Overview
Ever imagined of traveling a high-altitude pass surrounded by grand Himalayan peaks or pristine lakes? Our 16-day Kalindi Khal Trek offers an extraordinary adventure into the Garhwal Himalayas. This challenging yet rewarding trek takes you through remote areas and breathtaking landscapes. You’ll witness stunning views of peaks like Shivling, Meru and Bhagirathi, travel glaciers and experience the raw beauty of the high-altitude terrain. This 15 nights 16 days trek is a test of your limits and an unforgettable journey into the soul of the mountains.
Tour Span: 15 Nights 16 Days
Locations Covered: Rishikesh – Uttarkashi – Gangotri – Cheerbasa – Bhojbasa – Tapovan – Nandanvan – Vasuki Tal – Khara Pathar – Sweta Glacier – Rajparaw – Kalindi Pass – Gastoli – Badrinath – Joshimath – Rishikesh
Detail Tour Plan:
Day 1: Rishikesh to Uttarkashi drive
Arriving in Rishikesh, we will begin the Kalindi Khal Trek. From there, we’ll drive to Uttarkashi, often referred to as northern Kasi due to its location on the right banks of the River Bhagirathi. Uttarkashi is known for its temples dedicated to Rishi Parasurama, the Datatreya Goddess Annapurna Devi, Goddess Kali, and Bhairon. We will stay overnight at a hotel or camp.
Day 2: Uttarkashi to Gangotri Drive
Gangotri is one of Uttarakhand's 4 major pilgrimage sites with stories of Bhagirath bringing the river Ganga from the heavens to this point. The elaborated version of Goddess Ganga – the daughter of heaven took the form of a river to absolve the sins of King Bhagirath’s predecessors, following his severe penance of various centuries.
Continue the trek to Gomukh. Several pilgrims undertake the journey to pay homage to the river at its known source. Stay overnight.
Day 3: Gangotri to Cheerbasa Trek
After breakfast, begin the trek to Cheerbasa – an easy climb and the route is filled with breathtaking views of the scenery unfolding itself at every step. Have lunch on the way and reach a small isolated forest for setting up a camp and night stay.
Day 4: Cheerbasa to Bhojbasa Trek
Day 4 starts with a slight uphill walk to the main trek and then gradually climbs to Gomukh. It’s a 9 km walk that takes around 4 to 5 hours to reach Bhojbasa. It is a small temple that used to be full of Birch trees, but unfortunately, you cannot find it anymore. Even though we camp right here at Bhojbasa, it is recommended that we take an uphill route back to acclimatize ourselves to the sudden decrease in oxygen levels. We stay overnight in tents.
Day 5: Bhojbasa to Tapovan Trek
After Gomukh, this trek is not so well defined, and it is such that one walks over boulder to boulder over the icy glacier. Crossing the moraine and glacier, we finally reach the Gangotri glacier below and take a steep uphill climb to Tapovan from the Shivling Peak. Witness the peaks of Bhagirathi & Sudershan from here and various untamed mountains. Stay overnight in tents.
Day 6: Day for leisure
Day 7: Tapovan to Nandanvan Trek
Descend to the Gangotri glacier and traverse around and then along the Gangotri and Chaturangi glaciers. The trek combines mountain and rock climbing with bouldering and glacier traversing.
Day 8: Nadanvan to Vasuki Tal Trek
Today, we’ll leave the meadow of Nandan Van and witness Bharal. We'll walk through high ridges and Lammergeyer to reach the Vasuki Tal, where we'll stay overnight in tents.
Day 9: Day for leisure
Day 10: Vasukital to Khara Pathar Trek
Embarking on a six-hour trek to Khara Pathar is worth it, as today, you get to witness one of the only two 7,000-meter-high mountains. Stay overnight in the camps.
Day 11: Trek Khara Pathar to Sweta Glacier
Today, we’ll walk around 10 kms to reach Sweta Glacier, which disappointingly isn’t the best place to camp as it is quite a moraine and full of giant boulders. Stay overnight.
Day 12: Sweta Glacier to Base Camp Trek
After spending half of the earlier day acclimatizing, we should now be ready to move ahead to cross the Sweta Glacier. Hiking up the big boulders and reaching Chatrungi glacier, is a major tributary of the main Gangotri glacier. With Chandra Parbat at 6728 m towering above us, we’ll reach the Kalindi Bhamak camp, in close vicinity to the Kalindi glacier. Stay overnight.
Day 13: Base camp to Rajparaw trek
Today, we’ll hike up the Kalindi Khal, which is not the easiest trek. It’s a pity that even though the summit camp for the Kalindi peak is right below this pass, we cannot attempt to climb it. For this expedition, one requires a climbing fee and permission from the Indian Mountaineering Foundation.
Once on the pass, you can make do with a spectacular and almost at reach view of Mt. Kamet, Mt. Mana, Abi Gamin and Mana Parbat. Witness the mountains of Gangotri Glacier: Chandra Parbat, Vasuki Parbat, and Bhagirathi Parbat. Stay overnight.
Day 14: Raj Paraw to Gastoli Trek
We’ll leave Raj Paraw early morning and trek to Gastoli via Arwatal. The trek is all through the moraine fields of the Arwa Glacier. The army-bound and inaccessible Mana Pass on the way to the Tibet border lies exactly northwards from this Tal. We follow the Arwa stream until we reach the river and witness the dramatic change in the terrain right before our eyes. Small patches of vegetation start to appear as we get close to Ghastoli. It has a considerable grass ground which is idle for camping and is an excellent site for eyes and feet sore and tired. Stay overnight in Gastoli.
Day 15: Gastoli to Badrinath Trek | Drive to Joshimath
As we approach our 15th day of trek, we’ll gradually descend downwards to Badrinath Trek. Witness the terrain changing and the route following River Saraswati to Mana and Badrinath. If we’re lucky, we can hitchhike an army truck as they come too often on this route to drop some food supplies at the army camp. If not it’s a good walk until we meet our awaiting vehicle at Mana to drive us towards Badrinath.
Badrinath is one of the four sacred dhams of India, where Hindu devotees mainly flock to worship the deity. Mt. Nilkantha lies just above Badrinath, literally meaning “Blue Throat,” one of Lord Shiva's 10008 names. Overnight will be in the hotel of Joshimath.
Day 16: Rishikesh departure
Today, check out from your place and leave for a journey back to Rishikesh, which ultimately marks the end of our gratifying and absolutely thrilling trek.