Getting here
Dantu lies in the Darma Valley in Pithoragarh district, Uttarakhand. The road up starts in Dharchula.
Dantu
Dharchula
By road
Leo and Sumit drove up from Dharchula in their own car in October 2026. It took 4 to 6 hours. The road is rough, so a 4x4 is recommended.
No car of your own? In Dharchula you can hire a jeep with driver (Bolero, Scorpio). Travel guides mention roughly ₹5,000–7,000 per day. Shared jeeps cost about ₹300–500 per seat, but they are crowded and don't run on a fixed schedule. Prices change, so agree on the fare before you set off.
Permits
Leo (from Germany) and Sumit (from India) didn't need a permit to reach Dantu in October 2026, and there were no checkposts on the way. Carry your passport or ID anyway.
You only need a permit if you continue to Om Parvat or Adi Kailash in the neighbouring Vyas Valley. Indian travellers get it in Dharchula. Foreign travellers apply online through the Indian government's e-FRRO portal; that's how Leo got his. Apply well ahead. Rules in border areas can change, so if you are unsure, ask at the SDM office in Dharchula.
Network and maps
Dharchula has the best mobile network in the region. In Dantu the network comes and goes. Download an offline map of the area before you leave Dharchula. Once you have opened this website, its pages are saved on your phone and open without network too.
Plus Code 8M227G3R+8Q · Coordinates 30.253306, 80.541889
Open in Google Maps · Open in OpenStreetMap
Walks from Dantu
Panchachuli Base Camp. The classic walk from Dantu and neighbouring Dugtu, towards the glaciers below the five peaks. Travel guides give about 4 to 5 km each way; plan most of a day there and back and start early, the peaks are usually clearest in the morning.
The meadows below the peaks. A footpath leads from the village through dry grass straight towards the snow. An easy walk for the afternoon you arrive; that's what we did.
Further up the valley. The Darma Valley continues north past more villages. Mati knows the paths around the village, just ask her.
Book with Mati
Call or send a WhatsApp message. Mati answers herself. The mobile network in Dantu comes and goes, so a reply can take a while.
₹1,000 per person a night. All meals, tea and water included. Share a room or have one to yourself, it costs the same. Tips are welcome, never expected.
Please write your dates and how many you are. Season: TODO · Payment (cash, UPI?): TODO