Itinerary -
DAY 01: Shimla - Kafnu Drive/7-8 hrs
We will meet a centrally located point in Shimla at 7:00 a.m. and from here board a vehicle and be driven up to Kafnu. This is a long drive and we will cross Narkanda and Rampur enroute. Kafnu is a quaint village in the Bhaba Valley of Kinnaur. Overnight in a hotel.
DAY 02: Kafnu – Mulling (3100m) Trek/6 hrs
After breakfast we set out on the beautiful trail leading to the Bhabha Pass. We walk through apple orchards initially and then through a nicely wooded area with a well-marked trail. Gradient is moderate and we should take about 6 hours to reach the meadows of Mulling. On reaching here you will surely wonder how other places on the trek are prettier than this and also why trek any further. This is truly nature play at its best!! Overnight in tents.
DAY 03: Mulling (3100m) – Kara (3550m) Trek/3-4 hrs
Today we have a few interesting river crossings involving traverse by natural bridges (rocks) and wading. You will also come across beautiful carpets of alpine flowers and mostly meet a few gaddi shepherds along the way. Gaining height gradually, we reach the meadow of Kara. One is lucky to encounter nomadic Gaddi shepherds in their traditional dress i.e. knee length hand woven woolen cloaks tied at the waist along with their flocks. Kara is another excellent campsite with many species of alpine flowers and great views of a range of unnamed peaks on the border between Kinnaur and Spiti. Overnight stay in tents.
DAY 04: Kara (3550m) – Phustirang (4000m) Trek/3-4 hrs
From Kara we trek to Phustirang. It’s a beautiful trek for the day with fabulous views with trek on left bank of the river to reach Phustirang. There are awesome views of Hansbeshan peak, 5840M. We will reach the campsite by the riverside early in the evening and relax. Overnight in tents.
DAY 05: Phustirang (4000m) – Bhabha pass (4850m) – Baldar (3900m) Trek/7-8 hrs
We start the day climbing up on the trail leading to the pass. The trail is steep and if there is lots of snow it might require good effort on our part as walking on snow is more energy/time consuming. On reaching the top of the pass your effort will be suitably rewarded with fine views all around and a feeling of having achieved something. You can see many mountain ranges and the famous Pin Parvati pass from here. After a brief stop we descend towards the Spiti side. After a couple of hours you will tread upon a stark trans-Himalayan landscape confirming your arrival in Spiti. Spitian landscape is a wonderful collage of grasslands and mountains of different hues. Overnight in tents.
DAY 06: Baldar (3900m) – Mudh (3740m) – Kaza (3800m) Trek/3-4 hrs & Drive/2 hrs
It is pleasure walk right through to Mudh. The gradient is gentle and landscape awe inspiring. There are purple coloured mountains, Pin river flowing by and miles of open space all around conjuring a beautiful picture. We will drive to Kaza after spending a couple of hours exploring the quaint village of Mudh. On reaching Mudh we spend some time in this quaint village before driving to Kaza. On reaching Kaza we check into a hotel and enjoy a much deserved hot shower. Overnight in the hotel.
DAY 07: Kaza (3800m) – Kunzum La (4550m) – Chandratal (4270m) Drive/3 hrs & Trek/3 hrs
It’s a wonderful drive to Kunzum La with every second giving joy to the senses. We will pass by a few villages to get a closer look at the local culture. We will from Kunzum La walk for about 3 hours to reach our campsite close to the lake. Chandratal is surely a sight one will always cherish. The turquoise coloured lake with high mountains all around is quite a sight. We will spend the evening exploring the lake surroundings. Overnight in tents.
DAY 08: Chandratal (4270m) – Manali (2000m) Trek/1-3 hrs & Drive/6-7 hrs
Today depending upon the condition of the road we might have to walk for half an hour or maybe 3 hours to reach the roadhead. From there we get onto the waiting vehicles and drive to Manali via the famous Rohtang pass.
Trip Ends With Sweet Memories !!!
Transport Options (Delhi – Chandigarh – Delhi)
For travel from Delhi to Chandigarh & back, one can choose between air, rail & road. For air travel, the closest airport is the Chandigarh Airport and is well connected to Delhi and other parts of the country by Air India, Jet Airways & Spice Jet. Train travel is highly recommended with enough options being there. For train details, you could log on to www.www.indianrail.gov.in and for online railway ticket bookings you could log on to www.irctc.co.in .
There are frequent Public Transport buses including Volvos available from Delhi to Chandigarh that cost about Rs. 200-700 per person. They take about 5 hrs to cover the distance. A private vehicle could also be arranged for if you require the same.
Weather Details
Season for this trek is from June to mid-October. In the early days of the season we will catch a lot of snow on the high passes which reduces considerably by July end. As the season proceeds we might catch rain towards Kinnaur but on the other side, Spiti we will have sunny days. Days are generally going to be sunny and warm (16-25 °C) while the night temperature at the highest campsite would be in the range of 6-12 °C. In the latter part of the season (Sep – mid-Oct) there is very little snow on the trail and good weather throughout. The days are sunny with temperatures hovering around (12-18 °C) and the evenings start getting cold with the onset of October and nights are comparatively colder (- 5 to 5 °C).
Please keep in mind that the above information is not exact and does not account for sudden changes. Whatever the temperatures and conditions rest assured we will be prepared to handle it with ease as we use equipment of very high specifications.
List of Essentials
It is very important for this adventure trip that you need to be equipped properly and with a bit of back up. Mountain/adventure travel requires one to be adequately equipped with the right kind of personal gear. Since one is travelling in the wilderness there will be hardly any opportunity to buy anything once you hit the trail so we urge you to carefully pack everything into your bags. Also please keep in mind you can rent out or purchase equipment from our Gear Store, if required.
Shirts / T-shirts – 2/3
Warm shirt/light micro fleece pullover/full sleeve T shirt
Trekking Pants (water resistant/repellent & having inside lining for extra warmth) - 2
Windproof/water resistant outer shell (jacket) of good quality (no flimsy wind cheaters please!) with a proper hood
Down jacket with min 600 fill power rating
Thick Fleece / Full-sleeve Woollen sweater
Thermal inner wear (upper & lower)
Woollen cap (Balaclava)
Inner fleece gloves
Outer water proof gloves
Thick woollen socks & regular socks (4 – 5 pairs)
Scarf/muffler (optional)
Comfortable waterproof (Goretex) Trekking/Hiking shoes (shoes with a thick sole and high ankles are recommended)
Camp shoes (these can be easy to slip in sneakers/sport shoes)
Gaiters
Raincoat / Poncho
Small light weight towel
Insulated water bottle & hydration pack (optional)
Cap / floppy hat to keep the strong sun away from your face
Sun glasses with UV protection and ability to cut the glare (imp when traversing through snow)
Sturdy walking stick / Trekking pole
Sunscreen Lotion
Lip Balm
Torch / Flashlight (with extra batteries)
Medicines, if requiring any specific medication
Personal toiletries
Book, if you like reading
Day pack/small bag which you will carry on your back every day and keep your essentials in it
Carry rain cover for your bags
Keep a few poly bags or waterproof bags in your bag in which if required you can put your belongings in case of heavy rain
Camera if you like (with fully charged batteries)
…LOADS OF ENTHUSIASM!! AND A PLEDGE TO LEAVE NO TRACE
Carry your stuff in a duffel bag, soft shoulder bag or a rucksack. Avoid suitcases, trolleys or any other hard luggage. As you will be walking long distances carrying a rucksack, avoid bringing unnecessary items on the trek. Please avoid carrying expensive watches, jewellery and electronic items on the trek.
NOTE: In case you are planning to put your bag on a mule or taking a porter please get a duffel bag or rucksack and keep it in mind that there is a possibility that the bag at times might brush against a rock or a tree and get slightly damaged so don't get very expensive bags. Also in case of damage we shall not be held accountable.
Disclaimer
Great Indian Outdoors (P) Ltd. takes utmost care to ensure safety of its clients. However in the case of any unforeseen mishaps, Great Indian Outdoors (P) Ltd. will not be liable for any injuries caused or for loss of life. All disputes rising due to the above are subject to the jurisdiction of the courts in New Delhi/Delhi only. All participants would be required to sign an Indemnity Form before the start of the program, without which they would not be allowed to take part in the trip/program/activities.
Duration: 8 Days
Season: Jun-Oct
Grade: Vigorous
Region: Kinnnaur & Spiti Valleys (Himachal Pradesh)
Sketch Itinerary
Day 01: Shimla - Kafnu Drive/7-8 Hrs
Day 02: Kafnu Mulling (3100m) Trek/6 Hrs
Day 03: Mulling (3100m) Kara (3550m) Trek/3-4 Hrs
Day 04: Kara (3550m) Phustirang (4000m) Trek/3-4 Hrs
Day 05: Phustirang (4000m) Bhabha Pass (4850m) Baldar (3900m) Trek/7-8 Hrs
Day 06: Baldar (3900m) Mudh (3740m) Kaza (3800m) Trek/3-4 Hrs & Drive/2 Hrs
Day 07: Kaza (3800m) Kunzum La (4550m) Chandratal (4270m) Drive/3 Hrs & Trek/3 Hrs
Day 08: Chandratal (4270m) Manali (2000m) Trek/1-3 Hrs & Drive/6-7 Hrs
Description
This is one trek which is liked by most, including our trekking team. There arent many trek of Moderate+ difficulty level where you get so much of variety and excitement. The landscape you start from and the one you finish in have nothing in common other than the fact that both are mesmerising. The contrast is very refreshing indeed. You add to this the excitement of crossing a high Himalayan pass (4850m), which can be testing on certain days of the season, and you have a complete winner. Another stand out feature would be the high culture element in this trek. One gets to experience the Kinnaur and Spiti culture at very close quarters, with both being distinct and welcoming.
The trek starts from Kinnaur, which is picture perfect with lush green landscapes, inviting meadows, gushing streams and beautiful valleys. This region is as famous for its beauty as it is for its apples. After a couple of days we get to the top of Bhabha pass at 4850m (with some difficulty!!) and will be rewarded by expansive views of the surrounding valleys. The thrill of reaching such a height is immense and something you will surely carry back. From here we descend and walk through some hidden jewels in the Spiti valley. Spiti valley is in every sense as beautiful, if not more, than its famous neighbour, Ladakh.
TREK TOBHABA PASS & CHANDRATAL
This is one trek which is liked by most, including our trekking team. There arent many trek of Moderate+ difficulty level where you get so much of variety and excitement. The landscape you start from and the one you finish in have nothing in common other than the fact that both are mesmerising. The contrast is very refreshing indeed. You add to this the excitement of crossing a high Himalayan pass (4850m), which can be testing on certain days of the season, and you have a complete winner. Another stand out feature would be the high culture element in this trek. One gets to experience the Kinnaur and Spiti culture at very close quarters, with both being distinct and welcoming.
The trek starts from Kinnaur, which is picture perfect with lush green landscapes, inviting meadows, gushing streams and beautiful valleys. This region is as famous for its beauty as it is for its apples. After a couple of days we get to the top of Bhabha pass at 4850m (with some difficulty!!) and will be rewarded by expansive views of the surrounding valleys. The thrill of reaching such a height is immense and something you will surely carry back. From here we descend and walk through some hidden jewels in the Spiti valley. Spiti valley is in every sense as beautiful, if not more, than its famous neighbour, Ladakh. Only, it is still untouched by the impact of tourism and not too many people are aware of its surreal existence. The landscape of this valley is stark and spectacular and challenges ones idea of beauty at all stages. This valley is open only for a few months every year as the high passes leading to it get blocked by snowfall. The trail ends at a small and quaint village called Mudh in the famous Pin valley. From here we will drive to Kaza, the district headquarters of Spiti.
Spiti valley is in every sense as beautiful, if not more, than its famous neighbour, Ladakh. Only, it is still untouched by the impact of tourism and not too many people are aware of its surreal existence. The landscape of this valley is stark and spectacular and challenges ones idea of beauty at all stages. This valley is open only for a few months every year as the high passes leading to it get blocked by snowfall. The trail ends at a small and quaint village called Mudh in the famous Pin valley. From here we will drive to Kaza, the district headquarters of Spiti. Spiti is surrounded by ranges of the Greater Himalaya in a semi-circular arc, separating it from Lahaul on the west, Kullu to the south and Kinnaur to the southwest. These ranges prevent the moisture-laden clouds bringing the Indian monsoon from reaching the region, thus creating in Spiti, a bleak and arid landscape common with Ladakh and Tibet. Lacking vegetative growth, the exposed terrain is a geologists paradise. It records every geological age from the Pre-Cambrian to the recent, in pristine formations.