Top 10 Glaciers in the Himalayas
The Himalayas and adjacent Karakoram and Hindu Kush ranges constitute the largest concentration of glaciated terrain outside the polar regions, sometimes called the Third Pole. The ICIMOD (International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development) estimates there are over 54,000 glaciers in the Hindu Kush-Himalayan region, covering approximately 60,000 km2. They feed the headwaters of the ten largest river systems in Asia, on which nearly two billion people depend for water, agriculture, and hydroelectric power.
1. Khumbu Glacier, Nepal
The Khumbu Glacier is the approach route to the South Col of Everest (8,849 m) and one of the most famous glaciers in the world. It flows from the Western Cwm below the Everest-Lhotse-Nuptse cirque and descends through the notorious Khumbu Icefall — a constantly moving chaos of seracs, crevasses, and ice towers through which all expeditions via the South Col route must pass. The icefall moves at approximately 1 metre per day, making it one of the most dangerous sections of any standard mountaineering route. The glacier terminus is near Lobuche at 4,940 m. Trekkers on the Everest Base Camp trail walk alongside and partially over the lower Khumbu for several kilometres before reaching Base Camp at 5,364 m. The glacier has been thinning at its lower tongue at approximately 1 metre per year.
2. Gangotri Glacier, Uttarakhand, India
The Gangotri Glacier is the primary source of the Bhagirathi River, which becomes the Ganges below Devprayag. At approximately 30 km long and covering 143 km2, it is one of the larger Himalayan glaciers and carries immense religious significance for Hindus, who regard the Gomukh (Cow's Mouth) at the glacier snout as the sacred source of the Ganges. The glacier has retreated approximately 22 km since 1780, with recent retreat averaging around 22 metres per year according to the Geological Survey of India. The Gomukh trek from Gangotri village (3,048 m) is approximately 19 km one-way and requires registration at the forest department; an Indian mountaineering permit is required for travel beyond Tapovan above the glacier.
3. Yamunotri Glacier, Uttarakhand, India
The Yamunotri Glacier in the Garhwal Himalaya is the source of the Yamuna River above Yamunotri (3,293 m), one of the Char Dham pilgrimage sites. The glacier itself lies above Yamunotri at approximately 4,421 m and is not accessible to ordinary pilgrims; the pilgrimage terminates at the Yamunotri temple complex with its thermal springs. The trekking route from Janki Chatti (2,650 m) to Yamunotri covers 6 km and is heavily used during the pilgrimage season from May to November.
4. Siachen Glacier, Ladakh / Pakistan border
The Siachen Glacier at 76 km is the world's largest non-polar glacier and the site of the world's highest-altitude military conflict — the Siachen conflict between India and Pakistan, ongoing since 1984. The glacier occupies the upper Nubra valley at elevations of 3,600 to 5,400 m in Ladakh. Civilian access is controlled by the Indian Army and effectively impossible without specific clearances. The glacier is a Karakoram-Himalaya transition feature and sits at the boundary of the two great range systems.
5. Zemu Glacier, Sikkim, India
The Zemu Glacier is the largest glacier in the Eastern Himalayas, flowing from the massif of Kangchenjunga (8,586 m) — the world's third-highest peak — through the remote Zemu valley in north Sikkim. At approximately 26 km long, it covers around 197 km2. Access requires an Inner Line Permit and a restricted area permit for Sikkim, with trekking agencies in Gangtok organizing the standard Zemu approach trek. The glacier terminus is at approximately 4,200 m; the approach from Lachen village takes four to six days.
6. Drang-Drung Glacier, Ladakh, India
The Drang-Drung Glacier in Ladakh is approximately 23 km long and one of the most accessible large glaciers in the western Himalayas, visible directly from the Suru valley road between Kargil and Zanskar. The glacier descends from the Pensi La massif and is clearly seen from the Pensi La pass road at approximately 4,401 m. No trekking permit is required for viewing, and the drive from Kargil passes within a few kilometres of the glacier snout.
7. Pindari Glacier, Uttarakhand, India
The Pindari Glacier in the Kumaon Himalaya is one of the most popular glacier trekking destinations in India, accessible without technical equipment. The trek from Loharkhet (1,814 m) to the Zero Point viewpoint above the glacier takes four to five days. The glacier is approximately 3 km long and descends from Nanda Devi's southeastern massif. The approach valley passes through rhododendron forest and alpine meadow; the trek is well-established with lodge accommodation throughout.
8. Drang-Nun (Nun-Kun Glaciers), Ladakh, India
The Nun-Kun massif — Nun (7,135 m) and Kun (7,077 m) — sits in the Suru valley of Ladakh and feeds multiple glaciers including the Shafat and Sentik. The approach from Suru valley is used by climbing expeditions to both peaks and by trekkers on the Nun-Kun base camp circuit. The glaciers are visible from the valley road between Kargil and Padum.
9. Pensilungpa Glacier, Ladakh, India
The Pensilungpa Glacier in the Zanskar Range is approximately 17 km long and is monitored by the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology as part of India's national glacier inventory effort. It is accessible on trekking routes from Padum in the Zanskar valley. The glacier is retreating and has been the subject of studies documenting rapid thinning in the ablation zone since 2000.
10. Rongbuk Glacier, Tibet
The Rongbuk Glacier descends from the north face of Everest in Tibet, providing the approach to the North Col and all northern routes on the mountain. The Rongbuk Monastery (4,980 m) near the glacier tongue is the highest monastery in the world and accessible by road from Shigatse via the Pang La pass. The Base Camp for all Tibetan Everest expeditions sits at 5,150 m on the moraine beside the glacier. A Chinese government road reaches Base Camp, making this one of the highest road-accessible glacier viewpoints on earth; no technical equipment is needed to visit the terminus area.
High-altitude trekking permits in the Himalayas
Permit requirements differ sharply by country and region. In Nepal, the Khumbu region requires an Everest region TIMS card and a Sagarmatha National Park entry fee; no additional glacier-specific permit is needed for trekking below Base Camp. In India, restricted area permits are needed for Sikkim (Zemu Glacier), and Inner Line Permits for Ladakh and parts of Uttarakhand near the Chinese border. In Tibet (China), a Tibet Travel Permit and Alien Travel Permit are required for all travel, obtained via a licensed Chinese tour operator.
Find Himalayan glaciers on the map
All glaciers in this list are plotted on the interactive map. Filter to Nepal, India, or Pakistan to see the distribution of major Himalayan glaciers and plan trekking permit requirements for your intended approach.