The Lord Curzon Trail ‘Kuari Pass Trek’

Lord Curzon of Kedleston as Viceroy of India

In 1905, Lord Curzon reached Kuari Pass (4652 m). and since then it is also known as the Curzon trail. The main attraction of it is the imposing view of the eastern peaks of Garhwal Himalayas, the twin peaks of Nanda Devi, Kamet, Dronagiri, Trishul, Bertholi, Hathi Ghodi Parvat, Mana, and Neelkanth peaks. The trek passes through pristine Rhododendron, Oak and Deodar (Cider) forest. Rare Himalayan flora and fauna are plentiful on this trail.

The Kuari (virgin) pass treks is a highly varied & scenic trek, which passes through three lesser passes & five major rivers - the Pinder, Kaliganga, Nandakini, Birehiganga & Dhauli Ganga. The pass or "KHAL" is approached from the ancient goat and sheep tracks to Joshimath, Badrinath along the pilgrim’s route. This trek can be undertaken from Auli, Debal or Ghat near Nandprayag.

The Kuari pass is one of the most beautiful treks, famous for the enchanting view of the snow clad peaks of Neelkanth (6596m), Kamet (7756m), Mukut Parbat, Mana, Nilgiri Parbat, Trishul (7120m), Hardeol, Dronagiri, Rishi Pahar, Kalanka, Chaukhamba (7128m), Lampak, Changabang (6864m) , Ronthi , Bithartoli, Kamet (7757m) and others. On a clear day you are in the company of these mountains giving you a thrilling experience of the mighty Himalayas, particularly the Nanda Devi Massif. These mountains though far away, appear very close. The trail was named after Lord Curzon, who was a keen trekker and it is said that the path was specially improved so that he could complete the trek successfully. After independence it was renamed the Nehru Trail.

• Famous Temples at Haridwar, Rishikesh & Joshimath, Confluences, Snow clapped Himalayan Peaks and many more.
• Moderate trek with spacious gorges, vibrant colors. Dazzling variation in scenery
• Murmuring Waterfalls, lush green meadows & Mountain Goats.
• Rare glimpses of an ancient culture of local people.
• Sweeping views to Mt. Nanda Devi. Possible sightings of some wildlife,
• Nights in Hotel, Guest House and Tents.

You may also be interested in :

• The Sources of Holy Ganges Trek
• In The Shadow of Nanda Devi
• Roopkund Mysterious Lake
• Khatling Glacier Trek
• Chopta Chandrasila Trek

Area : Garhwal Himalayas
Duration : 12 Days
Max Altitude : 4265 mts/13990 ft)
Grade : Moderate
Season : April - June & Sept – mid Nov
Map

Day 01 : Delhi Arrival

On arrival at Delhi airport meet our representative and transfer to hotel for overnight stay.

Day 02 : Delhi – Rishikesh (230 kms/6 hrs)

In the morning take the AC train to Haridwar by 06:55 hrs. Arrival at Haridwar by 11:25 hrs and then proceed onwards to Rishikesh by car. Hotel check in. Evening explore the spritual town of Rishikesh, which is considered as town of saints and "Sadhus" (ascetic), and the gateway to the mountains. There are several ashrams (spritual hermitage) and temples that add to a distinctive flavor of this town, The “Ganga Aarti” ( prayer to goddess Ganga at sundown on the river bank) is a must watch!. Overnight in hotel.

Day 03 : Rishikesh – Ghat

After an early breakfast, drive to Ghat via Devprayag, Rudraprayag, Karnprayag and Nandprayag - famous river confluences of Garhwal Himalayas. Ghat is a big village with many schools, government offices and is a happening market for the nearby villages. Overnight in guest house/ hotel.

Day 04 : Ghat – Selu Bagar – Ghunni (6 kms/2-3 hrs)

It’s time to board the typical Himalayan village jeeps (the most common mode of local transport) which terminates at Selu Bagar, a small center with a handful of shacks serving as village shops, and the starting point for the trek. The drive of 7 km takes around 30 minutes. Meet the ponies/porters here. The trail is distinctive and well marked over the ridge from where one can see the settlements of Ramni and Ghunni villages. A leisurely trek through the village full of colors of Himalayan inhabitants makes the hike entertaining. After passing through couple of settlements the trail goes past the villages to an open plateau above Ghunni which is the campsite for the day. Overnight in the tents.

Day 05 : Ghunni –Vinayak Pass - Jhinjhi Village (13 kms/6-7 hrs)

The day requires an essential early start not only to negotiate the day long trek, but also to acquaint with beautiful Himalayan views. The trails winds up to the ridge top towering high above the campsite at Ghunni. After crossing the ridge one comes to an open meadow with stunning views of some of the Himalayan jewels i.e. Nanda Ghunti, Chaukhamba and an awesome view of Ramni and Ghunni settlements – the latter, lower down the valley. From here the trail continues to climb gently, passing through beautiful forests of Rhododendron, followed by grasslands and pasture used by sheep and cattle- dotted with nomadic huts. The trail from this point climbs with a couple of switch backs which again becomes gentle and takes you to an open meadow with gorgeous views of Nanda Ghunti peak. Continue with the trail which is more or less gradual finally arriving at the Vinayak Pass. The pass is marked with a Ganesha temple with a prayer flag. From here one gets to see some excellent views of the Himalayas and the first glimpse of Kuari pass at a distance. From the pass, the trail starts to drop down gently and at times becomes steep, which continues to descend - through Sem Kharak and finally ends at the village of Jhinjhi. Overnight in the tents.

Day 06 : Jhinjhi – Pana Village (8 kms/4-5 hrs)

The day’s walk starts with glimpses of simple lifestyle and culture of people of Jhinjhi village. The trail continues its descent through the village finally coming and arriving at a to the valley floor and arrives at a high suspension bridge over river Birahi Ganga. After crossing the bridge one gets an astounding view of the valley. The trail now climbs steeply with zig zags initially and later with some false summits till one arrives at the ridge. The trek becomes gradual and the views of the Himalayan peaks and the nearby settlements become more enjoyable. The journey, now takes one through a beautiful forest of Rhododendron finally going past Kaliagad to the settlement at Pana. A final ascend of less than a kilometer terminates at the campsite above Pana village. Overnight in tents.

Day 07 : Pana - Dakhwani (3300 mts/10824 ft) 14 kms/5 hrs

The trail is well marked and distinctive above the camp site passing through a forest of Rhododendron, finally going over the ridge. The trail continues through the forest to an open meadow of Sartoli which serves as a camping site as well a pasture for a sheep & cattle. This is an ideal place to view Kuari Pass dominating the horizon.
Initially the trail from Sartoli starts to descend gradually for a couple of kilometers but in the latter part the final descent to the side stream is very steep with loose moraine (The trekkers are required to use trekking poles during this stretch). After crossing over the side stream and ascending steeply with a series of switch backs, one arrives at the ridge top. From here the trail ascends slightly and finally crosses another side stream just under Dhakwani. From this point it is about a half an hours climb to the campsite at Dhakwani. A cup of tea is a welcome sight at the end of the day. Overnight in tents.

Day 08 : Dakhwani – Kuari Pass (3800 mts/ ft) – Tali (9 kms/5-6 hrs)

This day requires an early start in order to get a magnificent view of the pass. The trail from Dhakwani continues to climb through the forest until one crosses the tree line. From this point the path traverses to the left of the valley just under the pass and continues with a series of switch backs straight to the pass. And Lo and Behold - a stunning view of the greater Himalayas is waiting to be admired ! Take your time, relax and enjoy photographing this spectacle.
The trail from the pass ascends slightly to a hump, from where one finds an excellent view of the Dronagiri peak. After this, the trail descends to a point with a bifurcation to Tapovan & Tali. Continuing on the trail to Tali leads to a ridge with a temple and prayer flags. From here the Great Nanda Devi peak comes into view. The trail goes past pastures and enters the forest finally leading to the campsite at Tali. Overnight in tents.

Day 09 : Tali – Auli- Joshimath (2550 mts/8364 ft) 17 kms/5-6 hrs

Begin the day at a leisurely pace.. The trail from Tali is a gradual climb across the mountain ridge. This path is narrow and requires cautious walking until it reaches Gorson meadows. From here it is Himalayas all around. Great Nanda Devi peak presents an astounding view and dominates all other peaks visible. The crossing of the Gorson meadow is leisurely and most enjoyable.. Finally the ski resort and manmade structures can be seen from a distance marking the village of Auli. It’s time to say bye to the ponies and porters. The Jeep ride to Joshimath is a 13 kms drive. Joshimath is a busy market place and serves as a lifeline to all the nearby villages. Overnight in hotel.

Day 10 : Joshimath - Rishikesh

Early morning drive to Rishikesh. On the way visit Rudraprayag (a place of religious impotance) where river Mandakini and Alaknanda meet. Lunch enroute. Arrive Rishikesh by evening. Hotel check in, dinner and overnight stay.

Day 11 : Rishikesh - Haridwar - Delhi

In the morning transfer to Haridwar and from here catch the AC train to Delhi. Arrival at Delhi by afternoon.

Day 12 : Delhi Departure

Transfer to International airport according to your flight schedule.

Trip & Services Ends Here

Cost Includes :

• AC train from Delhi to Haridwar & back
• All road transfers by a Toyota Innova/Toyota Qualis/Tavera from Haridwar – Haridwar.
• Accommodation in Tourist rest House/Tents at Ghat and Auli on twin sharing basis with breakfast. While on trek Dome/Alpine tents will be provided.
• Meals : On trek we will provide you all the meals At Haridwar & Rishikesh only breakfast will be serve. Meals will be freshly prepared by mix of Indian, Chinese and Continental
• Camping equipment like tents, mattresses, Kitchen tent, camping stools, Table etc.
• Professional and experienced local trekking guide
• Cook, porters,

Cost does not includes :

• Accommodation in Delhi
• Enroute meal
• Any meals / services not mentioned above
• Liquor, soft drinks, bottled water, beverages, etc.
• Personal expenses like tips, telephone calls, laundry, etc.
• Any expenses rising due to bad weather, landslides, etc.
• Travel insurance

Visa

You Need to have Indian Visa for entry to India on your holiday. To apply for Indian Visa you have to contact your nearest Indian consulate or you can call on 09057570045 or visit http://in.vfsglobal.co.uk/ for more information.

Indian Embassy in London

Address : Indian Embassy
India House, Aldwych,
London WC2B 4NA.
Tel: 020 7836 8484
Site URL : http://www.hcilondon.net/

Money

There is no limit to the amount of foreign currency that visitors can bring.

Banks

Banks are open in the major cities & the nearest towns of the sanctuaries for transaction from 10.00 to 14.00 hrs on all days except Sunday.

Best time to visit

High season: October to April - Monsoon.

Travel wear

Cotton outfits, hats, sunglasses, sunscreen lotion etc. Some woolen clothes require, during winter.

Credit cards

Main hotels, restaurants and shopping centers honor major credit cards.

Currency

Indian Rupee (INR)

Drugs

Heavy punishments including imprisonment are imposed for possession of narcotic drugs.

Food

All standard restaurants offer a variety of cuisines including Continental, Chinese, Indian & local.

Water

It is always better to drink bottled drinking water or drinking water from restaurants. It is not advisable to drink water from slow moving streams, lakes or dams. Mineral water is available in sealed bottles.

Trekking Equipment List:

• Trekking boots - well broken in and waterproofed
• Down jacket or equivalent with hood
• One heavy wool shirt or sweater
• Two cotton shirts
• One pair cotton trousers or shorts
• One pair woolen trousers
• One pair shorts or calf-length skirt for women
• Three pairs of regular underwear
• Long underwear - thermal or wool
• Wind- and rain-gear with hood
• Sun hat with brim
• Woolen hat or balaclava
• Woolen gloves
• Woolen socks to wear with boots
• Cotton socks
• Personal first-aid kit including medication for common ailments
• Flashlight with extra batteries
• Sunglasses or snow goggles (an extra pair is recommended)
• Water bottle, preferably wide mouthed, with at least one liter capacity
• Pocket knife
• Note book with pens and pencils
• Plastic bags - small size for books, film etc., larger bags for clothes, sleeping bags
• Well fitting strong shoes with a couple of woolen socks. The shoes should be used before treks to avoid blisters.
• First aid set for minor accidents and sickness.
• A raincoat is necessary to meet uncertainties of weather.
• Chocolates, lozenges, candies, glucose and dry fruits provide extra pep and energy.
• It is advisable not to exhaust energy by walking fast, as otherwise the trek will be not enjoyable.

Private Departures

Did you know that we can also arrange private departures on the vast majority of our small group tours? So if you can’t find a date to suit you or if you want to have your very own adventure just with your friends or family then we can help you.

Private departures will follow the same itineraries as our usual group tours, but on a date to suit you, with no minimum numbers.

Customised Private Groups

For a group of 6 or more people we can organise a customised private group tour where we design the itinerary and activities especially for you, according to your requirements.

To enquire about booking a private departure of this tour or about organising your own private group tour, please fill in the form below and our Private Tours Team will be in touch shortly.

Frequently Asked Questions

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