Kuari Pass Trek Overview

Exploring the marquee trek route starting from Joshimath to Kuari Pass in the Garhwal Himalayas is one of the best trekking experiences one can have in their life. Standing at a height of 4264 meters, Kuari Pass looks like an amphitheater, where you will find the fearless peaks of the Himalayas that belong to the 7000 meters club. Some of the renowned peaks that you will witness on the Kuari Pass trek are Chaukhamba, Kamet, Trishul, and the heavenly peaks of Nanda Devi and its twin, Nanda Devi East. The Kuari Pass trek gives you an opportunity to witness the magnificent skyline of these tallest mountains closely.

On the Kuari Pass trek, you will come across the confluences of several rivers, yellow-orange autumn trees, blue-brown contrasting snow-capped mountains, and gorgeous jungles of oak and deodar trees. If you are lucky, you may even spot pug marks of Himalayan black bears or leopards. This refreshing trek to the beauty and serenity of the Himalayan meadows is a one of a kind experience that you should surely experience. Although this trek is not very difficult, it offers large dividends with the most impressive views of the best mountains in the Himalayan range.

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Kuari Pass Trek from Joshimath
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Kuari Pass Trek From Joshimath
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Kuari Pass Trek from Rishikesh
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Quick Facts of Kuari Pass Trek

kuari pass trek

Maximum altitude: 12750 feet

Grade: Moderate

Duration: 6 days

Kuari Pass trek distance: 33 kilometers

Trail type: Round trail that starts and ends at Joshimath

Rail head: The nearest rail head to the base camp is Haridwar.

Airport: Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun

Snow Season: December to April

Service from: Haridwar to Haridwar (transportation included)

Base camp: Joshimath

Best season: November to March (winter trek)

Region: Uttarakhand

Who can participate:- The trekker should be at least 10 years of age.- Freshers can register for the trek, but previous trekking experience is a plus.- The trekker should be fit and have enough stamina to cover a distance of at least five kilometers in just 30 minutes.- The climber should have the capacity to carry a backpack of around 10 to 15 kilograms.

Short Itinerary for Kuari Pass Trek

  • Day 1 - The Kuari Pass trek will commence with a drive from Haridwar to Joshimath that will allow you to witness the striking views of the confluences of multiple rivers.

  • Day 2 - You will take a drive from your base camp at Joshimath to the Dhak Village and then trek to the Gulling Top to catch a glimpse of the gorgeous views of the peaks and grasslands.

  • Day 3 - The following day will be a trek to the Camp, where you will pass through the steep oak, rhododendrons, and walnut forest.

  • Day 4 - The following day of the Kuari Pass trek is the actual climax day when you will trek from Camp to Kuari Pass through Khullara top. Here, you will enjoy the beautiful surroundings for some time and return back to the Camp.

  • Day 5 - The next day will be a return journey from Camp to the Dhak Village and a drive for seven hours to the Joshimath.

  • Day 6 - It will be your last day of the Kuari Pass trek, when you will take a long drive from Joshimath to Haridwar, along with a bag full of memories of the trek.

Kuari Pass Trek Detailed Itinerary

Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
kuari pass trek

Drive from Haridwar to Joshimath

Altitude - 6724 ft

  • The journey to the Kuari Pass trek will start with a drive from Haridwar at 6.30 am in the Tata Sumo or a similar vehicle.

  • You can enjoy your breakfast and lunch on the way to our base camp in Joshimath while relishing the remarkable views of the surrounding cities.

  • It will be relatively a long and arduous journey to drive from Haridwar to Joshimath. However, you are not going to be disappointed with the striking views of the confluences of different rivers, like Ganga-Devaprayag, Karnaprayag, Rudraprayag, Vishnuprayag, and Nandprayag.

  • Check in the base camp in Joshimath and rest for the day.

What To Pack for Kuari Pass Trek?

Basic Gear
Clothes
Personal Utensils
Head Gears
Foot Gears
trekking gear for kuari pass trek
  • 50 to 60 liters of the backpack with a comfortable shoulder strap and rain cover.
  • 20 to 30 liters of a day pack and rain cover (if you hire a mule or porter)
  • At least one walking stick.
  • Personal medical kit after consultation from the doctor.
  • 2 water bottles of one liter each or 1 water bottle of one liter and a hydration pack along with a thermos flask.
  • Snacks, like dry fruits, energy bars, and electoral.

General Trivia About Kuari Pass Trek

kuari pass trek
  • The fundamental highlight of the Kuari Pass trek is the view of Nanda Devi, along with the other mighty mountains, like Dronagiri, Neelkanth, Hathi Ghoda, and Chaukhamba.

  • The name Kuari Pass was coined by Lord Curzon in 1905 when he trekked from Ghat, Gwaldam to Kuari Pass.

  • It is also said that a Japanese traveler attempted to climb Nanda Devi on the Kuari Pass trek with her daughter but disappeared on the climb.

  • The mountaineering ascent to Mount Nanda Devi is banned as the Indian Army had planted some nuclear devices on the mountain in 1965 to protect them from enemies but could not find it again. Hence, trekking to Nanda Devi can be risky as the explosions can be life-threatening and could affect people right up to Haridwar, Rishikesh, and Delhi.

  • The Kuari Pass trek can also be experienced by seasoned trekkers or beginners to have an experience in trekking.

  • There are plenty of checkpoints on the Kuari Pass trek, so you must carry all the necessary documents to access the routes to the Kuari Pass.

  • The Kuari Pass was first discovered during British rule in India.

  • The pass remains undiscovered before the Britishers due to an underlying belief in the presence of a local deity.

Know Before You Go to Kuari Pass Trek

Tips for Kuari Pass Trek
How to Reach
Best Time for Kuari Pass Trek
kuari pass trek

There are innumerable tips that trekkers should keep in mind while going on a trek to prevent themselves in any circumstances. Although the Kuari Pass trek ranges from easy to moderate level on the scale of difficulty, you should keep the following significant tips into consideration:

  • Avoid trekking to the Kuari Pass during the monsoon season as the route becomes muddy and slippery.

  • Have proper control of your body as you need a balanced body to go on the Kuari Pass trek.

  • Build enough stamina and make your legs strong by jogging for at least a month before going for the Kuari Pass trek so you can travel a distance of at least five kilometers in just 30 minutes.

  • Pack light with the essentials, trekking gear, and personal medical kit for comfortable and effortless trekking.

  • Carry a pair of body thermals (both upper and lower) to protect yourself in case of extreme cold conditions.

  • Wear comfortable trekking shoes that provide a good grip and support when climbing the steep ascents on the Kuari Pass trek.

  • Walk at a comfortable pace and maintain discipline while walking as the trek is not a race but an experience of gorgeous natural views.

  • Keep the mountains clean, and do not litter the place with plastic, wrapper, or any other garbage.

  • Drink plenty of water and keep yourself hydrated at all times during the trek or have a packet of ORS to replenish the body salts lost during the trek.

  • Keep re-energizing your body with healthy snacks, like dry fruits, protein bars, and much more.

Why to Go for Kuari Pass Trek?

You should go on a Kuari Pass trek as it provides easy access to the spectacular views of the different mountain peaks, including Nanda Devi and Dronagiri on one side and Chaukhamba, Hathi Ghoda, and Neelkanth on the other. This trek also allows you to witness the interesting landscape of oak trees merging into the meadows that lets you adore the natural beauty and enjoy the beautiful experience of the snow and oak forest. The unforgettable walks and climbs on the meadows, along with the picturesque views of the surroundings, make the Kuari Pass trek worthy of experiencing at least one time in your life.

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FAQ's of Kuari Pass Trek

How Difficult is the Kuari Pass Trek?

    Kuari Pass trek ranges from easy to moderate level on the scale of difficulty as the ascent is gradual and evened out, and the reached height is within 14000 feet. The steep sections of the trek are spread out, but they can be tackled effortlessly if you are well-prepared. The trek also has easy and multiple exit points, which makes it an ideal trek for beginners and trekkers who are not looking forward to a demanding trek.

    The thing that makes the Kuari Pass trek inclined to the moderate difficulty level is that the ascent of the climb is about 3000 feet in a stretch of four kilometers on the first day. Hence, climbing a larger altitude distance on the first day may make you vulnerable to AMS. Having said that, the trek becomes a lot easier if you prepare yourself well both physically and gear-wise.

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