Tour overview

This trek is known for its summit climb. For anyone who has done this trek, that will be the first thing to recall about their trek. The summit day is for one very long. You climb over lots of boulders covered over snow, feeling your feet every step of the way.

As you climb high, you also traverse lots of tricky, steep and exposed sections which adds to the thrill and adventure. You also climb till 15,069 ft, almost 4,000 ft up and down on the summit day. All of this makes this trek a very exciting and adventure filled one.

Grand views of the Greater Himalayan Range

While the summit climb in itself leaves you with a strong adrenaline rush, what adds to this experience is the mountain views you get from the top. All along the trek you are accompanied along with grand views of a big part of the Greater Himalayan Range. And at the summit, you are surrounded by them and they all stand so close to you. This feeling is unparalleled and very hard to find in any other treks in the Himalayas. You are surrounded by a 360 degree view of Hathi Parbat, Mana Mandir, Kamet, Nanda Devi, Dronagiri, Chaukhamba, Ghori Parbat and many more peaks that are steeped in mythology and mountaineering stories.

Camping at Khullara

Very few campsites in the Himalayas can compare to Khullara. Khullara is a big open ground surrounded by dense beautiful forests and the grand mountain views. The forests for one are a highlight themselves, providing the setting of a forest in a fairy tale.

And when you trek in March and April, they are filled with blooming Rhododendrons, providing colors to the already beautiful forest. Being in Khullara will definitely transport you to a different world altogether. And what more, you get to spend two days in this campsite (including the acclimatization day).

Even if you leave these aspects out, the Pangarchulla Peak is a superb trek. The beautiful sights and challenges of the trek make it a trek worth doing.

Included

  • Accommodation – Stay is included from Day 1 to Day 6 (Auli to Tapoban). You will be staying in Guest house at Auli and camping on remaining days of the trek (3 per tent).
  • Meals – All meals from dinner at Auli on Day 1 to breakfast at Auli on Day 7 are included. We provide simple, nutritious vegetarian food on all days of the trek.
  • Camping charges – All trekking permits and forest camping charges are included.
  • Trekking equipment – High-quality tents, sleeping bags, ice axes, roped, microspikes, gaiters etc. as required.
  • Safety equipment – First aid, medical kit, oxygen cylinders, stretchers etc.

Not Included

  • Transport to and from the base camp – We will arrange shared taxis for trekkers to pick you up from Rishikesh and drop you back. This will cost approx. Rs. 6,000 per 5-6 seater vehicle one way. You will have to share this cost with the other trekkers
  • Food during transit to and from the base camp
  • Backpack offloading charges – Rs. 1,250+ 5% GST for the entire trek. The backpack cannot weigh more than 9 kg. Suitcases/strollers/duffel bags will not be allowed.
  • Anything apart from inclusions

Day 1: Reach Auli, the base camp for Pangarchulla trek, by evening

The Pangarchulla trek begins from Auli. The drive from Rishikesh to Auli is beautiful. The road chugs along tributaries of the Ganges. It hugs the mountain side and you get views of the vast valleys and forests of Garhwal. You will reach Auli by 5.00 pm.
Altitude: 8,790 ft
Time taken: 8-10 hours

Day 2: Trek from Auli to Tali

Trek distance: 4 km | Duration: 5-6 hours
Altitude gain: 8,790 ft to 10,908 ft

Trek gradient: Moderate. Continuous ascent – steep for the first 20 minutes followed by 45 minutes gradual ascent. Steep again for 60-70 minutes followed by a mix of gradual and steep ascents for 1.5-2 hours
Water sources: Carry 2 litres of water. There is one water source around 2.5 hours into the trek, after you have crossed Upper Tugasi village.
Auli is a prominent location for skiing. At the rain shelter, the trail turns sharply to the right and you’ll have the valley to your left. You can see it curving around the mountains up ahead. The trail for the next 45 minutes ascends gradually, with a few switch backs in between. It leads you to Lower Tugasi. You will find multiple trails leading out of Lower Tugasi. Take the one that goes past the two water based flour mills and turns steeply to the left. This trail climbs rapidly to Upper Tugasi through several switch backs. You will pass a lot of cultivated land here – wheat fields, poppy, cultivated flowers. You will also see streams that feed the flour mills below. Avoid drinking from these since the water is not clean. You will reach Upper Tugasi in 30-40 minutes.
The trek begins with an ascending, dirt trail that leads away from the main road, towards Tugasi village. This is the trail going inside the village. You will reach a T point where you need to take a sharp left. The trail goes through a series of level walks and gradual ascents along farms. The mountain ridge here is barren with few or no presence of snow-fall in winter season. Look out below for Dhauli-Ganga River forging its way past Vishnugad-Tapovan Hydro Power Station. The trail is well defined and meanders along the mountain ridge with a series of steep and gradual ascents. Observe a rain shelter at a distance ahead on the trail. This shelter is the first landmark of the trek before reaching Kharchi Village. This takes around 20 minutes to reach.

Day 3: Rest day at Tali

Acclimatization day at 10,908 ft altitude

Trek gradient: Moderate. Moderate ascent all the way to Khullara
Water sources: You can refill your water bottles from streams along the trail.
The trail today ascends all the way to Khullara but it’s not as steep as the previous day. Within 40 minutes of starting from Guling, you reach the first clearing. You will be surrounded by oak forests on all sides. Continue on the trail leading into the forest. You will reach the second clearing after about an hour. All this time, you will cross small streams along the trail. The water in them is clean and you can drink it. Throughout the day, you see Dronagiri to the left, slightly at the back. You will also get glimpses of the Hathi Ghoda peaks. The peek-a-boo that the mountains play through the forests makes for very enchanting sights. The Khullara campsite is located in a clearing.

Day 4: Trek from Tali to Khullara

Trek distance: 5-6 km | Duration: 3 -4hours
Altitude gain: 110,908 ft to 11,010 ft

Trek gradient: Moderate. Gradually ascending trail.
Water sources: None. Carry 2 litres of water
The trail to Khullara begins to climb steeply out of the tree line. In 1-1.5 hours you reach a ridge, which is a part of Lord Curzon’s trail. From here 360 degree views of the Himalayas open up before you. On one side you see Chaukhamba, Neelkanth, Dronagiri, Nilgiri and Hathi Ghoda peaks. Straight ahead of you are Trishul and parts of Nanda Devi. Continue on this trail to reach the upper grasslands.
If you trek up to Kuari top it is a moderate climb with a few switch backs. It will take you 40 minutes to reach the top

Day 5: Trek from Khullara to Pangarchulla Summit and return to Khullara

Day 5: Trek from Khullara to Pangarchulla Summit and return to Khullara
Trek distance: 12 km | Duration: 12-16 hours
Altitude gain: 11,010 ft to 15,609 ft
Trek gradient: Difficult. Initial gradual ascent followed by steep ascent over snow/boulders
Water sources: One source, around 3-4 hours into the trek. Carry 2 litres of water and refill your bottles completely at the source. Start early at 4 am, as the summit needs to be reached before 11 am.

From Khullara Campsite, walk towards the forest ridge ahead of you as you connect with famous Lord Curzon Trail. The initial 30 to 45 minutes of the trek is through a forest ridge along a frozen rivulet. This section will be found buried in huge accumulation of snow. The ascent of about 100 meter is stiff. Carefully climb up the snow ridge section until you see a vast snow field in front of you. Observe the snow gully above you in the middle. That is the point where one has to reach. The incline gets steep as you walk on soft powdered snow. You finally leave the forest line behind you. Wear a sunglasses to avoid snow blindness.

Day 6: Trek from Khullara to Karchhi. Drive to Tapoban

Trek distance: 6.5 km| Duration: 8-9 hours
Altitude loss: 11, 010 ft to 6,900 ft
Trek gradient: Difficult.
Water sources: You can refill your water bottles at Padiyar and once you enter Auli. Begin the trek today with a moderate climb to Tali lake. This should take you around 40 minutes. At Tali lake, you’re above the tree line so you start getting mountain views again.
A 20 minutes steep climb from Tali lake brings you to an overhanging trail which cuts through a cliff. Continue on this trail. You can spot Lower and Upper Tugasi villages way below in the valley and also see rhododendron forests form above. After about 40 minutes of moderate ascent, the overhanging trail ends abruptly at Gorson Bugyal.
At Gorson Bugyal, the trail turns sharply to the left. Wide mountain views open up to the right and behind you. You will trek across the entire length of Gorson Bugyal, which gives you enough time to savour the views. This is a lovely, descending walk. In 2-2.5 hours you will reach Padiyar. From here, the trail enters an oak forest. Within 15 minutes you reach Padiyar temple. You can take a break here if you wish.
From Padiyar temple, the trail continues to descend. Upper Auli, which is the end of the ski lift (number 10), appears in 10-15 minutes. Auli is 1,000 ft below this. You will reach after gradually descending through the meadows for 1-1.5 hours. The trail in this section is quite populated.

Day 7: Drive back from Tapoban to Rishikesh

Please note, the Pangarchulla trek has issues related to availability of water in the natural water sources. Campsites may vary at times depending on availability of water.