To the Ganga
Kafni's meltwater meets the Pindar at Dwali; the Pindar flows into the Alaknanda, one of the Ganga's two headstreams.
After the trail · the almanac
The trek in four numbers
Kafni is Pindari's quieter twin: the same start, a fork at Dwali, a different glacier.
3,895m
Kafni Glacier
71km
Walking, over 6 days
6,861m
Nanda Kot, above it
2013
Floods damaged the trail
💪 Moderate🌸 May–Jun🍂 Sep–Oct⚠️ Check status
Day by day
Eight days, step by step
This is Himalayan High's plan, whose days add up to 71 km.
How high you are on each kilometre
- Day 1Kathgodam → LoharkhetVia Almora and Bageshwar225 km · 8–9 h🛏️ Loharkhet · 1,834 m
- Day 2Loharkhet → DhakuriOver Dhakuri Pass11 km · 5–6 h🛏️ Dhakuri · 2,650 m
- Day 3Dhakuri → KhatiDown to the last village8 km · 4 h🛏️ Khati · 2,230 m
- Day 4Khati → DwaliUp the Pindar12 km · 5–6 h🛏️ Dwali · 2,632 m
- Day 5Dwali → KhatiaUp the Kafni6 km · 3 h🛏️ Khatia · 3,314 m
- Day 6Khatia → Kafni → DwaliTo the glacier and down18 km · 6–7 h🛏️ Dwali
- Day 7Dwali → KharkiyaVia Khati16 km · 5–6 h🛏️ Kharkiya
- Day 8Kharkiya → KathgodamThe drive home220 km · 7–8 h
Stories and nature
The quieter glacier
Some find it lovelier
Wikipedia notes that some find the Kafni route more beautiful than the busier Pindari trail.
Scarred in 2013
A November 2025 note from Drishti IAS says the route has stayed abandoned and unsafe since the 2013 floods, with bridges and trail still broken.
When to go
Spring and autumn
Avoid the monsoon, when the trails get slippery.
May–June
Himalayan High's season.
Mid-June–mid-Sep
Monsoon: avoid.
Sep–Oct
Clear and cold.
Winter
Snow and sub-zero temperatures.
Plan your trip
Getting to Loharkhet
Kathgodam is the railhead. A road now also reaches Kharkiya, below Khati.
- Kathgodam🚌 225 km via Almora and Bageshwar, 8–9 h
- Loharkhet
To skip Dhakuri Pass, drive on to Kharkiya and walk about 5 km to Khati.
Check the route
Drishti IAS (Nov 2025) says the trail has been unsafe since the 2013 floods, while operators still list the trek. Confirm with an operator on the ground before you go.
Cost
Universal Adventures lists ₹8,999 for 6 days from Khati; eUttaranchal lists ₹12,900 for 7 days from Bageshwar. Bikat's Pindari trek with a Kafni day is ₹14,500 + 5% GST.
Permits
No source we read describes one. The trail is near Nanda Devi National Park, so check locally.
Altitude sickness
Tell your guide about any symptoms, and go down if they get worse.
Good to know
The small things
Cash, signal, water, permits and help on the way. Checked October 2026; confirm with your operator.
Bring cash
The last ATMs on the road in are at Bharadi and Kapkot. Draw your cash before Khati. Super Trekkers (Pindari trek)
Little phone signal
BSNL works up to Khati. There is no internet on the trek. Himalayan High
Charging
Khati has generator power for a fee. Beyond it, rely on a power bank. eUttaranchal
Water on Dhakuri Pass
There is no water on the climb of about 9 km to Dhakuri Khal. Start with full bottles. Himalaya Trekker
Toilets
Camps have toilet tents over dry pits. Some village camps have basic fixed toilets. Himalayan High
Weather
Higher up, about 15 °C by day and −5 °C at night. Universal Adventures
Offloading
On the shared Pindari trail, a mule or porter carries a bag of up to 10 kg for ₹500 a day. Super Trekkers (Pindari trek)
Cab to Bageshwar
A cab from Kathgodam to Bageshwar costs about ₹4,000 one way, for the whole car. eUttaranchal
Evacuation
Evacuation is possible from almost all the campsites, but not all. The route is remote. Himalayan High
What to pack
Your checklist
Tick items as you pack. Your ticks stay saved on this device.
Clothing
Shoes
Gear
Papers and money
Health
List from Himalayan Dream Treks: Pindari Glacier Trek packing list (same valley; no Kafni-only list found).
Who runs it
Choose an operator
We found 7 operators selling Kafni in October 2026, two of them only as part of a Pindari trek. None shows fixed dates, and Himalaya Trekker says the Dwali–Kafni path has been closed since the 2013 cloudbursts, so ask before you book.
Prices are base prices from each operator's own page (October 2026); most add 5% GST. Ratings are what each operator shows, not an independent audit. Names marked † show last season's price or one seen only in a search snippet.