Kanari Khal Trek
Chamoli, Uttarakhand
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- Max altitude
- 4,150 m
- Days
- 6 days
- Distance
- 35 km
- Difficulty
- Moderate
Most days are short, but the climb out of Jumma to Dronagiri crosses a scree-filled landslide zone, and pass day is 13 km: a steep, narrow shepherd trail up to 4,150 m, then a brutal 800 m descent over slippery grassy ridges to Garpak.
Photos
On the trail
The route
Day by day
Day 1
Dehradun → Joshimath
640 m → 1,890 m
Day 2
Joshimath (drive to Jumma) → Ruing
2,560 m → 2,800 m
Day 3
Ruing → Dronagiri
2,800 m → 3,610 m
Day 4
Dronagiri → Longatulli
3,610 m → 3,800 m
Day 5 · highest point
Longatulli → Garpak (via Kanari Khal)
3,800 m → 4,150 m → 3,340 m
Day 6
Garpak → Jumma via Ruing (drive to Joshimath)
3,340 m → 2,560 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 · Jumma
at 2,560 mLoading forecast…
High point · Kanari Khal pass
at 4,150 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
- Jumma (nearest town: Joshimath)
- Nearest railway
- Rishikesh (Yog Nagari Rishikesh) or Haridwar
- Nearest airport
- Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun
- By road
- Rishikesh (about 256 km to Joshimath via Devprayag, Srinagar, Rudraprayag, Karanprayag and Chamoli); Joshimath to Jumma (about 1 hour by jeep via Tapovan, Reni, Lata and Suraithota along the Dhauliganga)
- Drive
- About 10 h from Dehradun
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
₹12,000–20,000
With an operator
₹25,000–26,250
Per person, ex-Dehradun. Only one operator published a price in October 2026: Himalaya Shelter ₹25,000 + 5% GST (₹26,250) + ₹180 trek insurance for 6 days ex-Dehradun. No second operator price was found, so the guided range is a single quote. Self-guided is an estimate: shared jeep or bus Dehradun/Rishikesh to Joshimath and on to Jumma, a local guide and porter from Jumma or Joshimath, tent and stove hire, rations bought in Joshimath, and village stay at Dronagiri (Indiahikes reported about ₹1,500 a room in 2014).
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 4,150 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
- Expect no mobile signal on the trail. Indiahikes reported that Dronagiri had only village satellite phones (sometimes not working), not regular mobile network.
- Last ATM
- Joshimath; buy rations and cash there, as almost no supplies are available after Suraithota
- Nearest hospital
- Joshimath for first care; AIIMS Rishikesh for serious cases
- Water
- Streams along the forest trail near Ruing, streams crossing the climb to Dronagiri, and the Bagini and Lampak streams near Longatulli and Garpak. Boil or treat all water.
Highlights
- Crossing a 4,150 m grassy saddle with close views of Dunagiri and Nandi Kund Pass
- Dronagiri, a high Bhotiya village at 3,610 m under Hathi Parvat and Ghori Parvat, linked to the Sanjeevani legend
- Alpine flower meadows on the ridge of Kanari Khal in summer
- Optional side trip from Longatulli to the Bagini Glacier with views of Changabang, Kalanka and Rishi Pahar
- A loop that returns along the Lampak and Bagini streams instead of retracing the route
Risks
- The descent from Kanari Khal to Garpak drops about 800 m in 4 km over slippery grass and tight switchbacks.
- A landslide zone with loose scree on the Ruing–Dronagiri climb; unsure-footed trekkers need a guide's help.
- Monsoon (July–August) brings slippery trails and landslides, and the Joshimath–Jumma road along the Dhauliganga is risky then.
- Winter snow makes the route inaccessible according to Himalaya Shelter, and Dronagiri's families move to lower villages for the winter.
- Sub-zero nights at the high camps and strong afternoon winds near Jumma and the pass.
Know before you go
Questions
How high is Kanari Khal?
Indiahikes gives 4,150 m, and terrain data at the mapped pass agrees (about 4,140 m). Some operators quote 4,515 m (14,815 ft), but that figure does not fit the climb of 3-4 hours from the 3,800 m Longatulli camp.
Is Kanari Khal a difficult trek?
It is moderate. Most days are 3-8 km, but the landslide section before Dronagiri and the 13 km pass day, with a steep 800 m descent to Garpak, need fitness and sure feet. Himalaya Shelter recommends it for trekkers with some experience.
When is the best time for the Kanari Khal trek?
May-June and September-October. Early May still has big snow patches near the pass. Winter snow closes the route, and the July-August monsoon makes the trail and the Dhauliganga road slippery and landslide-prone.
How do I reach the start of the trek?
Reach Joshimath by bus or shared jeep from Rishikesh or Haridwar (10-12 hours), then take a jeep for about an hour to Jumma, where the trail starts at a steel suspension bridge over the Dhauliganga.
Can I combine Kanari Khal with the Bagini Glacier?
Yes. From the Longatulli camp, a 14 km round trip goes up to the Bagini Glacier base camps; add a day before crossing Kanari Khal to Garpak.
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: ChamoliUttarakhand
- Nearest hospital
- Joshimath for first care; AIIMS Rishikesh for serious cases
- Last ATM
- Joshimath; buy rations and cash there, as almost no supplies are available after Suraithota
- Phone network
- Expect no mobile signal on the trail. Indiahikes reported that Dronagiri had only village satellite phones (sometimes not working), not regular mobile network.
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 Kanari Khal
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Where this comes from
Sources
Last reviewed:
- The Complete Guide to Kanari Khal Trek — Indiahikes
- Kanari Khal Trek — Himalaya Shelter
- Kanari Khal Trek — TrekUp India
- Kanari Khal Trek — Tour My India
- Dronagiri and Bagini Glacier Tour — Tour Travel World (Himalayan Ridge)
- Kanari Khal Trek — Himalayan Hikers
Photos: Mechsourav, CC BY-SA 4.0; Vraj Shah, Pexels License
