Day 1: Loharkhet to Khati via Kharkiya

• Altitude: 5,502 ft to 7,355 ft
• Time took: 3 hour Jeep drive, 1-hour trek
• Distance: 3-4 km 
• Thanks to an off-trail motor-able road from Loharkhet to Kharkiya, one does not need to trek to Khati via Dhakuri. The road journey winds through a series of scissor bends and is painfully slow due to bad conditions of the road, especially during monsoons. Kharkiya is the last village on the road head. It intersects a trekking trail to Khati and Jatoli village. There are a few local dhabas here and you will find basic items for purchase from a store in the vicinity. Looking up towards the back of the village, you can see a trail meandering up all the way to the Dhakuri campsite. Cross over the topmost Col and one can descend down to Loharkhet.

Day 2: Khati to Dwali  

• Altitude: 7,355 ft to 8,566 ft 
• Time taken: 6-7 hours 
• Distance: 13 km 

From Khati to Dwali, what used to be a refreshing trek, has become quite a mess after a natural calamity struck the region in 2013. The trail from Khati to Dwali has six major bends. The trail, however, is fractured and non-existent at many points. Many kilometre-long trails have caved in due to landslides. One has to take an alternative route by climbing down and trekking next to the river-side moraines of Pindari and then climb back up to join the broken trail. This might bring down your spirit a bit, as it is the lowest altitude moraine trek you will get to do in the Himalayas. 

Day 3: Dwali to Phurkiya 

• Altitude: 8,566 ft to 10,465 ft 
• Distance: 5 km 
• Time taken: 3 hours

Today’s is a short trek, but has considerable altitude gain of over 1,900 feet. The trek from Dwali to Phurkiya with an overnight camp at Phurkiya is highly recommended for acclimatisation purpose. Taking the trail towards the backside of PWD Guest House leads to the inner Pindar Valley. From here, the trail ascends gradually through beautiful rhododendron and oak forest.

Day 4: Phurkiya to Zero Point and back to Phurkiya 

• Altitude: 10,465 ft and 12,300 ft 
• Time taken: 7 hours 
• Distance: 16 km 

The trek to Pindari Glacier goes till Zero Point. Going ahead from Pindari Glacier requires special permits and peak expedition-like preparedness (Traill’s Pass – Milam expedition*). Today’s trek is a beautiful walk to the inner realm of Pindar Valley. Start the trek very early in the morning to get good views and to avoid bad weather. The weather at Pindari Glacier can fluctuate in a matter of minutes. Ideally, you want to be at Zero Point by not later than 9 am. It takes 3 – 4 hours to reach Zero Point from Phurkiya. So plan your day accordingly.  

Day 5: Phurkiya to Khati via Dwali 

• Altitude: 10,465 ft to 7,355 ft 
• Time taken: 7-8 hours 
• Distance: 18 km

After successfully reaching Pindari Glacier, it is time to head back. Take the trail back to Khati via Dwali. The descent from Phurkiya to Dwali can be done swiftly in 1 – 2 hours. From Dwali to Khati, follow the same route passing the six major landslide zones. It takes around 4 – 5 hours to complete this stretch. 

Day 6: Khati to Kharkiya– 4 km (approx), 45 – 60 minutes trek. Jeep drive from Kharkiya to Kathgodam via Bageshwar

• Altitude: 7,355 ft to 7,395 ft 
• Time taken: 45-60 minutes trek 
• Distance: 4 km

Start early in the morning if you plan on reaching Kathgodam by evening. Trek from Khati to Kharkiya and reach the road-head. Board pre-arranged jeeps for a drop to Bageshwar. You may have to break the journey and take another mode of transportation from Bageshwar for Kathgodam. Local jeeps only ply from Kharkiya to Bageshwar, unless a direct drop is arranged on request.