Nanda Devi Trek: Alpine Passes & Remote Himalayan Villages — 14 Days
A 14-day trek through Garhwal and Kumaon, crossing high passes between the Ram Ganga and Gauri Ganga valleys in the shadow of India's second-highest peak.
Nanda Devi, at 7,817 meters, rises between the Garhwal and Kumaon districts near the Nepalese border as both India's geographical and spiritual centerpiece. This trek approaches it not by direct ascent but by traversing the valleys and high passes of its surrounding range — a region visited by few trekkers. The route begins with a day in Delhi, then moves by rail to Kathgodam and onward by road to the village of Supi, where the trek proper begins. Over the following ten days, walkers traverse alpine meadows, cross the Maa Dhari Pass (3,050m), Susungri Pass (3,150m), Sudam Khal Pass (3,950m), and Ruddhakhan Pass (3,415m), moving between the Ram Ganga watershed to the west and the Gauri Ganga to the east. The terrain combines forest walking through rhododendron and oak with high ridge traverses offering panoramic views of Nanda Devi, Nanda Devi East, and the five peaks of Panch Chuli. The trek passes through inhabited villages, shepherd camps, and meadows (kharkas) grazed seasonally by Gujjar herds. Campsites are positioned in clearings and ridge-top locations; the final descent reaches Munsiari, a small town marking the trek's end. The return to Delhi occupies two days of road and rail travel.
Highlights
- Forest and meadow trekking from Supi to Raj Kharka, ascending through rhododendron and oak with views of Nanda Devi, Nanda Devi East, and Nanda Kot
- High ridge traverse along an ancient stone-stepped trail to Thaltak (3,400m), featuring shepherds' routes and monsoon-era drainage engineering
- Excursion from Thaltak to Sudam Khal Pass (3,950m) with panoramic views of the five peaks of Panch Chuli and Nanda Devi across intervening ridges
- Crossing of Ruddhakhan Pass (3,415m) into the Gauri Ganga valley with views of Panch Chuli and descent into Munsiari
- Encounters with local Gujjar shepherds and inhabitants of remote villages including Supi, Patiyasar, Gogina, and Namik
Day by day
1Delhi: Arrival, City Tour & BriefingDelhi hotel · Chandni Chowk · Red Fort · New Delhi
Arrival at a centrally located Delhi hotel with airport transfers included. After lunch, a guided tour takes in the congested bazaars of Chandni Chowk and the Moghul-era Red Fort, followed by New Delhi's wide avenues and the Lutyens-designed Government Houses. Return to the hotel for dinner with the guide, who provides an informal briefing about the trek ahead.
2Shatabdi Express to Haldwani & Mountain Drive to KausaniShatabdi Express · Haldwani · Kausani · Delhi railway station
An early breakfast precedes your departure to the railway station for the five-hour Shatabdi Express journey to Haldwani (Kathgodam). The train ride itself becomes part of the experience—a passage from the crowded platforms of Delhi through the rustic scenes of rural India unfolding beyond the windows. This is Indian Railways as it unfolds: organized chaos giving way to countryside life.
Arriving at midday, you'll break for a packed lunch before continuing by road to Kausani. Perched at 1,890 meters on a ridge top in the Himalayan foothills, this picturesque hill station commands a sensational 300-kilometer panorama across the range. On clear days, Nanda Devi and the Panch Chuli peaks dominate the horizon. The drive itself reveals the landscape's layered beauty—from lower hills to alpine settlement.
Overnight in a simple but comfortable hotel.
3Munar to Supi: First Steps Along the Saryu RiverSupi · Khali Estate Resort · Munar village · Talai · Saryu River from Munar
After leaving Khali Estate Resort, a scenic three-hour drive carries you southeast via Bhageswar to the roadhead at Munar village. Your trek crew meets you here with lunch. This first stage of trekking begins in earnest after the meal, following the Saryu River from an elevation of 1,500 metres. The partly-jeep-road route ascends gently through the village of Talai, gaining approximately 370 metres over two hours to reach Supi, a settlement set at 2,000 metres. The walk is designed to ease you into the rhythm of trekking rather than challenge. Camp is established just before the village as the afternoon light softens. The day confirms what drew you here: a landscape shaped by water and altitude, quiet villages, and the rhythm of foot-fall on an old path.
4Mountain Villages & Forest: Rata Nigigula (2,250m)Supi · mountainsides cloaked in rhododendron, oak, and pine forest · Bhadra Tunga Temple at Patiyasar · Khalpatta · Rata Nigigula camp
The day begins on a jeep road through Supi, then contours above the river on mountainsides cloaked in rhododendron, oak, and pine forest. The path descends to a bridge near the Bhadra Tunga Temple at Patiyasar, where chortens mark the site. Beyond the bridge, the route climbs steeply through the village of Khalpatta and continues on the valley's south side opposite Mikila. The walk passes through inhabited hamlets and cultivated fields, with mule trains moving supplies between villages and children in the settlements. Rata Nigigula camp sits in a forest clearing at 2,250 meters. Total ascent: 600 meters; descent: 350 meters over nine kilometers in five hours of trekking.
5Forest Climb to Ridge & Raj Kharka (2,520m)Forest · Raj Kharka · Maa Dhari Pass · Rhododendron forest
The trail climbs steeply through forest and across small meadows (kharkas) grazed by Gujjar shepherds. Ascending through rhododendron, the path emerges onto open hillside revealing views of Nanda Devi, Nanda Devi East, and Nanda Kot. After three to four hours, the route turns north at a high path below a ridge crest (approximately 3,300m). A loose trail leads to the Maa Dhari Pass at 3,050 meters, where an alternative lower path is available for those preferring to avoid the ridge scramble. The crew and mules take a more direct path to the pass. Beyond it, a steep descent through forest reaches Raj Kharka, an idyllic forest clearing campsite at 2,520 meters. Total ascent: 900 meters; descent: 630 meters over eight kilometers in six to seven hours of trekking.
6Ram Ganga River Crossing to Namik (2,250m)Ram Ganga · Namik · Raj Kharka campsite · Gogina
Raj Kharka campsite faces east and receives early morning sun by 6 a.m. The morning walk offers views across the valley ahead and of Nanda Kot (6,860m), the dominant peak at the valley's head. The trail passes through the sprawling village of Gogina and contours around the northern valley slopes before descending to the Ram Ganga's banks at 1,800 meters. A long lunch break is taken in sunshine before a suspension bridge crossing to the river's east bank. The steep climb then ascends 500 meters to Namik village (2,250m), where camp is positioned just above the settlement overlooking the Ram Ganga. Total ascent: 500 meters; descent: 770 meters over nine kilometers in six hours of trekking.
7Ancient Stone Trail to Thaltak RidgeThaltak · ancient stone-stepped path · Susungri Pass
From camp, we pick up an ancient stone-stepped path that will eventually lead toward the Sudam Khal Pass. This trail, certainly centuries old, remains in excellent condition—a testament to its original engineers, who constructed it with drainage ditches to channel monsoon rains and incorporated stone steps to manage steep sections. Shepherds still use this route today, moving their flocks to higher pastures during summer months.
The path is a joy to walk. It climbs steadily through beautiful forest punctuated by clearings that offer superb views back toward Nanda Kot. After three to four hours, we reach the Susungri Pass (3,150m), where an obvious junction appears. We take the left fork, heading west and descending slightly into meadow.
From here, a short but steep climb leads to a notch in the ridge marked by a large white stone. Just beyond this point sits a basic hut—our lunch stop and campsite for the night at Thaltak (3,400m).
Camping. Ascent: 1,300 meters; descent: 150 meters over nine kilometers. Six to seven hours of trekking.
8Ridge Traverse to Sudam Khal Pass (3,950m)Sudam Khal Pass · trekker's hut · ridge crest at Ranthon · camp beside the hut
A full day's ridge walk departs from the trekker's hut just after dawn. The route climbs 700 meters in two hours to the ridge crest at Ranthon, where panoramic views open of the Panch Chuli peaks, particularly the pointed summit of Panch Chuli II. Nanda Devi and Nanda Devi East rise above the Kumaon's intervening ridges to the west. The trail continues along the ridge, sometimes traversing the crest and sometimes contouring across its western slopes, reaching Sudam Khal Pass (3,950m) after five hours. From the pass, the view extends to Kaguri Bhel Pass (4,800m) and across the high country to the east. The return to camp beside the hut is reached by mid-afternoon. Total ascent: 800 meters; descent: 800 meters over ten kilometers in seven to eight hours of trekking.
9Descent Through Forest to Baicham (2,650m)forest · Susungri Pass · Baicham campsite
A more leisurely day follows the previous day's exertion. After breakfast, the descent descends in one hour to the trail junction at Susungri Pass (encountered two days earlier), then continues downward in half an hour to a small stream. An undulating walk through forest follows, with a lunch break in a clearing. Beyond the Jhangu River, the path climbs to Baicham campsite (2,650m). Total ascent: 300 meters; descent: 1,050 meters over eight kilometers in five hours of trekking.
10Ruddhakhan Pass (3,415m) & Entry to Gauri Ganga ValleyRuddhakhan Pass (3,415m) · shepherd's hut in an open area at 3,060 meters
The day begins with a long, steady ascent through forest and meadow to Ruddhakhan Pass (3,415m). In clear weather, views of the five peaks of Panch Chuli and the Gauri Ganga valley below are among the trip's finest panoramas. From the pass, the descent reaches a shepherd's hut in an open area at 3,060 meters, offering excellent views particularly at sunset. This location serves as a superb campsite. Total ascent: 800 meters; descent: 390 meters over six kilometers in five hours of trekking.
11Descent to Munsiari (2,100m) & Trek ConclusionMunsiari
The trail descends and then contours across hillsides toward Munsiari through pleasant terrain with ever-changing panoramic views. The path winds through forest and across open slopes, with the town of Munsiari revealed only at the final corner, descending 1,110 meters over the day. A lunch stop with views of Panch Chuli marks the arrival at the road and the end of ten days without seeing other visitors. Munsiari is reached in the early afternoon; camp is established for the final night of trekking. The afternoon allows for a visit to the local market. Total ascent: 150 meters; descent: 1,110 meters over nine kilometers in five hours of trekking.
12Road Journey: Munsiari to Binsar via Mountain PassesMunsiari to Binsar · Binsar
The trek crew is bid farewell as the journey to Kathgodam commences, a long but scenic road route through the foothills to the North Indian plain (split over two days). Driving through forested hills, the road offers continuous views of Nanda Devi, Panch Chuli, Nanda Kot, and the western Nepalese peaks of Saipal and Api. Overnight is at a hotel in Binsar, just before Almora. Six hours of driving covers the day's distance.
13Haldwani & Return Train to DelhiHaldwani (Kathgodam) · Delhi hotel
The road journey continues through the Himalayan foothills, climbing over passes with distant mountain views, descending into river valleys, and passing through forests and villages until the final hill crest gives way to the vast North Indian plain. Haldwani (Kathgodam) is reached after a three-hour drive, in time for the mid-afternoon train back to Delhi. The journey arrives at the Delhi hotel in the evening.
14Delhi DepartureDelhi Airport
Your journey concludes after breakfast. Transfers to Delhi Airport are provided as part of your tour. Should you wish to extend your time in India, the team can arrange visits to Dharamsala, home of the Dalai Lama, the Taj Mahal, or a broader Golden Triangle exploration. Contact the office to discuss options.
Where you go
- 1Red Fort
Included
- A professional English speaking local leader
- Delhi Airport transfers (on group arrival and departure days only)
- All land transport involved in the itinerary
- All accommodation as described in the trip dossier
- All meals
- Guided sightseeing tour of Delhi
- Full trekking service including food and all equipment (excluding personal equipment)
Not included
- Travel insurance
- Indian Visa
- Tips for trek staff
- Miscellaneous expenses - drinks and souvenirs etc.
Activities: Walk & Trek