Itinerary -
Day 01: Haridwar - Auli (2450m) (drive / 280 kms / 8 - 9 hrs)
We will meet at Haridwar railway station at 7 a.m and from here board a vehicle and be driven up to Auli. This is a long but interesting drive. You will for most part of the journey drive along the Ganga & Alaknanda rivers. Enroute you will be crossing the holy towns of Devprayag & Rudraprayag. Evening relax at the beautiful lodge.
Day 02: Auli (2450m) - Khulara (3225m) (trek / 6 hrs)
After an early breakfast we drive a short distance (5 kms) to reach the starting point of the trek. From here we start hiking through the Auli meadows (popular for skiing) and get very close views of the famous Nanda Devi Peak and many more big Himalayan giants. After the Auli meadows we get into a forest section and will walk through an enchanting mixed forest abundant in bird life. Once out of the jungle we will walk on the beautiful meadows of Gurson, every moment in this place is going to delight you. Beauty of these meadows is something to be experienced. From Gurson we descend for a short time and again get into a beautiful forest section having oaks, deodars, maple and chestnut trees. We will reach Tali, a campsite used by many trekkers on this trail but will continue hiking and in about a couple of hours reach the magnificent campsite at Khulara where we camp for the night. It's a beautiful open meadow where you camp and get very good views of the big wall of mountains in front. If it's a clear night star gazing is going to be fun. Overnight in tents.
Day 03:Khulara (2550m) - Kuari pass (3650m) - Base of Pangarchula peak (3650m) (trek / 6 - 7 hrs)
Today we go through a series of ascents on meadows which keep on getting better as we move up. Walking on golden, green and other hues of grass is just bliss. The mountain air is crisp and the views brilliant! You are sure to catch a shepherd with the sheep and the dog. Do spend some time with them. The views are going to be great throughout so we keep our cameras handy. We will reach Kuari pass in about 3 hours or so. Our guide might give you the option of not going to the actual pass (which is nearby) and instead climb another vantage point with better views so take a call depending upon what you feel like doing. After spending sometime at the vantage ridge/Kuari pass we will start walking towards our base camp for the climb to Pangarchula peak. Today you will get to view many big and renowned Himalayan peaks like Chaukhamba, Kedarnath, Neelkanth, Haathi-Ghodi, Kamet, Mana, Dronagiri, etc. Overnight in tents.
Day 04: Base camp (3650m) - Summit of Pangarchula peak (4700m) & back (trek / 7 - 8 hrs)
We will wake up early (depending upon the conditions and the season, the lead guide will take a call on what time we start but usually it will be 5:00 a.m) and after a quick breakfast start climbing up the slopes of the mountain to reach a ridge which will lead us to the top. The climb is demanding but not technical in nature. You will in patches be walking on uneven terrain of boulders, scree and rocks. Early season we will have to negotiate through deep snow that's why we recommend an early start as it is easier to walk on hard snow. But the effort is going to be rewarded manifold with views which are surely unparalleled. Views around dawn are the best which is why we insist on an early start today. From the route leading to the summit and the top you get to see a set of big mountains which you otherwise don't get to see from Kuari pass region, mountains like Nanda Devi, Trishul, Changbhang and many more. Also very attractive is the views of the surrounding valleys in all directions. After capturing the views in our camera we start walking down to the base camp. Once at the camp we celebrate our success and relax. Depending on what time we get to the base camp we might also decide to walk down to Khulara so that we reach Auli early tomorrow and get time to sort out our luggage and relax in the comforts of the beautiful lodge. Overnight in tents.
Day 05: Base camp (3650m) - Khulara (3225m) - Dhak (2000m) - Auli (trek / 3.5 - 5.5 hrs) (drive / 45 mins)
After a leisurely breakfast we start climbing down towards the road linking Joshimath to Niti-Malari valley. We will walk all the way down to Dhak a small market place on this road. Walk today is again a completely enjoyable experience with us walking through interesting forest sections and couple of scenically located villages. We will make short stops at Tugasi & Karchi village and spend time interacting with people and getting to know more about their way of life. From Dhak we will board the waiting vehicles and drive to Auli where a hot shower followed by a sumptuous meal awaits us. Overnight at the lodge.
Day 06: Auli - Haridwar (drive / 280 kms / 8 - 9 hrs)
After breakfast drive down to Haridwar.
Trip Ends With Sweet Memories !!!
List of Essentials
Mountain/adventure travel requires one to be adequately equipped with the right kind of personal gear. Since one is travelling in the wilderness there will be hardly any opportunity to buy anything once you hit the trail so we urge you to carefully pack everything into your bags. Also please keep in mind you can rent out or purchase equipment from our Gear Store, if required..
Shirts / T-shirts – 2/3
Jeans / Trekking Pants - 2
Windproof jacket of decent quality (no flimsy wind cheaters please!) preferably with a hood
Warm and thick Fleece / Full-sleeve Woollen sweater
Thermal inner wear (upper & lower)
Woollen cap
Woollen gloves
Woollen socks & regular socks (3-4 pairs)
Scarf/muffler (optional)
Comfortable Trekking/Hiking shoes (shoes with a thick sole are recommended)
Lightweight floaters/sandals/slippers
Raincoat / Poncho
Small light weight towel
Water bottle (sturdy ones, no empty Bisleri bottles!!)
Cap / Hat to keep the strong sun away from your face
Sun glasses
Walking stick / Trekking pole
Sunscreen Lotion
Lip Balm
Torch / Flashlight (with extra batteries)
Medicines, if requiring any specific medication
Personal toiletries
Books, if you like reading
Day pack/small bag which you will carry on your back every day and keep your essentials in it
Carry rain cover for your bags
Keep a few poly bags or waterproof bags in your bag in which if required you can put your belongings in case of heavy rain
Camera if you like (with fully charged batteries))
…LOADS OF ENTHUSIASM!! AND A PLEDGE TO LEAVE NO TRACE
Carry your stuff in a duffel bag, soft shoulder bag or a rucksack. Avoid suitcases, trolleys or any other hard luggage. As you will be walking long distances carrying a rucksack, avoid bringing unnecessary items on the trek. Please avoid carrying expensive watches, jewellery and electronic items on the trek.
For Departure Dates just call 7350530009 / 7350540009 / 7350550009
TRANSPORT OPTIONS (Delhi – Haridwar – Delhi)
For travel to Haridwar and back one can choose between air, rail & road. For air travel, the closest airport is the Jolly Grant Airport (30 kms) in Dehradun and is well connected to Delhi and other parts of the country by Air India, Jet Airways, Kingfisher Airlines & Spice Jet. Train travel is highly recommended with enough options being there.
There are frequent Public Transport buses including Volvos available from Delhi to Haridwar that cost about Rs. 200-500 per person. These buses depart from Delhi ISBT every 30 mins. or so and take about 4/5 hrs to cover the distance. The same is also applicable on the return journey. A private vehicle could also be arranged for if you require the same.
Weather Details
In the initial days of the pre monsoon season (May-Jun) there will be snow along the latter part of the trail which generally melts by end June. Days are going to be sunny and warm (12-20 °C) while the night temperature at the highest campsite would be in the range of -2 to 6 °C. In the post monsoon season (Sep-Oct) there is hardly any snow at the start with possibility of snowfall towards the end of the season, which also melts very fast. The days are sunny with temperatures hovering around (10-16 °C) the evenings start getting cold with the onset of October and nights are comparatively colder (- 5 to 5 °C).
Please keep in mind that the above information is not exact and does not account for sudden changes. Whatever the temperatures and conditions rest assured we will be prepared to handle it with ease as we use equipment of very high specifications.
Duration: 6 Days
Season: Mar-Apr
Grade: Moderate +
Region: Garhwal (Uttarakhand)
Description
Kuari pass trek, also referred to as the Lord Curzon trail trek, is surely one of the most popular and finest treks in the Indian Himalayas and rightly so. According to us only thing missing on this trail was the adventure element so we modified the regular itinerary a bit and added an exciting stage to this trek where you get to climb a challenging but doable Himalayan peak called Pangarchulla (4700 m). This peak can be climbed by fit first time trekkers also but with some hard work put into it!!
To do this trek in the May - Nov period please check Click Here
Pangarchulla peak poses challenges which keep on changing with seasons. Beginning of the season (Apr May) the climb involves navigating through deep snow while later in the season (Oct Nov) difficulty comes in the form of bouldering and traversing scree slopes. Our guides will run a small course on climbing techniques to get you to know more about the sport and get comfortable with it. They will put ropes for safety (if required) and will assist people throughout the climb. One is not required to have any prior climbing experience/knowledge.
For mountain lovers this trail offers king size views of Himalayas and an opportunity to be transported into inner Himalayan region in a very short duration. The trek is not only spectacular but very different from everything else. You will for most of the times be walking on endless meadows with big and small mountains jutting out. There are beautiful forest sections, magnificent campsites, and sunrise & sunsets to die for, in addition to many more enjoyable facets of the Himalayas which make trekking a worthwhile activity. You will also get the opportunity to meet and interact with shepherds and their entourage and surely be bowled over by their way of life. Highlight of the trip would surely be the views of the most revered mountain in the world, Nanda Devi (7816 m) along with other towering giants like Dronagiri (7066 m), Kamet (7757 m), Chaukhamba (7128 m) & Trishul (7120 m) peak and many-many more.
This is a moderate trek barring one challenging day when you will literally climb to the top of the world when you summit Pangarchula peak at about 4700m. This is a demanding but technically easy climb which even first timers can attempt. Those who dont want to do this part can attempt Mini Pangarchula @ 4200m or stay back at the base camp and explore the surroundings from there. Upon reaching the top we experience a huge sense of achievement and see views which only select few get an opportunity to experience making it a moment to cherish lifelong
Another big highlight of this trek would be the opportunity to visit and stay in Auli, where you stay in the scenically located & very comfortable Himalayan Eco lodge. While at the lodge keep a lookout for birds, you will surely end up seeing many species