Munsyari
Winter Wander
Kumaon, Uttarakhand
-SWIFT-
8th to 13th December 2025 / 6 Days
A former high-altitude stop on the Indo-Tibet trade route, Munsyari still remains distinct from the typical hill station identity of its peers. There is no place like this little town for an up, close and personal rendezvous with the mighty Panchachuli range. Locked in an ecosphere of its own, Munsyari still retains the wilderness that makes the long journey to get to it, worth every mile. This is a winter trip with possible snowfall, and your tryst with a winter wonderland.
At A Glance
ITINERARY
Day 01
Pick up from the Kathgodam railway station and drive to Chaukori, known for its Himalayan views, with a lunch stop en route.
Day 02
Checkout post breakfast to continue the drive to Munsyari. Today you hit the upper mountains and spiral up. Stop for a tea break at Birthi falls, and then for a photo-op atop the Kalamuni pass, from where you get your first glimpse of the Panchachuli massif. Arrive in Munsyari and check in. Afternoon at leisure, sketch, paint, read, or unwind and watch the sunset the place is famous for.
Day 03
Wake up for an early breakfast, followed by a short drive to the trail head for Thamri Kund. This beautiful trail through deodar and spruce trees and glimpses of snow-capped peaks takes you to the sacred, silent water body that attracts birds and wildlife. Your well-versed guide will help you identify the diverse avifauna Munsyari is blessed with; lucky sightings include koklass, cheer and other pheasants. Drive down to one of the villages nearby for a local lunch. Wander around town and enjoy some momos, see women weavers at work and understand local livelihoods. On the way back, visit the local museum (optional) for more insight into the history and culture of the region. Return to your accommodation for sunset and dinner.
Day 04
Post breakfast, begin the Khalia trek, the star of the program. This is the most famous trail that hikers come to Munsyari for, and instead of doing it in one go, we break it into two parts to allow the landscape and beauty around to sink in the way it should, and to also factor in delays for possible snow. Hike up at an easy pace through rhododendron, oak and deodar trees, leaving Munsyari far behind and getting closer to the skies above. The trail ends mid-way in an open expanse at the KMVN stop where we have a late lunch, followed by an evening of nature games and bonhomie.
Overnight at the KMVN guesthouse or camp.
Day 05
After an early breakfast, begin the walk to the Khalia top meadow, where the forest dissolves into shrubs of ratpa (a rare varierty of rhododendron) and eventually, a vast, grassy plateau that showcases the Panchachuli like no other place in the region. Continue on level ground and cross the meadows to do the final uphill stretch to zero point, where you are, quite literally, above the clouds at nearly 10,000 feet. Gaze at the unparalleled views and seal your memories with photographs, before heading down via an
alternate trail to the Kalamuni pass. The Himalayas rarely leave your sight on this hike.
Return to base by early evening, freshen up in your cottage. Celebrate your trek and the end of your trip with a bonfire and interaction on your trip highlights as you bid goodbye to this winter wonderland.
Day 06
Early morning, drive back to Kathgodam with a packed breakfast (10 hours plus lunch stop) to catch the overnight train to New Delhi.
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