Measured since 1906
First surveyed in 1906, the snout had retreated 1,040 m by 1958, and another 1,569 m between 1976 and 2014.
After the trail · the almanac
The trek in four numbers
Pindari is an easy, beautiful classic of Kumaon: villages, forest, and a glacier at the end.
3,660m
Zero Point
58km
Walking, over 6 days
6,861m
Nanda Kot, above it
51m/yr
Glacier retreat, 1976–2014
💪 Moderate🌸 Mar–Jun🍂 Sep–Oct🏠 Village stays
Day by day
Eight days, step by step
This is BMC Adventures' plan from Kathgodam. Older routes start at Saung and cross Dhakuri Pass.
How high you are on each kilometre
- Day 1Kathgodam → KharkiyaVia Almora and Bageshwar~200 km · 8–9 h🛏️ Homestay · 2,195 m
- Day 2Kharkiya → KhatiVia Dhoor5 km🛏️ Homestay · 2,222 m
- Day 3Khati → DwaliUp the Pindar12 km🛏️ Tents · 2,575 m
- Day 4Dwali → PhurkiyaPast the waterfall5 km🛏️ Tents · 3,240 m
- Day 5Phurkiya → Zero Point → DwaliTo the glacier and back down20 km🛏️ Tents at Dwali
- Day 6Dwali → KhatiDown the valley11 km🛏️ Khati
- Day 7Khati → KharkiyaThen a jeep to Dol5 km🛏️ Dol
- Day 8Dol → KathgodamThe drive home4–5 h
Stories and nature
A glacier walking backwards
Pindari Baba
Near Zero Point, Baba Dharmanand keeps a hut beside a small Nanda Devi temple. Operators say he feeds, and sometimes shelters, trekkers.
Pindar for dry rivers
In 2022 Uttarakhand's water corporation announced a plan to pipe Pindar tributaries to the drying Gomti, Kosi, Lodh and Gagas rivers.
When to go
Spring and autumn
The monsoon brings rain, leeches and landslides.
Mid-March–mid-June
Rhododendrons and primulas in March–April.
Mid-Sep–late Oct
The clearest views of Nanda Kot; nights below zero in October.
July–August
Avoid: heavy rain, leeches and landslides.
Winter
Snow usually blocks the trail beyond Dwali.
Plan your trip
Getting to Kharkiya
Kathgodam is the railhead. The last stretch of road is rough.
- Kathgodam🚌 ~200 km via Almora, Bageshwar, Kapkot
- Kharkiya🚶 5 km
- Khati
Nearest airport: Pantnagar, about 34 km from Kathgodam. Shared jeeps run from Bageshwar.
Cost
BMC Adventures charges ₹13,400 for 8 days from Kathgodam. Himalayan Dream Treks charges ₹11,500 for 6 days from Khati.
Permits
Forest fees apply in the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve; operators include them. Registration was reported mandatory from 2025.
Hardest part
The long Khati–Dwali day and the 20 km Zero Point day.
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 are at Bharadi and Kapkot. Draw all the cash you need before Khati. Super Trekkers
Little phone signal
Only BSNL works, and only patchily, at Khati. There is no signal beyond Khati. Super Trekkers
No charging
There is nowhere to charge devices on the trek. Carry a power bank. Trekup India
Water
Guest houses have water, and streams run along the way. Refill whenever you can. Holidify
Food on the trail
Some KMVN rest houses serve simple dhaba meals, and there is tea near Phurkiya. Carry snacks for the rest. Holidify
Where you sleep
A homestay in Khati, 2–3 to a room. At Dwali and Phurkiya, simple guest houses with 5–6 to a room. Super Trekkers
Weather
Mid-March to mid-June: days 4 to 20 °C, nights −10 to 4 °C. Autumn days 9 to 18 °C. Himalayan Dream Treks
Offloading
A mule or porter carries your bag for ₹500 a day. The bag must weigh 10 kg or less. Super Trekkers
Cab from Kathgodam
Operators add a seat in their cab from Kathgodam and back for about ₹2,400 per person. The Searching Souls
If you can't go on
The leader brings you back down to Khati. Evacuation insurance is not included, so buy your own. Super Trekkers
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 BMC Adventures: Pindari Glacier Trek packing list.
Who runs it
Choose an operator
We found 11 operators with a Pindari page in October 2026. Few publish fixed dates: most run the trek on request.
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.