The Kuari Pass is one of the most sought-after treks among trekkers, hikers, mountain climbers, or just people who love to seek adventure in nature. It is a thrilling experience for anyone who goes on this trek. The Kuari Pass stands at an altitude of 3876 m, surrounded by oak, rhododendrons, and pine trees. This trail means the ‘Doorway’ and is also known as the Curzon Trail as Lord Curzon who was a famous viceroy of India and he too loved trekking. This trek is a dream come true for any mountain climber. Whether you are a first-time climber or a professional, it is the perfect trail as it is moderate in difficulty. Enjoy a week-long trek in the mountains to witness the amazing nature of Uttarakhand.
A Detailed Itinerary Of The Kuari Pass Trek
If this is your first time trekking or your first time going to Uttarakhand for the trek, continue to read all the important details you need to know before you embark on your epic journey.
1. DAY 1 – Rishikesh To Karachi
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The first day is when you are picked up from your pickup stop in Rishikesh. There are many trekking groups out there that provide you with a package where you will travel with them for the entire duration of the trek. Usually, there is a pickup from Rishikesh to Karachi, the base camp of the trek. This is a 6-hour and 49-minute drive away, the road is beautiful with amazing scenery to gaze upon. The tributaries of the river Ganga. You can also see the Garhwa range of the Himalayas.
You can see the landscape change as you continue uphill to Karachi. As soon as you pass the Pipalkoti village, there is a change. The trees and forests change into wide, green meadows with the mountains in the distance. Keep an eye out for Mt Dronagiri. This mountain will be a familiar sight throughout your journey of the trek. Rishikesh and Karachi are places that one must take out time to sightsee, so either pre or post your trek you must spend some time at these places and immerse yourself in their culture.
And just like that, your day 1 is done.
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2. Day 2 – Karachi To Akroghetta
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The trek from Karachi to Akhrotghetta is the first day of trekking. The difficulty level is easy to moderate. Beautiful oak and maple trees cover the trail. You will come across a water bridge during your trek. People often stop and refill their water bottles for the journey ahead of the day. The first 20 minutes or so is a steep trek where you ascend to a rest spot. You can view Mt Dronagiri from here, relax for a while, and share stories and people share the legend behind the said mountain.
As you ascend steeper terrain, you will eventually come across a lone walnut tree, which is a stop sign that lets you know you have reached the campsite for the night. Celebrate your completion of day one with a restful sleep as you will need energy for the next day.
3. Day 3 – Akhrot Getta To Khullara
Day 2 is comparatively easier to ascend than Day 1. After 40 minutes of trekking, you come to the first rest stop, from where you can see Mt Dronagiri. The most mesmerising thing to see are the oak trees in the forest you pass through during your trek. You first see green and brown oaks, and as you go further, golden oaks appear in your vision, scattered all over the forest. You even see multiple streams; some of them are frozen. It is a beautiful sight – frozen lakes and streams amidst golden oaks. However, one must always throw caution to the wind as the terrain can get wet and slippery because of the streams.
You will know you are nearing the campsite when the forest starts dwindling and the mountains seem to come closer and become larger. A little further, you reach a clear field, which is your second campsite of the trip, Khullara.
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4. Day 4 – Khullar To Tali
Your day 4 is the busiest but by far the most exciting day of the entire trip. You start from Khullara, and in another one or one and a half hours, you reach the ridge, which is also part of the Curzon Trail. This place gives you a perfect, panoramic 360-degree view of the Great Himalayas and this view truly justifies why these mountains are known as the Great Himalayas. One side has Chaukhamba, Neelkanth, Dronagiri, Nilgiri, and Hathi Goda peaks, a one-of-a-kind experience to see the mountain peaks of such great mountains that not only are beautiful but have a national and cultural significance. On the other hand, you see parts of Trishul and Nandi Devi. There is a shrine at the ridge as you go ahead from where you can see the Pangarchulla Peak, which is not the destination but is considered one of the toughest peaks to climb.
Another 40-minute ascent is the Kuari Pass, where you can enjoy the moment and view 22 mountain peaks. Once you have taken enough pictures and videos, it is time to head back. You head back to the ridge but you do not take the trail that you took from Khullara, you walk ahead to reach the Jhandi Top, from where you start descending to reach Chitrakantha meadows. It is a one-to-one and a half-hour walk. You might be tired, but the view from Chitrakantha to Tali will surely wake you up. The sunlight peeking from the leaves is a magical sight to behold. So grab your camera and capture these moments. Your campsite for the fourth day is right in the middle of the forest.
5. Day 5 – Tali To Auli, Drive To Dhak
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On your second last day, you begin with a small trek to Tali Lake, from where you can see Mt Nandi Devi as you are above the tree line so the mountains are visible again. You can see the valley, which is home to both the Upper and Lower Tugasi villages, which is a wonderful scene to view as you trek. After a 40-minute ascent, you take a U-turn to reach Gorson Bugyal. It is a perfect place to see the Himalayan Griffin, a beautiful bird, a speciality of the mountains. You trek along Gorson Bugyal, which is a lovely view from which you can fall in love as you make your way down the mountain.
You walk for another two to two and a half hours until you reach Padiyar and visit the temple there. From Padiyar you continue to descend until you reach Auli, the last stop for your trekking tour. From Auli, you drive to Dhak and spend the night at Karachi camp.
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6. Day 6 – Joshimath To Rishikesh
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Day 6 is a drive from Joshimath to Rishikesh, which takes about 9 to 10 hours. You can extend your stay in Rishikesh and explore the ‘Yoga Capital Of The World’ if you wish.
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With the entire itinerary of your week-long trekking trip to Kuari Pass, book a trip to Uttarakhand to have an amazing time with friends and family, exploring the ins and outs of the Great Himalayas. Don’t miss out on this opportunity and enjoy nature’s gifts with your loved ones.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Kuari Pass
How difficult is the Kuari Pass Trek?
The trek to Kuari Pass is considered a Moderate-difficulty trek. However, it is important to remember that a trek can only go well as long as your preparation is good. Without any preparation, even an easy-level trek can turn out to be difficult.
Is the trail to Kuari Pass comfortable?
Yes, the trail is very comfortable. Many precautions have been taken to ensure a comfortable route for the tourists like well-marked trailers, well-trodden routes, well-placed campsites, gradual ascent, easy and multiple exit points, etc.
When is the best time to go on the Kuari Pass Trek?
Leaving the monsoons, you can experience the trek during other seasons. They might differ but it is lovely in its way.
What is the closest airport to the base camp?
The closest airport is the Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun. You can hail a taxi or a bus to Rishikesh from where you will be picked up to go to the base camp in Karachi.
How should you prepare for the week-long trek?
Experts suggest that if you can comfortably run 5 km within a 35-minute time frame then you are good to go on the trek. To reach this goal you should start jogging 4 times a week and slowly and gradually increase the distance you cover in 35 mins until you can cover 5 km. Please do not rush into this.
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