Quick answer: Khullara is the highest camp of the Kuari Pass trek, at 3,350 m (10,991 ft) in Chamoli district, Uttarakhand. You reach it on Day 3, 5 km and about 4 hours from Gulling, and sleep there two nights. Summit day is a 13 km round trip from Khullara to the 3,815 m pass. The coldest night recorded there is -16°C.
Where is Khullara, and how high is it?
Khullara is the second and last camp on the Kuari Pass Trek, set among open meadows and coniferous forest above Dhak, with views of the surrounding Himalayan ranges. It is the highest place you sleep on the trek. You do not camp at the pass: you walk to it and back from Khullara in a day.
| Khullara fact | Figure |
|---|---|
| Height | 3,350 m (10,991 ft) |
| District | Chamoli, Uttarakhand |
| Nights at the camp | Two, on Days 3 and 4 |
| From Gulling (2,900 m) | 5 km, about 4 hours, about 450 m up |
| To Kuari Pass (3,815 m) and back | 13 km, 8 to 9 hours, about 465 m up and down |
| Down to Dhak (2,050 m) | 11 km, 6 to 7 hours |
| Coldest night recorded | -16°C |
For the road to Pipalkoti and the towns on the way, see our guide to where Kuari Pass is.
What is the walk from Gulling to Khullara like?
Day 3 is the shortest walking day of the trek, and a gentle one. After the climb of about 850 m from Dhak to Gulling on Day 2, the walk to Khullara gains about 450 m (1,476 ft) over 5 km in around 4 hours.
Oak and rhododendron come first, then a wider mixed forest; past a small stream the trees open in places onto green meadows. From December to March this whole stretch of forest is under thick snow. Our Kuari Pass distance and height guide sets every leg of the 35 km side by side.
What is the camp at Khullara like?
Khullara is a meadow camp with forest close by, and because you sleep there twice, the tents stay pitched while you go to the pass and back. Tents are shared by three, with men and women in separate tents, and the sleeping bags are rated to -20°C. The mess tent gives hot water at every camp; fill your bottles there, and fill an insulated bottle before you sleep.
Your SpO2 and pulse are checked twice a day at every campsite, Khullara included, and a falling reading is acted on early. Trekkaro's trek leaders are trained in wilderness first aid and lead with local guides, and one oxygen cylinder, a first-aid and medical kit and one stretcher travel with every batch. Mobile signal is not reliable on the trail, so the team uses radios.
How cold does Khullara get?
Khullara is the highest place you sleep on the trek, and the coldest reading Trekkaro's trek leaders have recorded on the trek, -16°C, was taken there. The table gives Trekkaro's season ranges for the trek as a whole; there is no separate range for Khullara.
| Season | Day | Night |
|---|---|---|
| Autumn (October to November) | 10°C to 15°C | Around 0°C |
| Winter (December to February) | 8°C to 14°C | -14°C to -8°C |
| Spring (March to April) | 13°C to 17°C | Around 0°C |
Snow follows the same pattern. From December to March the forest below the camp is under thick snow, the stream on the way to Khullara Top is frozen from December to February, and the snow is deepest in January on the climb from Khullara to the pass. Check the forecast for Chamoli district on the India Meteorological Department's Dehradun centre in the days before you travel.
What happens on summit day from Khullara?
Summit day starts early from Khullara and is the longest walking day of the trek: 13 km in 8 to 9 hours, out and back to the same tents. The first 3.5 km take you to Khullara Top, across the stream that freezes in winter. After Khullara Top the trail climbs along a ridge towards the pass, and a short break every 15 minutes is recommended. After fresh snowfall the team clears the trail and helps you across slippery sections.
There are no water sources anywhere on this route, so every bottle you need is filled at Khullara before you leave. Microspikes and gaiters come free with the Free Trekking Gear, along with Decathlon trekking shoes, a -10°C jacket and trekking poles, against a ₹3,000 refundable deposit and a ₹200 washing charge. Ropes are not used on this trek.
Groups reach Kuari Pass between 9 and 10 AM and stay 30 to 45 minutes. Fourteen peaks stand on the skyline, among them Nanda Devi, Kamet, Chaukhamba and Kedarnath. Wind on the ridge can be strong, so pull on a layer at the top and keep your cap and gloves on. Then it is back down the ridge to Khullara for the second night. Our Kuari Pass trek map shows where each of these points sits.
How do you leave Khullara on Day 5?
Day 5 is a steady 11 km descent from Khullara to Dhak in 6 to 7 hours, on a sloping trail that loses height all day, about 1,300 m in all. Keep your trekking poles out for your knees. At Dhak the included cab takes you 15 km back to Pipalkoti, where bags you did not need on the trail wait for you, free of charge, in Trekkaro's store. That night is your last included dinner, in a guesthouse or homestay.
What does the Kuari Pass trek cost?
The fee for the Kuari Pass Trek is ₹9,400 per person plus 5% GST (₹9,870 with GST). EMI starts at ₹484 a month. It covers the two nights in Pipalkoti, the tents at Gulling and Khullara, pure vegetarian meals from Day 1 dinner to Day 5 dinner, permits and forest camping fees, the Free Trekking Gear and the Pipalkoti to Dhak cab on Days 2 and 5. The trek is graded Easy to Moderate, and the minimum age is 8.
The drive between Rishikesh or Dehradun and Pipalkoti is not included. We help the group book shared cabs at ₹6,500 one way per 5 to 6 seat vehicle, paid directly to the driver and split among trekkers, which is ₹1,083 each when six share. Every trekker brings a medical certificate signed by a doctor (the form is in My Bookings), and travel insurance covering high-altitude trekking and evacuation is mandatory and not part of the fee. Trekkaro runs the trek from October to April; see the trek page for live batch dates.
See Kuari Pass Trek dates and book | Pipalkoti village guide | Kuari Pass weather
Frequently asked questions
How high is Khullara?
Khullara is at 3,350 m (10,991 ft). It is the highest camp on the Kuari Pass trek, about 465 m below the 3,815 m pass.
How far is Khullara from Gulling?
Khullara is 5 km from Gulling, a walk of about 4 hours with about 450 m of climbing. The trail runs through oak, rhododendron and mixed forest and past a small stream.
How many nights do you spend at Khullara?
Two. You arrive on Day 3, walk to Kuari Pass and back on Day 4, sleep at Khullara again, and descend to Dhak on Day 5.
How cold is Khullara at night?
Winter nights on the trek run from -14°C to -8°C. The coldest reading Trekkaro's trek leaders have recorded on the trek is -16°C, at Khullara.
Is there water at Khullara camp?
Yes, the mess tent gives hot water at the camp, and you fill your bottles there. There are no water sources on the summit-day route, so carry everything you will drink from Khullara.
