Day three of our cycling, from Skurbuchan to Shakar was another exciting one. Cycling next to the Indus river on Indus valley road, the amazing landscape, cycling through the apricot farmland, river crossing, cycling next to the stream, cycling downhill and extremely tiring uphill followed by camping next to the stream.
If you are traveling solo to this beautiful remote village in Skurbuchan then you might want to consider staying at homestays at Aryan valley. There are places where you can camp and on the way you will find small shops where some of the rations are available which is good enough if you are planning to camp. Also, there is a government guesthouse. Watch this video below to know more.
About Skurbuchan
Skurbuchan village is located above the Indus in western Ladakh, approximately 125 kilometers from Leh. The name of the settlement comes from a native fruit called 'Skyur,' which is exclusively cultivated in and near the village. The village, with a population of over 2000 people, is one of the largest in the region. Beautiful river streams, lush green meadows, and delightful walks make this settlement a perfect addition to any Ladakh itinerary. The settlement boasts a big Buddha statue on a mountaintop overlooking the entire village, from where you can admire the grandeur of Skurbuchan. Skurbuchan is also significant as the entryway to the well-known Aryan communities.
Skur Buchan to Shakar
At Skurbuchan campsite, enjoy the morning walk around the apricot farm and the local village. Have breakfast, pack your bags, and check for tire pressure before cycling. Take the mud route till you reach the main road. The route is mainly flat or downhill next to the river Indus, crossing a few villages. It is a long ride with hardly any water source.
The river water is all silt and cannot be used for drinking. It is dangerous to get all the way down to the river and also, the rapid flow of water, doesn't make this a safe place to get to the water. It is hard to find any shop on the way and we stopped at Indus cafe for a small tea break which is just before the Sanjak bridge.
Places to visit in Skurbuchan
When you go on a cycling expedition, it may not be possible to cover all the places as you need to stick on to the time and the scheduled plan. With YHAI it is strict and you cannot deviate from the plan unless you have approval from your guide, else you may be out of the expedition. But, if you are going solo which I recommend, or if you are on a casual vacation visiting on your own then you might want to consider visiting Buddha Statue, Skurbuchan Monastery, Indus River, Dah, and Hanu (Aryan Villages).
Sanjak Bridge - Crossing the river Indus
Continue to pedal further till you reach a bridge that takes you to a village. The route from this place to our campsite is all uphill and is extremely tiring. We managed to pedal switching between first and second gear, with multiple breaks till we reached the next village. We had packed lunch and explored the place and had some fresh juicy apricot.
Post lunch we continued further uphill, but not too steep, next to steam. The landscape here isn't too dry and is full of trees and farmland. After cycling for almost 2 hours we crossed the stream and stayed at an under-construction government guest house. It was almost dark and we spent some time next to the stream. The place is now called the Tourist facilitation center, where you will have an option to stay. Also, just outside this place, you can even camp adjacent to the facilitation center on the river bank.
Most people think of Himalayan treks when they think of a week-long walk in India. There are several hikes in the Western Ghats, most of which are suitable for weekend excursions. Believe it or not, there are week-long treks in the south as well, including one in Goa called the Goa trek organized by the Youth Hostels Association of India.
This hiking trail is not well known as it requires special permission from Goa and Karnataka forest departments. The difficulties that hikers experience differ differently. The heat, the hike through the deep forest, deadly snakes, and dangerous animals, not the high altitude illness, are to blame. When compared to other treks, the Goa hike is a one-of-a-kind experience.
Trekking in Goa, especially over the new year, was a fantastic experience. We were in Goa and had the choice of attending the Sunburn music festival or going on a Goa hike. We chose a week-long Goa hike, and I feel it was a wise idea. Many new like-minded acquaintances were made, people from many backgrounds (not just IT guys) shared their stories, and we thoroughly enjoyed every day of our 10-day walk.
The first two days were spent registering and acclimating. We drove throughout Goa. The true trip began on day three when we spent the entire day walking along the Arabian Sea's beach. To go to the next campground, we boarded the local train. The rest of our Goa journey was spent in the deep rain forest.
We spent the night near to the Dudhsagar waterfall, through many railway tunnels, more than ten to twelve streams, entered Karnataka's jungle, crossed Castlerock, and arrived at an ancient historic temple at Tambdi Surla. We bathed in practically every creek we crossed.
Goa Trek cost and what is included
The entire cost of this 10-day Goa trek including Youth hostel camps from Panjim to Panjim base camp was Rs. 3,990 (it has since escalated). Food, transport, train costs, forest admission in Goa and Karnataka, waterfall access, permits, guide charges, tent stay, insurance, cultural program at base camp, and a snake session are all included in the price.
Not all of them are granted permission to enter the forest. Forest Department rangers conducted numerous checks. This journey was completed in December-January 2015-16.
Goa Hike in Detail
Arrival at Panjim
The campground is in a fantastic location, near to the Mandovi River, and offers a strong connection. The market, which is located between the campsite and the Panjim bus terminal, is an excellent spot to visit near to the campsite. You may take the bus or go for a long stroll along the Mandovi River.
Visit in the evening to take in the sunset and a low tide walk along the shoreline. Miramar beach, which is a short walk from the campground, is a great place to spend extra time till it becomes dark. You might also go to the senior citizen park adjacent to our campground and watch the sailboats in the evening. Read more - Day 1 – Arrival at Panjim.
Miramar Beach to Dona Paula
The campground is in a fantastic location, near to the Mandovi River, and offers a strong connection. Just outside the campground is a shop where you may get any last-minute supplies. Visit in the evening to take in the sunset and a low tide walk along the shoreline.
Miramar beach, which is a short hike from the campground, is a great place to spend extra time till it becomes dark. You might also go to the senior citizen park adjacent to our campground and watch the sailboats in the evening. Hike from the campground to Raj Bhavan through Miramar beach to acclimate. Then it was on to Dona Paula and then back to the campground. Read more - Day 2 – Miramar Beach to Dona Paula
Benaulim Beach to Campal Sports Complex
The third day of the Goa trek is a long flat 11-kilometer walk from Benaulim beach to Cansaulim beach. In between, we visited some well-known south Goa beaches. This location is great for spending time with friends while on vacation.
South Goa beach is a beautiful location with a clean beach that is less congested, making it perfect for New Year's Eve celebrations. A beautiful location for water sports such as speed boats, parasailing, and other water sports. Read More - Day 3 - Benaulim Beach to Campal Sports Complex
Cansaulim to Dudhsagar Camp
The fourth day of our Goa trek from Cansaulim to Dudhsagar camp was a lot of fun. After spending the entire day on day 3 in Benaulim, Cansaulim beach, and so on, day 4 was very different as the entire track was in the forest. The first 45 kilometers were via railway, followed by a muddy jeep route and seven stream crossings in the forest.
On this day, we don't get to view the Dudhsagar waterfall, but we do arrive at the campground, which is quite near to the Dudhsagar waterfalls. The entire ten-kilometer route runs beside a railway track. Read more - Day 4 – Cansaulim to Dudhsagar Camp
Dudhsagar waterfall camp to Kuveshi
Day five of the Goa Trek was, in my opinion, the most anticipated of all. We had covered more than 12 kilometers of the trek, including the very famous Dudhsagar waterfall, tunnels, crossing the bridge that goes right across the waterfalls, then the steep climb to the tip of the waterfall and taking a bath there, followed by a long walk all the way to Kuveshi, which is in Karnataka. On day five, we begin our walk in Goa at the Dudhsagar campground and finish in Karnataka at Kuveshi. Read more - Day 5 – Dudhsagar camp to Kuveshi
Kuveshi to Anmod via Castlerock
The sixth day of our Goa trek was more of a journey through the forest, passing a few creeks and dry grassland. Despite the fact that this was a Goa trip, we spent the entire day in Karnataka. We traveled from one hamlet to a little town called Castlerock, then back into the woods to another community called Anmod. We had traveled roughly 17 kilometers in total. Read more - Day 6 – Kuveshi to Anmod via Castlerock
Anmod to Tambdi Surla
The seventh day of our Goa trip was a hard climb. Starting from a hamlet in Anmod, Karnataka, and continuing through the lush rain forest to Tambdi Surla, Goa. A location is well-known for its ancient temple and historical significance. The seventh day of our trek was largely in the jungle, which is ideal for folks who conduct bird study. From Anmod to Tambdi Surla campground, the journey takes around half a day and covers about 10 kilometers. Read more - Day 7 – Anmod to Tambdi Surla
Tambdi Surla to Panjim
Tambdi Surla was a wonderful place to stay. We were relieved to have completed seven days of the hike with only one day remaining. We were still in the thick of the rain forest, but we were quite close to the excellent spot since there was road access.
The old temple, a creek next to our campsite, a massage center in the middle of nowhere near our campsite, and a cabin where we all sat together the entire evening conversing non-stop gave us a sense of contentment. It was the last day of our journey, so it was a mixed bag of emotions. Day 8 was spent walking through the jungle, passing by an ancient Shiv mandir (temple) parallel to the stream. Read more - Day 8 - Tambdi Surla to Panjim
Goa Hike - YouTube Video Playlist
Enjoy watching all the YouTube video playlists below and don't forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel and my blog for more updates.
Hotels in Goa
Where to stay in Goa? - Because Goa is a tourist destination, staying there should not be an issue. Even during peak season, especially around the holidays, hotel prices can rise. The cheapest option is to get a dorm room at a hostel, of which there are several, but you must plan ahead of time.
Also, if you are a YHAI participant, you can extend your stay before or after the program by speaking with the local staff or the camp leader. We received assistance from them and stayed at the campsite for one more day, paying only 300 rupees more for meals and celebrating the New Year after finishing the hike. Hotels in Goa will undoubtedly be much more expensive at this time of year.
