to September
Region: Himachal Pradesh
Trek Difficulty: Moderate to Strenuous
Max Altitude: 4500 meters
Trek distance: 64 kilometers
Food: Vegetarian and Non-vegetarian options
Stay: Camping and Homestays
Railway Head: Pathankot (200 kilometers from Dharamshala)
Eligibility
WHO CAN JOIN
Age Requirement
Minimum Age 18 years and above
Experience Previous hill walking or trekking experience
Fitness Good physical condition and experience of high-altitude treks.
No major medical conditions
Fitness Criteria
1. The individual must be capable of jogging continuously for at least 20–30 minutes at a steady pace without frequent breaks, extreme breathlessness, or discomfort. Heart rate and breathing should return to near normal within a few minutes after stopping.
2. The individual should be able to cycle continuously for 30–60 minutes on flat or mildly uneven terrain without severe exhaustion, knee pain, or breathing distress.
3. The individual should be able to carry a backpack weighing approximately 20–25% of their body weight for 1–2 hours while walking, without experiencing shoulder strain, back pain, or imbalance.
4. Participants are generally required to have a BMI between 18.5 and 29.9 to be considered fit for trekking, as this range is commonly accepted for managing endurance, load carrying, and altitude-related strain during treks.
Journey Route
How to Reach
Pick-Up Information
Convenient start point
Manali
Options to Reach
Flexible travel choices
Fly into Bhuntar Airport or take a bus or taxi from Delhi to Manali. Once in Manali, trekkers can take a local bus or taxi to the starting point of the trek.
By Train:
Take a train from Delhi to Manali
By Bus:
Take a bus from Delhi to Manali
Timeline
Journey Itinerary
Day
01
Arrival in Manali, trek to Sethan
Day
02
Trek to Kothi
Day
03
Trek to Bara Ghangal
Day
04
Trek to Audens Col
Day
05
Return to Bara Ghangal
Day
06
Return to Manali
What's Included
Inclusions & Exclusions
Included
- Transportation
- Food
- Lodging
- Guide
- Porter charges
- Trekking permits
Excluded
- Personal Expenses
- Anything else not included in inclusion
Safety Policies
Kids Guidelines
Everything parents need to know to make this trek safe, fun and worry-free for young adventurers.
The Audens Col trek is not suitable for children due to its challenging terrain and high-altitude regions.
The trek requires a good level of physical fitness and previous experience of high-altitude treks.
Children under the age of 14 are not permitted on this trek, and parents are advised to exercise caution while planning a trip with their kids.
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