Kuari Pass Trek
Popularly known as Curzon trail, Kuari Pass trek offers an interesting melange of pristine wilderness, bucolic Himalayan cultures, lots of wind on your hair, soft crunch of tinder dry leaflitter under your boots, grand vista of India’s some of the highest peaks, encounter with rare Himalayan wildlife and least sign of developmental scars on this weeklong classic trekking expedition. All you need is passionate and professional operators like us and reasonable level of fitness to fulfil your dream of traversing on this historic trail
The immersion on offer is myriad, from interaction with the indigenous locals to knowing their customs, traditions on the go and opportunity to relish on the Garhwali cuisine rustled up by our local expedition chef.
Opportunity to share forest with the wild denizen like Common leopard, Musk deer, Asiatic Black bear, Himalayan Brown Beer, Pine martin, red fox and plenty of birdlife since we cover different habitats with our guide’s 360° awareness of their presence
Day #1
Your city – Dehradun Airport or Haridwar/Rishikesh Railhead – Ghat-Salbagad
Reach Dehradun/Haridwar/Rishikesh by morning flight/overnight train from your city.
Meet and greet by our representative, freshen up in guest house followed by breakfast, spectacular drive along Ganga and Alaknanda rivers. Cross multiple towns on the way, picnic lunch en-route and reach Chefna camp site for high-tea after 6-7 hours surface journey. Meet the trekking crew. Overnight in camp.
Day #2
– Salbagad – Ghuni
Rise and shine, breakfast and we start traversing on a ridge, very first opportunity for the Pahari cultural immersion. Opportunity to explore houses those are green in many ways as they have been built with the green material sourced locally. We camp close to the villageDay #3
Ghuni- Shemakharak
After sumptuous breakfast, ascend slowly to Vinayak pass through primeval Himalayan Forest. Opportunity to share some banter and tittle-tattle with sickle wielding hill women those hit the forest at the crack of dawn to fetch leafy fodder for their cattle. Expect to hear some folk songs from these cheerful women band. The forest gets thicker as we approach the campsite with giant Horse-Chestnut, Himalayan Oak and many species of pine/fir trees. Overnight in a camp at ShemkharakDay #4
Shemakharak – Paana Village
Downhill walk-through thick forest canopy with dappled light on forest floor to the Brihi-Ganga gorge that was carved out by historic and devastating flood in late 19th century, the scars of this flood are still evident. Quite a climb up to the campsite, we walk past a few houses of Irani and Paana village. The campsite overlooks the hill village Paana with expansive view of the luxuriant valley of Brihi-Ganga, OvernightDay #5
Paana Village – Dhakwani
Longer day of the trek through primeval Himalayan Forest and the summer huts built to house cattle and sheep. A fair amount of steep climb today to reach campsite that is above treeline right below the Kuari Pass, overnight.Day #6
Dakwani – Kuari Pass – Khulhara Meadow
An early start is recommended to reach pass on time to be overwhelmed by the continuous march of lofty snowy peaks before cloud cover forms and shroud them. The prominent peaks are Kamet, Neelkanth, Dunagiri, Changbang and even Nanda Devi that is the highest peak of the region. While we revel in the grand views camp team would have established camps, hit camp for high-teaDay #7
Trek to Pangarchuli – Back to Khulhara camp
Optional Lay over days at this campsite is recommended, in case the panorama of the snowy peak don’t oblige us previous day by remaining in cloud cover, we will have another opportunity to see them next day early morning. We climb to the Pangarchuli peak to witness the rosy alpenglow at the sunrise on the lofty snowy peaks. This place is among the grandest view point of the world. Back to the camp for lunch. Overnight.Day #8
Khulhara to Karchi
Four hours downhill switchbacks take us to the roadhead where the transport is waiting for us to take us back to Joshimath town. Sightseeing in the later part of the day. Visit Narsingh Laxmi temple which is the winter seat of Badri Vishal (a Hindu Shrien).
Joshimath is also the math of Shankaracharya who is known for unifying India religiously by establishing shrines deep in the Himalayas to revitalize the Hinduism and connect India South from India North.
Overnight in The Tattva Resort at Joshimath and avail creature comfort after weeklong nomad life
Day #9
Road Journey to Airport or Railhead to travel back home
Drop a few lines on your group size and dates
Inclusions
Hotels and resorts as per the itinerary, camping equipment, ground support crew, professional trekking leader, all meals as per the itinerary, first aid kit, trekking destination entry fee, Forest permit fee, Uttarakhand tourism portal fee, portage of the equipment by porters or pack animals, transfer by spacious luxury sedan/Minibus. National Park entry fee if applicable
Non-Inclusions
Alcoholic beverages, items of personal use, personal medicine, camera fee, extra expenses that may occur due to exigency and anything that is not part of the inclusions
Mid -September till mid-November, from April through June
