Ranthan Kharak Trek
Bageshwar (Namik and the upper trail lie in Pithoragarh), Uttarakhand
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3,930 mhighest point- Max altitude
- 3,930 m
- Days
- 7 days
- Distance
- 38 km
- Difficulty
- Moderate
Trekking days are 5-7 km on forest trail and old stone-paved paths, but summit day is 14-15 km and 11-12 hours, climbing to about 3,930 m and dropping back to Namik, on a remote route with little water above Bajimanian.
The route
Day by day
Day 1
Kathgodam → Gogina
534 m → 1,948 m
Day 2
Gogina → Namik
1,948 m → 2,140 m
Day 3
Namik → Bajimanian Kharak
2,140 m → 2,933 m
Day 4
Bajimanian Kharak → Thal Tok
2,933 m → 3,386 m
Day 5 · highest point
Thal Tok → Namik (via Ranthan Top)
3,386 m → 3,930 m → 2,140 m
Day 6
Namik → Gogina
2,140 m → 1,948 m
Day 7
Gogina → Kathgodam
1,948 m → 534 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 · Gogina
at 1,948 mLoading forecast…
High point · Ranthan Top
at 3,930 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
- Gogina (nearest town: Kapkot)
- Nearest railway
- Kathgodam
- Nearest airport
- Pantnagar Airport
- By road
- Kathgodam (about 233 km via Almora, Bageshwar and Kapkot; the last 20 km after the Sama turn-off is rough)
- Drive
- About 9 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
₹8,000–15,000
With an operator
₹9,900–29,400
Per person, ex-Kathgodam. Guided prices published October 2026: Trekup India ₹9,450 + 5% GST (Kathgodam pickup); Himalayan Dream Treks ₹9,000 + 5% GST ex-Gogina plus ₹3,000 for Kathgodam transport (about ₹12,450); Himalaya Shelter lists ₹28,000 + 5% GST for its Pantnagar/Kathgodam-Almora version. Self-guided is an estimate: bus or shared jeep via Almora and Bageshwar to Gogina and back, homestay nights at Gogina, a local guide and porter, tent and stove hire, food and forest fees.
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 33
Nights near 3,930 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. Himalaya Shelter warns that connectivity on this remote route is poor; we could not confirm which networks work at Gogina or Namik.
- Last ATM
- None on the trek (Trekup India says no ATMs are available); draw cash in Bageshwar on the drive in.
- Nearest hospital
- Kapkot for first care (per Himalaya Shelter); Bageshwar district hospital and Haldwani for serious cases
- Water
- A naula (spring) by the Namik campsite, a stream halfway from Namik to Bajimanian, and a source at Bajimanian; water is scarce above Bajimanian, so fill up there. Boil or treat all water.
Highlights
- Views of Nanda Devi, Nanda Devi East, Nanda Kot and the Panchachuli range from the high meadows and Ranthan Top
- Namik, a remote village of stone houses above the Ramganga, reached over a suspension bridge from Gogina
- Old stone-paved trade-route trail through broad-leaved and rhododendron forest to the kharak (high grazing meadow) at Bajimanian
- A quiet, little-trekked Kumaon route with camps at Bajimanian and Thal Tok
Risks
- Summit day is long: 14-15 km and 11-12 hours from Thal Tok to Ranthan Top and down to Namik, starting before dawn.
- July-August monsoon brings landslides, leeches and slippery trail; Himalayan Dream Treks, Himalaya Shelter, Trekup India and Explurger all advise avoiding it.
- Winter snow: Himalayan Hikers marks December-February as not operational and Himalaya Shelter says the route is generally not accessible from December to March; Trekup India says December to early March is not advisable for novices and Himalayan Dream Treks says winter suits only trekkers with prior winter experience, so even March and November can bring deep snow above Thal Tok.
- Water is scarce above Bajimanian, and the route is remote with limited connectivity; solo trekking is not recommended.
Know before you go
Questions
How difficult is the Ranthan Kharak trek?
Operators rate it moderate (some say easy to moderate) and suitable for fit beginners. The daily walks are 5-7 km, but summit day is 14-15 km and 11-12 hours, so good stamina matters.
When is the best time to do Ranthan Kharak?
April to early June and mid-September to November. Avoid July and August for monsoon landslides and leeches. The trek is not run from December to February because of heavy snow, and March can still have deep snow above Thal Tok.
Where does the trek start and how do I get there?
It starts at Gogina village in Bageshwar district. Gogina is about 233 km from Kathgodam railway station, an 8-11 hour drive via Almora, Bageshwar and Kapkot. Pantnagar is the nearest airport.
How long is the Ranthan Kharak trek?
About 38 km of walking over 7 days, including the two drive days between Kathgodam and Gogina. Operators give totals of 35-40 km.
Do I need a permit for Ranthan Kharak?
Operators say forest department entry fees and trekking permits apply and include them in their packages. We could not find an official fee notice, so self-guided trekkers should check with the forest office before setting out.
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: Bageshwar (Namik and the upper trail lie in Pithoragarh)Uttarakhand
- Nearest hospital
- Kapkot for first care (per Himalaya Shelter); Bageshwar district hospital and Haldwani for serious cases
- Last ATM
- None on the trek (Trekup India says no ATMs are available); draw cash in Bageshwar on the drive in.
- Phone network
- Limited. Himalaya Shelter warns that connectivity on this remote route is poor; we could not confirm which networks work at Gogina or Namik.
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 Ranthan Kharak
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Where this comes from
Sources
Last reviewed:
- Ranthan Kharak Trek — Himalayan Dream Treks
- Ranthan Kharak Trek — Himalaya Shelter
- Ranthan Kharak Trek to Fairyland Kumaon Himalayas — Himalaya Shelter
- Ranthan Kharak Trek — Trekup India
- Ranthan Kharak Trek: Distance, Difficulty & Full Itinerary — Explurger
- OT Travel Itinerary: All About The Ranthan Kharak Trek In Uttarakhand — Outlook Traveller
- Ranthan Kharak Trek 2026 Best time, cost, itinerary, difficulty — Himalayan Hikers
Photos: Suraj Bisht, CC BY-SA 4.0
