Pindari Glacier Trek

📅
Duration
8 Day
🔼
Highest Altitude:
3771m
check altitude profile
🛑
Grade:
Moderate
know trek grades
👍
Best Time:
May. Jun, Sep, Oct
find other treks
🚩
Starts From:
Lokharkhet
Where and How To Reach Lokharkhet
🛪
Airport:
Pantnagar, Uttrakhand
🚉
Railway:
Kathgodam, Uttrakhand

Key Geographical Highlights

12 Popular Peaks:

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

1 High Passes:

Dhakuri Pass ( 2940m )

1 Glaciers:

Pindari 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

Daywise Itinerary For Pindari 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 DayPhurkiya 3211m
From Dwali (2632m ) To Phurkiya (3211m ) - 3 Hrs. 6 Kms
Overnight In: Phurkiya (3211m )
Accommodation: Hotel / Tents
Meals Included: All Meals
A short trek following the Pindar river takes us to the campsite of Phurikya today. We are yet to cross the tree line and our trek passes through sparsely dense forest. Few of the sections requires safe steps. The peaks of Nandakhat keeps us motivated throughout and soon we reach our campsite of Phurkiya, marked by a KMVN guest house.
Day 5
2635 - Dwali
Day 5
3215 - Phurkiya
6Km, 3hrs.
▼ Day 6Trekking DayDwali 2632m
From Phurkiya (3211m ) To Dwali (2632m ), Via - Zero Point (3771m ), Phurkiya (3211m ) - 6 - 7 Hrs. 20 Kms
Overnight In: Dwali (2632m )
Accommodation: Hotel / Tents
Meals Included: All Meals
Today is the most important day of our trek and we start our day early morning as we will need to trek back to Dwali for the night. Few minutes into the trek and the peaks start to show up. Nanda Bhanar, Nanda Kot, Changuch, Bauljuri, and Nanda Khat makes your day today. The Pindari Ice Fall is a great sight, specially at such a low altitude. A baba by the name of Pindari Baba stays here and also accommodates few odd trekkers too !
After satisfying ourselves, we retrace our path till Dwali, where we camp for the night. The distance might be long, but the return happens much quicker.
Day 6
3215 - Phurkiya
Day 6
3775 - Zero Point
Day 6
3215 - Phurkiya
Day 6
2635 - Dwali
20Km, 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.

Pindari 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 currently start at Kharkiya from where its just about 5 kilometers of gradual trek to Khati because of the newly built jeepable 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.

Pindari 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

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

+91 8017216725

+91 9434062849

Write To Us

WhatsApp Us