Kuari Pass & Pangarchula Trek

The Kuari pass trek, also part of the Lord Curzon trail trek, is one of the most popular and finest treks in the Indian Himalayas. The Pangarchulla peak is a beautiful introductory peak near the well known Kuari Pass area. The peak is approximately 4720 Mtrs, and can have a lot of snow till as late as May. The best snow climbing and camping experience can be had in the months of April and May.

Our expedition starts from Auli, which is famous for its ski slopes. The approach to the base camp at Khullara is through dense forests, meadows and a small summit called the Gorson top. Throughout the expedition, the participants would get glorious views of the Himalayas, with some of the prominent peaks being the Nilkanth (6596m), Narayan Parbat (5965m), Mana (7272m), Kamet (7756m), Abi Gamin (7355m), Nilgiri Parbat (6474m), Rataban (6166m), Ghori Parbat (6708m), Hathi Parbat (6727m) and Dunagairi (7066m) peaks. During the summit day, one can catch sight of Chaukhamba peaks (7138m) as well.

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’

Highlights:

• Duration: 6 Days
• Grade: Moderate
• Max Altitude: Pangarchula (4720 mts) & Kuari Pass (3560mts)
• Max group size: 12
• Meals: Breakfast: Toast butter, jam, Corn flakes, Aaloo& Gobi Paratha, Oats, fresh fruits, Tea & Coffee.Lunch & Dinner: Roti/Paratha, 02 vegetables, dal, rice, noodles, pasta, eggs, 01 sweet dish. We ensure there is variety provided in the food.

Brief Itinerary:
Day 1:- Haridwar – Auli (2450 m) Drive/280 kms/8-9 hrs

On this day, there will be a long, but interesting drive. We will, for most part of the journey, drive along the Ganga & Alaknanda rivers. Enroute we will be crossing the holy towns of Devprayag (confluence of Alaknanda & Bhagirathi.)  & Rudraprayag, the starting point of the Holy River Ganges. Once we reach Auli, we will have the time to relax and/or go for a stroll in the market.

Day 2:- Auli (2450 m) – Khulara (3225 m) Trek/6 hrs

After breakfast we drive 8 kms to reach the starting point of the trek. It’s now time to get ready for the adventure. We will 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 beauties. We then 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. From here we descend for a short time and again reach a beautiful area filled with oaks, deodars, maple and chestnut trees. The campsite at Khulara is where we will camp for the night. This is an open area, with great views of the mountains ahead. If it’s a clear night, star gazing is going to be fun. Overnight in tents.

Day 3:- Khulara (3225m) – Kuari Pass (3650m) Trek/6 hrs

Today we go through a series of ascents, 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 are no less than brilliant. Truly the photographers will have a blast during this journey, not only because of the views, but also because of the wildlife. We are sure to catch a shepherd with the sheep and the dog. We will reach Kuari pass in about 3-4hrs. We can choose to either travel by the actual pass or we can climb another vantage point where the views are delightfull. After spending sometime at the vantage ridge/Kuari pass, we will start walking towards our base camp for the climb to Pangarchula peak. Today will be the day where we will be able to view many big and renowned Himalayan peaks like Chaukhamba, Kedarnath, Neelkanth, Haathi-Ghodi, Kamet, Mana, Dronagiri, etc. Overnight in tents.

Day 4:- Base camp (3650m) – Summit of Pangarchula peak (4700m) & back Trek/7 hrs

We will wake up early and have a quick breakfast. Then we will start climbing up the slopes of the mountain to reach a ridge, which will lead us to the top. The climb is quite demanding, but not in terms of nature. We will be walking on an uneven terrain of boulders, scree and rocks. During the 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. From the route leading to the summit and the top, we will be able to see the big mountains, which wouldn’t have been possible from Kuari pass region. Mountains like Nanda Devi, Trishul, Changbhang and many more. Also very attractive are the views of the surrounding valleys, moving in all directions. After capturing the views in our minds and cameras, we start walking down to the base camp. Once at the camp, we shall celebrate our success and relax.  Overnight in tents.

Day 5:-Base camp (3650m)/Khulara (3225m) – Dhak (2000m) – Auli Trek/3.5-5.5 hrs & Drive/45 mins

Today we shall enjoy a leisurely breakfast. Right after this, we will 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. The walk today is again going to be a completely enjoyable experience. There will be many more interesting forest sections and a couple of picturesque villages. We will make short stops at the Tugasi & Karchi village. We will get the opportunity to spend time interacting with the locals 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.

Day 6:- Auli – Haridwar Drive/280 kms/8-9 hrs

After breakfast we drive down to Haridwar. The memorable adventure comes to an end here.