Brief Description
The Dharansi Pass trek through Lata Kharak is your closest encounter to the restricted Nanda Devi Sanctuary where the entry was banned till recently when it was partially opened for a limited number of visitors every year. Nanda Devi Sanctuary is situated in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. The spectacular panoramas of peaks encircling the National Park are Trishul (7120 m) Dunagiri (7066 m) Nanda Devi (7817 m) Nanda Devi East (7430 m) Bethartoli (6352 m) etc.With a limited number of trekkers allowed to enter the park, one tends to feel fortunate to have even entered. With abundance of Himalayan views and witnessing of the amassing flora & fauna of the region is sure to make Dharansi Pass Trek a lifetime memory for anyone who does this trek.
Itinerary
Itinerary
Show complete Itinerary
Rishikesh to Joshimath (253 Kms by Road)
Report at Rishikesh bus stand by 7 AM. Board a shared cab for Joshimath. Overnight stay at Joshimath in a hotel. The road journey is long, but scenic, passing via Devprayag, Srinagar, Rudraprayag, Karanprayag and Chamoli. Reach Joshimath by evening. Check into the hotel/Guest house rooms on twin sharing basis.
Joshimath to Lata Road Head to Lata Village (25 Kms by Road,1.5 Kms Trek)
Today is easy day with altitude gain of 350 M. This is so to get proper acclamatization for the trek ahead. The trail to lata Village is cemented & passes through village farms. Apple, apricot and walnut orchards on the way are a treat for the eyes.
Lata Village to Lata Kharak (9 Kms Trek)
Today is a steep ascent of about 1500 M. The walk usually takes about six to seven hours through constantly changing forests of deodar, chir and blue pines. Take the cemented trail that goes up from Lata Village towards Bhelta Village. We will have our first halt at Bhelta which is also a good camping site. After lunch head for lata Kharak which is 5 kms away from Bhelta. The camp/hut at Lata Kharak is situated on the height of 3700m approx. and is surrounded by towering Himalayan peaks. Overnight in camps.
Lata Kharak to Dharansi Pass Camp (10 Kms Trek)
Wake up to the sound of chirping birds & views of peaks like Mount Bithartoli-Himal (6354 m), Nanda Ghunti (6309 m), Ranthi Peak (6003 m) Dronagiri (7066 m) , and visible in some distance are Kuwari pass, Auli, Urgam Valley and Lata Village. After breakfast trek begins with a steep climb. After walking for couple of hours there is a bifurcation on the trail. The trail to the left goes to Jhandi Dhar. From Jhandi Dhar Further trek up to Bagfyana pass. From Bagfyana the trail passes through a very narrow gorge of Satkula with steep ascents and descents and finally one arrive at the meadows of Dharansi pass where we camp near the water point. Overnight in camps.
Dharansi Pass Camp to Debrugheta & back to campsite (14 Kms Trek)
Today you can leave your bags in the camp & carry a light daypack with you as we will be returning to the same camps. Start trek early in the morning & head for Debrugheta. Malthuni-Bethartoli ridge divides the Inner & outer boundary of Nanda Devi Sanctuary & it is the last point till where we are allowed to go. Debrugheta is at a lower altitude & one has to descend considerably to reach here. Start return trek early from Debrugheta as its going to be a tiring uphill.
Dharansi Campsite to Hitoli (12 Kms Trek)
Descend down to Jhandi Dhar. The descent is long & tiring . The trail after this is through forest of rhododendron, birch and Raga fur with many water points which is a very refreshing experience. Camp in Hitoli for the night.
Hitoli to Surai Thotha to Joshimath (8 Kms Trek, 30 Kms by Road)
Descent from Hitoli to village of Tomla by a picturesque deodar forest trail. Surai Thotha is another three kilometres below Tomla. The descent is steep again. From Roadhead board taxi for Joshimath.
Joshimath to Rishikesh (253 Kms by Road)
For people who have booked Joshimath to Joshimath
Trip ends here. Checkout of the Hotel/Guest house before 11:00 AM.
For people who have booked Rishikesh to Rishikesh
The vehicle will be ready by 8 AM outside hotel. Board vehicle & Leave for Rishikesh. Reach Rishikesh Bus Stand by evening. Trip ends here.
For people who have booked Delhi to Delhi
Board the Volvo Bus from Rishikesh Bus Stand at 9 PM. Trip ends here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Pick your question
Eligibility: Experience required
Should have at least 7-10 trek days in the Himalayas in their kitty. For the trek’s achieving more than 5000 metres, a person must have a prior experience of trekking at altitudes of or more than 3700 metres.
Eligibility: Fitness benchmark
- Jog/Run for 5 Kms in 25-30 mins or Walk continuously for 10 kms (with 3-4 small breaks) on plain terrain (slight incline is better) - You would be required to produce a screenshot from a fitness app testifying the same
- Hold your breath for 30-35 seconds
If you are not meeting these benchmarks, please use the preparation schedule to improve your fitness till you achieve the above benchmarks.
Eligibility: Requisite Skills
- Know campsite basics like how to use a sleeping bag, sleeping tet, toilet tent.
- Ascending & Descending technique for mountain trails
- Basic mountain mannerisms
- Ascending & Descending on snow
- Basics of Mountain Sickness
- Basics of Mountain Hazards
- How to cross small water streams
Packing List: What to pack
For packing list, refer to the blog section below.
Connectivity: How to Reach the base of the trek & how to go back from the end point?
The base of Dharansi Pass Trek is Joshimath. Joshimath is a small town, 290 km away from Haridwar, Uttrakhand. There are direct buses to Joshimath from Dehradun & Haridwar/Rishikesh. They leave early in the morning. One can also hire a private taxi from Haridwar, Rishikesh, or Dehradun to get to Joshimath.
Haridwar is easily accessible through road, rail, and air transport.
By Road:
There are no direct buses to Joshimath from Delhi. There You can take overnight UKRTC buses and Volvos available from ISBT Kashmere Gate, Delhi to Haridwar. The distance from Delhi to Haridwar is about 222 km. You can also hire a taxi or outstation cab from Delhi to Haridwar.
By Rail:
The nearest railway station to Joshimath is 187 km away in Haridwar. There are a number of trains running between Delhi and Haridwar like Dehradun Express, Nanda Devi Express. It is advisable to make your train bookings a month in advance.
By Air: The nearest airport from Joshimath is Jolly Grant airport in Dehradun which is 272 km away from Joshimath. You can reach Dehradun from New Delhi by flight.
Nearby attraction: What are the nearby attractions that I can explore?
Once your trek is completed, there are many places in Joshimath that you can visit. Nanda Devi National Park, a UNESCO heritage site, is where you get to spot some of the endangered species. Narsingh Temple is a sacred place in Joshimath visited by pilgrims in huge number. The temple is a part of Sapt Badri. Visit Shri Shankaracharya Math which is one of the four monasteries founded by famous Adi Jagadguru Shankaracharya. Kalpvriksh in Joshimath is a 1200 year old Mulberry is considered to be the oldest in India. The tree remains evergreen throughout the year and never sheds a leaf.
Best Season: What are the best months to visit this trek?
September - October
Connectivity: What is the cellular network connectivity for this trek?
Airtel, BSNL and Vodafone coverage till Munsiyari.
Age limit: What is the minimum & maximum age limit?
The minimum age limit is 13 years. However, minors aged between 13 to 17 should be accompanied with their parents or guardians. If you are above the age of 60, kindly carry a medical certificate from your doctor that deem you fit for adventure activities like trekking.
Why Bikat
Why Bikat
Learning Experience
- We are an Adventure Learning Organisation first.
- We want you to not just complete a trek safely but also pick up some basic trekking knowledge and skills along the way.
- To achieve this we have integrated learning modules into our itineraries.
- These modules will help you build the necessary skills to progress from trekking to mountaineering over time.
Loyality Programs
Our community is an integral part of us and we take pride in our trekkers and climbers. When you complete at least three days on any trek or expedition with us, you become eligible for our membership and referral programs.
- Currently we have three levels:
- Basic Membership
- Summiteer Membership
- Leader Membership
Personalized Attention
- Our group sizes on treks don’t exceed 15 members in order to maintain a healthy Participants : Leader Ratio of 8:1.
- Over time we have found this number to be optimum when it comes to ensuring personalised attention to every member of our group.
- On mountaineering expeditions this number is even smaller. Our group sizes are capped at 12 members ensuring a Participants : HAP Ratio of 2:1.
Best Expedition Leaders
- Our Expedition leaders are advanced mountaineering course qualified, specially trained in rescue procedures from NIM and certified first-aid responders.
- Even our local guides are certified first-aid responders.
Eco-friendly Practices
- Group sizes are capped at 15 people.
- Batch sizes are capped at 250 people per trail per season.
- We follow a rolling campsite model.
- We are constantly exploring and introducing new trails to reduce the burden on existing ones.
Safety
For us, a successful summit is not about reaching the highest point of a mountain but about making it safely back to base.
- To ensure this:
- Every region of ours is mapped with an emergency evacuation plan.
- The equipment we use is UIAA certified.
- Our trek leaders are AMC certified with specialisation in rescue procedures.
- Our support staffs are trained in first aid as well.
Reviews
What's Included
Whats Included
- Food as per menu on the trek
- Forest Permits/Camping Charges, if any (upto the amount charged for Indian nationals)
- Tents, Sleeping bags, Sleeping mats
- Safety Equipment includes static rescue rope, seat harness, carabiners, pulleys
- Trek guide, cook, helpers, and porters for carrying common supplies
- Mountaineering course certified Trek Leader with Wilderness Emergency Responder & Rescue. course from NIM Uttarkashi
Whats Not Included?
- Portage of personal bags during the trek
- Meals during road journeys
- Any Expense of personal nature.
- Cost of any kind of Travel Insurance.
- Any Expense not specified in the inclusions list.
Cancellation Policy
Cash Refund
Cancellations up to 30 days prior to departure date
5% Deduction
Between 30 days to 15 days prior to departure
50%
deduction
Less than 15 days of departure
No Cash Refund
Voucher Refund
Cancellations up to 5 days prior to departure date
No Deduction
Cancellations less than 5 days prior to departure
No Refund
Please note
- Cash refund is applicable only in case of bookings made without using any promotional offer code or vouchers.
- This is only a brief of cancellation terms. For finer details please refer Detailed Cancellation Policy.
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