Self-Launched Kuari Pass & Curzon Trail Trek — Indian Himalayas on a Backpacker Budget
11 days · Indian Himalayas (Delhi, Rishikesh, Garhwal, Kuari Pass)
Much Better Adventures charges £1,795
No-markup version: ~£320 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of the classic Curzon Trail over Kuari Pass: Delhi's chaos, the spiritual riverside town of Rishikesh and the Ganga Aarti, then an independent trek through the little-visited Garhwal Himalaya with locally hired guides, porters/mules, and camping in high meadows beneath Nanda Devi. Book everything yourself — Shatabdi Express trains, budget guesthouses, local trek operators in Joshimath/Auli — for roughly a third of the guided tour price.
Day-by-day
Arrive Delhi — ease in and orient yourself
Delhi
Land at Indira Gandhi International Airport and make your own way into the city — the Airport Express Metro to New Delhi station costs around £2, or a prepaid taxi/Ola ride is £5-8. Check into a budget guesthouse in Paharganj or the Main Bazaar (£10-18/night, twin/double). If time allows, wander Connaught Place or take the Yellow Line Metro to Chandni Chowk for a late-afternoon street-food crawl (parathas at Paranthe Wali Gali, ~£2). Buy a local SIM (Airtel/Jio, ~£5 with data) and pick up any trekking snacks. Early night — tomorrow is a train day.
🚌Airport Express Metro or prepaid taxi from DEL (~£2-8)
🛏Budget guesthouse, Paharganj/Main Bazaar, Delhi (~£12-18)
- →Arrive Delhi & transfer to Paharganj
- →Buy local SIM card
- →Evening walk in Connaught Place / Chandni Chowk street food
Shatabdi Express to Haridwar, then Rishikesh & Ganga Aarti
Rishikesh
Book the early Shatabdi Express from New Delhi to Haridwar in the AC Chair Car (roughly 5 hours, ~£7-9 in AC Chair Class — book on IRCTC or 12Go Asia). From Haridwar station take a shared jeep or bus to Rishikesh (~1 hour, £1-2), or a taxi for ~£12. Check into a riverside guesthouse in Laxman Jhula or Tapovan (£10-16/night). In the late afternoon walk the Ganga Trail from Laxman Jhula to Ram Jhula — ashrams, cafes, wandering cows — then join the free-to-watch Ganga Aarti at Parmarth Niketan (arrive by 18:00 for a good spot). Stay for the floating diya lamps and chanting.
🚌Shatabdi Express New Delhi→Haridwar ~£8; shared jeep/bus Haridwar→Rishikesh ~£1-2
🛏Riverside guesthouse, Laxman Jhula/Tapovan, Rishikesh (~£10-16)
- →Shatabdi Express train to Haridwar
- →Ganga Trail walk (Laxman Jhula→Ram Jhula)
- →Ganga Aarti ceremony at Parmarth Niketan
Road trip to Salubagarh via the sacred Prayags
Salubagarh (1,600m)
Book a shared jeep or private taxi from Rishikesh to Joshimath/Salubagarh (~7-8 hours, ~£25-35 private split between travellers, or ~£8-10 by shared jeep/bus via Rishikesh-Joshimath). The scenic drive climbs into the Garhwal foothills, passing the sacred Prayags (Devprayag, Rudraprayag, Karnaprayag, Nandaprayag) — stop at Devprayag to see the Bhagirathi and Alaknanda rivers merge. Lunch at a dhaba en route (~£2-3). Camp or stay in a riverside guesthouse at Salubagarh, on the edge of Joshimath, ready for the trek start.
🚌Shared jeep/taxi Rishikesh→Joshimath, 7-8 hrs (~£8-35 depending on sharing)
🛏Riverside camp or guesthouse, Salubagarh/Joshimath (~£8-12)
- →Scenic drive through Garhwal Himalayas
- →Stop at Devprayag (sacred confluence)
- →Riverside camp at Salubagarh
Meet your crew & trek to Ghunni (2,500m)
Ghunni
In Joshimath or at Salubagarh you can hire a local licensed trekking guide (roughly £25-35/day shared across a small group) and arrange mules/porters for your overnight bag (~£10-15/day). Start with an easy walk along a glacial river, then climb through coniferous forest to the slate-roofed village of Rumni, and on up to the plateau at Ghunni. Camp in a twin tent on the high plateau (rent gear in Joshimath if needed: tent, sleeping bag, mat ~£5-8/day). Watch the sunset over the foothills. 4-5 hrs, 10km, +950m / -120m.
🚌On foot from Salubagarh trailhead
🛏Wild camping — twin tent, Ghunni (2,500m)
- →Hire local trekking guide & mule/porter in Joshimath
- →Trek to Rumni village
- →Camp at Ghunni plateau
Trek to Sem Kharak (2,600m)
Sem Kharak
An uphill day zigzagging to a high meadow for your first proper view of the snow-capped Himalayan giants. Continue through rhododendron, pine and oak forest to Chechni Vinayak (3,150m) — your high point today — with a distant glimpse of Kuari Pass. Follow the trail downhill through horse chestnut and walnut groves, passing waterfalls to camp at Sem Kharak. 6-7 hrs, 11km, +850m / -670m.
🚌On foot
🛏Wild camping — twin tent, Sem Kharak (2,600m)
- →First Himalaya peak views
- →Chechni Vinayak viewpoint (3,150m)
- →Forest trek to Sem Kharak camp
Trek to Pana (2,750m)
Pana
A harder day. Descend to the village of Jhinjhi, then continue past farms and woodland to the beautiful Birehi Gorge. Drop to a road-head bridge, follow the river trail, then tackle a strenuous few-hour climb to Irani Village. A flatter finish leads to camp just above Pana village. 7-8 hrs, 14km, +1,350m / -1,200m — pace yourself and keep hydrated. Carry at least 2 litres plus purification tablets/filter.
🚌On foot
🛏Wild camping — twin tent, Pana (2,750m)
- →Descend to Jhinjhi village
- →Birehi Gorge river trail
- →Climb to Irani Village & camp near Pana
Trek to Dhakwani (3,325m)
Dhakwani
Climb steeply through forest to Sartoli Meadow — wildflowers and great views toward Kuari Pass. Cross the meadow, drop to a river and into wild terrain (keep an eye out for blue sheep). Climb once more past a stream to large pasture above the treeline. Tonight is the highest camp of the trek. 6-7 hrs, 12km, +1,450m / -900m. Watch for early altitude symptoms — headache, nausea — and tell your guide immediately.
🚌On foot
🛏Wild camping — twin tent, Dhakwani (3,325m)
- →Sartoli Meadow
- →Wildlife spotting (blue sheep)
- →Highest camp of the trek above treeline
Cross Kuari Pass (3,750m) & descend to Tali
Tali
The big day. Ascend to Kuari Pass (3,750m) for one of the best panoramas in the Himalaya — multiple 6,000m and 7,000m peaks. On the descent, Nanda Devi (7,816m) reveals itself. Continue down to camp at Tali on a ridge with another superb vista. 4-5 hrs, 9km, +580m / -550m. Start early to avoid afternoon cloud. Take the classic summit photo with the Kuari Pass signboard.
🚌On foot
🛏Wild camping — twin tent, Tali (3,320m)
- →Cross Kuari Pass (3,750m)
- →Nanda Devi views (7,816m)
- →Camp on the ridge at Tali
Finish at Auli & drive to Rudraprayag
Rudraprayag
A narrow, undulating descent from Tali to the ski resort of Auli (2,650m), with Nanda Devi accompanying you and a crossing of the wildflower meadows of Gorson Bugyal. 4-5 hrs, 10km, +390m / -1,080m. From Auli, arrange a shared jeep or bus down to Rudraprayag (~4-5 hrs, ~£8-15) — one of the five sacred Prayags where the Alaknanda and Mandakini meet. Check into a budget hotel (£12-20), shower, and enjoy a farewell dinner at a local restaurant (~£4-6).
🚌On foot to Auli; shared jeep/bus Auli→Rudraprayag ~£8-15
🛏Budget hotel, Rudraprayag (~£12-20)
- →Descent to Auli via Gorson Bugyal
- →Drive to Rudraprayag (sacred Prayag)
- →Farewell dinner
Drive to Haridwar & train back to Delhi
Delhi
After breakfast, drive down from the mountains to Haridwar (~4-5 hrs, ~£8-15 shared). Spend an hour at Haridwar's Ghats — Har Ki Pauri — a major pilgrimage site where the Ganges leaves the foothills. Then take the Shatabdi Express from Haridwar to New Delhi (roughly 4.5 hrs, ~£8-9 AC Chair Car — book ahead on IRCTC). Arrive late evening and check into a budget guesthouse near New Delhi station (£10-18).
🚌Shared jeep/bus Rudraprayag→Haridwar ~£8-15; Shatabdi Express Haridwar→Delhi ~£8-9
🛏Budget guesthouse, Paharganj, Delhi (~£10-18)
- →Visit Haridwar Ghats (Har Ki Pauri)
- →Shatabdi Express back to Delhi
Fly home from Delhi
Delhi
Final breakfast, then take the Airport Express Metro or a prepaid taxi to Indira Gandhi International Airport (~£2-8). Book a flight departing after 13:00 to leave a comfortable buffer. If you've time before your flight, Delhi's Lodhi Gardens or Humayun's Tomb make a great last stop.
🚌Airport Express Metro or prepaid taxi to DEL (~£2-8)
🛏None (departure day)
- →Transfer to Delhi airport
- →Optional last-minute sightseeing (Lodhi Gardens / Humayun's Tomb)
Self-launched vs. Much Better Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Much Better Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£320 | £1,795 |
| Duration | 11 days | 11 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,475 per person (82%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Much Better Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£320
estimated per person
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Self-Launched Kuari Pass & Curzon Trail Trek — Indian Himalayas on a Backpacker Budget cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £320 per person for 11 days in Indian Himalayas (Delhi, Rishikesh, Garhwal, Kuari Pass). This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Much Better Adventures?+
Yes — Much Better Adventures charges around £1,795 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £320 — a saving of roughly £1,475 (82%) per person.
How long is the Indian Himalayas (Delhi, Rishikesh, Garhwal, Kuari Pass) trip?+
This itinerary runs 11 days, covering 11 day-by-day stops through Indian Himalayas (Delhi, Rishikesh, Garhwal, Kuari Pass).
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, hiking, culture trip through Indian Himalayas (Delhi, Rishikesh, Garhwal, Kuari Pass), self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
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