Imagine scrolling through your Facebook feed and stumbling upon your friend's mesmerizing Himalayan trek photos. Inspired, you decide to take the plunge into trekking. But you are plagued by the big question, "Where do I even start?" You want an adventure but not one that's too easy and also not one that is very difficult. After some research, you find the Bhrigu Lake Trek in the Himalayas, and instantly think to yourself, “Ah! A perfect match”.
You set off from Manali, kicking off your journey with lush meadows and ever-expanding mountain views. Camping beside a babbling stream, you learn tent pitching and sleeping bag tricks. As you gain altitude, the excitement builds. The real challenge? Conquering the snowy climb to reach Bhrigu Lake at 4,267M. It's no walk in the park, but the reward is breathtaking, leaving you with stories to share, a beaming smile, and the satisfaction of achieving something remarkable on your very first trek – all in just a matter of 3 days.
(Read, Highlights of Bhrigu Lake Trek)
If you are a beginner and are looking for the perfect Himalayan trek to start your journey into the world of trekking, the not-so-hypothetical scenario described above makes Bhrigu Lake seem like an ideal choice. And it is! From its duration, accessibility, ease and the generosity with rewards, it is true that Bhrigu Lake is a perfect first trek!
BUT…Yes, there’s a but, all right!
It is also true that the things that make Bhrigu Lake a perfect trek also make it one of the most crowded trails in the Himalayas. Last couple of years has seen an alarming increase in the number of trekkers visiting this trail, especially in the holiday season. The massive numbers put a disproportionately high burden on the trail of this trek.
We are enthused by the fact that more people are heading outdoors and that these spaces are becoming increasingly accessible. But, we also believe that we need to do our part in making the outdoor ecosystem healthy for the environment as well as our outdoor community.
(Read more about how we, as an organization, are trying to manage the problem of overcrowding on Himalayan trail here).
In the interest of making the world of outdoor adventure as environmentally sustainable as possible, we want to suggest a few alternatives to the Bhrigu Lake trek that are matched in their beauty and level of difficulty but are far less commercialized and hence less crowded.
If you are a beginner looking to try out your very first Himalayan adventure, here are some lesser-explored, off-beat treks that you can choose from:
