Join us for a unique, once in a life time experience through the stunning Kumaon Region of Uttarakhand in the India Himalayas this Autumn.
Visit communities, now thriving through your support of Frank Water. Hear their stories first hand, over a warm cup of chai and learn about how life was before their springs were restored. Trek with the community through the village and wider watershed to see their sacred natural springs and the nature based solutions that have transformed their lives.
Then, after a journey further into the Himalayas, undertake an epic trek to the legendary Pindari Glacier. Lying in the Nanda Devi Sanctuary, it is the source of the Pindar River. Along the route, you will catch arresting views of Himalayan peaks like Maiktoli (6,803 m) and Panwali Dwar (6,683 m). You will pass through rhododendron forests, lush meadows, green valleys, and cascading rivers to the Pindari Glacier summit (the ‘zero point’ at an astounding altitude of 3,660 m), where you are welcomed with spellbinding views of Nanda Devi peak. A truly beautiful trek that will leave you speechless!
Click here to download full details of the trek.
Itinerary
Frank Water’s Himalayan Trek for Safe Water is planned as a 10-day journey in Uttarakhand, with arrival and departure from Pantnagar Airport or Kathogodam rail head. After settling in, the first two days will be spent exploring Frank Water’s work and meeting communities who have benefited from their work in and around Almora, where participants will undertake an acclimatisation walk and local orientation in the mid-Himalayan landscape.
After acclimatisation, the group will proceed further into the Himalayas, for the Pindari Glacier trek, which includes a scenic drive to Khati village followed by a gradual trek along the river through dense forests to Dwali and onward to Phurkia, the last base camp. A highlight of the trek is a day hike from Phurkia to Pindari Glacier Zero Point and back. The return follows the same route downhill to Khati, with road transfer thereafter. The trekking phase spans 6 nights, with one day kept as a buffer or rest day.
Dates: 22 September to 2 October 2026
Day 1 (22 September): Early morning flights into Delhi. Transfer will leave at approximately 7am driving through the plains to Kathogodam, before starting the climb up into the mountains, arriving into Almora early evening. Stay in homestays.
Day 2 (23rd September): Settle into homestay accommodation. Relax and acclimatise.
Day 3 & Day 4 (24th and 25th September): Acclimatisation treks to include visits to at least two communities who have been impacted through Frank Water’s work.
Includes: trek to the heart of the village, chai and conversations with the community, trek up to the recharge zones, following the flow of water to the natural springs, and back to the heart of the village. Stay in guesthouse accommodation in Almora.
Day 5 (26th September): Drive From Almora To Khati Village: enjoy the beauty of Kumaon.
Day 6 (27th September): Trek From Khati To Dwali | walk by the beautiful Pindar River.
Day 7 (28th September): Trek From Dwali To Phurkia: cross spiderwalls and frozen streams.
Day 8 (29th September): Trek From Phurkia To Zero Point and back To Phurki: trek through the inner realms of Pindar Valley.
Day 9 (30th September): Trek From Phurkia To Khati Via Dwali: begin descending.
Day 10 (1st October): Drive From Khati To Nainital: say goodbye to the mountains and visit Nainital’s famous lake and temples.
Day 11 (2nd October): Transfer to Delhi airport.
Click here to download full the full trek brochure
Practicalities
Personal gear will be carried by the participants, which includes a sleeping bag, a mattress, rain and winter gear, and personal medicine. Hiking and camping kit like mattresses and waterproofs can be hired at an additional cost.
Recommended fitness criteria:
- Jogging – 5 km of distance for 33 minutes without stress
- Walking – 10 km of distance in 75 minutes without stress
- Cycling – 15 km of distance in 45 minutes without stress
- Ability to carry a 10-12 kg backpack
Tour guides Veda are a very knowledgeable locally based organisation with experienced trek guides who know the trails and local culture.
All guest houses, homestays and tents will be clean, simple and in good condition. All tents, for during the main trek will be shared by two people, but single supplement is available on request.
Onward travel to visit Rishikesh and the Ganges or the Jim Corbett National Park (for example) is possible and we recommend friend of Frank Water, Sophie Hartman and ‘Holidays in Rural India’ for any travel arrangements.
If, for any reason the trek needs to be postponed, it will be rescheduled to March/April 2027. In this scenario, your deposit will be returned if you are unable to do the new dates.
Reserve your place now
Please pay a £300 non-refundable deposit to reserve a place on this extraordinary trek in the stunning Himalayas. This amount is deductible from the cost of trek.
Cost of trek (from 22nd – 2nd): £1,200 per person (minus the £300 deposit) payable 1 June 2026 (includes: Delhi to Delhi transport, all accommodation based on twin sharing, three meals a day, water, local trek and community visit, Pindari Glacier trek, and local travel insurance, Frank Water t-shirt).
Note: Single supplement available on request.
Suggested fundraising target: £2,500 per person – our team will support you!
International flights are to be booked at your own convenience and cost. Transfer from Delhi Airport will be arranged, leaving at approximately 7am on 22 September.
Items not included in the core cost:
- Personal tourist visa
- Personal travel insurance
- Any vaccinations required
- Any kind of personal expenses
- Any extra costs incurred due to extension/change of the itinerary due to natural calamities, roadblocks, vehicle breakdown, etc.
