Route library · Outstation · High passes
Delhi to Adi Kailash & Om Parvat
The Byans Valley runs to the tri-junction of India, Nepal and Tibet. A BRO road now climbs it from Dharchula through Gunji to Jolingkong below Adi Kailash (Chhota Kailash, ~5,945 m) and its lake Parvati Tal, and to Nabhidhang below Om Parvat, where snow settles into the shape of ‘ओ’ on a rock face. It is the closest you can get to a Kailash pilgrimage without crossing into Tibet — and it is a serious, high, inner-line ride.
Send to WhatsApp Download GPX Plan this trip Notes verified September 2026 · something changed?
At a glance
- Round trip
- About 1,550–1,650 km
- Riding days
- 7–8. Two long days to Dharchula, two rough days up to Gunji and beyond, acclimatisation days, two back
- Nights
- Nights on the road: 7–8
- Start point
- Delhi (via Kathgodam, Almora and Pithoragarh)
- Highest point
- About 4,570 m at Jolingkong; the Lipulekh side is higher still
- Difficulty
- Expedition. Extreme altitude, cold, and a broken high-mountain BRO road through a sensitive border zone, days from help.
- Surface
- Sealed to Dharchula; beyond, a mix of new blacktop and rough graded track — Malpa and Budhi sections are steep and slide-prone, the top is loose and exposed
- Best season
- Mid-June to September only, once snow clears the upper road. The monsoon frequently blocks the Kali-river approach; the valley closes with the first heavy autumn snow.
The ride
Delhi → Kathgodam → Almora → Pithoragarh → Dharchula (two long days), where you collect the inner-line permit, complete a medical check and register the vehicles.
From Dharchula the road climbs via Tawaghat, Malpa and Budhi to Gunji (~3,200 m) — the acclimatisation base. From Gunji, one arm goes to Nabhidhang and the Om Parvat viewpoint near Lipulekh; the other to Kutti and Jolingkong for Adi Kailash and Parvati Tal. Two nights at Gunji before going higher is not optional.
Day by day
Delhi to Almora
Delhi → Kathgodam → Almora (9–10 hours). Overnight Almora.
Almora to Dharchula
Almora → Pithoragarh → Dharchula (7–8 hours). Overnight Dharchula; permit, medical and registration.
Dharchula to Gunji
The long rough climb via Tawaghat, Malpa and Budhi to Gunji (~3,200 m). A hard 6–8 hours. Rest on arrival.
Gunji acclimatisation
An easy local ride or walk around Gunji and Kalapani. No height gain — let the body catch up.
Gunji to Adi Kailash and back
Ride to Kutti and Jolingkong for Adi Kailash and Parvati Tal; return to Gunji to sleep.
Gunji to Om Parvat and back
Ride to Nabhidhang for the Om Parvat face; return to Gunji, or start down to Budhi.
Gunji to Dharchula
Descend the rough road to Dharchula (a long day). Overnight Dharchula.
Dharchula to Almora / Delhi
Retrace to Almora, then the highway home over the following day. First light.
Fuel & services
- Fuel is available to Dharchula — Almora, Pithoragarh and Dharchula have pumps.
- Dharchula is the last pump. Nothing above it — fill completely and carry a 10 litre spare for the Gunji round trips and the two viewpoint arms.
- Dharchula has hotels; Gunji, Nabhidhang and the higher stops have KTMB / Army-area huts, homestays and tents, limited and seasonal. No signal above Dharchula. Carry cash and hard rations. Nights are below freezing.
Road & conditions
Sealed to Dharchula. Above it, the Kailash road alternates new blacktop with rough graded track: the Malpa and Budhi sections are steep, narrow and notoriously slide-prone; the top is loose rock, sand and stream crossings at 4,000 m-plus. It is the exposure, altitude and remoteness that make it hard, not trials-grade obstacles. Ride mornings only, in the dry, in a tight group with spotters, and never push a weather window.
Bike, fuel & getting help
- Suggested bike
- Needs a dirt-capable bike (an ADV or a light dual-sport) and off-road experience. Not a commuter route.
- Fuel gap
- A serious fuel gap on this route — carry spare fuel and fill every chance you get.
- Spare fuel
- Carry 10 litres or more of spare fuel.
- Emergency & logistics
- Dharchula for the hospital, permit and medical check; above it, Army/ITBP posts only; no signal; rescue is hours to days and weather-dependent — carry a satellite messenger and follow every checkpost.
Permits & local rules
The Byans valley is a restricted inner-line border zone. Indian nationals need an inner-line permit and usually a medical fitness certificate, arranged at Dharchula (allow a day). Foreign nationals are not permitted. Carry many ID copies and vehicle papers; expect checks at Dharchula, Gunji and each arm. Photography of checkposts, the Lipulekh road-head and military positions is prohibited — follow the ITBP / Army instructions exactly.
Best time to ride
Mid-June to September is the only window, and even then the upper road opens late and can shut for days after snow or rain. September gives the clearest air for Adi Kailash and Om Parvat. The monsoon regularly severs the Kali-river approach — carry several buffer days. Do not attempt the shoulders of the season.
What to add to your kit
Beyond the standard ride kit: expedition-grade cold-weather layers, a down jacket, thermal gloves and socks, a balaclava, a fuel spare, full tools, spare levers and cables, two tubes, a puncture kit, a first-aid kit with altitude medication (discuss Diamox with a doctor first), water treatment, high-calorie food, a power bank and ideally a satellite messenger. Several ID copies and the medical certificate for the permit.
Ride this with a group
We run Adi Kailash and Om Parvat as a vetted eight-day expedition only — permits and medicals at Dharchula, two acclimatisation nights at Gunji, the high roads ridden only in the dry morning, satellite comms carried, and a viewpoint clean-up hauled out to Dharchula.