Gupt Khal which literally means the 'secret pass' as it is hidden and not many know about it, has been mentioned in Frank Smythe's book 'Valley of Flowers'.
The trek crosses over the twin passes of Bhyundar Khal and Gupt Khal. One has to cross over the moraines and glaciers such as Gauri glacier, Rataban Glacier, Tipra Glacier, Bankund Glacier, Nilgiri glacier and Nakthani glacier.
This trek is difficult and needs previous trekking experience of difficult treks. Basic knowledge of mountaineering is a must for this trek. At certain places, the rope has to be fixed to cross deep crevasses. The trek offers close and glorious views of Nilkantha, Hathi, Nilgiri, Rataban, Kamet and Mana peaks.
Get Gupt Khal Trekking Guide, Trek Route, Guptkhal Updates Tips
Gupt Khal Trek UpdatesGuptkhal trek has been successfully conducted three times only in the last 86 years. The first time it was Frank Smythe, then it was successfully completed by a Delhi Group in 2010 and then recently in 2019 by a group from Bangalore.
Frank Sydney Smythe was the British explorer and mountaineer after his successful climb of Kamet in 1931 was coming down into the Bhyunder valley when he first saw the valley and as it was covered with flowers, he named it Valley of Flowers. In 1937 Smythe returned to the valley, explored a few high-altitude passes which include Bhyundar Khal and Gupt Khal Passes and it is mentioned in his book, ‘The Valley of Flowers’.
Guptkhal Trekking Routes
There are two trekking routes to do Gupt Khal Trekking Expedition. Both of them are equally good and tough.
Route 1 (via Valley of Flowers): Joshimath - Govindghat - Ghangaria - Valley of Flowers - Tipra Kharak - Bhyundar Icefall Camp - Bhyundar Khal Base - Bhyundar Khal - Rataban Glacier - Bankund lake - Bankund bend - Garh Camping Grounds - Gupt Khal Base - Gupt Khal - upper Nakthani camp - Nakthani Snout camp - Mana - Badrinath - Joshimath
Route 2 (from Ghamsali Village): Joshimath- Malari - Ghamsali Village - Thur Udiyar - Eri Udiyar - Bank Kund Lake - Garh Camping Ground - Gupt Khal BC - Gupt Khal Pass - Nakthani Snowfield/Glacier - Mana - Badrinath - Joshimath
Gupt Khal Trek Route from Ghamshali
Gupt Khal Suggested Trek Itinerary
Day 1:Dehradun/Haridwar to Govindghat/Joshimath Day 2: Govindghat/Joshimath to Ghangaria (2950 mts, Trek: 13 kms) Day 3: Ghangaria - Valley of Flowers - Tipra Kharak Camping grounds (3700 mts, Trek: 10 kms) Day 4: Tipra Kharak to Bhyundar Icefall Camp (4300 mts, Trek: 6 kms) Day 5: Bhyundar Icefall Camp to Bhyundar Khal Base (4600 mts, Trek: 5 kms) Day 6: Bhyundar Base to Bhyundar Khal (5100 mts) to Rataban Glacier (4500 mts, Trek: 10 kms) Day 7: Rataban Glacier to Bankund Lake (4500 mts, Trek: 6 kms) Day 8: Bankund lake to Bankund bend (4900 mts, Trek: 6 kms) Day 9: Bankund Bend to Garh Camping Grounds (5430 mts, Trek: 8 kms) Day 10: Garh Camping Grounds to Gupt Khal Base (5600 mts, Trek: 4 kms) Day 11: Gupt Khal Base to Gupt Khal (5835 mts) to upper Nakthani camp (5000 mts, Trek: 3 kms) Day 12: Upper Nakthani Camp to Nakthani snout camp (4500 mts, Trek: 8 kms) Day 13: Nakthani Snout camp to Badrinath (3100 mts, Trek: 18 kms) Day 14:Badrinath to Dehradun/Haridwar
*Note: Take 2 days as buffer days for acclimatization in between the trek.
Route Map of Gupt Khal Trek done by Snow Scapes Team
Ashutosh: Trekking Route of 2009 Expedition of Gupt Khal
Must Read Extensive Blog on Gupt Khal Trek by Snow Scapes: Part 1, Part 2
eUttaranchal.com is NOT an Official website of Government of Uttarakhand (Uttaranchal) neither is it associated with Uttarakhand Tourism Board or KMVN or GMVN. Besides Uttarakhand Matrimonial and Uttarakhand Tourism services, eUttaranchal is also a mini encyclopedia of Uttarakhand providing information about Culture, Tourism, Education, Politics and News about Uttarakhand.
