Kuari Pass Trek 2026-27 | 5 Days from Rishikesh ₹8500

Where does the Kuari Pass trek start and end?
In Rishikesh. Pickup is at 7:00 am from 60s Tapovan Cafe, Tapovan, Rishikesh on Day 1, and drop is at the same place around 9:00 pm on Day 5. The 255 km drive to Tugasi base camp takes 9 to 10 hours via Devprayag, Rudraprayag, Karnaprayag and Joshimath.

How do I reach Rishikesh from Delhi?
By bus, take an overnight Uttarakhand Roadways or private Volvo bus from Kashmere Gate ISBT to Rishikesh (6–7 hours). By train, go to Haridwar or Yog Nagari Rishikesh station, then take a taxi to Tapovan. By air, fly to Jolly Grant Airport, 35–45 minutes from Tapovan. Reach Rishikesh the evening before, because the vehicle leaves at 7:00 am sharp.

Stay, Food and Facilities

Where do we stay, and how many people share a tent?
You stay in tents on all 4 nights: Tugasi base camp, Gulling, then two nights at Khullara. Tents are shared by three people, or two on request. Women share only with women.

What food is served on the trek?
Freshly cooked vegetarian food from dinner on Day 1 to breakfast on Day 5. Each trekking day you get breakfast (chai, paratha, pickle, bread and jam), lunch, evening chai with Maggi or soup, and dinner (roti, sabzi, dal or local rajma, rice, papad and salad). Vegetarian food is easier to digest at altitude.

Are there toilets on the trek?
Yes. Every campsite has a toilet tent with a portable toilet seat. Carry plain toilet paper. Don't use wet wipes, because they are not biodegradable.

Is there mobile network on the trek?
You may get a weak signal at Tugasi. After that there is no network until you return on Day 5, so tell your family you will be offline for 3 days.

Is there an ATM near the trek?
Carry enough cash before you leave Rishikesh. There are ATMs in Joshimath, but none at Tugasi or on the trail.

Safety and Health

Is the Kuari Pass trek safe for women?
Yes. Women share tents only with other women, and groups are mixed, with roughly 3 women for every 7 men. A trained trek leader and support team stay with the group for the whole trek and check everyone's health every morning and evening. Solo female trekkers are welcome.

Can I join the Kuari Pass trek alone?
Yes. We run daily departures for solo trekkers as well as fixed group batches. You join a group of up to 20 trekkers at the pickup point in Rishikesh. You arrive as strangers and leave as friends.

How fit do I need to be?
You should be able to jog 5 km in 35 to 40 minutes without stopping. Start jogging and stair climbing 4 to 6 weeks before the trek. The fitter you are, the more you will enjoy summit day.

Who leads the trek?
An experienced trek leader with a Basic Mountaineering Course (BMC) certificate and first-aid training [CONFIRM]. They are supported by local guides, cooks and helpers from the Joshimath area who know the trail in every season.

What happens in a medical emergency?
Your trek leader carries a mountain first-aid kit, an oxygen cylinder and an oximeter, and checks everyone's oxygen level and pulse every morning and evening. Anyone showing signs of altitude sickness is taken down with a staff member, because losing height is the fastest treatment. Serious cases are brought down to Tugasi and driven to the nearest hospital in Joshimath.

Why are alcohol and smoking not allowed?
Alcohol dehydrates you, disturbs your breathing during sleep at altitude and can hide the early signs of acute mountain sickness (AMS). Smoking reduces the oxygen your blood can carry, which is already lower at 11,000 ft. Both raise your risk of AMS, so neither is allowed on the trek.

Do I need a permit?
Yes, a forest permit is required, and we arrange it for you. You must carry an original government photo ID with one photocopy (Aadhaar, driving licence, passport or voter ID), plus a medical certificate signed by a doctor. Without these the forest department will not let you start.

Is there an age limit?

Trekkers aged 10 to 60 can join. Trekkers over 60 need a doctor's fitness certificate.

Booking and Cost

How much does the Kuari Pass trek cost?
₹8,500 per person, Rishikesh to Rishikesh. This includes transport to base camp and back, 4 nights in tents, all meals at camp, permits, camping equipment and the trek team.

How do I book?
Pay ₹2,000 online to confirm your seat. Pay the remaining ₹6,500 on the spot at the pickup point in Rishikesh on Day 1.

Can I offload my backpack?
Yes. A mule or porter can carry your main backpack for an extra charge. Ask for it when you book, and you carry only a daypack.

What if bad weather or a road block delays the trek?
Your trek leader decides each morning, based on weather and snow, whether it is safe to go on. If the pass is not safe, the group turns back. Any extra costs from bad weather, landslides or road blocks, such as an extra night's stay, are paid by trekkers on the spot.


 

How Difficult Is the Kuari Pass Trek?

Moderate | Level 1 | Suitable for fit beginners

Kuari Pass is a moderate trek, and fit beginners can do it. There is no technical climbing, and the trail is clear. You walk 26 to 28 km over 4 trekking days and climb about 4,500 ft, from Tugasi base camp (8,000 ft) to the pass (12,516 ft). What makes it moderate rather than easy is the altitude, a few steep stretches and the cold.

• Trail: forest paths, meadows and an open ridge. No rock climbing, ropes or glacier.
• Walking per day: 2 to 6 hours
• Highest point: 12,516 ft (3,815 m)
• Highest campsite: Khullara, about 11,000 ft (3,350 m)
• Snow: on the upper trail from late December to mid-March

What Makes It Moderate

1. A big altitude jump on Day 1. The bus takes you from Rishikesh (about 1,100 ft) to Tugasi (about 8,000 ft) in one day. Rest that evening, drink plenty of water and don't skip dinner.

2. A steep first trekking day. Tugasi to Gulling is only 3 km, but it climbs about 1,400 ft through the forest. Go slowly and take short breaks.

3. Summit day. The first 1 to 1.5 hours out of Khullara are steep. After that, a gentler 40-minute walk brings you to the pass. You are on your feet for 5 to 6 hours, between 11,000 and 12,516 ft, where each breath carries less oxygen.

4. A long descent. On Day 5 you walk 9 km downhill and drop about 3,000 ft. This is hard on the knees, so use a trekking pole.

5. Cold nights. Khullara sits in an open meadow at about 11,000 ft. It drops below freezing at night in every season we run, and to between –5 and –12 °C in winter. Strong winds can make it feel colder.

What Makes It Doable for Beginners

No technical sections. Our out-and-back route doesn't use the narrow ledge walk near Gorson Bugyal that some other Kuari Pass itineraries take.

Safe altitude gain. Above 3,000 m, our sleeping altitude never rises by more than 500 m in a night, which is the limit mountain doctors recommend.

Two nights at Khullara. You sleep at the same camp before and after summit day, which helps your body adjust, and you climb to the pass with only a light daypack.

Short trekking days. No day is longer than 6 hours of walking, so there is time to rest at every camp.

Daily health checks. Your trek leader checks everyone's oxygen level and pulse every morning and evening, and carries an oxygen cylinder and a mountain first-aid kit.

How the Season Changes the Difficulty

Mid-November: a dry trail and the easiest walking, but clear skies bring very cold nights.

December to mid-March: snow on the upper trail makes the walking slower and harder. We provide microspikes and gaiters. Fresh snowfall can hide the trail, and your trek leader decides each morning whether it is safe to continue to the pass.

Mid-March to April: melting snow leaves slushy, slippery patches, especially on the descent. Shoes with a good grip matter.

Who Can Do This Trek

First-time Himalayan trekkers who are fit. Your target is to jog 5 km in 35 to 40 minutes without stopping (see How to Get Fit for the Kuari Pass Trek above).

Age:10 years and above; trekkers over 60 need a fitness certificate

Check with your doctor before booking if you have high blood pressure, a heart or lung condition, asthma or diabetes, or have had surgery in the last year. Every trekker needs a doctor-signed medical certificate.

Altitude sickness (AMS) can affect anyone, however fit they are. Tell your trek leader straight away if you get a headache, nausea, dizziness or unusual tiredness.

The Bottom Line

How hard Kuari Pass feels depends mostly on your preparation. If you train for 6 weeks and pack the right layers, you will find it very manageable and enjoy every view. If you skip both, even the easier days can feel tough.

How to Get Fit for the Kuari Pass Trek

Kuari Pass is a moderate trek, and fit beginners do it every season. Being fit is what makes the difference between enjoying the views and just getting through the day. Start training 6 weeks before your trek date. If you already run or play a sport, 3 to 4 weeks is enough.

Your Fitness Target

By the time you leave for Rishikesh, you should be able to:

• Jog 5 km in 35 to 40 minutes without stopping
• Climb 10 floors of stairs with a 5 kg backpack without a break
• Walk for 3 hours with a 6 to 8 kg backpack and feel fine the next morning

If you can do all three, you are ready for Kuari Pass.

Why Each Day Needs Training

Day 2, Tugasi to Gulling: a steep 3 km climb that gains about 1,400 ft. Stair climbing builds the leg strength for this.

Day 3, Gulling to Khullara: 5 to 6 hours on your feet. Long walks build the endurance.

Day 4, summit day: 5 to 6 hours between 11,000 and 12,516 ft, often on snow in winter. There is less oxygen up here, so your heart and lungs work harder. Jogging trains them.

Day 5, Khullara to Tugasi: 9 km downhill, losing about 3,000 ft. Descents are hard on the knees. Slow squats and step-downs protect them.

6-Week Training Plan

Weeks 1 and 2: Build the base

• Brisk walk or easy jog 3 km, 4 days a week
• Strength, 2 days a week: 3 sets of 12 squats, 3 sets of 10 lunges per leg, and a 30-second plank, 3 times
• Climb stairs for 10 minutes once a week

Weeks 3 and 4: Add distance and load

• Jog 4 km, 4 days a week. Try to run the whole distance without walking breaks.
• Climb stairs for 15 to 20 minutes, twice a week, carrying a 5 kg backpack
• Strength, 2 days a week: 3 sets of 15 squats, 3 sets of 12 lunges per leg, and 3 sets of 12 step-ups per leg on a stair or bench

Week 5: Train like the trek

• Jog 5 km, 4 days a week, and time yourself once
• One long walk or hill hike of 2 to 3 hours with a 6 to 8 kg backpack. Include uphill and downhill stretches if you can.
• Walk down stairs slowly for 10 minutes after each stair session. This trains your knees for Day 5.

Week 6: Test and rest

• Early in the week, take the three fitness tests above
• Last 3 days: light walks and stretching only
• Rest completely for the 2 days before the trip. Day 1 is a 9 to 10 hour drive, and your legs should be fresh for the climb on Day 2.

Can't Run? Here Is an Alternative

If running is hard on your joints, brisk walk 6 km in under an hour, 5 days a week, and double the stair sessions. You can also cycle for 45 minutes at a steady pace in place of a jog. The stair target with a backpack stays the same.

Train in Your Trek Gear

Do your long walks and stair sessions in the trekking shoes and backpack you will carry on the trek. New shoes cause blisters, and training in them breaks them in. A backpack that fits badly will show up in training, not on the mountain.

On the Trek Itself

Walk at a pace where you can still talk in full sentences. Drink 3 to 4 litres of water a day, even when it is cold. Take short, regular breaks instead of long stops.

Being fit does not protect you from altitude sickness. Anyone can get it, however fit they are. Tell your trek leader at once if you have a headache, nausea, dizziness or unusual tiredness.

Check with Your Doctor First If…

You have high blood pressure, diabetes, asthma, a heart condition, or have had surgery or a serious injury in the last year. You need a doctor-signed medical certificate for the trek anyway, so use that visit to talk about your training plan