Roopkund Trek

Overview of the Roopkund Trek

The Roopkund Trek runs 8 days and 7 nights from Kathgodam, graded Difficult, from Rs 14,500 per person. Route: Kathgodam – Lohajung – Wan – Bedni Bugyal – Bhagwabasa – Roopkund – Lohajung – Kathgodam.

What the Roopkund Trek is like

Roopkund sits at 5,029 metres in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, in a shallow bowl below the Trisul massif and the ridge that carries Nanda Ghunti. The lake itself is small and, for most of the year, frozen or half-frozen. What makes it famous is what lies in and around the water: several hundred human skeletons, many still with hair and preserved tissue attached, scattered across the shoreline and the bed of the lake.

For a long time the story told to trekkers was that these were the remains of an army, or of pilgrims caught in a hailstorm. Scientific dating published in 2019 complicated that considerably. The bones fall into two distinct genetic groups and two distinct periods, roughly the ninth century and again around the seventeenth, which rules out a single catastrophic event. The current reading is that this is a site where several separate groups died over centuries, and the lake’s cold, slightly alkaline water and the short growing season preserved what a warmer place would have destroyed.

The walk to reach it is the other reason people come. The route climbs from the road head at Wan through oak and rhododendron, breaks out onto the Bedni Bugyal and Ali Bugyal meadows, which are among the largest high-altitude grasslands in the Indian Himalaya, and then crosses the rocky, exposed stretch to Bhagwabasa before the final climb to the lake. On a clear morning the Trishul, Nanda Ghunti and Nanda Devi walls fill the skyline for most of the upper half of the trek.

This is a genuinely hard trek rather than a hard-sounding one. The altitude gain is fast, the Bhagwabasa to Roopkund day is long and starts before dawn, and the descent from the lake is steep and loose. It is not a first Himalayan trek, and it is not a trek to attempt without a buffer day for acclimatisation.

The route in detail

Day one is the drive from Kathgodam up through Almora and Kausani to Lohajung, a small road-head town on the Nandakini river at around 2,300 metres. The road is long and winding and the afternoon is spent settling in. Day two is a short transfer to Wan and then a walk of four to five hours through oak, bamboo and rhododendron to the village of Ghairoli, where the first camp sits in a clearing above the Nandakini valley. Day three climbs steadily to Ali Bugyal and then traverses to Bedni Bugyal, a broad open meadow at roughly 3,350 metres with the Trishul massif directly ahead. Day four is the acclimatisation day, walked as a short climb to the Bedni top and back, which is where most people first feel the altitude properly. Day five crosses to Patar Nachauni and then climbs to Bhagwabasa at around 4,100 metres, a camp of stone shelters on bare ground with no tree cover and a reputation for wind. Day six is the summit day: a pre-dawn start, a climb of three to four hours to the lake, an hour at the shoreline, and a long descent back to Bedni or Ghairoli depending on the group’s pace. Days seven and eight reverse the route to Lohajung and drive back to Kathgodam.

Who the Roopkund Trek suits

The Roopkund trek suits trekkers who have already done at least one Himalayan trek of five days or more and know how their body behaves above 4,000 metres. The daily walking is six to eight hours on the upper days, the summit day is ten to twelve hours, and the terrain includes loose scree, boulder fields and a long exposed traverse. Anyone with knee trouble should think carefully about the descent from Bhagwabasa, which is the hardest part of the trek for most people. It is a poor choice for a first trek, for children, or for anyone who has not tested themselves at altitude.

What the price includes

The price of Rs 14,500 per person covers 7 nights accommodation in alpine tents on twin and triple sharing, plus 1 night in a guesthouse at lohajung, and the rest of what is listed below. GST at 5%, insurance, and anything not listed under inclusions are extra.

Highlights of the Roopkund Trek

• The skeleton lake at 5,029 metres, below the Trisul and Nanda Ghunti walls
• Two nights on the Bedni Bugyal and Ali Bugyal meadows
• A full acclimatisation day built into the schedule at Bedni
• Views of Trishul, Nanda Ghunti and Nanda Devi from the upper ridge
• A guided summit day with oxygen and a medic on the mountain

Roopkund Trek Itinerary

Day 1: Drive from Kathgodam to Lohajung

• Meet the group at Kathgodam railway station in the morning.
• Drive through Almora, Kausani and Gwaldam, roughly eight to nine hours.
• Arrive at Lohajung, a road-head town on the Nandakini river at about 2,300 m.
• Briefing from the trek leader, gear check and dinner.
• Overnight in a guesthouse.

Day 2: Lohajung to Wan and trek to Ghairoli

• Short drive to Wan village, the road head for the trek.
• Walk four to five hours through oak, bamboo and rhododendron forest.
• Cross the Nandakini on a suspension bridge.
• Camp at Ghairoli in a clearing above the valley.
• Evening briefing on the next day’s climb.

Day 3: Ghairoli to Ali Bugyal and Bedni Bugyal

• Steady climb of five to six hours through forest to Ali Bugyal.
• The trees give way to open grassland at around 3,000 m.
• Traverse the meadow ridge to Bedni Bugyal at roughly 3,350 m.
• Camp on the meadow with the Trishul massif ahead.
• Hot dinner and an early night.

Day 4: Acclimatisation day at Bedni Bugyal

• Slow morning at camp to let the body adjust to the altitude.
• Short climb to the Bedni top for the Nanda Ghunti and Trishul views.
• Return to camp for lunch.
• Rest, hydration checks and a gear review for the summit push.
• Overnight at Bedni Bugyal.

Day 5: Bedni Bugyal to Patar Nachauni and Bhagwabasa

• Walk of five to six hours across the meadow and into rocky ground.
• Stop at Patar Nachauni for lunch.
• Climb to Bhagwabasa at around 4,100 m.
• Camp among the stone shelters on bare, exposed ground.
• Early dinner and a pre-dawn wake-up call.

Day 6: Bhagwabasa to Roopkund and descent

• Start before dawn with headlamps.
• Climb three to four hours over scree and boulder fields.
• Reach Roopkund at 5,029 m and walk the shoreline.
• One hour at the lake, weather permitting.
• Long descent back to Bedni Bugyal or Ghairoli depending on pace.
• Overnight at camp.

Day 7: Descend to Wan and drive to Lohajung

• Walk down through the forest to Wan, four to five hours.
• Drive to Lohajung.
• Hot food, a shower and a proper bed.
• Overnight in a guesthouse.

Day 8: Drive from Lohajung to Kathgodam

• Early departure for the drive back.
• Arrive at Kathgodam by evening.
• Trip ends at the railway station.

What is included in the Roopkund Trek

• 7 nights accommodation in alpine tents on twin and triple sharing, plus 1 night in a guesthouse at Lohajung
• All meals from dinner on day 1 to breakfast on day 8
• Trek leader, assistant guides and a certified mountaineering guide on the summit day
• All transport from Kathgodam and back as per the itinerary
• Forest permits and camping fees for the Nandakini and Roopkund ranges
• Kitchen team, dining tent, toilet tents and all group camping equipment
• Oxygen cylinders, a pulse oximeter and a comprehensive medical kit with the group
• Mules and porters for group equipment and kitchen supplies

What is not included

• GST at 5%
• Travel, accidental, health and medical insurance
• Personal trekking gear, sleeping bag and backpack offloading charges
• Lunch on day 1 and day 8
• Costs arising from weather, landslides, road closures or public protests
• Any evacuation, hospitalisation or rescue cost
• Anything not listed under inclusions

What to carry on the Roopkund Trek

• A government photo ID card, original
• A rated down sleeping bag for -10 C and a four-season sleeping mat
• Layered clothing: base layer, fleece, and a down or synthetic insulated jacket
• A waterproof and windproof shell jacket and trousers
• Trekking boots broken in before the trip, plus camp sandals
• Microspikes and gaiters, which the operator can supply on request
• Two one-litre water bottles and water purification tablets
• Sunscreen SPF 50, lip balm, UV sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat
• Headlamp with spare batteries, plus a power bank
• Personal medication, including anything for altitude and stomach upset
• A small daypack for the summit day

Departure details

• Departs Kathgodam on the starting day and returns to Kathgodam on the final evening.
• Fixed departures run weekly on Fridays; the exact pickup point is confirmed on booking.
• Group size is capped at 15 trekkers.
• The trip runs on a fixed 8D/7N format and does not extend.
• Best season: May to June and September to October. Maximum altitude: 5,029 m.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best season for the Roopkund trek?

May to June and September to October. In May and June the meadows are green and the lake is usually partly thawed, though afternoon cloud builds early. September and October give the clearest mountain views and the most stable weather, with cold nights. The trek does not run in July and August because of the monsoon, and the road to Lohajung and the upper trail are closed by snow from roughly December to March.

How difficult is the Roopkund trek and how high does it go?

It is graded Difficult. The lake sits at 5,029 metres, the camp at Bhagwabasa is at about 4,100 metres, and the summit day is ten to twelve hours of walking. The altitude is the real difficulty rather than the technical terrain: there is no climbing, but there is a lot of scree, boulder-hopping and a long exposed traverse. Trekkers should have done at least one five-day Himalayan trek before attempting it.

How fit do I need to be for Roopkund?

You should be able to walk six to eight hours a day with a light daypack for a week, and climb 800 to 1,000 metres of ascent in a day without stopping constantly. A sensible preparation is three months of regular running or cycling plus weekend hill walks with a pack. Being strong helps, but arriving rested and hydrated matters just as much at this altitude.

Is the Roopkund trek suitable for solo travellers?

Yes. Groups are capped at 15 and everyone camps together, so solo trekkers are in the same tent rotation and the same dining tent as everyone else. The fixed departure format means you do not need to find a partner to book. Couples and small friend groups also fit comfortably.

What kind of accommodation is provided on the Roopkund trek?

Seven nights in alpine tents on twin and triple sharing, plus one night in a guesthouse at Lohajung at the start and one at the end. Dining tent, kitchen tent and toilet tents are set up at every camp. There is no electricity at the camps above Ghairoli, and no showers beyond Lohajung.

Is there mobile network and are permits needed?

There is patchy coverage at Lohajung and Wan and effectively none from Ghairoli upwards, so plan to be offline for five days. Forest permits and camping fees for the Nandakini and Roopkund ranges are arranged by the operator and are included in the price; you do not need to apply separately. Carry a government photo ID for the permit paperwork.

Plan Your Trip

Explore related pages: All treks in Uttarakhand · Browse all destinations · All activities · Roopkund destination guide · Trekking in India.

Related Trips

• Kedarkantha Trek
• Brahmatal Trek
• Har Ki Dun Valley Trek

Photo credits. Photographs on this page are from Wikimedia Commons and are used under the licences listed below. Each image is credited to its photographer; the licence terms apply to reuse of the image.

• Shubhamrathod15 — CC BY-SA 4.0
• Daniel Romanson — CC0
• Daniel Romanson — CC0
• Daniel Romanson — CC0