The short answer
Pindari Glacier Trek: what visitors should know first
A good first glacier trek for fit walkers, on a clear trail with villages and rest houses lower down. Allow about six days on foot. Not suitable for anyone with heart, lung or serious knee problems.
History and context
The story behind Pindari Glacier Trek
The Pindari Glacier was first surveyed in 1906 and has retreated by well over 2 km since then, according to successive surveys. The trail to it is one of the oldest and best-known treks in Kumaon.
Useful facts
Pindari Glacier Trek facts at a glance
- Location
- Bageshwar district, from Loharkhet or Kharkiya via Khati
- Altitude
- Zero Point about 3,700 to 3,800 m (12,200 to 12,500 ft)
- Experience type
- Glacier trek
- Known for
- Pindari Glacier, Nanda Kot views, Khati village
- Time or schedule
- About 6 days on foot; May to June and September to October
Why it matters
Why Pindari Glacier Trek is worth your time
The Pindari trail has drawn walkers since colonial times and is still the best-known glacier trek in Kumaon. It gives a clear, gradual approach to the outer edge of the Nanda Devi massif without technical climbing, and the villages of the Danpur area along the way make it a cultural walk as well as a mountain one.
The glacier is also a visible record of change. Surveys since 1906 show it has retreated by more than a kilometre in the first half of the 20th century and by about 1.5 km more between 1976 and 2014. The Pindar river it feeds joins the Alaknanda at Karnaprayag, one of the headwaters of the Ganga, so its retreat matters far downstream.
Highlights
What not to miss
- 01
Dhakuri Pass
A forested pass at about 2,940 m with the first wide views of the snow peaks.
- 02
Khati village
The last village on the trail, with terraced fields above the Pindar river.
- 03
Zero Point
The end of the walking trail, facing the glacier below Nanda Kot and Changuch.
Plan your visit
How to experience it
Most itineraries drive from Bageshwar to Loharkhet, at about 1,830 m, and climb over the Dhakuri Pass (about 2,940 m) to camp at Dhakuri. A newer road now reaches Kharkiya, below Khati, and some groups start from there instead. Khati, at about 2,230 m, is the last inhabited village on the route.
From Khati the trail follows the Pindar river through forest to Dwali, at about 2,630 m, where the Pindar and Kafni rivers meet, and then to Phurkiya, at about 3,210 m. From Phurkiya a long day goes up the moraine valley to Zero Point, which operators give as about 3,700 to 3,800 m (roughly 12,200 to 12,500 ft), facing the glacier and the peaks of Nanda Kot and Changuch. The walk back to Khati and Kharkiya takes two more days.
Simple government rest houses and homestays exist at some halts, but their condition and staffing vary, so most groups camp or book through an operator. The usual seasons are May to June and September to October; snow closes the upper trail in winter and the monsoon brings landslides.
Plan with confidence
Small decisions that make the visit easier.
- Book through a registered operator or hire a local guide in Loharkhet or Khati
- Start the Zero Point day early, before cloud builds
- Carry rain gear even in season
- Check the state of the Kharkiya road and the trail after the monsoon
- Carry all waste back down
Know before you go
Timing, access and comfort
- Area
- From Loharkhet or Kharkiya, about an hour's drive or more beyond Bageshwar, via Khati
- Time needed
- About 6 days on foot, plus a day's drive each way from Kathgodam
- Best time
- May to June and September to October
- Walking level
- Demanding
- Senior comfort
- The trail is well used, but the days are long and the last stretch to Zero Point climbs to about 3,700 to 3,800 m. Older travellers who are not trekkers should not attempt it. They can stay in Bageshwar or Kausani, or drive to the roadhead for the views while others walk.
- Tickets and access
- Check current forest entry and camping rules with the Bageshwar forest division or your operator; registered operators usually include forest charges. A local guide is strongly advised. Confirm current fees locally.
Best for
Plan it with
Plan the practical part
Hotels near Pindari Glacier Trek
Staying close keeps journeys short — useful for early starts and for anyone who tires quickly.
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Travelling with parents?
The trail is well used, but the days are long and the last stretch to Zero Point climbs to about 3,700 to 3,800 m. Older travellers who are not trekkers should not attempt it. They can stay in Bageshwar or Kausani, or drive to the roadhead for the views while others walk.
Raahzo can arrange an arrival or day companion who handles tickets, queues and pacing, and keeps the family updated.
See concierge supportFAQs
How many days does the Pindari Glacier trek take?
About six days on foot from Loharkhet or Kharkiya, plus travel to and from Bageshwar.
Can you walk onto the Pindari Glacier?
No. The trail ends at Zero Point, facing the glacier. Going beyond needs mountaineering equipment and experience.
When is the best time?
May to June and September to October. Avoid the monsoon and the winter snow.
Sources and further reading
- Wikipedia: Pindari Glacier
- Himalayan High: Pindari and Kafni glacier trek itinerary
- Bageshwar district: Adventures (Pindari, Kafni, Sunderdhunga)
- Uttarakhand Tourism: Pindari Glacier trek
Timings, fees and access rules change. Recheck with the official source before you travel.
