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Ruinsara Tal Trek

Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand

Moderate7 daysBest Apr–Jun, Sep–NovSnow trek

Ruinsara Tal lake in a wide green glacial meadow with a red tent camp beside it and clouded mountains beyond3,600 mhighest point3 Photos
Max altitude
3,600 m
Days
7 days
Distance
60 km
Difficulty
Moderate

Best months Apr–Jun, Sep–Nov

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

No technical sections, but long walking days of 8-18 km with rocky stretches, river crossings and a tricky final climb to the lake at about 3,600 m, far from any road or medical help.

Photos

On the trail

Ruinsara Tal lake in a wide green glacial meadow with a red tent camp beside it and clouded mountains beyond
Ruinsara Tal lake in a wide green glacial meadow with a red tent camp beside it and clouded mountains beyondPhoto: Biswajit Majumdar · CC BY-SA 3.0

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The route

Day by day

  1. Day 1

    Dehradun → Sankri

    By road · 8 h · Guesthouse

    640 m → 1,920 m

  2. Day 2

    Sankri (drive to Taluka) → Seema

    12 km · 6 h · Camp

    1,920 m → 2,500 m

  3. Day 3

    Seema → Devsu Bugyal

    10 km · 6.5 h · Camp

    2,500 m → 3,050 m

  4. Day 4 · highest point

    Devsu Bugyal → Ruinsara Tal

    8 km · 5 h · Camp

    3,050 m → 3,600 m

  5. Day 5

    Ruinsara Tal → Seema

    18 km · 8 h · Camp

    3,600 m → 2,500 m

  6. Day 6

    Seema → Sankri (trek to Taluka, then drive)

    12 km · 5 h · Guesthouse

    2,500 m → 1,920 m

  7. Day 7

    Sankri → Dehradun

    By road · 8 h · No overnight

    1,920 m → 640 m

Ups and downs

Altitude profile

1,5002,0002,5003,0003,5004,000Sankri (drive to Taluka): 1,920 m, 0 kmSeema: 2,500 m, 12 kmDevsu Bugyal: 3,050 m, 22 kmRuinsara Tal: 3,600 m, 30 kmSeema: 2,500 m, 48 kmSankri (trek to Taluka, then drive): 1,920 m, 60 km
Metres above sea level · distance 60 km

Where it is

Map

Download GPX waypoints

Trailhead and high point only — not a recorded track. Use it with a proper map.

Weather

Next 5 days on the trail

Live forecast for the trailhead and the high point. Mountain weather changes fast — check again on the morning you start.

Each day: high / low °C · rain mm and chance · snow cm · wind km/h

Weather data: Open-Meteo.comModel forecast, not an official warning. For alerts follow IMD and the local administration.

Plan the trip

How to reach

Trailhead
Sankri
Nearest railway
Dehradun
Nearest airport
Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun
By road
Dehradun (about 185-190 km via Mussoorie, Nowgaon, Purola and Mori to Sankri); Sankri to the Taluka road head by local jeep (about 12 km); some groups drive on to Dhatmir or Gangaad
Drive
About 8 h from Dehradun

Plan the trip

Permits and fees

We could not confirm the current permit rules and fees from an official source. Check with the local forest department or tourism office before you go.

Plan the trip

Cost

Self-guided

₹9,000–15,000

With an operator

₹12,500–20,000

Per person, ex-Dehradun. Guided prices published October 2026: Bikat Adventures ₹9,850 + 5% GST ex-Sankri plus ₹2,200 for Dehradun transport; Treks and Trails India from ₹12,000 + GST ex-Sankri (Dehradun transport extra); Himalaya Shelter ₹18,999 + 5% GST including Dehradun transport. Self-guided is an estimate: bus or shared jeep to Sankri, a jeep to Taluka, guesthouse nights in Sankri, a local guide and porter or mule for five days, tent and stove hire, food, and Govind Pashu Vihar entry and camping fees.

Gear

Top picks for this trek

The gear that matters most on this route, chosen from its altitude, season and risks.

See the full packing checklist

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Packing checklist

Matched to this trek: altitude, season, days and the risks on the route.

Packed 0 of 33

Nights near 3,600 m can drop close to freezing even in summer. Pack one more warm layer than you think.

Tick each item as it goes in the bag.

What to wear
Pack and gear
Sleeping

Many trek operators provide tents and sleeping bags. Ask before you buy.

Safety
Water and food
Documents and money
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Know before you go

Good to know

Mobile network
BSNL and Jio work up to Sankri; other networks stop at Mori. There is no mobile signal beyond Sankri.
Last ATM
Mori (one ATM with limited banking); carry cash from Dehradun or Mussoorie
Nearest hospital
Mori and Purola for first care; Mussoorie or Dehradun (8-9 hours away) for serious cases
Water
The Supin river, the Ruinsara Gad and side streams run along the trail; boil or treat all water. Basic food is sold only up to Osla.

Highlights

  • Camping beside Ruinsara Tal, a small alpine lake in a wide glacial meadow at about 3,600 m
  • Views of Kalanag (Black Peak), Bandarpunch and Swargarohini from the upper Ruinsara valley
  • Devsu Bugyal, an open meadow ringed by tall conifers above the Supin river
  • Walking past the old wooden villages of Gangaad and Osla inside Govind Pashu Vihar
  • A quieter side valley of the Har Ki Dun trail, on the route towards Bali Pass and Dhumdhar Kandi Pass

Risks

  • Monsoon rain from late June brings muddy trails, landslides and dangerous river crossings; the Sankri-Taluka road is landslide-prone.
  • Snow from December can make the route impassable; December and March are possible only for experienced trekkers, with snow-covered trails and a frozen lake.
  • Nights at Ruinsara Tal drop below freezing outside summer, and the lake at about 3,600 m carries a real risk of altitude sickness.
  • Black bears have been seen near Osla.
  • Medical help is far away: serious cases need an 8-9 hour drive to Dehradun or Mussoorie.

Know before you go

Questions

How long is the Ruinsara Tal trek?

Most operators run it in 6-8 days from Dehradun. Walking from the Taluka road head it is about 24-30 km each way, roughly 60 km in all; itineraries that drive on to Gangaad or Dhatmir cut this to about 45 km.

When is the best time to do Ruinsara Tal?

April to June and September to November. The forest department does not allow entry to Govind Pashu Vihar during the monsoon (about late June to early September), and heavy snow closes the route in deep winter.

Is the Ruinsara Tal trek suitable for beginners?

Operators rate it moderate, with a well-marked route and established campsites. You should be fit for 6-8 hours of walking a day over rocky ground and river crossings, and the lake at about 3,600 m needs proper acclimatisation.

How do I reach the start of the trek?

Drive about 185-190 km (7-8 hours) from Dehradun to Sankri via Mussoorie, Purola and Mori. From Sankri a local jeep takes you about 12 km to Taluka, where the walk begins.

Is there mobile network and an ATM on the way?

BSNL and Jio work up to Sankri; there is no signal beyond it. The last ATM is in Mori and has limited banking, so carry enough cash from Dehradun or Mussoorie.

Your 8-week plan for this trekModerate grade. Start about 8 weeks before you travel.
SOS

In an emergency

Save these numbers before you lose signal. Tap to call.

You are in

District: UttarkashiUttarakhand

Nearest hospital
Mori and Purola for first care; Mussoorie or Dehradun (8-9 hours away) for serious cases
Last ATM
Mori (one ATM with limited banking); carry cash from Dehradun or Mussoorie
Phone network
BSNL and Jio work up to Sankri; other networks stop at Mori. There is no mobile signal beyond Sankri.

Before you set off

  1. Tell someone your route and when you will be back.
  2. Carry a charged phone and a power bank.
  3. Download an offline map of the route.
  4. Turn back if the weather turns bad — the mountain will wait.
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Where this comes from

Sources

Last reviewed:

  1. Ruinsara Tal Trek — Bikat Adventures
  2. Best Time to do Har ki Dun (Govind Pashu Vihar monsoon closure) — Bikat Adventures
  3. Ruinsara Lake Trek - Best Time to Visit, Detailed Itinerary — Himalaya Shelter
  4. Ruinsara Lake Trek | Ruinsara Tal — Treks and Trails India
  5. Har Ki Dun Trek With Ruinsara and Maninda Tal — Himalayan High
  6. How Difficult Is Har Ki Dun Ruinsara Tal Trek? | Difficulty Guide — TrekUp India
  7. A trek to Ruinsara Tal (trip report by Kush Sharma) — Kush Sharma (Bikat Adventures blog)

Photos: Biswajit Majumdar, CC BY-SA 3.0; Biswajit Majumdar, CC BY-SA 3.0; Biswajit Majumdar, CC BY-SA 3.0

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