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TREK DIFFICULTY
Moderate
TREK DURATION
6 days
HIGHEST ALTITUDE
12,516 ft
TOTAL TREK DISTANCE
22 kms
BASECAMP
Karchi
The trek with the grandest mountain views of Uttarakhand
Kuari Pass is a trek that takes you to a grand amphitheater offering the grandest views of Garhwal Himalayas. It offers some of Uttarakhand's most breathtaking mountain views, including the rare sight of Mt. Nanda Devi. From the start of the trek, you are greeted with incredible views of towering peaks, beautiful oak forests, and vast meadows.
It is a great reward for those exploring the Himalayas for the first time. It’s a moderate trek with amazing rewards — forest walks, ridge climbs, and the exciting climb to Kuari Pass. It’s an experience you’ll carry with you forever.
Starting from Karchi, the trail takes you through dense forests, open meadows, and finally to Kuari Pass. Be it the forests on the way to Akhrotghetta or the sunsets at Khullara campsite, there are no ordinary days on the Kuari Pass Trek. On your summit day, you stand at the grand viewpoint of Khullara Top. The iconic shapes of Mt. Nanda Devi, Chaukhamba, Kamet, Mana-Mandir Peaks, Dronagiri, the most iconic peaks of Garhwal, lay bare right in front of you. Next is a stunning ridge walk leading to the Chitrakantha meadows, before descending into the magical Tali campsite. Nestled in a forest of golden oaks and resting beside a gentle mountain stream, Tali is easily one of the most picturesque campsites.
Adding to all of this, Kuari Pass is a trek steeped in history. Famously known as the Lord Curzon Trail, this route has remained a timeless favourite among Himalayan treks for years.
Who can do this trek?
Kuari Pass is categorized as a moderate trek. It climbs to an altitude of 12,516 feet over a total distance of 22 km and is completed in six days. While the trek offers breathtaking views and thrilling experiences, there are a few tricky sections. Challenges include a steep 3,000 ft ascent on Day 1, narrow overhanging trails near Gorson Bugyal, and navigational difficulties in foggy weather. With proper preparation and fitness, even beginners can enjoy this rewarding trek safely.
What Makes the Kuari Pass Trek Special
Stunning views of Mt. Nanda Devi and other peaks
One of the biggest attractions of the Kuari Pass trek is its unmatched mountain views. From the very first day, you are greeted by towering giants like Mt. Nanda Devi, Dronagiri, Chaukhamba, Kamet, and the Hathi-Gauri peaks. These peaks dominate the skyline, offering a mesmerizing backdrop as you trek through forests and meadows. The sight of Mt. Nanda Devi, in particular from Gorson Bugyal, is breathtaking. It leaves you in awe, and the view remains etched in your memory long after the trek ends.
Enchanting oak and rhododendron forests
Kuari Pass is home to ancient oak and rhododendron forests, which add a magical element to the trek. These dense, green canopies offer a peaceful, almost otherworldly experience as you walk through them. In winter, these forests transform into a snowy wonderland, with snow-laden branches creating a picture-perfect scene. The gentle gradients make these forest walks enjoyable and relaxing, giving you time to soak in the beauty of nature.
Expansive meadows that change with seasons
Once you leave the forests, the trail opens to vast alpine meadows like Gorson Bugyal and Chitrakantha. These meadows are a refreshing contrast to the dense woods and a delight to walk on. In early autumn, the meadows are lush green, while late autumn brings golden hues. In winter, a blanket of snow covers the landscape, creating a stark, white beauty. Each season offers a unique charm, making the trek visually stunning at any time of the year.
The exciting climb to Khullara Top
The moment you reach Khullara Top is the pinnacle of the trek. Surrounded by a sweeping panorama of snow-clad peaks, the feeling is both humbling and exhilarating. The climb to the pass is challenging but rewarding, and standing there amidst such grandeur is an unforgettable experience. For many, it’s a deeply emotional moment, a culmination of effort and awe.
Picturesque campsites at Tali and Khullara
The campsites on this trek are remarkable. Whether it’s the quiet, forested setting of Tali or the open meadows of Khullara under the gaze of Mt. Dronagiri, each campsite offers something unique. Compared to most other treks, Kuari Pass has some of the most picture-perfect campsites.
Every element of the Kuari Pass trek, from open views of Garhwal's most iconic peaks to camping experiences and a fantastic ridge walk, comes together to make it an adventure to cherish. Whether you’re a first-time trekker or a seasoned hiker, Kuari Pass promises memories that will last a lifetime.
Kuari Pass is a trek that takes you to a grand amphitheater offering the grandest views of Garhwal Himalayas. It offers some of Uttarakhand's most breathtaking mountain views, including the rare sight of Mt. Nanda Devi. From the start of the trek, you are greeted with incredible views of towering peaks, beautiful oak forests, and vast meadows.
It is a great reward for those exploring the Himalayas for the first time. It’s a moderate trek with amazing rewards — forest walks, ridge climbs, and the exciting climb to Kuari Pass. It’s an experience you’ll carry with you forever.
5 Reasons Why Indiahikes
We are known for our pioneering safety practices in trekking. Microspikes, oximeters, and BP checks became standards thanks to us. In the mountains, emergencies don't care who you're with—everyone knows that when trouble hits, you look for the yellow tents of Indiahikes. When you join our treks, we first make our No-Compromise Safety Promise. It’s our unwavering commitment to keep you safe, no matter what.
Our commitment to the environment is relentless. We don’t just encourage responsible trekking; we insist on it. That’s why our Green Trails principles are non-negotiable. They don’t involve just our trekkers or our staff members. Our entire trek processes and policies are designed to favour the environment, even if it is often counterintuitive to our business.
More than 30,000 trekkers trek with us every year. In addition, our outdoor learning division (InSoul) has participants from the who’s of the education organisation in India, from the IIMs to BITS to top international schools. More than 5,000 participants from these institutions trek with us annually. We do not spend a single rupee on advertising to get these participants. Our reputation precedes us.
We are pioneers in trekking. Since 2007, we have documented and brought out most of India’s famous treks: Roopkund, Rupin Pass, Buran Ghati, Kedarkantha, Kashmir Great Lakes, Tarsar Marsar, Phulara Ridge—the list goes on. In 2023-24 alone, we brought out nine new treks in Indian trekking. We know treks better than anyone. This comes directly from the reason why Indiahikes was born: to bring out trek information and enable trekkers to trek on their own. We believe everyone must trek.
We focus on designing transformative experiences. Our trek leaders conduct thought-provoking exercises that help you reflect and contemplate. This impact stays with you for a long time. Trekkers return feeling energised, more confident, or developing abilities to deal with difficulties. Many have changed careers, rethought their core values, become more humble, shown gratitude to others, or started a new fitness journey.
Trekker Reviews
Pravesh Kumar Yadav
Kuari Pass | 5th January, 2025
Vinnakota Priyatam Sai
Kuari Pass | 5th January, 2025
DAKSH Saroha
Kuari Pass | 5th January, 2025
Kuari Pass - Complete Trek Information
We have always wanted trekkers to be well-informed before they go on a Himalayan trek. Knowledge is the difference between a safe trek and a dangerous one. It’s also the difference between a wholesome experience and a superficial experience.
Use this section to learn about the Kuari Pass trek. It has in-depth information about each day of the trek, what to expect, and how you need to prepare for it. Many years of expertise have gone into this content. Trekkers find these extremely useful.
Photo Gallery
Did you know?
We have trekking summer camps for children on this trek
Specially designed for 10-14 year-olds, these experiential programmes teach life-changing lessons through the outdoors.
View trekking summer campsTrek Trivia
Things Nobody Tells You About Kuari Pass Trek
The Grand Mountain Views from Kuari Pass Trek
You see Mt. Nanda Devi from Gorson Bugyal to Auli. After you cross the Gorson Bugyal, the view disappears.
This view of Nanda Devi is one top reason why I would do the Kuari Pass trek.
Not only, Nanda Devi, you see other big mountains also, like the Dronagiri mountains. Dronagiri and Mt. Nanda Devi stand side by side. You seeNeelkanth, Chaukhamba, Hathi Ghoda all pretty close.
Do you know the story behind the naming of Kuari Pass?
The name Kuari Pass was coined in 1905. It was coined by Lord Curzon, who trekked from Ghat, Gwaldam to Kuari Pass. The trail is well known as Kuari Pass or Lord Curzon Trail now.
Before 1905, the locals did not take this pass and were fairly untouched. The pass was untouched because of the local deity.
Lord Curzon took this cue from the local language of what stands for Virgin land and termed it Kuari Pass.
There is another mystery about the name of Kuari Pass. It is said that there was a Japanese traveller who attempted to climb Nanda Devi with her daughter. But, unfortunately, they disappeared on this climb.
After multiple search attempts, the daughter was found on Kuari Pass, but the mother wasn't. Legend says that the daughter's name was Kurai and the mother's name was Nanda. Hence, the names were given to the mountains.
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