Sunderdhunga Trek
Bageshwar, Uttarakhand
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- Max altitude
- 3,849 m
- Days
- 9 days
- Distance
- 84 km
- Difficulty
- Difficult
Long days of 13-15 km on a remote, rocky trail, and the walk from Kathaliya to Maiktoli Base Camp crosses steep glacier ice and loose scree with an open drop, where new trekkers need a rope and an ice axe.
Photos
On the trail
The route
Day by day
Day 1
Kathgodam → Loharkhet
554 m → 1,750 m
Day 2
Loharkhet → Dhakuri
1,750 m → 2,940 m → 2,680 m
Day 3
Dhakuri → Jatoli (via Khati)
2,680 m → 2,449 m
Day 4
Jatoli → Kathaliya
2,449 m → 3,249 m
Day 5 · highest point
Kathaliya → Kathaliya (via Maiktoli Base Camp)
3,249 m → 3,849 m → 3,249 m
Day 6
Kathaliya → Jatoli
3,249 m → 2,449 m
Day 7
Jatoli → Dhakuri (via Khati)
2,449 m → 2,680 m
Day 8
Dhakuri → Loharkhet
2,680 m → 2,940 m → 1,750 m
Day 9
Loharkhet → Kathgodam
1,750 m → 554 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 · Loharkhet
at 1,750 mLoading forecast…
High point · Maiktoli Base Camp
at 3,849 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
- Loharkhet (nearest town: Bageshwar)
- Nearest railway
- Kathgodam
- Nearest airport
- Pantnagar Airport
- By road
- Kathgodam (about 210 km via Almora and Bageshwar to Loharkhet, 8-9 hours); Bageshwar (shared jeeps run up the Pindari road via Kapkot, Bharari and Loharkhet to the Kharkiya road-head)
- 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
₹10,000–18,000
With an operator
₹12,285–36,750
Per person, ex-Kathgodam. Guided prices published October 2026: Trodly lists a 9-day Kathgodam-to-Kathgodam departure at ₹12,285 (₹13,990 before discount), including forest permits and camping fees; Himalayan Hikers lists ₹35,000 + 5% GST for 9 days Kathgodam to Kathgodam. Himalayan High and Himalaya Shelter quote on request. Self-guided is an estimate: bus or shared taxi Kathgodam-Bageshwar, a shared jeep seat from Bageshwar (Indiahikes: ₹1,200-1,500), guesthouse rooms at Khati and Jatoli (₹500-800), and a local guide-porter plus tent hire for the nights at Kathaliya.
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 35
Nights near 3,849 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
- Patchy BSNL up to Khati and Ritang; no reliable signal beyond the villages, and none at Kathaliya.
- Last ATM
- Bageshwar; carry enough cash for the whole trek
- Nearest hospital
- Primary health centre at Khati for first aid; district hospital in Bageshwar for anything serious
- Water
- Many streams and waterfalls between Khati and Kathaliya, and the Sunderdhunga river at Kathaliya. Boil or treat all water.
Highlights
- Panwali Dwar and Maiktoli rising straight above the Kathaliya meadow, where the valley ends in two glacier-fed streams
- The day walk to Maiktoli Base Camp, a wide field of snow and ice ringed by Maiktoli, Panwali Dwar and an unnamed peak
- Following the Sunderdhunga river upstream from Khati through oak, rhododendron and kharsu forest to its source
- Staying in the remote Kumaoni villages of Khati and Jatoli, with their stone houses and water mills
- Crossing Dhakuri pass with views of Maiktoli, Mrigthuni and Devtoli on the classic route from Loharkhet
Risks
- The trail to Maiktoli Base Camp crosses two steep glacier sections and a loose scree slope with an unguarded drop; inexperienced trekkers need a rope and an ice axe, and the descent is harder than the climb.
- July-August monsoon rain makes the trail slippery and brings landslides and swollen streams; operators say the trek is not advisable then.
- From late November to April snow can bury the route above Jatoli and nights are very cold; operators call winter trekking extremely difficult and suitable only for experienced, well-equipped groups.
- The route from Jatoli to Kathaliya is too rough for ponies, so loads must be carried by porters; trekkers and villagers report bears in the forest.
Know before you go
Questions
How difficult is the Sunderdhunga trek?
Operators grade it moderate-to-difficult. Most days are 8-15 km on rocky trail, and the Jatoli-Kathaliya day is a steep 13 km. The hardest part is the day walk to Maiktoli Base Camp, which crosses glacier ice and loose scree where beginners need a rope and ice axe.
When is the best time for Sunderdhunga?
May-June and September-October, when the weather is stable and the peaks are clear. July and August bring heavy monsoon rain and landslides, and from late November to April snow can cover the trail above Jatoli.
Where does the Sunderdhunga trek start?
The classic start is Loharkhet, crossing Dhakuri pass to Khati. A newer jeep road now reaches Kharkiya, from where Khati is an easy 5 km walk, which saves a day. From Khati the Sunderdhunga trail splits from the Pindari glacier trail.
Where can I stay on the trek?
Khati and Jatoli have village guesthouses (about ₹500-800 for a room with 2-3 beds) and fresh meals; KMVN and PWD rest houses at Khati need booking in advance. At Kathaliya you camp or use a shepherd's hut, so carry food for those days from Bageshwar.
Is there mobile network on the Sunderdhunga trek?
Only patchy BSNL up to Khati and Ritang. There is no reliable signal beyond the villages, so tell family your dates and carry cash from Bageshwar.
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: BageshwarUttarakhand
- Nearest hospital
- Primary health centre at Khati for first aid; district hospital in Bageshwar for anything serious
- Last ATM
- Bageshwar; carry enough cash for the whole trek
- Phone network
- Patchy BSNL up to Khati and Ritang; no reliable signal beyond the villages, and none at Kathaliya.
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 Sunderdhunga
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Where this comes from
Sources
Last reviewed:
- The Complete Guide to Sunderdhunga Trek — Indiahikes
- Sunderdhunga Basecamp Trek – Hidden Glacier Valley Trek in Kumaon — Himalaya Shelter
- Sunderdhunga Trek | Maiktoli Base Camp — Himalayan High
- Sunderdhunga Trek 2026: Detailed Itinerary, Package, Dates — Himalayan Hikers
- Sunderdhunga Mt Maitkoli Glacier Trek Ex Kathgodam — Trodly
Photos: Surajit.gambo, CC BY-SA 4.0; Thisboytraveller, CC BY-SA 4.0; Thisboytraveller, CC BY-SA 4.0
