The day begins after breakfast. Today's trek follows ancient migratory routes used by the Gujjar shepherd community for centuries, climbing gently through mixed forests of oak, rhododendron, and horse chestnut. The trail offers regular glimpses of the Swaragarohini range through clearings in the canopy, with your guide pointing out medicinal plants used in local healing traditions. After approximately two hours, you'll reach a natural viewpoint where you can see the entire route to Rai village while enjoying a tea break. The final ascent to Rai brings you to a traditional mountain village where time appears to have stood still – stone houses with slate roofs, a small temple dedicated to the local deity, and agricultural terraces that cling improbably to steep slopes. You'll stay in a village homestay (if available) where the evening is spent learning about Rai's unique history as a trading post on the historic Tibet route, with dinner featuring ingredients harvested that very day from surrounding fields. The night concludes with stories about the mountain spirits that local belief says protect these valleys.

Your final mountain morning begins before dawn with a simple breakfast, then an ascent to Patangnia Meadows as the first light touches the high peaks. This high-altitude grassland transforms with the seasons – in spring it becomes a carpet of wildflowers (blue poppies, primulas, anemones), while autumn brings golden grasses that ripple in the mountain wind. The meadows offer panoramic views of the Bandarpoonch and Kalanag peaks, with your guide explaining the geological forces that created this dramatic landscape. From the meadows, the trail descends steadily to Kund, a sacred lake believed by locals to have healing properties. Here you'll perform a brief traditional ritual – circling the lake clockwise and making a small offering of flowers as local custom dictates. The trek concludes at Kund where vehicles await for the return journey. The drive back to Dehradun includes a farewell lunch at a riverside spot near Barkot, allowing for final reflections on a journey that has taken you through living cultural traditions and pristine natural landscapes far from Uttarakhand's crowded tourist trails. Arrival in Dehradun occurs by evening, with the memory of hidden meadows and mountain villages remaining vividly present.