Uttarakhand · India
Gupt Khal Expedition
The 'hidden pass' of the Garhwal Himalaya, linking the Niti valley and Badrinath
The trek
A remote, expedition-grade crossing of the 5,835 m Gupt Khal in the Garhwal Himalaya, following a little-known route from the Niti valley over glaciers and moraine to Mana and Badrinath — long fabled as a secret path of sages travelling between Gangotri and Badrinath.
Gupt Khal — literally the 'hidden pass' — is a remote 5,835 m col in the Garhwal Himalaya that links the Niti and Badrinath valleys across the high glaciers of the region. Long believed to be one of the secret paths used by sages travelling between Gangotri and Badrinath, it is today one of the most adventurous and least-trodden expedition-grade crossings in Uttarakhand.
The route trades marked trails for steep ridgelines, remote glaciers and alpine wilderness, crossing moraine and glaciated ground below peaks such as Rataban and the Bankund group before the pass itself. It is a serious high-altitude undertaking for experienced, well-acclimatised trekkers comfortable with crampons, ice-axe and roped glacier travel; the itinerary builds in acclimatisation and is best attempted in the pre-monsoon and post-monsoon windows.
Highlights
- The hidden 5,835 m Gupt Khal — a rarely crossed Garhwal col
- A wilderness traverse from the Niti valley over to Badrinath
- Remote glaciers and moraine below the Rataban and Bankund peaks
- A finish at Mana, the last village before Tibet, and the temple town of Badrinath
From
₹0
per person
- Free reschedule up to 21 days out
- Small groups, certified mountain leaders
- Oximeter, oxygen & evacuation plan on every route
Day by day
The itinerary
13 days from Joshimath. Tap any day to read the detail — distances and altitudes are planning figures and may shift with conditions.
A long, scenic drive from Dehradun up the Alaknanda valley through Rishikesh, Devprayag and Srinagar to Joshimath, the gateway town for the Niti valley. The evening is spent resting and preparing gear for the days ahead.
What's included
- Twin/triple-sharing tents and all camp equipment
- All meals on the trek (veg, freshly cooked)
- Certified mountaineering guides, high-altitude support and porters
- Permits, forest and camping charges and technical group gear (ropes, ice screws, snow bars)
- First-aid, oximeter and emergency oxygen
Not included
- Transport to and from the base (available at extra cost)
- Personal climbing/trekking gear, insurance and offloading charges
- Anything not listed under inclusions
Ready when you are
Walk Gupt Khal Expedition with us
Small groups, honest briefings and a crew that has done this route many times over. From ₹0 per person.
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