Some treks are walks; the Milam Glacier trek is a journey. For ten days you follow the historic Indo-Tibet salt trade route up the Gori Ganga from Munsiyari — through a gorge where the trail is carved into sheer rock faces, past half-abandoned Johar valley villages, to Milam itself: once a 500-house trade town on the road to Tibet, now a ghost village kept by a handful of Bhotia families and the ITBP. Beyond it, the glacier where the Gori Ganga is born, with Nanda Devi East crowding the skyline.
What is the Milam Glacier trek route?
Day 1 is a spectacular 280 km drive from Kathgodam to Munsiyari (7,200 ft), the 'little Kashmir' facing the five Panchachuli peaks. Day 2 descends into the Gori Ganga gorge to Lilam; Day 3 is the day everyone remembers — the gorge narrows to a slot of cliffs and waterfalls, the trail cut into rock high above the river, ending at Bogudiar (8,040 ft).
Day 4 opens into the Johar valley at Rilkot (9,840 ft); Day 5 passes Burfu and Bilju to Milam village at 11,220 ft. Day 6 walks over moraine to the glacier snout at 11,500 ft — Nanda Devi East and Hardeol above — and explores old Milam's ruins. Days 7-9 retrace the valley and gorge to Munsiyari, and Day 10 drives back to Kathgodam.
When is the best time for Milam?
May-June and September-October. Autumn light on Panchachuli during the return days is a photographer's dream; spring brings the Johar villages briefly back to life as families return for the summer.
How difficult is the Milam Glacier trek?
Rated Difficult — not for extreme altitude (the maximum is 11,500 ft) but for sheer sustained distance: ten consecutive days with several 11-13 km stages and a 17 km final walking day. Endurance is the currency here. Train with long back-to-back walking days.
What does it cost?
The Milam Glacier trek package is ₹19,999 + 5% GST per person: all meals on trek, alpine tents or village stays on twin sharing, sleeping bags and mats, trek leader plus local Johar valley guides, forest permits and camping charges, and twice-daily health checks. The Kathgodam-Munsiyari shareable cab, offloading and insurance are extra.
How to reach Munsiyari?
Overnight train from Delhi to Kathgodam railway station, then the 11-hour drive through Almora and Thal. Build a buffer day into your plans — Munsiyari is a long way from anywhere, which is exactly why it is worth it.
Permits and the border zone
Pithoragarh forest division permits are arranged by us and included. The trail passes ITBP check posts near the border: Indian nationals must carry an original government photo ID, and foreign nationals need additional district administration clearance that we arrange well in advance — tell us your nationality at booking.
Walk into history
Trade caravans walked this route for centuries; you can walk it in ten days. Dates are on our Milam Glacier page.
