Kuari Pass Trek
One of the most popular treks in the Himalayan region of India is located in the Garhwal Mountains near the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve. The Kuari Pass trek attracts thousands of explorers from all over the world every year. The route to Kuari Pass was once traversed by Lord Curzon in 1905, hence the Kuari Pass trek is often nicknamed “Lord Curzon’s Trail”. The trek passes through dense alpine forests of oaks and conifers, rhododendrons and birches teeming with diverse animal and bird life and YOU MAY BE SURPRISED to encounter a leopard pug or a Himalayan black bear on this trail. So the trek to Kuari Pass has all the elements of an adventure, often passing through steep ascents and descents, narrow and treacherous paths and gushing streams.
Moreover, the journey is worth the effort, as you will soon realize when you catch the picturesque silver horizon parallel to the pristine blue sky. Throughout the trek, you can easily enjoy the magnificent view of Trishul at 7120 meters, Chaukhamba at 6968 meters, Kamet’s granite pyramid at 7756 meters, Neelkanth at 6596 meters, Gauri Parbat and Hathi Parbat peaks, Badrinath with square peaks. , Dunagiri Ice Ridge, Rishikot, Changabang at a height of 6864 meters and the legendary twin peaks of Nanda Devi at a height of 7740 meters.
The trek to Kuari Pass starts from Selu Bagar which is the driving distance from the Ghat. The trail from Selu Bagar leads to Ghunni which is a short trek of about 2-3 hours. From Ghunni, the trail winds through a rich rolling landscape that is covered with several species of alpine trees and wildflowers. You will also come across the small village of Ramni, inhabited by a Himalayan tribe that lives a harmonious life full of colors and spirits. After that, the journey to Kuari Pass becomes strenuous as the trail continues to climb steeply to Jhinjhi village on the way to Vinayak Pass. The panorama of Nanda Ghunti and Chaukhamba can be framed all along the trail, from Ghunni to Jhinjhi, which passes through open grassland with stunning views of some of the Himalayan gems.
The path gradually passes through beautiful rhododendron forests, followed by pastures for sheep and cattle with a few nomadic huts. In the Vinayak pass, it is possible to visit the Ganesha temple, which is embroidered with a prayer flag. From Jhinjhi, the trail continues along the Birahi Ganga river and leads to Pana village. From Pana, the trek to Kuari Pass via Dakhwani intersects every element of nature, dense forest, streams, diverse landscape and wildlife making it truly surreal. The downhill trek from Kuari Pass goes to Tali and then to Joshimath via Auli.
The backdrop below the valley is the entrance to the imposing Rishi Gorge, once thought to be impenetrable. Gulling, Chitrakantha and Tali camps are the main attractions of the trek. The trails leading from Tali Top to Kuari Pass give the impression of the entire alpine expedition as one passage through snowy terrain. For beginners, the Kuari Pass trek can be a fascinating experience as the trek includes rock climbing, walking through dense forests and snowy trek.
Itinerary
Day 1 • Dehradun to Joshimath
- Drive Distance: 288 Km, Drive: 9-10 hours
- Altitude: 6960 ft
Highlight:
- Pick up from Dehradun railway station at 7 AM.
- Drop at Joshimath by 3 PM via Rishikesh, Devprayag, and Nandprayag.
Day 2 • Joshimath to Dhak Village (via car) and trek to Tali Forest Camp
- Drive Distance: 12 km, Drive: 45 min
- Trek Distance: 8 KM, Duration: 7 hours
- Altitude: 11,031 ft
Highlight:
- Today after breakfast at around 7:00am we will proceed to Dhak Village to start our trek. Keep a jacket handy, you may need it along the way, but if it’s sunny, you can easily trek in a t-shirt and fleece.
- You will walk along dirt paths to the village of Tugashi, which will be your first source of water. It is a charming little village where you can get an insight into the traditional way of life of the locals. As you progress further from Tugashi village, the terrain changes and you find yourself in a beautiful oak forest and out. Every now and then the forest opens up into a clearing or a meadow.
- Around 13:00 you will have lunch at Gulling, rest here but prepare for the final climb to Tali camp from here. It’s not a steep climb, but you’ll be walking uphill for the next 4km. Camp Tali is right in the middle of the forest and you’ll be glad you were there because the team will be waiting for you with hot drinks and snacks.
Day 3 • Tali Forest Camp to Kuari Pass to Tali Forest Camp
- Trek Distance: 12 Km, Duration: 7 hours
- Altitude: 12,520 ft
Highlight:
- Today is going to be an epic day. It is much easier than the previous day as you will be driving up and down hills and snowy slopes (in the winter months). Today’s trek will amaze you with the magnificent views of the mountains around you, the snow field you will drive through and the feeling of being on top of the world at Kuari Top.
- It would take you about 4 hours to reach Kuari Top which is the highest point on the trail, from there Kuari Pass is only 700 meters.
- Today you will see peaks like Neelkantha, Nanda Devi, Hathi Ghoda Parvat, Dronagiri, Pangarchulla and Chaukhamba. After spending some time in the pass, we return the same way to reach Tali by late afternoon.
Day 4 • Tali Forest Camp to Auli and Drive to Joshimath
- Trek Distance: 11 Km, Duration: 8 hours
- Altitude: 10,003 ft
Highlight:
- Today we’ll start 800 meters of constant ascent behind the campsite, you will be out of the forest. Your first turning point would be at the beautiful Tali Lake. From Tali Lake, which is the highest mountain in India, you will have a clear view of Nanda Devi. From there, the trail climbs to a narrow path with a mountain on one side and a steep drop on the other.
- Make sure you go as a team on this trip as people who are afraid of heights or prone to vertigo may feel a bit uncomfortable here. This narrow road continues for 1.5 km until you enter Gorson Bugyal. For the next 5 km, you will walk through a beautiful wide open meadow and in the winter months the snow makes the landscape absolutely amazing.
- You will find a lot of day hikers from Auli who come here to experience the snow. Reach Auli ski resort and board the vehicle for Joshimath from Auli road. It takes about an hour to drive from Auli to Joshimath. Your trip ends here and now it’s time to take a hot shower, relax and celebrate.
Day 5 • Joshimath to Dehradun
- Drive Distance: 288 km, Drive: 9-10 hours
- Altitude: 2099 ft
Highlight:
- The trip ends today. Check out of the guest house. If you opt for transportation from us then we will reach Dehradun by late evening.
What's Included
- Accommodation – On the trek, you will live in tents/guesthouses on a sharing basis.
- Meals – Breakfast, lunch, snack, and dinner. We provide simple, nutritious vegetarian food for all days of the trek.
- Camping Fees – All trekking permits and forest camping fees are included in the price.
- Trekking equipment – Quality tents and sleeping bags in all camps. Sleeping bags withstand temperatures down to -10 ºC.
- Safety equipment – First aid kit, oximeter, etc. will be with the trek guide/leader and also at the camp to deal with emergencies.
- Expert Trek Leaders – All our trek leaders have at least basic/advanced mountaineering qualifications and a first aid course.
- Expert Trek Support Team – The mountain staff on this trek consists of certified guides, cooks, helpers, and porters.
- Transfers – Transport from Dehradun to Joshimath on Day 1st to Joshimath to Dehradun on Day 5th is included.
What's Not Included
- Food is purchased by individuals at local canteens on the trek or while driving.
- Any travel or accommodation costs for early return excluding days as per itinerary.
- Any cost of medical treatment for injuries or accidents before, during or after the trek.
- All cutlery (mugs, spoons, plates, snacks, etc.)