Kumaon - Best Time
The optimal timing for our trekking trips is between May 1st and June 30th and between September 1st and October 15th. Both seasons have their attractions. During the month of May the spring flowers bloom at the margins of the snowline while the weather is generally settled barring the occasional pre monsoon storm that can blow up at any time. Day time temperatures can rise to the mid 20s even at altitudes while at night they can fall to 0 degrees C. The post monsoon season is a time of settled weather with clear views of the mountains. Day time temperatures will still be quite warm, upto 20 degrees C during the middle of the day, however at night the temperatures will occasionally drop below 0 degrees C.

Day 1 : Take the overnight train from Old Delhi railway station to Kathgodam (Train No. 5013, Departure-22:40 hrs IST)

Day 2 : Arrive at Kathgodam 06:30 hrs. Received by Wayfarer escort and transferred to waiting vehicle after brief rest. Drive to Vijaypur (210 kms, 6 hrs). Check in at Wayfarer Retreat.

Day 3 : After breakfast drive to Munsyari(115 kms, 4 hrs) along a road that winds itself up to a height of 2748 mts before descending into the glorious Munsyari valley. Check in at Wayfarer Mountain Resort for a good rest.

Day 5 : Today is a strenuous walk along a gorge past the Gori Ganga river. The route is fairly up and down but generally eases off before reaching the camp site at Mapang(3100 mts, 9 kms).

Day 6 : You are in high mountain country now and the tree line disappears giving access to vast stretches of Alpine pastures. The day's walk is past Lhaspa and Rilkot to a magnificent and deserted hamlet called Martoli(3385 mts, 12 kms)

Day 7 : From Martoli you will continue to Ganghar (3260 mts, 12 kms). Throughout the day one gets intermittent views of magnificent Himalayan peaks and just after reaching campsite you will glimpse Nanda Devi East.

Day 9 : How can you walk away from here ? It is a day to rest and simply enjoy yourself in this magnificent location. Options include the hike up to the snow ridges of Nanda Devi East and a visit to the base of Nanda Lampak(5782 mts.). There have been several sightings of blue sheep in the region.

Day 10 : It is time to return and we descend form Pachu to Burfu(3350 mts, 13 kms). The scenery is exciting as the valley opens up. The north faces of the Nanda Devi peaks, several peaks on the Nanda Devi Sancturay wall and Hardeol group are visible. Our camp site is close to the Goriganga River amidst a lushgreen meadow.

Day 11 : Burfu to Bugdyar (2700 mts, 15 kms). This is a steady walk and mostly downhill past the villages of Rilkot, Lhaspa, Mapang and the narrow gorge at Nahar Devi.

Day 12 : Bugdyar to Lilam (1810 mts, 12 kms). We walk downhill all throughout and reach camp site by late afternoon.

Day 14 : Munsyari to Ranikhet (240 kms). It is time to bid farewell to Munsyari and its mountains. Today we board a vehicle that drives us to Ranikhet through Vijaypur, Bageshwar and Kausani. We check in for the night at Wayfarer Solitaire.

Day 15 : Ranikhet to Kathgodam (90 kms). Today is another day when we can chill out and relax. Late afternoon we board a vehicle that drives us to Kathgodam. There is also the option of leaving Ranikhet after breakfast and driving to the legendary Jim Corbett Park. The train to Delhi departs from Kathgodam at 20:40 hrs.

Day-1 : Arrive at Kathgodam railway station 06.30 hrs. Received by Wayfarer escort and transferred to a waiting vehicle after a short break. Drive to Ranikhet (90 kms. 3 hrs.) for over night stay at Wayfarer Solitaire. The day is free for local sightseeing and acclimatization.

Day-3 : Drive from Joshimath to Govindghat (1828 mts./22 kms.; 2 hrs.) : A less than two hour drive along the Alaknanda river brings us to Govindghat. From here our trek starts. On a given day there are hundreds of Sikh pilgrims headed for the Shrine at Hemkund, and alighting from our jeeps we join this joyous group heading up to Ghangaria. The ascending mule track climbs past terraced fields and vegetation to the hamlet of Pulna (3 km). From here the trail is a little wilder and more forested, with occasional glimpses of snow peaks. The 7 kms. from Pulna to Bhyundar Village are a steady ascent and the altitude is moderate. Shortly after Bhyundar, the trail crosses the Laxman Ganga, over a bridge elevated by giant boulders. The trail is steeper now but Ghangaria is only 3 km. away. Our campsite is beyond Gangharia in a relatively isolated area.

Day-4 : Day visit to Valley of Flowers : Current Government regulations do not permit any camping within the notified are of the valley and entry to the valley is restricted to permit holders only. The trail is well chalked out, and is a delightful ramble as it climbs gently through a coniferous forest, before descending to a bridge, and check-post that mark the official entry to the Valley of Flowers. Climbing up a rocky trail, with the forest behind us, the first flowers begin to appear.
Every morning after breakfast, trekkers would be escorted into this garden of Eden to explore different cross sections of the Bhyundar Valley. Packed lunches, flasks full of hot beverages as well as assorted refreshments would also be arranged. By evening the group would be escorted back to our base camp at Gangharia where dinner would be served after a round of refreshments.

Day-5 : Day visit to Valley of Flowers

Day-8 : Gangharia to Govindghat and back to Joshmath : We follow the same track and return to Govindghat, where we board a waiting jeep that drives us to Joshimath. However for those who wish to visit the famous Hindu shrine of Badrinath, special arrangements can be made and the trip extended by a day with overnight stay in a rest house at Badrinath.

Day-9 : Joshimath to Ranikhet (220 kms./ 8 hrs.).

Day-10 : Ranikhet to Kathgodam (90 kms.) : Today is a day when we can chill out and relax. Late afternoon we board a vehicle that drives us to Kathgodam. There is also the option of leaving Ranikhet after breakfast and driving to the legendary Jim Corbett Park. The train to Delhi departs from Kathgodam at 20.40 hrs.

Day 1 : Take the overnight train from Old Delhi railway station to Kathgodam (Train No. 5013, Departure-22:40 hrs IST)

Day 2 : Arrive at Kathgodam 06:30 hrs. Received by Wayfarer escort and transferred to waiting vehicle after brief rest. Drive to Vijaypur (210 kms, 6 hrs). Check in at Wayfarer Retreat.

Day 4 : After breakfast drive for 6kms to Dumar and then the trek begins. Our destination is past Lilam village to Rargari (10 kms) where we camp for the night.

Day 5 : Today is a strenuous walk along a gorge past the Gori Ganga river. The route is fairly up and down but generally eases off before reaching the camp site at Mapang(3100 mts, 9 kms).

Day 7 : Martoli to Sumdu (3070 mts, 10 kms). The walk is pleasant today and we have excellent views of a good number of major peaks as we descend through the Gori Ganga gorge . To night we camp on a plateau near the village of Sumdu.

Day 8 : Sumdu to Ralam village (3700 mts, 11 kms) across Birje Ganga pass (4666mts) : Today is a strenous day. We descend for a short distance from Sumdu and then start climbing for four hours to the Birje Ganga pass. Once on the pass a wide panorama opens up infront which has to be seen to believed. Facing you are Rajrambha(6895 mts), Chaudhara, Suitilla and several others. But the best view is towards the west. The entire northern wall of the Nanda Devi Sanctuary is clearly visible, with the twin peaks dominating the heights on the left. You could spend hours counting the peaks and staring at this view with a sense of wonder. We camp at Ralam after a steep descend of 5 kms.

Day 10 : Sarpudyar to Pantu (2100 mts, 10 kms): The day's walk is through several meadows with constant ups and downs till we reach the village Pantu where we camp for the night.

Day 11 : We descend along the Gori Ganga gorge upto Suringarh and then climb steadily to Dumar where we get on to a waiting jeep that takes us to Wayfarer Mountain Resort.

Day 12 : Munsyari to Ranikhet (240 kms). It is time to bid farewell to Munsyari and its mountains. Today we board a vehicle that drives us to Ranikhet through Vijaypur, Bagheswar and Kausani. We check in for the night at Wayfarer Solitare. [more...]

Day 13 : Ranikhet to Kathgodam (90 kms). Today is another day when we can chill out and relax. Late afternoon we board a vehicle that drives us to Kathgodam. There is also the option of leaving Ranikhet after breakfast and driving to the legendary Jim Corbett Park. The train to Delhi departs from Kathgodam at 20:40 hrs.

Itinerary

Day-0 : Take the overnight train from Old Delhi Railway Station to Kathgodam (Train No. 5013, Departure 22.40 hrs. IST)

Day-1 : Arrive at Kathgodam 06.30 hrs. Received by Wayfarer escort and transferred to a waiting vehicle after brief rest. Drive to Vijaypur (210 kms. 6 hrs.) Check in at Wayfarer Retreat.

Day-2 : After breakfast drive to Munsyari (115 kms., 4 hrs.) along a road that winds itself up to a height of 2748 mts. before descending into the glorious Munsyari valley. Check in at Wayfarer Mountain Resort for a good rest.

Day-3 : Drive from Munsyari to Sobla (130 kms./5 hrs.) : The Jeep track from Munsyari, initially, descends to Madkot Village which is on the banks of the rapidly flowing Gori Ganga river. From this point, the two hour drive to Jauljibi is particularly scenic. On the way are small villages called Chori Bagar, and Banga Pani. At Jauljibi there is the confluence of river Gori with Kali that crosses into India from Nepal at Dharchula. The route now travels northwards past Dharchula and Tawa Ghat and divests westward into a gorge following the Dhauli Ganga river up to Sobla. Sobla (1670m) is the entry point to the Darma Valley and is the starting point of our trek. Our destination is Dar Village (2134m) which is 5 kms. from Sobla. We pitch up here for the night.

Day-4 : Dar to Sela (2438 mts./12 kms.. 5 to 6 hrs.) : Today's walk is long but easy. The mule track from Dar to Sela goes through hill sides of green pastoral land. The campsite is on the outskirts of Sela.

Day-5 : Sela to Baaling (2743 mts./11 kms.. 5 to 6 hrs.) : It is another relatively trouble free day. The trail to Baaling goes up and down hill sides but the altitude gained is moderate. The views of the distant glaciers is exciting and the temptation to push ahead is high. Nevertheless we camp here for the night, because we have a long march ahead of us the next day.

Day-6 : Baaling to Duktu (3048 mts./6 kms.. 3 hrs.) : Duktu and Dantu are two adjacent villages which are the last centres of human habitation in this part of Darma valley. The view of the Panch Chulli peaks from here is just magnificent. On the outskirts of Duktu is a huge meadow that provides a perfect setting for viewing the Panch Chulli glacier with the backdrop of the Panch Chulli peaks. This particular spot is almost picture perfect. We pitch up here for the night.

Day-7 : Duktu to Panch Chulli (4 kms. each way; 5 hrs.) : Today is a momentous day when we set out to explore the Panch Chulli glacier from our base camp at Duktu. The glacier projects outwards from the East face of Panch Chulli and a 4 kms. trek from the campsite along the Yuli river leads to the massive glacier itself. The place itself provides an incredible scenery of a sprawling meadow bordered by tall oak and birch trees with the Panch Chulli (6904 mts./22652 ft.) looming in the background.

Day-8 : Duktu to Nagling (2743 mts./11 kms.) : We start on return trek today. The trail from Duktu to Nagling is a gradual descent and the days' walk takes around 5 hours.

Day-9 : Nagling to Bungling (12 kms.) : This is the last day of our walking. We arrive at Bungling by noon. From here after a brief rest we get on to a waiting jeep that drives us back to Munsyari.

Day-10 : Munsyari to Ranikhet (240 kms.) : It is time to bid farewell to Munsyari and its mountains. Today we board a vehicle that drives us to Ranikhet through Vijaypur, Bageshwar and Kausani. We check in for the night at Wayfarer Solitaire.

Day-11 : Ranikhet to Kathgodam (90 kms.) : Today is a day when we can chill out and relax. Late afternoon we board a vehicle that drives us to Kathgodam. There is also the option of leaving Ranikhet after breakfast and driving to the legendary Jim Corbett Park. The train to Delhi departs from Kathgodam at 20.40 hrs.