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Adi Kailash Trek

Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand

Moderate6 daysBest May–Jun, Sep–OctSnow trek

Snow-covered Adi Kailash peak under a clear blue sky, reflected in a reedy high-altitude pool4,600 mhighest point3 Photos
Max altitude
4,600 m
Days
6 days
Distance
6 km
Difficulty
Moderate

Best months May–Jun, Sep–Oct

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

The walk itself is short (about 1 km to Parvati Sarovar and 2 km more to Gauri Kund, then back) on rocky glacial ground, but it is done at 4,500-4,600 m after a fast road climb from Dharchula at about 940 m, so altitude sickness is the real challenge.

Photos

On the trail

Snow-covered Adi Kailash peak under a clear blue sky, reflected in a reedy high-altitude pool
Snow-covered Adi Kailash peak under a clear blue sky, reflected in a reedy high-altitude poolPhoto: Geet Arts · CC BY-SA 4.0

1 / 3

The route

Day by day

  1. Day 1

    Kathgodam → Dharchula

    By road · 10 h · Guesthouse

    554 m → 940 m

  2. Day 2

    Dharchula (collect Inner Line Permit) → Gunji

    By road · 5 h · Homestay

    940 m → 3,200 m

  3. Day 3

    Gunji → Gunji (via Om Parvat darshan at Nabidhang, by road)

    By road · 5 h · Homestay

    3,200 m → 4,300 m → 3,200 m

  4. Day 4 · highest point

    Gunji (drive to Jolingkong) → Gunji (via Parvati Sarovar and Gauri Kund on foot)

    6 km · 8 h · Homestay

    3,200 m → 4,600 m → 3,200 m

  5. Day 5

    Gunji → Dharchula

    By road · 5 h · Guesthouse

    3,200 m → 940 m

  6. Day 6

    Dharchula → Kathgodam

    By road · 10 h · No overnight

    940 m → 554 m

Ups and downs

Altitude profile

3,0003,5004,0004,5005,000Gunji (drive to Jolingkong): 3,200 m, 0 kmDay 4 high point: 4,600 m, 3 kmGunji (via Parvati Sarovar and Gauri Kund on foot): 3,200 m, 6 km
Metres above sea level · distance 6 km

Where it is

Map

Download GPX waypoints

Trailhead and high point only — not a recorded track. Use it with a proper map.

Weather

Next 5 days on the trail

Live forecast for the trailhead and the high point. Mountain weather changes fast — check again on the morning you start.

Each day: high / low °C · rain mm and chance · snow cm · wind km/h

Weather data: Open-Meteo.comModel forecast, not an official warning. For alerts follow IMD and the local administration.

Plan the trip

How to reach

Trailhead
Jolingkong (nearest town: Dharchula)
Nearest railway
Kathgodam (Tanakpur is the other railhead)
Nearest airport
Pantnagar Airport
By road
Kathgodam to Dharchula (about 270 km); Dharchula to Gunji or Nabi (about 70-80 km); Gunji to Jolingkong via Kuti (about 35 km on the road to Jolingkong; vehicles stop at Jolingkong)
Drive
About 11 h from Kathgodam

Plan the trip

Permits and fees

We could not confirm the current permit rules and fees from an official source. Check with the local forest department or tourism office before you go.

Plan the trip

Cost

Self-guided

₹12,000–22,000

With an operator

₹37,800–44,100

Per person, ex-Kathgodam (KMVN also runs from Dharchula and Tanakpur). Guided prices published 2026: KMVN (Uttarakhand government corporation) ₹37,800 ex-Dharchula and ₹44,100 ex-Tanakpur (₹52,500 ex-Delhi); Himalayan Dream Treks ₹40,000 + 5% GST ex-Kathgodam for 7 days. Self-guided is an estimate: shared taxi Kathgodam-Dharchula and back, a shared local 4x4 in the Vyas valley (about ₹3,000-5,000), 4-5 homestay nights at about ₹1,000-1,500 with meals, and the Inner Line Permit and medical paperwork at Dharchula.

Gear

Top picks for this trek

The gear that matters most on this route, chosen from its altitude, season and risks.

See the full packing checklist

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Packing checklist

Matched to this trek: altitude, season, days and the risks on the route.

Packed 0 of 34

Nights near 4,600 m can drop close to freezing even in summer. Pack one more warm layer than you think.

Tick each item as it goes in the bag.

What to wear
Pack and gear
Sleeping

Many trek operators provide tents and sleeping bags. Ask before you buy.

Safety
Water and food
Documents and money
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Know before you go

Good to know

Mobile network
Mobile signal is very limited beyond Dharchula; expect long stretches with none in the Vyas valley.
Last ATM
Dharchula
Nearest hospital
Dharchula for first care (permits and medical check-up are done here); Pithoragarh district hospital for serious cases
Water
There are no shops, food stalls or toilets at Parvati Sarovar or Gauri Kund. Carry water and snacks from Jolingkong or Gunji.

Highlights

  • Darshan of Adi Kailash (Chhota Kailash), the sacred abode of Bhagwan Shiva and second of the Panch Kailash
  • Adi Kailash reflected in Parvati Sarovar, beside the Shiva-Parvati temple above the sarovar
  • Gauri Kund, the glacial pool of Mata Parvati right beneath the face of Adi Kailash
  • Om Parvat darshan from Nabidhang on the Lipulekh road, usually on the same trip
  • Byans valley villages of Gunji, Nabi and Kuti with homestays

Risks

  • Altitude: you drive from about 940 m at Dharchula to over 4,400 m at Jolingkong. Spend a night at Gunji or Nabi first and walk slowly.
  • Landslides on the Dharchula-Lipulekh road; the administration suspends permits every monsoon, and stretches can close at short notice in any month.
  • November is cold and snow can arrive early; one guide treats November as closed, while the official season runs into November. Check at Dharchula.
  • Inner Line Permits are checked at ITBP and army posts; drones are effectively prohibited in this border zone.
  • No food, shelter or toilets at the kunds; weather turns fast and UV is strong.

Know before you go

Questions

Is Adi Kailash still a trek, or can you drive there?

The road now runs to Jolingkong, the base below Adi Kailash, and Adi Kailash is visible from there, so most yatris drive. The walk that remains is short: about 1 km to Parvati Sarovar and the Shiva-Parvati temple, then about 2 km more to Gauri Kund, and back. Some operators still offer a long walking itinerary from Gunji via Kuti.

Do I need a permit for Adi Kailash?

Yes. Adi Kailash is in a restricted border zone, so an Inner Line Permit is mandatory. It is issued by the SDM office at Dharchula, with a medical check-up and a government photo ID, and is checked at posts on the way. We could not confirm the current official fee, so check at Dharchula.

When is the best time to visit Adi Kailash?

May-June and September-October. The season opens around 1 May, permits are suspended in the July-August monsoon because of landslides, and the yatra closes for winter; from December to April the route is snowbound.

How many days does the Adi Kailash yatra take?

About 5-7 days from Kathgodam: a day to Dharchula, a day for permits and the drive to Gunji, then Om Parvat and Adi Kailash on separate days, and two days back. Walking itineraries from Gunji take about two weeks.

Can I see Om Parvat on the same trip?

Yes. Om Parvat is seen from Nabidhang on the Lipulekh road, a short drive from Gunji, and most Adi Kailash itineraries include it.

Your 8-week plan for this trekModerate grade. Start about 8 weeks before you travel.
SOS

In an emergency

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You are in

District: PithoragarhUttarakhand

Nearest hospital
Dharchula for first care (permits and medical check-up are done here); Pithoragarh district hospital for serious cases
Last ATM
Dharchula
Phone network
Mobile signal is very limited beyond Dharchula; expect long stretches with none in the Vyas valley.

Before you set off

  1. Tell someone your route and when you will be back.
  2. Carry a charged phone and a power bank.
  3. Download an offline map of the route.
  4. Turn back if the weather turns bad — the mountain will wait.
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Where this comes from

Sources

Last reviewed:

  1. Adi Kailash Yatra — Trek The Himalayas
  2. Adi Kailash & Om Parvat Yatra — Himalayan Dream Treks
  3. Gaurikund: The Divine Lake of Maa Parvati — Namaste India Trip
  4. Adi Kailash Yatra FAQs: Routes — Trip To Temples
  5. Adi Kailash - Om Parvat - Lipulekh La Trek — Himalayan High
  6. Adi Kailash yatra surpasses last year's turnout in 40 days — News Arena India
  7. Adi Kailash Yatra suspended due to monsoon (4 July 2026) — The Pioneer
  8. Uttarakhand's Pithoragarh admn stops issuing permits for visiting Adi Kailash temple (PTI, 9 July 2025) — The Week (PTI)
  9. Here's How To Plan For Your Adi Kailash Yatra — Outlook Traveller
  10. Adi Kailash — Wikipedia
  11. KMVN Adi Kailash packages — Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam (official)
  12. Adi Kailash Om Parvat Trek — Himalayan Hikers

Photos: Geet Arts, CC BY-SA 4.0; Kcsr.ntl, CC BY-SA 4.0; Kcsr.ntl, CC BY-SA 4.0

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