Marchoi Winter Trek Kashmir
Hosted by Plan The Unplanned
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All About It
Kashmir—the land of breathtaking beauty and widespread natural spectacle invite you for a 4-day Marchoi trek from the ancient village—Naranag. On the trek, you will stroll through the wonderful meadows, scenic lakes, Sindh River and, of course, the mighty mountains. Marchoi trek is one of the most picturesque treks in India. Although the path is easy, the temperature, which plummets to less than 0 degrees celsius, makes it moderate
Naranag serves as the base or start point for many treks in Kashmir. As you trek from Naranag to Dumail, Wangath river—a tributary of Sindh River accompanies you, and the ever-noticeable glimpses of flowing water heal every doubt and crack you up—with love! Not just for the picturesque views, Naranag is also a spot for architecture and history lovers. Here, Naranag Temple is the key attraction for tourists. The temple is said to be 8th century old and is believed to be dedicated to ancient Nagas, who used to do their sadhana her; the village gets its name from this only. Today, only faint memories of that time remain, but the history laced up in ruins reveals many stories
The Naranag-Dumail-Marchoi trek is an offbeat one and takes you from one authentic experience to another. From experiencing the Wangath river flowing on the side to looking at the confluence of Pulastya River and Betar Nullah at Dumail to crossing bridges, this winter trek will give you the warmth of a lifetime
With that being said, Plan the Unplanned team invites you on this 4-day offbeat trek. Check out the itinerary and book your next slot. We are already excited to have you on board with us real soon!
Highlights
Trip Highlight
Firstly, exploration and acclimatization in Naranag
Secondly, trekking amidst Coniferous forest and reaching Dumail following the Wangath river
Thirdly, trekking to the Marchoi top
Fourthly, meeting Gujjars (people originally from Central Asia who settled in Gujarat in India) and talking to them
Photography amidst natural settings.
Day 1 - Srinagar – Naranag
All of us will meet in Srinagar. Naranag is our base camp for acclimatization.
Most of the Gujjars live here. As you might know, Gujjar is a tribe originally from Central Asia that shifted to Gujarat. Some of them brought their culture, sheep and goat, to this breathtaking location and settled here in Kashmir.
Snaking through the roads, you will witness the charm of the river Sindh and paddy fields on the way and the mountains surrounding the whole area. Upon reaching Naranag, you can take a stroll of the nearby locations. Naranag, situated on the foothills of the Pir Panjal range, is a simple and peaceful place. It is a part of the Wangat Valley, named from the river flowing by the village. The village is surrounded by a picturesque landscape consisting of mountains and meadows. This place has a beautiful Naranagh temple, an unknown river fed by a waterfall, and friendly villagers who will invite you for a cup of gossip. It is going to be your home for a day, where you will acclimatise and stay overnight.
Day 2 - Naranag – Dumail
Dumail, primarily unheard, is a virgin and alluring camping site at the confluence of two rivers. It can be reached by a 2 hours trek from the Naranag village. On the way, mud houses, grazing horses, local children welcome you. The whole trail is decorated with evergreen coniferous forests, walnut trees, a few Gujjar settlements, and streams of rivers. You will also be awarded with a manufactured bridge where clicking a picture of two comes as a halt.
You camp at Dumail at night and will start for Marchoi top in the morning.
Day 3 - Dumail to Marchoi Top
This day, you start with a trek that winds further up to Marchoi Top. The walk is a beautiful one. En route, our team will tell you about the myths and legends associated with the mountains and trout-filled lakes situated atop the hills.
Additionally, the snow gives a different perspective of things on the trail. You will hate the cold but would look forward to the warmth of Kahwah, noon-teas, and local food served on the whole trek.
On the same day, you will head back to Dumail campsite. Later, you will camp and get lost in the pristine nature for the rest of the night.
Day 4 - Dumail to Naranag
This is the last day of the trek. You will trek back from Dumail to Naranag. From there, a vehicle will accompany you to Srinagar
With that, the trip comes to an end. You will depart with hundreds of memories and views of the most beautiful state of India—“Jannat-e-Kashmir”. Most of you will start as strangers but will leave with dewy eyes in the end.
We would love to see you again—check out our other itineraries and ring us soon. It would be a pleasure to see you again. Till then, take care and love life.
Meet your host
Plan The Unplanned
- Verified Host
- Logout's Trusted
- Traveler's Choice
What’s life without adventure? Isn’t the real purpose of life to travel, to experience new places, and witness the sunrise from new mountaintops? This thought is what united Jatin and Tarun over a cup of chai, in spite of being from two unrelated backgrounds (CA and IT). They knew each other since the time Jatin was helping Tarun learn the ways of the wilderness through weekend treks and outings with another traveling group. Their love for traveling and trekking together motivated them to start something of their own. Thus was born “Plan The Unplanned”, where travel goals come true. Under the Companies Act, Plan The Unplanned is incorporated as Unplanned Journeys Private Limited They started their journey on unsteady ground, much like any other company, but they shared an infatuation for travel and adventure with their customers, which amplified their determination, and thus, Plan the Unplanned family keeps getting bigger every day! Just about any travel idea can come alive with Plan The Unplanned…treks, adventure activities like rock climbing, kayaking, rafting, backpacking trips across the country, cultural outings, photo walks; everything that fellow travelers need, to explore the great outdoors together. Well now that the wanderlust has kicked in and you can already see a vacation in your nearest future, here’s what we have to offer!
See Plan The Unplanned's other listings
Inclusions
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner for all day
Activities – Hiking, Trekking
Bonfire, Camping at Homesta
Tour Leads and Driver allowance
First aid kits, Oxygen cylinders, Infrared thermometer, Oximeter
Exclusions
Anything which is not mentioned in the inclusio
Beverages on all day
Personal Expense
Insurance, including travel, health, and more
Additional expenses added to unforeseen circumstances such as cancellation/roadblocks/landslides/strikes or any other natural causes would not be covered
We would not be liable for theft/misplaced items.
Things to carry
- Down Jacket /Main Jacket
- Thermals (Upper & Lower)
- Clothes
- Socks
- Undergarments
- Gloves
- Slippers
- Running Shoes/ Outdoor Shoes
- Hats/Caps
- Daypack
- Medicines (Diamox – to reduce chances of AMS)
- First Aid Kit
- Documents – ID (Driver’s License, AADHAR Card, Voter ID :: Passport and Visa copy for Foreign Nationals)
- Sun Glasses
- Torch
- Water Bottle
- Power bank
- Mobile Charger / Travel Charger
- Raincoat
- Hand Sanitizer
- Toiletries
- Cold Cream
- Lip Guard
- Sunscreen Lotion
PICKUP LOCATIONS
Tourist Reception Centre, Srinagar
Policy and more
Himalayan/ Backpacking Trip Refund/Cancellation Policy
| Intimation Period* | Cancellation Fee** |
| 30 days or more | 10% of the total invoice value |
| Between 15-29days | 50% of the total invoice value |
| Between 0-14 days | 90% of the total invoice value |
- *Intimation Period means the number of days before the tour is scheduled to start
- **Cancellation Fee is the amount of money that will be deducted from the total billing amount before offering a refund.
NOTE:
- Last-minute cancellations due to work, health issues, etc., any kind of emergencies will not be entertained and no refund or transfer shall be allowed for the same.
You can transfer your bookings to anyone who is willing to join the event to avoid loss of money!
The tickets once booked cannot be moved to any other dates.
In the pandemic everything is unpredictable, and we are doing our best to give you the finest services. We are also abiding by guidelines laid by government for everyone’s safety. In this, if the government issues a lockdown notice 48 hours before the departure date, we will issue full refund. The money will be directly credited to your account.
In another scenario, if lockdown notice is imposed on the departure date, we will secure your amount in the form of credits that you can use for further bookings. Consider it your bank for future bookings. Your money is safe with us.
In the rare event that we cancel your trek, this is the cancellation policy we follow:
During/After the Trek: In case of extreme weather conditions, considering trekkers’ safety, a day can be cut or the trek can be called off altogether. There will be no refund in any case whatsoever.
Before the trek: In case we cancel a trek because of natural calamities (thunderstorms, floods, landslides, earthquakes) or unexpected political unrest, curfews, local riots, government orders, forest department orders, Plan The Unplanned shall issue a VOUCHER for the full amount of your ticket.
Note: The Voucher has a validity of 1 year and it can be redeemed at any point in time.
A prior intimation as regards which trek you wish to join can be communicated to us over mail or phone
In a case where we cancel your trek, due to a limited number of bookings for a particular batch or we do not have the minimum number of required people:
PLAN THE UNPLANNED shall offer a 100% refund of the trek fee ( No transactional/internet handling charges shall be deducted)
On/After the Trek
Terms and Conditions
Notes
- The minimum number of travelers required for the event to happen is 5.
- As most destinations in the itinerary are remote and isolated, the food options(especially veg options) will be limited. We expect your understanding regarding the same.
- The itinerary is subject to change during the trip due to severe weather conditions, keeping your safety and accessibility to locations.
- You can check the cancellation policy by clicking on the cancellation tab.
- The camera entry fee to tourist spots is not included.
Frequently Asked Questionss
Q: I have booked the trek when will I get further updates regarding the trek?
A: Well, most of our treks are usually confirmed by Thursday and you would receive a BON VOYAGE mail that would contain details as regards Pickup Points ( Location and Timings ), Outdoor Leader ( Point of Contact ), Do’s and Don’ts. You’ll be added to Whatsapp Group for all the further updates.
Q: Would I be added to a WhatsApp Group once the trek is confirmed?
A: Yes, the Bon Voyage mail would contain a link for Whatsapp Group through which one can join and interact with fellow travelers and outdoor leaders.
Q: I'm a solo traveller, Can I join?
A: The interesting thing about travelling alone is that you get to meet new people from diverse backgrounds, and towards the end, you are no longer strangers. Hence solo travellers are always welcome to join us on our trips.
Read more about solo travelling here and get inspired! https://www.plantheunplanned.com/solo-yet-accompanied/
Q: Is it safe for Women/Girls?
A: Safety and security are our priority at all times. Hence it is safe for women/girls to join us on our treks and travels. Our trek leaders accompany the team at all times, and our campsites are secured and safe for accommodation. We also have female trek leaders who accompany us on most of our treks.
Q: Do you have Washrooms during the trek?
A: Well, you are in the mountains and none of our trails have a washroom facility during the trek. There are toilet tents available.
Q: How do I avail discounts?
A: Details for availing discounts are mentioned in the following link, https://www.plantheunplanned.com/membership/
Q: Would I be able to postpone to a future in case I do not attend the trek on the day of departure?
A: We are extremely sorry, you cannot postpone to any future date in case you fail to attend the trek on the mentioned date for any reasons whatsoever (family/health/work emergencies). You can write to us at [email protected] as regards and our team will get in touch with you on the same
Q: Where is Naranag?
A: Naranag is an ancient tourist village well-known for its Naranagh temple. It is situated in the Ganderbal District of Jammu Kashmir, India.
Q: What are some stay options in Srinagar?
A: Dal View Resort
The Grand Mamta
Valley Holidays
Lee Heritage
Hotel Ayat
Hotel Al-Mehar
Blooming Dale
Q: Is it safe to trek in Kashmir?
A: Yes, it is mostly safe to trek in Kashmir. But at other times, like other places, it might get a little complicated. So here are some pointers to keep in mind when you are traveling from Srinagar.
If you plan to stay overnight in Srinagar, stay in touristy areas like Dal Lake or Lal Chowk.
In general, try to mix up with the crowd in terms of language, culture, and dressing.
Get a guide or travel with an agency. They mostly know about the place in and out.
Q: What is the difficulty of the Marchoi trek?
A: Plan the Unplanned considers Marchoi Trek as an easy-moderate trek. Both beginners and avid trekkers can do this trek enthusiastically.
Q: What is the level of fitness required to do the Marchoi trek easily?
A: The trek is an easy one. There are steep paths, rocky terrain, slippery stretches, steep climbs, and straight sections of gradual ascents. To do this trek at ease, start with jogging/cycling every day; take stairs whenever you can; get acquainted with breathing exercises.
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