Kafni Glacier Trek

📅
Duration
8 Day
🔼
Highest Altitude:
3895m
🛑
Grade:
Moderate
👍
Best Time:
May. Jun, Sep, Oct
🌞
Temperatures:
🚩
Starts From:
Lokharkhet
🛪
Airport:
Pantnagar, Uttrakhand
🚉
Railway:
Kathgodam, Uttrakhand

Key Geographical Highlights

13 Popular Peaks:

Changuch ( 6322m ), Maiktoli ( 6803m ), Mrigthuni ( 6855m ), Nanda Devi ( 7816m ), Nanda Khat ( 6611m ), Nanda Kot ( 6861m ), Panwali Dwar ( 6663m ), Sunanda Devi ( 7434m ), Tharkot ( 6099m ), Nanda Bhanar ( 6236m ), Nanda Khani ( 6029m ), Bauljuri ( 5922m ), Lapsa Dhura ( 6000m )

1 High Passes:

Dhakuri Pass ( 2940m )

1 Glaciers:

Kafni Glacier

4 Rivers:

Pindar River, Sunderdhunga River, Saryu River, Kafni Gad

3 Villages:

Khati, Lokharkhet, Kharkiya

1 National Parks Or Forest Reserve:

Nanda Devi Outer Sanctuary

Reach Lokharkhet find other treks

Daywise Itinerary For Kafni Glacier Trek

(click to read detailed route briefing, elevation graph, altitude time info and photos from the day)

▼ Day 1Arrival DayLoharkhet 1834m
Arrive In Loharkhet
Overnight In: Loharkhet (1834m )
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: Evening Snacks, Dinner
Cost Of Transport Included: NO
Where and How To Reach Lokharkhet
Early morning we board our cabs to take a picturesque mountain drive to reach the remote settlement of Loharkhet, passing by Almora, Bagheswar, Suong.
We reach by evening. One of our staffs receives you and guides you to your hotel room. After freshening up, we meet over a light snacks and tea and share few updates on the trek.
We have early dinner and go to bed. Tomorrow's gonna be a hard day right away. So we prepare ourselves mentally for the game
Day 1
555 - Kathgodam
Day 1
1645 - Almora
Day 1
1005 - Bagheshwar
Day 1
1835 - Loharkhet
225Km, 8 - 9hrs.
▼ Day 2Trekking DayDhakuri 2650m
From Loharkhet (1834m ) To Dhakuri (2650m ), Via - Dhakuri Pass (2940m ) - 5 - 6 Hrs. 11 Kms
Overnight In: Dhakuri (2650m )
Accommodation: Hotel / Tents
Meals Included: All Meals
Starting in the morning, we trek on a steep route, through the forest to climb up the Dhakuri Pass. On the top of the pass, be ready to be greeted by the aura of the Himalayan Peaks. The beautiful peaks of the Sunderdhunga valley - Maiktoli, Mrigthuni and Devtoli stands on the left slowly easing-in to the peaks surrounding the Pindar Valley, namely Nandakhat, Changuch, Nanda Bhanar. Nanda Kot. The panorama further extends towards your right with the peaks of Rajrambha and Ngalaphu near the Dharma Valley. Peaks as far as those bordering Nepal are visible too, namely Api, Jethibahurani, etc.

After s good rest on the pass top, we descend down to the Dhakuri campsite, which is just few kilometers away. A lovely campsite with flat green meadow, surrounded by the beautiful snow cladded peaks.

Its indeed a Himalayan luxury here, and one of the best campsite in the entire route. All the pain we took in climbing the Dhakuri Pass pays off. It helps us acclimatize well too !
Day 2
1835 - Loharkhet
Day 2
2940 - Dhakuri Pass
Day 2
2650 - Dhakuri
11Km, 5 - 6hrs.
▼ Day 3Trekking DayKhati 2230m
From Dhakuri (2650m ) To Khati (2230m ), Via - Kharkiya (2186m ), Jaikuni (2120m ) - 4 Hrs. 8 Kms
Overnight In: Khati (2230m )
Accommodation: Homestay / Tents
Meals Included: All Meals
Trek through the forest and open meadows to the village of Khati. The route descends down most of the part while climbing up few stretches, passing by the villages of Bagdanu, Kharkiya, Umula, Jaikuni and Dau.
Khati is a small village staged perfectly with a background of few elegant Himalayan peaks. It has quite a few huts, private guest houses and tourist rest house as well
Day 3
2650 - Dhakuri
Day 3
2190 - Kharkiya
Day 3
2120 - Jaikuni
Day 3
2230 - Khati
8Km, 4hrs.
▼ Day 4Trekking DayDwali 2632m
From Khati (2230m ) To Dwali (2632m ) - 5 - 6 Hrs. 12 Kms
Overnight In: Dwali (2632m )
Accommodation: Hotel/ Tents
Meals Included: All Meals
A long trek through the forest, following the Pindar river upstream. Dwali is a common campsite located at the confluence of the Pindar and Kafni rivers emerging out of the respective glaciers. From here, the trail on left goes to the Pindari Glacier and the once on the right goes to Kafni Glacier. It is marked by a PWD rest house
Day 4
2230 - Khati
Day 4
2635 - Dwali
12Km, 5 - 6hrs.
▼ Day 5Trekking DayKhatia 3314m
From Dwali (2632m ) To Khatia (3314m ) - 3 Hrs. 6 Kms
Overnight In: Khatia (3314m )
Accommodation: Tents
Meals Included: All Meals
Follow Kafni river to camp on Khatia today
Day 5
2635 - Dwali
Day 5
3315 - Khatia
6Km, 3hrs.
▼ Day 6Trekking DayDwali 2632m
From Khatiya (3314m ) To Dwali (2632m ), Via - Kafni Glacier (3895m ) - 6 - 7 Hrs. 18 Kms
Overnight In: Dwali (2632m )
Accommodation: Hotel / Tents
Meals Included: All Meals
Today we trek till the snout of the Kafni glacier, which is the source of Kafni river, a tributary of Pindar. The trek offers promising views of Nanda Kot. We return to Dwali for the night
Day 6
3315 - Khatiya
Day 6
3895 - Kafni Glacier
Day 6
2635 - Dwali
18Km, 6 - 7hrs.
▼ Day 7Trekking DayKharkiya 2186m
From Dwali (2632m ) To Kharkiya (2186m ), Via - Khati (2230m ) - 5 - 6 Hrs. 16 Kms
Overnight In: Kharkiya (2186m )
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: All Meals
Retrace back on the same trail to reach the village of Khati, and then to the roadhead of Kharkiya
Day 7
2635 - Dwali
Day 7
2230 - Khati
Day 7
2190 - Kharkiya
16Km, 5 - 6hrs.
▼ Day 8Trekking DayKathgodam 554m
From Kharkiya (2186m ) To Kathgodam (554m ), Via - Baghehwar (1004m ), Almora (1642m ) - 7 - 8 Hrs. 220 Kms
Overnight In: Kathgodam (554m )
Accommodation: None
Meals Included: Breakfast
We end our beautiful trek today and drive back to Kathgodam for our onward journey to home
Day 8
2190 - Kharkiya
Day 8
1005 - Baghehwar
Day 8
1645 - Almora
Day 8
555 - Kathgodam
220Km, 7 - 8hrs.

Kafni Glacier Trek - An Elaborate Description

Venturing out in the outer reaches of the Nanda Devi National park in the Kumaon region of the Himalayas. this trek probably offers you one of the easiest opportunity of viewing the beautiful and mighty peaks guarding the Nanda Devi.

Here the beautiful peaks of Changuch, Maiktoli, Mrigthuni, Nanda Khat, Nanda Kot, Panwali Dwar, Sunanda Devi ( Nanda Devi East), Tharkot, Nanda Bhanar, Nanda Khani, Bauljuri, Lapsa Dhura present themselves in full glory. The village and local dwellers of Khati is a good opportunity the experience and understand the rural settings of Kumaon. Right from its start, this trek takes you through a dense forest of the outer Nanda Devi National Park consisting of fir, birch and rhododendrons. From Khati, the trail separates from the Sunderdhunga and follows the Pindar river until Dwali, where it further forks - one on your left goes to the Pindari Glacier and the other on your right goes to the Kafni Glacier following the Kafni river.

This trek curretly start at Kharkiya from where its just about 5 kilometers of gradual trek to Khati because of the newly built jeep able road. It helps you skip the 'good climb' to Dhakuri crossing the Dhakuri pass right in the first day. However, Dhakuri is a picturesque and a special campsite with a wide panorama on a beautiful meadow, so skipping it might not be a good idea unless you are on a time crunch.

Kafni Glacier Trek - Why Its A Must-Do

Days of wonder in the lap of one of the very beautiful valley in the Kumaon
The beautiful peaks of Changuch, Maiktoli, Mrigthuni, Nanda Khat,  Nanda Kot, Panwali Dwar, Sunanda Devi ( Nanda Devi East), Tharkot, Nanda Bhanar, Nanda Khani, Bauljuri, Lapsa Dhura
Understand the Himalayan geography and river systems by taking yourself closer to its glaciers. Also witness the effect of Global Warming and the receding of a glacier which is highly affecting the ecology not just locally, but throughout our country
An opportunity to experience some of the most remote villages of Kumaon - namely Khati which also offers a unique way to experience the Himalayas of Kumaon through the locals
Walking through the dense forest of rhododendrons, birch and fir and the meadows

How We Grade Our Treks and Expeditions

Easy

Usual daily walks of 4 - 5 hours in altitude below 4000 meters. The sleeping altitude on these treks are below 4000 meter and the trails are gradual involving no steep ascent or descent. Sometimes, the trail may be longer, but on level trails. The duration of trek may be a week or lesser than it. The trek is not too remote and evacuation might be possible from almost any point of the trek

Moderate

The trek duration each day may span from 4 - 5 hours, but on some days, it may push up to 8 - 9 days. The trail might involve steep ascents or descents on occasions This kind of treks demand good fitness, and trekkers must involve themselves in cardio exercises regularly to do these treks comfortably. Sleeping altitude are below 4000 meters or little above it, but the trail might go as high as 4500 - 5000 meters. The trek is bit remote and evacuation might be possible from almost all, but not all campsites

Moderate +

This type of treks are bit more demanding than the moderate ones. It might involve few days of very long walks at higher altitude, or serious gradients, exposures, more remote or involves sleeping at higher altitudes for more days.

Strenuous

The trek duration each day may span from 5 - 8 hours, and may go up to to 8 - 9 on few days. The trail involves steep ascents and descents. Good fitness are demand of these treks, and trekkers must involve themselves in cardio exercises regularly to do these treks comfortably. Sleeping altitude may go above 4000 meters or little above it on couple of days, but not more than that. The trail might go as high as 4500 - 5200 meters. These trek are remote and evacuation might not be possible from all the campsites

Challenging

The trek duration each day may span from 5 - 8 hours, and may go up to to 8 - 9 or even more than that on few days. The trail involves steep ascents and descents. Crossing a glacier or a scree zone might be a feature of these treks. You might on some occasions, require technical equipment like rope, ice axe and snow stacks etc to complete these treks. Good fitness are demand of any treks, but these treks demands strong character. Sleeping altitude may goes well above 5000 meters on some days. The trail might go as high as 5000 - 6000 meters. These trek are high or remote or both. The trek usually might be a week long.

Sometimes irrespective of altitude and distance, a trek may ge graded Challenging if the route is treacherous, which might demand some footing skills or assistance of ropes and other equipment

Challenging +

The trek duration each day may span from 5 - 8 hours, and may go up to to 8 - 9 or even more than that on few days. The trail involves steep ascents and descents. Negotiating glacial moraines, scree zones, crossing them, camping on them etc are features of these treks. You might also require technical equipment like rope, ice axe and snow stacks etc to complete these treks. Good fitness are demand of any treks, but these treks demands strong character. Sleeping altitude may goes well above 5000 meters on some days. The trail might go as high as 5000 - 6000 meters. These trek are high and remote. A good technical support team and knowledgeable local guide is a must. Only experienced trekkers are advised to do these treks. The trek goes over 2 week and may be longer than that.

Sometimes irrespective of altitude and distance, a trek may ge graded Challenging if the route is treacherous, which might demand some footing skills or assistance of ropes and other equipment

Cost Terms For The Kafni Glacier Trek

Cost Terms

The above-mentioned cost is in the range of minimum to maximum per-person cost for this trek as per 1 - 12 people team.PackageInclusions as per this cost can be read below.
5% GST (goods and service tax) is applicable for all our purchases.
We follow dynamic pricing as per the actual team size on the trek. Going by our standardized service, appropriate safety measures, quality equipment, and ecologically sustainable - small group commitment, a higher team size will lower the cost whereas a lower team size will significantly increase the cost.
Group segmented pricing if not provided here, please write to us using the contact page or text us on Whatsapp number +918017216725.
You may choose to keep the trek open or make it private depending upon your requirements or choice. The actual per-person cost of the trek is subject to the actual team size joining the trek. If you make any customizations that drastically change the itinerary and cost as mentioned here, then it will mandatorily have to be a private group only.
If we have dates listed on our website on Our Upcoming Treks and it is not marked as private, it means other people have booked this trek for that date and have opened it up for other members to join to lower the cost. If your dates and choices match, you may join these treks
You may join an existing open group listed on our website or create your own group as per your convenient dates and choose to either keep it private or open it up to lower the cost if other members join the trek.
At any point, the team size cannot be more than 12 members ( 10 for challenging treks) unless there is a unique exception requested or agreed upon by all the team members.

International Guests

Trek cost for foreigners is slightly higher than the cost for our Indian guests, mainly due to the higher permit fee applicable for admission to National Parks or protected forest areas. Sometimes, it may be higher due to higher local crew wages and other specific arrangements we make to ensure a safe, comfortable and enriching travel experience in India. However, we absolutely DO NOT 'hyper-charge' our International Guests ever and at the same time, ensure that we meet all the standards for highly qualified trek leaders and guides, safety, medical preparation, evacuation strategy, rescue arrangements, eco-sensitive travel, high-value knowledge sharing about the area and customs of the locals.

Extra Cost For International Trekkers Rs. 3000 per person.

Booking Process

Booking can only be done after multiple communication via email / Whatsapp / Calls. After connecting with us and discussing your needs, we finalize the trek and its requirements. After finalization, partial booking fees can be paid online or through direct bank transfers after which we trigger our preparations and arrangements for your trek. International Trekkers can pay the partial booking fees using PayPal, Wise, Western Union or Direct Wire Transfer.

Customized Private Group For Kafni Glacier Trek

Trekking is a very personal activity and is perhaps one of the very few activities that give you enough time to indulge with yourself or your beloved people, a group of special friends, or close family members. It helps you transform personal bonds to the next level as it brings out everyone's best and truest self. Trekking is most enjoyed when it is done in a small private group, personalized to serve your specific needs. The Himalayas are best experienced when there is silence and solitude around and when you are surrounded only by your best people. Your trek is most enjoyable when all the pain of arranging a smooth trek is taken care of by us, and you focus just on your trek and yourself. Most importantly, a small private trekking group is very flexible, personalized, and more enjoyable, is the safest, and follows the principles of Sustainable and Responsible Tourism. Most trekkers book us for arranging personalized private treks catering to their specific and unique requirements - Customize This Trek

Must Read - Important Pre-Booking Information

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Batch Size:
25-40 <10