Bailey Trail
A historic and offbeat trek passing through virgin temperate and rhododendron forests, in the jaw dropping backdrop of the Eastern Himalayan peaks of Gorichen and Kangto
Snapshot
- Dates:
- Region: Arunachal Pradesh
- Duration: 14 days
- Activity: Adventure
- Grade: Moderately Difficult
- Price:
The Bailey Trail in the West part of Arunachal Pradesh, traces the historic route taken by Lt. Col. F. M. Bailey and Capt. H.T. Morshead, British officers who were commissioned to survey the Arunachal – Tibet border during 1911 -12. Starting in Eastern Arunachal, then known as NEFA [North Easter Frontier Agency], the two British officers travelled along the dangerous Tsangpo River all the way to Chayul and Tsona Dzong in Tibet. After completing the survey Lt. Col. Bailey and Capt Morshead returned into Indian territory at Tulung La in western Arunachal, descending to Mago village crossing over Tse La to reach Pota, and then from Poshing La down to Thembang. This route popularly came to be known as the “Bailey Trail”. The surveyed area was used by Sir Henry McMohan, one of the defense secretaries in the Government of India, to draw his famous McMohan line in 1914
We walk the Bailey trail in the opposite direction from South to North, commencing from the historic village of Thembang. Three days of steady climbing through thick forests brings us to Poshing La from where we get the most stupendous views of the Gorichen massif, as the peaks of Gorichen (6,538 m), Kangto (7,090 m), Nyegyi Kangsang (7,047 m) and Takpa Shiri (6,655 m) flood the landscape with their beauty. Crossing over Tse La we get to Mago village and onto Jang on the Bomdila- Tawang highway.
- Trek in a remote part of Arunachal Pradesh
- Cross three high passes during the trek
- Enjoy stunning views of the Eastern Himalayas
- Visit Tawang monastery
Day | Description | Time | Altitude |
---|---|---|---|
Day 1 | Guwahati to Bhalukpong Pickup from Guwahati airport and drive to Bhalukpong. O/n at Prashanti cottages | 6 hrs | |
Day 2 | Bhalukpong to Dirang After breakfast drive to Dirang, on the way visit the Tippi Orchid Centre, marvelling the rich diversity of orchids Arunachal has to offer. From here our road winds up the Kameng river, through dense forests. O/n at Hotel Pemaling or similar | 6 hrs | 5250 ft |
Day 3 | Dirang – Pangma – Lagam (2663 m) Drive to the historic village of Thembang where we take a brief halt to explore the ancient fort area. Drive a little further to Pangma from where we start our trek on the Bailey Trail. The initial two hours of the walk gradually descends down through open country. From here a steep two hour climb in the midst of thick sub-temperate forests gets you to the hamlet of Lagam. O/n in tents | 4 hrs | 8736 ft |
Day 4 | Lagam to Thungri (3154 m) It is a short day today, but an enjoyable one as you see a visible change in the landscape. From our camp the route climbs up for an hour and a half , through the most beautiful oak, pine and rhododendron forest. The climb terminates on a broad motorable road. A two hour amble on this mud road gets us to our camp in Thungri. O/n in tents | 4 hrs | 10347 ft |
Day 5 | Thungri to Chang La (3726m) Our walk today will be on the ridge line leading us towards Tawang . The first three hours of the route are undulating, as we walk through the most fascinating forests with moss laden trees. Thereafter we negotiate a series of three steep climbs, each of which will last around an hour. You know you are close to Chang La when you start seeing bunkers which were used by the army during the 1962 war. O/n in tents | 7 hrs | 12224 ft |
Day 6 | Chang La to Samchung – (3855m) Our route today keeps climbing up as we cross over two small passes. A moderate two hour climb will get us to the base of Porshing La (4116 m). A steep one hour climb over rocky terrain with get us to the top of the pass. If the weather is clear we will get some grand views of Gorichen and Kangto . Keep ascending for one more hour, though over relatively gentle terrain, to reaching Pangi La (4000 m). We now descend down for two hours to reach our scenic campsite, besides the Samchung river. This river is the sours of the Sangti. O/n in tents | 6 hrs | 12648 ft |
Day 7 | Samchung to Potok – (4170 m) Today is more of a rest day as our trail is a leisurely two hour walk through the most picturesque landscapes. It is a fairy tale setting with blooming rhododendron trees on one side and the gushing Samchung on the other. O/n in tents | 2 hrs | 13681 ft |
Day 8 | Potok to Lurtem (4203 m) We trudge along for two hours with heavy breaths to cross Tse La pass(4700 m), the highest point on the Baiely Trail trek. On crossing the pass we are greeted by the sight of a picturesque glacial lake. The landscape changes as we descend down the valley. Our route continues alongside a river till we reach Lurtem. O/n in tents | 7 hrs | 14122 ft |
Day 9 | Lurtem to Mago (3519 m) Continue our walk alongside the wide riverbed before we commence a steep one hour climb to Jere La (4223 m). From here we descend down towards Tawang Chu, through rhododendron forests. After some time the rhododendrons give way to a lush temperate forest, indicating our proximity to Mago village. O/n in tents | 6 hrs | 11545 ft |
Day 10 | Mago to Thimbu Hydel to Tawang (2784 m) The last day of the trek is a series of ups and downs through the forest in the occasional company of Tawang Chu. From the end point our vehicles pick us up for our onward two hour drive to Tawang. O/n at Tawang homestay or similar | 7 hrs | 9135 ft |
Day 11 | Tawang sightseeing In the morning we visit the Tawang monastery, one of the largest monastery in Asia hosing around 500 monks. Relax for the remainder of the day . O/n at Tawang homestay or similar | ||
Day 12 | Tawang to Bomdila Begin our homeward journey, enjoying beautiful views on the way. Take a brief halt at Sela pass before driving down to Bomdila. O/n at Lungta Residency or similar | 7 hrs | |
Day 13 | Bomdila to Guwahati Drive down to Guwahati via the Shergaon – Khaktang road. O/n at Baruah Bhavan or similar | 8 hrs | |
Day 14 | Guwahati After breakfast drop to Guwahati airport |
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