Five first ascents
ITBP teams first climbed Panchachuli I (1972) and II (1973). An Indo-British team led by Chris Bonington and Harish Kapadia climbed V in 1992; a New Zealand team climbed IV in 1995.
After the trail · the almanac
The trek in four numbers
A road now reaches Dugtu, so the trek itself is short. The valley around it is the real journey.
5peaks
The five hearths
6,904m
Panchachuli II
8–10km
Dugtu to base camp and back
ILP
Inner Line Permit
💪 Easy–moderate🌸 May–Jun🍂 Sep–Oct🪪 Permit needed
Day by day
Six days, step by step
This is eUttaranchal's short trek. The classic walk from Dar takes about 60 km.
How high you are on each kilometre
- Day 1Arrive at DharchulaOn the Nepal border🛏️ Hotel · 950 m
- Day 2Dharchula → DugtuVia Tawaghat and SoblaAbout 6 h🛏️ Tents · Dugtu
- Day 3Dugtu → Panchachuli base campTo the foot of the glacier5 km🛏️ Camp
- Day 4Base camp → DugtuBack down5 km🛏️ Dugtu
- Day 5Dugtu → DharchulaThe rough road downAbout 6 h🛏️ Dharchula
- Day 6Depart
Stories and nature
Pandavas, traders and climbers
Igloos below the glacier
In 2021 KMVN built igloo-style huts for 30 at the base camp, 4 km from Dugtu.
Avalanche country
Blizzards often set off avalanches on the high peaks. In September 2003, nine ITBP members were caught in one.
When to go
Spring and autumn
The Dharchula road suffers landslides in the monsoon.
May–June
The main season.
July–mid-Sep
Landslides on the road: avoid.
Mid-Sep–Oct
Clear views of the five peaks.
Nov–March
Snow closes the valley above Dar.
Plan your trip
Getting to Dharchula
Dharchula is far: about 600 km from Delhi.
- Delhi🚌 ~600 km, about 14 h
- Dharchula🚙 About 6 h via Tawaghat and Sobla
- Dugtu
Nearest airstrip: Naini Saini, Pithoragarh. Nearest railhead: Kathgodam. The road up the valley is rough and depends on the weather.
Cost
eUttaranchal charges ₹14,500 for a 6-day trek from Dharchula. Homestays in the valley cost ₹50–100 a night.
Permits
An Inner Line Permit from the SDM office in Dharchula: free and same-day for Indians, not online. Foreigners need a Protected Area Permit.
Trail
The path from Dugtu to the glacier is hard to follow. Go with a local guide.
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
No ATM beyond Dharchula, and no UPI or cards in the valley. Draw cash in Dharchula. Discover with Dheeraj
Little phone signal
Only BSNL works, on and off, near the road. Jio and Airtel don't work. Expect no signal past Sobla. Discover with Dheeraj
Charging
Dantu has phone charging, but its solar power is limited. Carry a power bank. Super Trekkers
Water
Streams are plentiful, but purify before you drink. Carry purification tablets. Discover with Dheeraj
Food and supplies
Dharchula is the last market. You won't find supplies on the trek. Budget ₹300–500 a day for food. Discover with Dheeraj
Weather
May–June: days 10 to 20 °C, nights 0 to 5 °C at high camps. Sep–Oct: days 5 to 15 °C, nights well below zero at base camp. Discover with Dheeraj
Porter or guide
A local porter or guide costs about ₹800–1,200 a day. Discover with Dheeraj
Bus to Dharchula
A UTC bus runs from Delhi's Anand Vihar ISBT. About 14 hours and ₹890 one way. Book at utconline.uk.gov.in. Discover with Dheeraj
Jeep up the valley
A jeep from Dharchula to Sobla costs ₹1,500–2,500. Past Tawaghat the road is rough. Discover with Dheeraj
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 Trekkers of India: Panchachuli Base Camp Trek, things to carry.
Who runs it
Choose an operator
We found 6 operators with a Panchachuli base camp page in October 2026. None lists fixed dates: all run it on request, and prices depend on group size.
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.