The Kuari Pass (literally meaning ‘getting away) trek that is at an altitude of roughly 12,700 feet officially starts at Joshimath, gradually giving you a splendid view of the Himalayas as you go higher. Along the way, you will get to see a confluence of the Bhagirathi and Alaknanda tributaries at Devprayag before finally witnessing the majestic Nanda Devi peak along the way. This is a summer trek, which needs to be covered during the day. It is normally covered within 6-7 days depending on the speed and number of stops taken. The temperature can range anywhere between 10-18 degrees and will drop as low as -3 degrees at night.

Trek Villages

Dhaki Village: This spreads over 2-3 km and has a forest where you can find oak and rhododendron trees that tell a story. Shepherds from nearby areas come here to graze their animals and quench their thirst from the accompanying stream. These forests and grazing areas are found at regular intervals and are a sight for sore eyes from the polluted cities of the country.

Karchi Village: This village needs to be seen for the paddy farming that they do at such a high altitude. You won’t expect irrigation channels running through villages at such a high altitude.

Tugashi Village: You can see Himalayan culture at its simplest and best form here- wooden houses with storage facilities for cattle and sheep for all seasons. This village will make the trek more interactive as you’ll get a taste of indigenous organizational skill here. After this, the trek actually starts, as you’ll see fewer habitations and green covers.

Jhinjhi Village: This is another village which will make your trek more interesting as you’ll see the Himalayan lifestyle in its truest form. A trail through these villages will eventually take you to the valley floor where you’ll cross the bridge over Birahi Ganga before the immediate suspension of the trek.

Trek Difficulty of the Kuari Pass Trek

This is one of the easiest treks in Uttarakhand, India for a beginner. While it could seem like an easy trek for most, it might pose minor issues for those people who are starting out and have mountain sickness or hypothermia to battle. In this case it will be termed as a trek of moderate difficulty.

Route Map of the Kuari Pass Trek

In spite of the range of settlements and villages that you’ll find along the way, there are two alternate routes to cover this trek. One goes through Auli while the other goes through Tugashi. While the first half of the Auli route is a lush green landscape carpeted with the flora and fauna, of the Himalayas the latter half is relatively barren and difficult for some animals to pass by. The smart option would be to take a combination of both routes by consulting local guides. The trail through Tugashi, Joshimath and Mirag will be laced with small meadows that are silent and peaceful whereas the Auli route will have more bugyals (alpine pasture lands). If you return via Tapoban then you can have a refreshing dip in the hot water spring there, which will be much needed after the trek. There are many alternative routes to the same trek, which can be decided after consulting with your camp guide according to the number of people and their age groups.

Kuari Pass Trek Time and Distance

1. Rishikesh to Joshimath

   • Distance: 255 km (bus)
   • Travel Time: 7-8 hours

2. Joshimath to Dhak Village

   • Distance: 12 km (vehicle)
   • Travel Time: ~1 hour

3. Dhak Village to Chitrakhana

   • Distance: 6 km (trek)
   • Trek Time: 4 hours
   • Altitude: 3,310 m

4. Chitrakhana to Tali Top

   • Distance: 6 km (trek)
   • Trek Time: 3-4 hours
   • Altitude: 3,500 m

5. Tali Top to Kuari Pass

   • Distance: 15 km (trek)
   • Trek Time: 6-7 hours
   • Altitude: ~3,800 m

6. Tali Top to Joshimath

   • Distance: 8 km (trek) + 13 km (vehicle)
   • Trek Time: 3-4 hours

7. Joshimath to Rishikesh

   • Distance: 255 km (vehicle)
   • Travel Time: 7-8 hours

Summary

• Total Trekking Distance: ~35 km
• Total Vehicle Distance: ~523 km

Weather for a favourable trek of the Kuari Pass Trek

It is advised that Kuari Pass be avoided in the monsoon since the slopes will be slippery and trekkers will be prone to accidents. Summer temperatures can range between 18-28 degrees whereas winter temperatures are between -8 and 12 degrees.  April to June is the summer months where you won’t need to carry heavy clothes. September-November is the ideal time when the fauna will be in its full glory.

Hope you have enjoyed our Kuari Pass Trek Blog. Do send us your comments and share this to help your fellow trekkers.