Trekking in Uttarakhand, Uttarakhand Treks

Adi Kailash and Om Parvat Trek

The Kumaon Himalayas are blessed with an abundance of beauty and offer a number of offbeat trails for brave wanderers. Adi Kailash and Om Parvat Trek is one such beautiful trek draped in a mystic mix of adventure and mythology. As per Hindu mythology, Adi Kailash is often considered the oldest abode of Lord Shiva. The astounding part of the Om Parvat Trek is the mysterious Om formation on the mountains caused by the deposition of snow. This adds a religious significance to the trek. During sundown, the sun casts a shadow on the peak which also has a striking resemblance to the Swastika symbol, an auspicious mark. Om Parvat is located at the junction of three countries India, Tibet and Nepal and the views of the Himalayas from here are simply breathtaking.

Lipulekh Pass Trek

A high-altitude mountain pass located in the Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand, Lipulekh Pass takes you to an extraordinary vantage point at 5334 m. This is an international mountain pass located in the junction of India, Nepal, and China. The fabled Kailash Mansarovar Yatra takes place through this pass. This pass served as an important trading route in ancient times and in recent times as well, it is open for cross-border trade between June and September every year.

Chipla Kedar Trek

One of the most challenging and adventurous trails in Uttarakhand, Chipla Kedar Trek is not for the faint-hearted. The trek takes you to an altitude of 5,200 m and offers scenic views of some of the most beautiful high-altitude meadows and Himalayan peaks. The main attraction of the trek is the Chipla Kund or Chipla Lake at 16,000 ft. The trail is not just replete with natural beauty but is also a great spot for wildlife spotting. You can spot a diverse range of birds and animals like The Himalayan Musk Deer, Bharal, Thar, Wild Goat, and even Snow Leopards. Birds like Yellow-throated Marten, Monal, Western Tragopan, Pika, Khaleej Pheasant, Spotted Dove, Griffon, and Rock Pigeon can also be spotted. Every two years, Chipla Kedar sees a festive gathering, where people from nearby 40 villages gather with Bhankaras (metallic pipe instruments), and drums and they travel to Chipla Kedar in a pilgrim journey. While this is not a commercially popular trek, it is an extremely rewarding one!

Namik Glacier Trek

A beautiful glacier in the Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand, Namik Glacier is perched at an altitude of 3,600 m and stretches over a distance of 3 km. The glacier is the source of the Ram Ganga River and offers a beautiful vista of Himalayan Peaks like Nanda Kot (6,861 m), Nanda Devi (7,848 m), and Trishul (7,120 m). The name Namik means “saline waters”, which is true to the characteristic of the glacier. A number of waterfalls and sulphur springs originate from the glacier. The trek takes you into the isolated wilderness of the Kumaon Himalayas with extremely attractive surroundings. The trek is ideal for anyone who loves nature and is looking for an offbeat adventure!

Darma Valley Trek

Situated at an altitude of 3470m, the Dharma Valley in Pithorgarh region, is the ideal getaway destination for nature lovers and those looking to escape the cacophony of everyday life. The valley shaped by the Dharma River is home to 12 tribal villages. The difficulty of this trek is moderate to difficult but is equally rewarding with its picturesque landscapes, waterfalls and calm enchanting mountains. There is a location in the trek where you have to cross towering glaciers which is challenging but the spectacular scenery makes the journey so worthy of all the challenges.

Brij Ganga Pass Trek

Brij Ganga Pass at a height of 4666m is one of the best places to take in the enchanting beauty of the surrounding Himalayan Valleys in all of Uttarakhand. One can view the entire Nanda Devi range of Peaks from this pass. This adventurous trek follows a few parts of the old trading route to Tibet following the Gori Ganga River. From the roadhead, beyond Munsiyari, one follows a well-defined trail along a narrow valley to the village of Milam.

Kafni Glacier Trek

Located in the Bageshwar, Kumaon region in Uttarakhand, lies a small glacier called Kafni Glacier. It is the main source of the Kafni River and Pindar River’s tributary which later joins the Ganges. Kafni Glacier is situated on the left side of Pindar Valley, beneath the famous peak of Nandkot and to the southeast of Nanda Devi Peak. This is a well-known trek for adventure lovers. Experience the multi-coloured flowers of Rhododendron, which will make for an enjoyable journey to Kafni Glacier Trek.

Sunderdhunga Trek

Sunderdhunga Trek follows river Sunderdhunga upstream from Khati village until its origin. The most beautiful trek among its two neighbouring treks i.e. Pindari and Kafni glacier treks. The trail takes you through the remote regions, exotic villages, glaciers and pristine meadows. The snow-capped peaks like Mrigthuni, Maiktoli, Panwalidwar and Tharkot are distinctly visible from this trek. If you wish to explore the natural splendours of the Himalayas, this trek is a must-visit.

Traill’s Pass Trek

A stunning high-altitude pass named after George William Traill, Traill’s Pass Trek is a beautiful high-altitude pass that sits at the head of Pindari Glacier, linking the valleys of Lawan and Pindari. Flanked by Mt. Nanda Devi on one side, and Nanda Kot on the other, the pass segregates the Kumaon and Garhwal regions of the Himalayas. The rivers Pindar and Gori Ganga originate from the glaciers Pindari and Lawan Gad respectively, gracing the sides of Traill’s pass. The majestic peaks of Garhwal Himalayas, including the massive Nanda Devi peak stand watching you over throughout the expedition.

Weekend Treks

Chirbatiya Weekend Trek

Chirbatiya is a beautiful weekend trek located in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand. The trek starts from Chirbatiya, which is a small hamlet on the Ghansali-Mayali road and is perched at an elevation of  2134 mts. The entire village of Chirbatiya is covered densely with Rhododendron, Oak, and Deodar forests. There’s also a gushing waterfall that makes the place even more charming. You will also get to see terrace farming as the people in the village follow this type of farming. The quaint village of Chirbatiya is a peaceful respite away from the hustle and bustle of city life.

Binsar Weekend Trek

A beautiful hill station in Almora, Uttarakhand, the Binsar trek gives you stunning views of the Kumaon region. The beautiful Himalayan stretch also gives some wonderful views of Chaukhamba Peak, Trishul Peak, Kedarnath, Panchachuli, Nanda Devi and Nanda Kot. Traverse through forests of Oak, Pine, Firs and Deodars and appreciate the alpine beauty. You may also spot some rare bird species here. Trek through gorgeous passages absorbing the beauty of the scenic surroundings and some of the best mountain views from the top. The regal Himalayas are filled with profound natural beauty.

Nag Tibba Trek

Set at an altitude of 3022 metres, the Nag Tibba Trek is a perfect weekend trek for you and your family. The easy-moderate trek takes you to the Nag Tibba summit, which is the highest point in the Garhwal Himalayas, and as such earns you some rewarding views of the nearby Himalayan Ranges. You can spot many Himalayan Ranges like the Bandarpoonch, Kedarnath, Gangotri, and Swargarohini Ranges, ChangBang peak, Black Peak, Srikanth & the beautiful Doon Valley in the distance.

Deoban Trek

The essence of a weekend trek is that in less time and less effort, one gets to encounter the entire Splendidness of the Himalayas. From 3000 metres Deoban shows 55 big peaks including Nanda Devi, Swargrohini, Bandarpoonch and the list goes on. The beauty of the Uttarakhand mountains, a mix of pine and oak trees can also be seen. The camping sites are flawlessly blessed with amazing meadows. Surprisingly the trail is covered with snow in winter which makes it a thrilling winter trek.

Kartikswami Trek

Kartikswami Temple lies in the serene Garhwal mountains in Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand. The trek to Kartikswami temple starts from Kanakchauri village in Rudraprayag-Pokhari route. This temple belongs to Lord Shiva’s elder son Kartikeya. It’s a natural stone-carved idol of Kartik Swamy perched at an altitude of 3050mt adobe sea level.

The trail to Kartikswami temple is extremely scenic, offering picturesque views of Snow-capped mountains and pristine valleys.

Kunjapuri Trek

 A temple dedicated to the Hindu Goddess Sati is Kunjapuri Temple. This trek is well-known as a sunrise trek and runs all around the year. Winter season is mostly preferred for this trek as the weather is clear and pleasant. You come across the Neerghattu waterfall enroute on this trek which flows in all seasons. This trek makes it a perfect weekend trek for a quick getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city.