Pindari Glacier Trek

Trip Fact

Trip Duration 10 days
Destination Kumaon Himalaya
Trip Grade Moderate
Season Mid Feb – June, August – Nov
Altitude Mid Feb – June, August – Nov

Pindari & Kafni Glacier,in Kumaon Himalayas has lured mountaineers and trekkers since the last century. It is one of the most easily accessible of all the Himalayan glaciers. The Pindari Kafni trek offers serenity and tranquility along with the spectacular mountain scenery, while the route towards Pindari offers great meadows, gushing waterfalls faraway on the mountain slopes with chance encounters of wild animals and birds in the distance. It lies between the Nanda Devi and Nandakot peaks and terminates at an altitude of 3627 m. The Glacier is 5 km long, the snout is about 6 m high and 2.5 m wide and above the snout, the glacier extends for about 3 km in length and 300 – 400 m in width, between an altitudinal range of about 3600 m to 5000 m. The valley is drained by the Pindar river that emerges from the Glacier which meets Alakananda at Karnaprayag in Garhwal.

Outline Day to Day Itinerary:

  • Day 01:Arrival Delhi
  • Day 02:Arriva Kathgodam & Drive To Loharkhet
  • Day 03:Loharkhet – Kharkiya ( 5 HRS BY JEEP ) & TREK TO KHATI (5 kms, 2 hrs)
  • Day 04:Khati – Dwali (2575 M/8498 FT)
  • Day 05:Dwali – Phurkta (14300 FT) TO PINDARI CAMP SITE 3660 MTS (12,000 feet).
  • Day 06:PINDARI GLACIER CAMP – DWALI
  • Day 07:Bagubassa – Roopkund (4450 mts/14600 ft) – Bedni Bugyal (7-8 hrs)
  • Day 08:Bedni Bugyal – Wan (10 km/ 3-4 hrs) – Rudraprayag
  • Day 09:Rudraprayag – Haridwar – Delhi
  • Day 10:Delhi – Departure

Detail Itinerary

  • Day 01:DELHIBoard Ranikhet Express for Kathgodam from Old Delhi railway station to reach Kathgodam early next morning . Overnight journey.
  • Day 02:ARRIVE KATHGODAM & DRIVE TO LOHARKHETWe depart by Ranikhet Express which reaches early morning at Kathgodam Railway station , Our jeep is ready to take u further deep into mountains. We reach Loharkhet ( 1750 Mt /5775 Ft) via Bhimtal, Almora and Bageshwar. Breakfast at Kainchidham. Enjoy sightseeing while driving towards Bageshwar. Late evening reach Loharkhet. Early dinner & retire in tents / rooms. Bageshwar is the base for all treks towards Sunderdhunga, Pindari and Kafni region.
  • Day 03:Day 3:- LOHARKHET – KHARKIYA ( 5 HRS BY JEEP ) & TREK TO KHATI (5 kms, 2 hrs) The motor able road extends to Kharkiya in these days , leaving only 5 kms to trek to Khati. Before the extension of this route Loharkhet used to be the starting point of trekking for both Sunderdunga & Pindari region. Infact this extended route from Loharkhet to Kharkiya eliminates the need of tiring climb to Dhakuri on the very first day. The remaining 5 km trails to Khati follows a well laid out path through Rhododendron & Oak trees. On the way to khati you will come across several falls while walking through the civilization of Kuman hills.

    One can have his first glimpse of Khati Village from Dau . Khati is the last prominent village enroute to both Pindari & Sunderdunga .Overnight in Tents / KMVN huts.
  • Day 04:KHATI – DWALI (2575 M/8498 FT)The trekking distance today is 11 km (5-6 hrs) with the roar of the Pinder Ganga not too far off. After trekking for almost 6 km from Khati you have to cross Pindari at Maliyahound. You can also have cup of tea over here from the small tea stall available over here. Along the way there are many waterfalls and log bridges to be crossed. It will take another 2.5 hrs to reach Dwali from this tea stall. Finally, after a long walk and height gain, you will reach towards the second bridge on the Pindari river, right across which is Dwali. This one is much more of a well built bridge, unlike the previous one. Overnight in Tents / KMVN huts.
  • Day 05:DWALI – PHURKIA (14300 FT) TO PINDARI CAMP SITE 3660 MTS (12,000 feet)Dwali ( 2575 mt ) is the last place where you observe normal dense forest. Beyond this, the vegetation starts thinning out, the air feels perceptibly thin, and the entire world starts feeling different. We left the tree lines shortly after Dwali . The upward journey is almost vegetation less as you are heading towards higher Himalayan Mountains. After crossing 2.5 km from Dwali you will reach Jwarpani . From here you have to climb upward terrain for 2.5 km to reach Phurkia.

    Phurkiya is the last outpost of KMVN. They have a hut there. From here barren icy peaks seems to be your only companions for the day upto our camp site at Pindari Zero which will take another 3 hrs to reach from Phurkia. The air feels thin over here, it is very cold. Overnight in Tents.A kilometre before Zero Point, you have the ‘best seats in the house’, and a Babaji , known as Pilot Baba has built himself a lovely place.
  • Day 06:PINDARI GLACIER CAMP – DWALI We will start early morning today to rekey the entire Pindari Glacier area and after that we will return back Dwali through the same route. Overnight in Tents / KMVN huts.
  • Day 07:DWALI – KHATI Today’s 11 km trek will take 4-5 hrs. Exploring Khati is a good idea as it has some beautiful sights to offer. Overnight in Tents / KMVN huts.
  • Day 08:KHATI TO KHARKIYA TO DHAKURI The return journey from Jatoli to Kharkiya via Khati will take 3.5 hours and further 2 hours which is another 3 km gradual uphill trail to Dhakuri through Rhododendron & Pine trees.
  • Day 09:DHAKURI TO LOHARKHET : 9 KM , 5HRSEarly morning start with uphill trek to Dhakuri top through deep Rhododendron and pine forests from here it will a complete downhill journey to Loharkhet which may take 5 hrs.
  • Day 10:LOHARKHET TO KATHGODAM VIA BEGESHWAR , ALMORA By road it will take 7 hours to reach Kathgodam. Catch Ranikhet Express in the night for Delhi.

Gallery

Cost Excludes