| Days Wise Itenary |
| Day 1 : DRIVE TO GHAT AND THEN CHEFNA
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We will embark on a drive to Nandaprayag, proceeding onward to Ghat, and finally reaching Chefna, which serves as the starting point for our trek. At Chefna, we will set up camp for the night.
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| Day 2 : TREK CHEFNA TO GHUNI
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After a satisfying breakfast, we embark on a delightful stroll along the river, followed by an ascent through a lush landscape of coniferous and mixed forests. The path meanders along a wooded ridge, eventually leading us to the charming village of Ramni, nestled at an altitude of 2550 meters. This village embodies the essence of Garhwal, with its welcoming inhabitants, captivating houses boasting sturdy slate roofs, and cobblestone pathways winding through fertile fields. Notably, it's inspiring to witness that the entire village predominantly relies on solar power for its energy needs. We will spend the night at Ghuni, where camping arrangements and meals await.
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| Day 3 : TREK GHUNI TO SEMKHERK
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This day presents a challenging yet ultimately rewarding journey. Starting from the campsite, the ascent is steep, encompassing an elevation gain of 1,000 feet (300 meters), achieved via a winding, zigzagging track. As you ascend, open grassy meadows unfold, offering a glimpse of snow-capped peaks emerging above the encompassing forest to the north.
The path then continues its upward trajectory, leading through diverse forests of rhododendron, pine, and oak trees, interspersed with pastures used for summer grazing and shepherd's huts. Along the way, you'll encounter herds of sheep and goats, keeping you company as you progress. The pinnacle of this climb, reached in approximately 2.25 hours from the camp, rests at 3,064 meters (10,053 feet) and is known as the Ramni Pass, also referred to as Binayak Top. From this vantage point, you may even catch sight of the Kuari Pass, which will be our destination on Day 8.
Subsequently, the trek becomes gentler, guiding you through open pastures that transition into enchanting forests of horse chestnuts and walnut trees, replete with picturesque waterfalls that seem right out of a fairy tale.
Finally, a meandering descent along a zigzagging trail brings you to the overnight camp at Semkherk.
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| Day 4 : TREK SEMKHERK TO PANA
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The day commences with a descent to the vibrant village of Jhinjhi. The trail leads us through small farms and woodlands, eventually guiding us to a remarkable suspension bridge at 1,840 meters (6,037 feet), spanning the Birehi Gorge. This gorge is presently inhabited by a sizable troop of monkeys, adding to the scenic charm of the area. However, from here, a challenging and steep ascent looms, taking us to an elevation of 2,250 meters (7,382 feet). The rigorous climb continues for about 1.5 hours.
Following this demanding ascent, the terrain becomes relatively flat, offering a respite as we meander beneath the soothing shade of rhododendron forests, with long-tailed magpies gracefully flitting about. Along the way, the route follows the contours of numerous deep ravines, graced with the presence of numerous streams and waterfalls. If you peer below into the deep gorge, you can catch a glimpse of the site of the historic landslide and Gauna Lake, which unleashed a catastrophic flood in the Ganga Valley down to Rishikesh back in 1898.
As we navigate around the head of a horseshoe-shaped valley, we encounter two picturesque rivers cascading below our path. A brief climb takes us to Kaliaghat, a delightful campsite located near the village of Pana, where we will spend the night.
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| Day 5 : TREK PANA TO DHAKWANI
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This day presents another substantial and awe-inspiring leg of our journey. The path initially ascends above the village, followed by a steep climb into a captivating rhododendron forest. This section of the trail is broad and well-constructed, guiding us over several small summits until we reach a col at 9,842 feet (3,000 meters). From here, the route gently descends, tracing the contours of the valley, eventually leading to open meadows that offer panoramic vistas of the Kuari Pass.
Continuing our descent, we follow the valley alongside numerous streams, before encountering a notably steep and eroded section, much of which has been shaped by the monsoons. As we descend, the river below has carved a deep and striking rocky gorge to our right, revealing the natural sculpting of the entire landscape.
From the river's edge, we face a challenging ascent of approximately 3,000 feet (900 meters). About halfway up, we pause to cross a substantial stream. A final climb brings us above the treeline to the campsite, a vast expanse of pastures where sheep and goats graze during the summer. The imposing Kuari Pass looms above us as we prepare to camp for the night.
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| Day 6 : TREK DHAKWANI TO TALI VIA KUARI PASS
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Today's journey is relatively short, affording ample opportunities to pause at the pass and simply lose yourself in the grandeur of your surroundings. The exhilaration of standing at such a lofty altitude, with the brisk mountain breeze caressing your face, is an experience that truly defies comparison. Our objective for the day is to conquer this pass, ensuring you have the privilege of gazing upon the clear early morning vistas the following day. To accomplish this, we'll continue our trek to gain more altitude, with the highest point of the trail reaching a refreshing 4,000 meters, and it's just a brief half-hour hike from the Tali Pass that lies ahead.
Once we've indulged our senses in the awe-inspiring mountain panoramas (which are likely to leave you yearning for more), we'll descend to our campsite, meticulously prepared for you on the other side of a small stream.
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| Day 7 : TREK TO PANGERCHULI
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For those of you who are willing to trade a few extra hours of sleep for the chance to witness a rare and captivating display of nature, we encourage you to rise before dawn and embark on a journey to the summit of Pangarchulli peak. There, you'll have the opportunity to witness the sunrise over the Himalayas. The way the navy blue mountains gradually transition into hues of orange, then brighter yellow, and finally gleaming white is a visual spectacle that you wouldn't want to miss.
In 1931, Frank Smythe, en route to Kamet (25,443 feet/7,757 meters), the second highest mountain in this region, eloquently described this view: "We breasted the slope and halted, silent on the path. No words would express our delight. The Himalayas were arrayed before us in a stupendous arc." Some of the notable mountains visible include Kamet, Nilkanth (7,141 meters/23,425 feet), Dunagiri (7,067 meters/23,182 feet), and Changabang (6,864 meters/22,516 feet). If you walk along the ridge for a while, you might even catch a glimpse of Nanda Devi herself. The breathtaking vision of snow-capped peaks more than justifies the effort, as many consider this to be one of the most extraordinary mountain views in the world.
After this awe-inspiring experience, we'll return to our campsite for a hot lunch and spend the night in our cozy tents.
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| Day 8 : TREK TALI TO AULI AND DRIVE TO JOSHIMATH
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Many summer treks conclude in Auli, while early summer and early winter treks typically finish in Tapovan due to icy trail conditions. The distance to either destination is a 3-4-hour walk. The descent to Auli takes us through a gentle slope, passing through woods and pastures. In Auli, our waiting car will transport us to Joshimat.
Auli, though lacking the opulence of some other hill resorts, possesses its own unique charm and beauty. It's the very place where the renowned Adiguru Shankaracharya achieved enlightenment before embarking on his mission to unify India and reinvigorate Hinduism. Here, you'll find a temple known as Na Singh, housing a statue with a legend that predicts the blocking of the road to Badrinath once the idol's arm breaks. Interestingly, the statue's arm has been diminishing in size year by year. Auli also serves as a focal point for the Indian skiing scene, and the cable car leading to the Auli resort commences from the heart of Joshimath.
We'll spend the night at a hotel in Joshimath, providing a respite from the fatigue and ensuring a comfortable night's sleep.
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| Day 9 : DRIVE JOSHIMATH TO RISHIKESH
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Our journey leads us back to Rishikesh, with lunch provided along the way.
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