Milam Glacier Trek
The Himalayan region of Kumaon is a store house of natural beauty beyond belief. Protected from the onslaught of the outside world, the Himalayan ecology remains well conserved here, making the region a great retreat for the lovers of nature. Milam Glacier (3,962m) is one of the largest and most beautiful glaciers in the Kumaon Himalayas.
Located in the Pithoragarh district on the Indo-Tibetan border the route offers a mix of trekking along the vibrant valleys of the Gori Ganga and amongst the mountain range that borders the Nanda Devi range (25,625 feet).
Indeed, this trek to the Milam Glacier is amongst the best of treks in this region,it takes you through some of the remotest areas with breathtaking panorama.Finally reaching the glacier, one is awed by the splendour of the majestic Mt. Trishul (7070 m) which stands tall dwarfing everything in the vicinity.
Traditional folklore and handicrafts thrive in the entire region. The trail passes through high alpine meadows with panoramic views of Panchachuli, Nanda Devi and the peaks of Nepal, impressive waterfalls and forests of rhododendron, conifers, chestnut and bamboo.
This specially designed trekking tour to Adi Kailash or Om Parvat in Kumaon Himalayas is a combined effort of a team of certified mountaineers and travel agents in India aiming at making travel economical and affordably cheap for the budget trekker as well as maintaining quality at par with the world-class standards. We feel our job, as tour operators and trek guides, is to design treks giving our customers a memorable experience in trekking adventure.
Itinerary (Milam Glacier Trek):
New Delhi - Nainital - Munsiyari - Lilam - Bogudiyar - Rilkot - Milam Village - Rilkot - Bugudiar - Lilam - Munsiyari - Nainital - New Delhi
Grade: Tough
Time: June to September
Duration: 14 days
Average Walking time: 5-6 hours per day
Day 1 (New Delhi, India):
Arrive New Delhi. Meet Gypsy Feet representative. Milam Glacier Trek Starts. New Delhi to Nainital. Overnight in Nainital.
Day 2 (Nainital - Munsiyari):
On second day of Milam Glacier Trek, we reach Munsiyari from Nainital. Overnight in Munsiyari.
Day 3 (Munsiyari - Lilam):
A walk along the Gori River with Paton and Bhuj villages on the left banks, one reaches the villages of Lilam. Overnight in tents.
Day 4 (Lilam - Bogudiyar, 2450 M):
In the thick forest of Uttes, the Ralam rivulet meets the Gori Ganga. After a steep uphill climb one reaches Bogudiyar, where the Poting rivulet meets Gori river. Overnight in tents.
Day 5 (Bogudiyar - Rilkot, 3200 M):
On day 5 of Milam Glacier Trek, we cross mule bridges, passing beneath towering, granite rock faces and a final steep ascent to the village of Rilkot. Enroute one can divert to the Laspa village and further to northern glacier of Nandakot Rilkot village situated above the river and one can visit ruins of old Rilkot. Overnight in tents on the river beach.
Day 6 (Rilkot - Milam Village, 3434 M):
One gets the view of Martoli peak soon after Rilkot and after crossing the bridge at Burfu with a steep climb. The route reaches Martoli, an important trading post on the ‘Salt Route’ between Tibet and India. From Martoli we follow the now calmer waters of the Gori Ganga to the village of Milam for a night’s rest before setting off for the glacier. Overnight in tents.
Day 7 (Milam Glacier):
The climax of the trek climbs up the valley to the snout of Milam glacier where we rest for the afternoon and take in the enormity of the ice mass and the sounds of a living glacier. Camp is set in this unforgettable setting and a hot cup of tea wakes you before the sun rises over the white peaks of Nanda Devi and Nanda Devi East and floods the valley with warm light.
Day 8 (Milam Village):
Next day, we do short treks around the glacier. Overnight in tents.
Day 9 (Milam Village - Rilkot):
We start our return journey to Rilkot. Overnight in Rilkot.
Day 10 (Rilkot - Bugudiar):
Trek from Rilkot to Bugudiar. Overnight in Bugudiar.
Day 11 (Bugudiar - Lilam):
We trek down to reach Lilam. We spend overnight in Lilam in tents.
Day 12 (Lilam - Munsiyari):
Trek from Lilam to Munsiyari. We finally reach where we started the trek from. We come back with unforgettable majestic memories of the trek. Overnight in Munsiyari.
Day 13 (Munsiyari - Nainital):
We drive back from Munsiyari to Nainital. Overnight in Nainital.
Day 14 (Nainital - Delhi):
Drive from Nainital to New Delhi. Milam Glacier Trek concludes.
