Kuari Pass Trek
Level: Moderate
KUARI PASS TREK
GARHWAL HIMALAYAS
Altitude: 3875 Mtrs
Kuari Pass, perched at an elevation of 3,875 M, unveils a mesmerizing panorama of snow-capped peaks, including Nanda Devi and Dunagiri , making it a celestial haven for trekkers in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand.
5 N / 6 D
Daily Departure: 14 November 2024 – 14 March 2025.
Rishikesh to Rishikesh : ₹8549/-
OFFER - FREE RUCKSACK worth 2000/-*
Extra Benefits worth 500/-*
Brief Description
Kuari pass is a mountain lovers’ delight. You have an unending vista of the biggest mountains in India opening up right from day one. You even get to see the clearest view of the full face of Mt Nanda Devi, India’s highest mountain.
More than this, Kuari Pass is a near-perfect trek. You go through ancient forests filled with oaks and rhododendrons. Just as your eyes are getting used to the tree canopy above, the trail opens into meadows. This interplay of different kinds of landscapes makes the trek very exciting.
You camp at outstanding locations on this trek. Whether it is the forests of Chitrakantha or the Khullara meadow in the shadow of Mt Dronagiri, each campsite leaves you in awe of your surroundings.
If you are stepping into the Himalayas for the first time then Kuari Pass is the trek to do. It is almost crafted perfectly for the beginner.
Image Gallery!!
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DAY 1
Drive from Rishikesh to Karchi
Drive distance: 255 km | Drive Duration: 9-10 hours | Pick up point for trekkers | Pick up Time: 5.15 am | Location of Pahadi Hikes Basecamp: Karchi
Transport will be arranged at 5.15 AM sharp. The costs Rs 8000 per vehicle (5-6 seater) and Rs 12,000 per Tempo Traveller (12 seater)for the journey from Rishikesh to Karchi.
DAY 2
Trek from Karchi to Akhrotghetta
Trek Distance: 2.75 km | Duration: 5-6 hours | Altitude gain: 7,785 ft to 9,264 ft
DAY 3
Trek from Akhrotghetta to Khullara
Trek Distance: 2.5 km | Trek Duration: 4-5 hours | Altitude gain: 9,264 ft to 11,014 ft
DAY 4
Trek from Khullara to Tali via Kuari Pass
Trek Distance: 7.65 km | Trek Duration: 8-9 hours | Altitude gain and loss: 11,014 ft to 11,053 ft via 12,516 ft
DAY 5
Trek from Tali to Auli. Drive to Dhak
Trek Distance: 8.10 km | Trek Duration: 7-8 hours | Altitude loss: 11,053 ft to 8,546 ft
Note that the charge for the drive to Dhak will be taken on the last day.
DAY 6
Depart from Dhak and reach Rishikesh
Drive distance: 263 km | Drive Duration: 9-10 hours | Drop off point: | Drop off Time: 7 pm
You are expected to be back in Rishikesh by 7 p.m. This transport cost has to be borne by trekkers and paid directly to the driver. Cost of the cab: Rs. 9,000 per vehicle, shared among 5–6 trekkers and Rs. 13,000 for a Tempo Traveler (This includes the 1000 extra from Auli to Dhak)
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Moderate
Suitable for Fit Beginners
Kuari Pass is categorized as an Moderate trek.
The aspect of the trek that makes it move towards the moderate side are three things:
1. The ascent of about 3,000 ft on the first day of the trek. On the first day of the trek, you climb about 3,000 ft in a stretch of 4 km. It is steep and given that you cover a larger altitude range on the very first day, can make you more prone to AMS.
2. Another aspect of the trek that pushes it towards the moderate end of the difficulty is the stretch from Tali campsite and Gorson Bugyal when you trek on an overhanging narrow trail for about 1 km overlooking the Dhak valley. Especially around winter or rainy days, this stretch can get tricky.
3. The trail from Padiyar to Gorson Tali campsite is easy to lose your way on, on a foggy or misty day. This again makes the trek rank a bit higher on the difficulty scale.
Having said all of this, we want to stress this again: the trek is as easy as your preparations go. Even fairly easy trek can turn into a difficult one if you are not physically and gear-wise prepared for the trek
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When it comes to terrain, Kuari Pass can be considered safe. The entire route is marked with
– Well marked trails
– Well trodden routes
– Gradual ascents
– Well placed campsites (important when considering AMS)
– Easy and multiple exit pointsThe only section that requires a lot of attention from the trekkers and the trek organisation is the overhanging trail from Tali Campsite to Gorson Bugyal. This stretch is marked by a narrow trail with a lot of undulations. This can get tricky to navigate on hazy days, when there is snow or when there is a lot of snowfall.
We recommend that you traverse this stretch slowly. Ensure that you get a good footing with each step you take on this stretch. Also, walk along with a single lane one behind the other and do not overtake each other during this stretch. With these precautions, this stretch should be easy to tackle.
| Note: During the winter season, if you are trekking with Pahadi Hikes, your Trek Leader will tell you when to wear the microspikes. Pahadi Hikes team will lead in this section to make the footholds required for trekkers to step on.
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Kuari Pass in Winter
Day time: Between 8 °C and 14 °C | Night time: Will drop to temperatures between -8 °C and -14 °C.
Presence of snow: You will find snow from the base camp towards January. The entire landscape and valley will be in white from December to the end of March.
No. of warm layers required: 5 warm layers
In winter, people trek to Kuari Pass to experience snow and the mighty views from the trek. The landscape again changes colour when draped in the white snow. Kuari pass is a mountain lovers’ delight during the winter season.
The winter setting is a dreamy wonderland with pines, oak trees and dwarf rhododendrons. Along with this, you have an unending vista of the biggest mountains in India opening up right from day one. Soft, powdery snowflakes loosely hang from pine trees. Perfect for snowball fights and an experience of snowfall if you’re lucky. However, snow raises the difficulty of the trek by a notch. So, prepare well if you are going in winter.
The winters of Kuari are known to be notoriously cold. It is much colder than other treks that we run during the winter season.
Kuari Pass in Spring
Day time temperature: Between 13 °C and 17 °C | Night time temperature: Will drop to zero
Great time to experience the last of the winter snow. The snow starts to recede from the lower campsites when spring sets. The upper reaches of Gorson and Kuari are still under snow.
No. of warm layers required: 3-4 warm layers
Spring in Kuari starts by mid-March and goes on till the end of April. The snows start to melt in the upper reaches while the grass begins to turn green in the lower meadows. Tiny flowers make their heads out of the grass while rhododendrons bloom on the trees.
The upper reaches of the Khullara and Chitrakantha meadows are usually under snow until mid-April.
Spring is a great time to experience colour contrasts on the meadows. You see snow, greenery and the colour of flowers altogether.
Kuari Pass in Summer
Day time temperature: Between 18 °C and 24 °C | Night time temperature: Will drop around 3-8 °C
No. of warm layers required: 3 warm layers
During summer, you will experience bright sunny days and mildly colder nights. So, if you are looking to trek around comfortable temperatures, this is the right time.
By the end of summer, do expect mild rains to start. The rains usually start in the afternoons and go till the evening. This will mark the beginning of the monsoon season.
Kuari Pass in Autumn
Day time temperature: Between 10 °C and 15 °C | Night time temperature: Will drop to zero
No. of warm layers required: 3-4 warm layers
This is an ideal time to trek if you are looking for crisp views of the mountain. This season also rings in the colour. The meadows are golden brown.
In this season, you must also keep in mind that we are moving towards winter. The days get shorter and the nights start to get much colder.
Click here to download Trek essentials for the trek.
