Day
0 |
Arrive
in Delhi : Check into your choice of hotel, preferably in
Central Delhi. |
Day
1 |
Take
the overnight train from Old Delhi railway station to Kathgodam
(Train No. 5013, Departure-22:40 hrs IST) |
Day 2 |
Arrive
at Kathgodam 06:30 hrs. Received by Wayfarer escort and
transferred to waiting vehicle after brief rest. Drive to
Vijaypur (210 kms, 6 hrs). Check in at Wayfarer
Retreat Vijaypur |
Day
3 |
After
breakfast drive to Munsyari (115 kms, 4 hrs) along a road
that winds itself up to a height of 2748 mts before descending
into the glorious Munsyari valley. Check in at Wayfarer
Mountain Resort Munsyari
for a good resto the glorious Munsyari valley. Check in
at the Mountain Resort for a good rest |
Day
4 |
After
breakfast drive for 6kms to Dumar and then the trek begins.
Our destination is past Lilam village to Rargari (10 kms)
where we camp for the night |
Day
5 |
Today
is a strenous walk along a gorge past the Gori Ganga river.
The route is fairly up and down but generally eases off
before reaching the camp site at Mapang (3100 mts, 9 kms) |
Day
6 |
You
are in high mountain country now and the tree line disappears
giving access to vast stretches of Alpine pastures. The
day's walk is past Lhaspa and Rilkot to a magnificent and
deserted hamlet called Martoli (3385 mts, 12 kms) |
Day
7 |
From
Martoli you will continue to Ganghar (3260 mts, 12 kms).
Throughout the day one gets intermittent views of magnificent
Himalayan peaks and just after reaching campsite you will
glimpse Nanda Devi East. |
Day
8 |
It
is the big day when you walk form Ganghar to Pachu (3950
mts, 6 kms) and the camp site is an exquisite location.
An Alpine meadow laden with rhododendron bushes blooming
pink and white, stretches of glacial ice and the massive
Nanda Devi looming infront ... it is just another 5 kms
away |
Day
9 |
How
can you walk away from here ? It is a day to rest and simply
enjoy yourself in this magnificent location. Options include
the hike up to the snow ridges of Nanda Devi East and a
visit to the base of Nanda Lampak (5782 mts.). There have
been several sightings of bluesheep in the region |
Day
10 |
It
is time to return and we descend from Pachu to Burfu (3350
mts, 13 kms). The scenary is exciting as the valley opens
up. The north faces of the Nanda Devi peaks, several peaks
on the Nanda Devi Sancturay wall and Hardeol group are visible.
Our camp site is close to the Gori Ganga River amidst a
lushgreen meadow |
Day
11 |
Burfu
to Milam (3452 mts, 8 kms). The day's walk from Burfu offers
some spectacular scenery. The north face of Nanda Devi Peaks,
several peaks on the Nanda Devi Sanctuary wall and Hardeol
group are visible particularly from Bilju village which
is about 4 km ahead. The trail leads to Milam (place of
meeting) which is a large village, that is quite deserted.
We camp on the outskirts of the village |
Day
12 |
Visit
Milam Glacier - Today we spend most of our time in exploring
the Milam glacier. A two hour walk takes us to the tip of
Milam glacier - it is the largest glacier in the Kumaon
Himalaya |
Day
13 |
Milam
to Rilkot (3250 mts, 17 kms). The return trip commences
in a downhill gradient. We camp at Rilkot for the night |
Day
14 |
Rilkot
to Bugdyar (2700 mts, 12 kms). This is a steady walk and
mostly downhill past the villages of Lhaspa, Mapang and
the narrow gorge at Nahar Devi |
Day
15 |
Bugdyar
to Lilam (1810 mts, 12 kms). We walk downhill all throughout
and reach camp site by late afternoon |
Day
16 |
Lilam
to Munsyari (2290 mts, 12 kms). We retrace our steps along
the Gori river past Jimi ghat to Dumar(8kms) from where
we board a jeep that takes us to the Wayfarer
Mountain Resort Munsyari.
We arrive here by noon |
Day
17 |
Munsyari
to Ranikhet (240 kms). It is time to bid farewell to Munsyari
and its mountains. Today we board a vehicle that drives
us to Ranikhet through Vijaypur, Bageshwar and Kausani.
We checkin for the night at Wayfarer
Solitaire Ranikhet |
Day
18 |
Ranikhet
to Kathgodam (90 kms). Today is another day when we can
chill out and relax. Late afternoon we board a vehicle that
drives us to Kathgodam. There is also the option of leaving
Ranikhet after breakfast and driving to the legendary Jim
Corbett Park. The train to Delhi departs from Kathgodam
at 20:40 hrs |
|
NANDA
DEVI BASE & MILAM GLACIER TREK :
The people
of Johar, as the Milam valley is locally known, were traders whose
caravans crossed from India into Tibet by the high passes of Unta
Dhura and Kungribhingri La. Once the trading season was over the
entire population of Milam and the surrounding areas migrated to
Munsyari or lower during winter. Trade stopped with the Indo-China
conflict of 1962 and these once prosperous villages are now deserted.
However the trail still exists, linking the villages and beckoning
trekkers. Munsyari
is the starting point of this trek and Wayfarer offers you a combined
itinerary that includes a visit to the Nanda Devi base camp area
followed up by a trip to Milam glacier. Initially five days of walking
takes you to Pachu (3950 mts, 60 kms) the base camp area for Nanda
Devi East. The location is exquisite and we usually spend a full
day over here. We then return from Pachu to camp at Burfu, across
th Gori Ganga river. From Burfu we ascend to Milam where we spend
a day and then return to Wayfarer
Mountain Resort Munsyari.
