Panpatia Col Trek

Quick Facts

08-22 Oct, 2022 | 15 Days

INR 1,08,700 + 5% GST

Highest Altitude: 5150 M

Difficulty: ChallengingOur most demanding trips include climbing at high elevations in excess of 5000 meters, in remote and extreme conditions with no access to roads; trips to remote, extreme wilderness; mountaineering trips, and demanding whitewater trips with Class IV-V rapids.

Group Size: 8-16 persons

Between two of the most haloed pilgrimage sites in the Himalayas lies a land that nurtures a legend worthy of difficult discovery and extreme exploration. A tale that has drawn feted explorers of the like of Meade, Shipton and Tilman, Martin Moran, Harish Kapadia, and countless other intrepid souls.They were all drawn by the lore that a priest from Badrinath would trek to Kedarnath in a day.

The explorations, which began as early as 1934, have mostly come a cropper, with weather, terrain and nerves beating each party back. The prize of the exploration is the crossing of the Panpatia col, a pass that hides its approach within drifts of moraines, crevasses and massive icefalls. Enjoy a wilderness experience – the likes of which very few exist in a rapidly globalising world.

DAYS 1-5

  • Day 1: Delhi – Haridwar – Joshimath (1875 M)

Arrive at Haridwar by the overnight train. Alternatively, you can fly in to the Jolly Grant Airport. Board waiting vehicles to be driven straight to the hotel in Joshimath. Breakfast enroute.

  • Day 2: Joshimath – Badrinath – Khirao (2700 M)

From Badrinath, we drive down to the roadhead at Hanuman Chatti and start walking. Cross the Alaknanda by a suspension bridge from the Khirao roadhead on the road from Joshi- math to Badrinath. A short, walk and a gradual ascent brings you to Khirao village and the campsite, in a clearing above the confluence of the Khirao Ganga and Alaknanda.

  • Day 3: Khirao – Shepherd Camp (3500 M)

From the village, a steep climb brings one up to the treeline. A traverse on the grassy slopes brings you to your campsite in the meadow.

  • Day 4: Shepherd Camp – Snout Camp (3900 M)

It’s a short walk all the way up to the snout of the Panpatia glacier. The snout is an easy 10-minute walk away from the campsite.

  • Day 5: Snout Camp – Moraine Camp (4300 M)

This is a relatively long day of gradual height gain. The never-ending moraine tends to get a bit monotonous but it’s a joy to weave across patches of snow to ease progress and add variety to the walk. There are magnificent peaks all around. Neelkanth and Parvati loom large on one side and a heavily crevassed glacier drops almost vertically to the other. Here you can catch your first glimpse of Chaukhamba.

DAYS 6-10

  • Day 6: Acclimatisation Day (4300 M)

A day to relax and acclimatise, read, relax, or take a short walk near camp, or try and spot some wildlife. Overnight moraine camp.

  • Day 7: Moraine Camp – Parvati Col Base Camp (4600 M)

Trek to the base of Parvati Col. It’s a short but steep walk that brings you closer to the Panpatia snow field. The campsite is just below the Parvati Col.

  • Day 8: Parvati Col Base Camp – Panpatia Snow Field (5150 M)

A steep climb brings you to the edge of the terrace from where the only way up is through a steep snow and rock gully. We will fix ropes to negotiate this passage and enter the domain of pure snow. A series of gentle humps gives way to the Parvati Col and the Panpatia snowfield—a huge plateau of snow ringed by lofty peaks. Chaukhamba rises in all its glory and, with some luck, you may also catch a view of Nanda Devi.

  • Day 9: Panpatia Snow Field – Sujal Sarovar (4700 M)

The trail traverses the length of the Panpatia snowfield. Although it is a long traverse, there is negligible ascent. A short climb at the end brings you to Panpatia Col, beyond which is a vertigo-inducing descent that leads to Sujal Sarovar, the campsite.

  • Day 10: Sujal Sarovar – Kachni (4150 M)

Trek to Kanchni Tal. A few metres above Sujal Sarovar is a small pass from where it is a steep descent through snowy slopes and boulder zones to Kanchni. Beyond the small Maindgalla tal is another traverse through the boulders that leads to Kanchni. The meadow overlooks the Madhmaheshwar Ganga.

DAYS 11-15

  • Day 11: Kachni – Nanu Chatti (3250 M)

Trek to Nanu Chatti. It takes about 3-4 hours to get to Madhmaheshwar temple beyond oak forests. From here, a paved trail rolls all the way to the roadhead at Ransi. It’s a leisurely walk through a forest to camp at Nanu Chatti, a small settlement of summer homes for people from Gaundhar village.

  • Day 12: Buffer Day / Reserve

We have a rest / contingency day to allow for bad weather and to have some flexibility in the itinerary. Overnight Camp.

  • Day 13: Nanu Chatti – Ransi – Rudraprayag (2650 M)

Walk to Ransi on the Madhmaheshwar temple trail, and drive onward to the hotel at Rudraprayag.

  • Day 14: Rudraprayag – Camp Aquaterra

Drive Rudraprayag to Camp Aquaterra for lunch. Afternoon relax by the beach.

  • Day 15: Camp Aquaterra – Delhi

Morning 24 km rafting trip and move onward to Dehradun Airport/Haridwar railway station for you journey back. Trip Ends!

Inclusions:
  • Travel from Delhi and back by road / rail (by non-AC / 2 or 3 tier AC coach)
  • All arrangements for staying and camping while on trip
  • Accommodation on twin sharing basis in tents / hotel
  • All meals as mentioned in itinerary & safe drinking water
  • All trip arrangements with India’s most experienced guiding team, camp staff and cooks
  • All group and individual climbing gear (ropes, anchors, slings, ice axe, crampons etc)
  • Peak fee / sanctuary fee / royalty / permits where applicable
Exclusions:
  • Sleeping bag
  • Flights not included in the above-mentioned cost
  • Any transfers or meals outside of itinerary
  • Bottled water
  • Items of personal clothing
  • Expenses of any personal nature (laundry / phone calls / alcohol / cigarettes / insurance / camera fee / etc.)
  • Any expense incurred due to force of nature such as landslides, bad weather or reasons beyond our control
  • Tips & gratuities (we recommend 5-10% of your trip cost- to be distributed among the team) – personal choice
  • Travel & cancellation insurance

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