Anini 7 Lakes Trek - Hidden Gems of Arunachal Pradesh

Seven lakes trek in Eastern Arunachal Pradesh, is one of the hidden gems of high altitude trekking in India. This has slowly been finding some recognition lately, especially on social media due to the stunning vistas and landscapes that the few trekkers who have experienced this, shared.
Arunachal Pradesh is the easternmost state in the Indian union and is flanked by Bhutan, Tibet(China) and Myanmar with the tail end of the magnificent Eastern Himalayan Range ending in this region. This means also that it is blessed with stunning biodiversity and some very high altitude experiences for the ardent trekking enthusiast.

The 7 lakes trek Is located in Anini, in the upper Dibang valley district and is a showcase of open valleys in lush green carpets of tall grasses and ferns which traverse up to almost 4000 meters into the glaciers that feed these lakes and rivers below all throughout the year. If you visit in spring/summer, you will find whole valleys covered in wildflowers.

Why is this a must on the trekking bucketlist?
The 7 lake is a rare trek with stunning views that has so far not fallen victim to overcrowding. This is largely due to the remote location of the trek itself and a strong push from the local community to protect the forests and the environment from over tourism. There are several reasons that clearly make this a bucket list trek
•    Completely virgin trails. No crowds and the community limits per months groups to 30-40 pax at most 
•    Genuinely an offbeat experience – raw feel of trekking in the wilderness of eastern Arunachal
•    Great variation in landscape from grasslands to tropical to alpine and on to high altitude lakes
•    Snow mountains surrounding at the top of the trek
•    It is challenging enough for the regular trekker who is fairly experienced and the trip itself rewards with what one can expect in a good high altitude trek– stunning landscapes and mountain vistas
•    This however does not mean that it is out of reach for the intermediate trekker who can attempt this fairly well after a bit of training.

Best time to visit
Anini in Dibang district uniquely is well set to have the best trekking season from June to September, which is quite uncommon for Himalayan treks in the east as the rains play a major role in the region.
One will experience lush forests, amicable temperatures will roughly range from 15-20 degree C during the day and 5-10 degree C at night. The specifics will depend more on the exact month and localized weather of course

Getting there
Anini is off beat in location and there are no direct flights or trains to the exact location. This means that one will have to travel by road a fair bit to the get to the base of the trek 
•    Closest suggested airport is Dibrugarh Airport approx. 380 kms,2 day trip
•    Closest suggested train station is Tinsukia approximately 340 kms, 2 day trip

Where to stay?
Anini as mentioned earlier is an off beat location that has only recently picked up in popularity with travellers especially those seeking a nature getaway. This also means that accommodation is limited and the best bet is to stay in good comfortable homestays like those partnered with ourguest. It is essential to always pre book your stay and not try to get to the location and book on the go as this can prove risky due to limited accommodation available, and sometimes the families also go to the bigger towns for shopping and may close up.

Trek expectations/ Preparing for the seven lake trek
The 7 lake trek is one that must be understood well before embarking on it simply as it is offbeat and in a remote location
•    The trek requires a decent level of fitness. Anyone over the age of 60 attempting should be aware of the multiple climbs and descents that are involved in this trek which can push the knees quite a bit
•    The trails change time to time as this is not a full commercial trek with hundreds of trekkers walking the route daily. Your lead guide will find the suitable route and plan accordingly
•    The ‘Damdum/Kamu’ fly especially in the mid portion of the trek can prove to be very bothersome if unprepared. Odomos/mosquito repellant or Dettol and also face cloth masks are very useful to keep them off your face and this is omething to be aware of
•    Good trekking shoes are a must but we have also seen that gumboots prove to be most effective in the wet terrain. To pair these are most importantly plenty of cotton socks available for change
•    There are sections of steep climbing and long days of walking as you cover approximately 40 kms in 7 days.

What to carry
The trek demands one to be self sustaining for the duration of the trip which is not much different from other treks, however the main point being that there are no tea stalls and trekkers huts  with shops as one may find in many similar treks so with this in mind we suggest a checklist like the one below to ensure you are well covered with essentials
•    Main medium size trek bag approximately 40 litres preferably with a rain cover. This will be carried by your porter and contain your main essentials like change in clothing
•    2 Trekking quick drying pants
•    2 full shirts quick drying important for sun as well as insect protection
•     Rain jacket
•    Warm Down feather jacket/ easy to pack and carry
•    Warm Fleece baselayer
•    6-8 pairs of cotton high socks
•    1 pair warm pants and fleece top for night halts and wearing at camp
•    Sleeping bag with a -15 degree rating atleast (though we provide one, it is good to have your own)
•    Sunscreen and hat 
•    Odomos and Dettol as insect repellent 
•    Headlights 
•    Guumboots which one can easily buy at the local market in Anini and also a face cover cloth for the flies

Who is this trek for?
Seasoned trekkers who have enjoyed several such across the country, will surely enjoy this trek for its organic and ‘back to basics’ feel. Seven lakes trek gives one the feel of exploration as you will not find shops and other settlements once you embark on the trail. This trek is also suited for those who have completed a few basic easy treks and are looking to explore into slightly more challenging terrain. The trail is open during the summer vacation months which also make it convenient to plan based on the holiday seasons.

Written by Omanso Tayang

Omanso Tayang, an avid backpacker with an engineering background from Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh, returned to his home state after completing his education in Chennai & NERIST. Passionate about promoting the lesser-known destinations, Oman has traveled across most parts of Arunachal to find unique locations like Anini, Dong Valley, Namsai etc. When not exploring, Oman enjoys camping, trekking, dancing and going on culinary adventures

For a customized tour experience you can contact us at +91-7669503993 or email to contact@ourguest.in