Bankatiya Base Camp Trek
Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand
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- Max altitude
- 3,940 m
- Days
- 5 days
- Distance
- 18 km
- Difficulty
- Moderate
Short walking days on old shepherd paths with no glacier crossings or rock climbing, but the base camp sits at about 3,940 m in a remote side valley of the Johar region, far from roads, help and mobile signal.
Photos
On the trail
The route
Day by day
Day 1
Haldwani → Munsiyari
424 m → 2,200 m
Day 2
Munsiyari → Laspa (drive towards Lilam, then trek)
2,200 m → 3,380 m
Day 3 · highest point
Laspa → Bankatiya Base Camp
3,380 m → 3,940 m
Day 4
Bankatiya Base Camp → Munsiyari (via Laspa, then drive)
3,940 m → 2,200 m
Day 5
Munsiyari → Haldwani
2,200 m → 424 m
Ups and downs
Altitude profile
Where it is
Map
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.
Trailhead · Laspa
at 2,200 mLoading forecast…
High point · Bankatiya Base Camp (approximate position, below Bankatiya peak)
at 3,940 mLoading forecast…
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
- Laspa (nearest town: Munsiyari)
- Nearest railway
- Kathgodam (Haldwani)
- Nearest airport
- Pantnagar Airport
- By road
- Haldwani (about 290-300 km to Munsiyari, 10-12 hours by bus or taxi); Munsiyari (drive north towards Lilam and the road head for Laspa)
- Drive
- About 12 h from Haldwani
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
₹9,000–15,000
With an operator
₹21,000–22,050
Per person, ex-Haldwani. Only one operator publishes a price (October 2026): Himalaya Shelter ₹21,000 + 5% GST for 5 days Haldwani to Haldwani, including transport and forest entry charges for Indian nationals. Self-guided is an estimate: shared jeep or bus Haldwani-Munsiyari and back, a taxi to the road head, two guesthouse nights in Munsiyari, a homestay at Laspa, a local guide and porter, and tent and stove hire.
Gear
Top picks for this trek
The gear that matters most on this route, chosen from its altitude, season and risks.
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Packing checklist
Matched to this trek: altitude, season, days and the risks on the route.
Packed 0 of 32
Nights near 3,940 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.
Know before you go
Good to know
- Mobile network
- Limited or no mobile signal on most of the trek; expect signal only in Munsiyari.
- Last ATM
- Munsiyari
- Nearest hospital
- Health centre at Munsiyari for first care; Pithoragarh district hospital for serious cases
- Water
- Streams in the side valley above Laspa and near the base camp meadows. Boil or treat all water.
Highlights
- An offbeat camp at about 3,940 m below Bankatiya peak, on shepherd paths used by the people of Laspa for generations
- Laspa, one of the old high villages of the Johar valley, once linked to the India-Tibet trade routes
- Open alpine meadows at the base camp and dark skies for stargazing
- Very few trekkers: no crowds on the trail or at camp
Risks
- Johar valley lies close to the Tibet border with ITBP posts; carry photo ID and check permit rules at the SDM office in Munsiyari before you start.
- Monsoon (July to September) brings landslides; even the road to Munsiyari can be cut. Himalaya Shelter says to avoid the trek then.
- December to March the route can be inaccessible under heavy snow; Himalaya Shelter advises waiting until it opens.
- Remote: little or no mobile signal after Munsiyari and no quick evacuation from the base camp.
- The BRO road towards Milam keeps changing the road head; ask locally how far vehicles now go towards Laspa.
Know before you go
Questions
How difficult is the Bankatiya Base Camp trek?
Himalaya Shelter rates it moderate: suitable for beginners with basic fitness, with no glacier crossings, steep rock climbs or exposed ridges. The main challenges are the altitude (about 3,940 m) and how remote the valley is.
When is the best time for Bankatiya Base Camp?
May-June and October-November. July to September brings landslides, and from December to March heavy snow can make the route inaccessible.
How do I reach the start of the trek?
Take a train or bus from Delhi to Haldwani or Kathgodam, then a bus or taxi about 290-300 km (10-12 hours) to Munsiyari. From Munsiyari you drive towards Lilam and walk to Laspa village, the base for the trek.
Is there mobile network on the trek?
Most of the trek has limited or no mobile connectivity, so tell family your plans before leaving Munsiyari.
Can I do the Bankatiya Base Camp trek solo?
It is possible, but the valley is remote and little documented, so going with a local guide or an operator is strongly advised.
In an emergency
Save these numbers before you lose signal. Tap to call.
- 112All emergenciesIndia’s single emergency number — works in every state
- 108Ambulance
- 1077District disaster control room
You are in
District: PithoragarhUttarakhand
- Nearest hospital
- Health centre at Munsiyari for first care; Pithoragarh district hospital for serious cases
- Last ATM
- Munsiyari
- Phone network
- Limited or no mobile signal on most of the trek; expect signal only in Munsiyari.
Before you set off
- Tell someone your route and when you will be back.
- Carry a charged phone and a power bank.
- Download an offline map of the route.
- Turn back if the weather turns bad — the mountain will wait.
Questions about Bankatiya Base Camp
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Where this comes from
Sources
Last reviewed:
- Bankatiya Base Camp Trek in Uttarakhand — Himalaya Shelter
Photos: L. Shyamal, CC BY-SA 3.0; Vikalp vikalp, CC0
