Hampta Pass and Chandratal Lake trek

Sketch itinerary:

Day 1: Manali to Chikha – Green meadows, nice breeze, hot chai and tents at 9,800 feet.

• Start point: Manali
• End point: Chikha
• Day start time: 10:00 AM
• Trekking distance: 4 km
• Trekking time: 2 hrs

Day 2: Chikha to Balu Ka Ghera – Breathtaking views of the valley and river.

• Start point: Chikha
• End point: Balu ka Ghera
• Day start time: 07:00 AM
• Trekking distance: 10 km
• Trekking time: 6 hours

Day 3: Hampta Pass Day – Reach Hampta pass and revel in its beauty.

• Start point: Balu ka Ghera
• End point: Balu ka Ghera
• Day start time: 05:30 AM
• Trekking distance: 10 km
• Trekking time: 8 hrs

Day 4: Trek to Chatru and visit Chandratal – Admire the river and glaciers.

• Start point: Balu ka Ghera
• End point: Chatru
• Day start time: 05:30 AM
• Trekking distance: 2 km
• Trekking time: 4 hrs

Day 5: Return to Manali – soothe your eyelids, take more pictures.

• Start point: Chatru
• End point: Manali
• Day start time: 05:30 AM

Detailed itinerary:

Day 1: Manali to Chikha – Green meadows, nice breeze, hot chai and tents at 9,800 feet.

You need to reach your pick up point at Manali before 10:00 hours where you will be driven to Jobra at 9800 ft, in private vehicles. You will begin your trek at this altitude and today will be a relatively trek. Shortly after your trek begins, you will be witness to beautiful views of sparkling streams against vast lush green meadows. You'll trek through this picturesque backdrop and reach to your first campsite at Chikha. Overnight in tents.

Day 2: Chikha to Balu Ka Ghera – Breathtaking views of the valley and river.

Today you start on the Jwara trail which goes through a lovely sheltered valley. The path trails alongside a river making it a surreal trek surrounded by scenic beauty. With a gradual descent and a relatively easy trek, you will reach an altitude of almost 11,000 ft. You will reach your next campsite at Balu ka Gera by afternoon and spend the rest of the day exploring the beauty of the landscape. You will be camping here at Balu ka Gera in tents tonight.

Day 3: Hampta Pass Day – Reach Hampta pass and revel in its beauty.

Ensure you start early today with a hearty breakfast as you will be taking the challenging trail to reach the Hampta Pass today. You begin again walking beside the river and the trek gets steeper as you approach the pass. The final stretch is tough and challenging and more thrilling if there is snow as well. With some effort and navigation skills, you will finally make it to the pass.

Spend some time here and relish this feeling of a small victory for reaching some of the most beautiful heights of the Himalayas. Make sure to capture the stunning views from here and spend a few moments absorbing the magic of the mountains. Soon you will begin your descent back to your campsite at Balu ka Gera. End your day sharing your experience of the Pass day and turn into your tents for the night. Rest well.

Day 4: Trek to Chatru and visit Chandratal – Admire the river and glaciers.

You will start your return journey today towards Chatru. It is a mix of easy and challenging sections that will take you past the Chandra river, few arduous glaciers that need a bit of manoeuvring, and of course, unending views of the pristine beauty. After an exciting 4 hour trek, you will reach Chatru.

Depending on the weather and road conditions, you may board vehicles to be driven to Chandratal. Spend some time to relish this beautiful turquoise lake surrounded by barren hills. A beautiful sight to behold indeed. You will return to your campsite at Chatru for the night in tents.

Day 5: Return to Manali – soothe your eyelids, take more pictures.

Today you will take the scenic drive back to Manali. Keep your cameras loaded and ready as the drive itself is breathtaking. Once you reach Manali, your trip ends here. You are free to explore further on your own or return to your base city.

Inclusions:

You will be provided accommodation in triple or quadruple sharing tents during the trek. All camping equipment will be provided such as sleeping bags and mats, common dry toilet tents, cooking equipment etc. All meals during the trek will be provided to you. Experienced and professional guides, porters or mules for camping equipment will be provided.

All camping fees, permits, forest entry as required are included. All necessary safety equipment will be provided. All applicable taxes are inclusive in the package costs.

Exclusions:

Porters for personal luggage will not be included but can be arranged at an extra cost. Meals during road journey are not included. Airfare or transportation to Manali from your base city and travel insurance are not included.

Any expenses towards medical or other emergencies or unforeseen handling costs due to weather disturbances, landslides, political unrest etc. will be additional. Personal expenses towards tips, telephone calls, laundry, beverages etc. are not included. Anything not mentioned in the inclusions will be additional.

• Start point: Rumsu
• End point: Rumsu
• Day start time: 08:00 AM

• Start point: Rumsu
• End point: Chikha
• Day start time: 06:00 AM
• Trekking distance: 3 km
• Trekking time: 3 hrs

• Start point: Chikha
• End point: Balu ka Ghera
• Day start time: 06:00 AM
• Trekking distance: 7 km
• Trekking time: 5 hrs

• Start point: Balu ka Ghera
• End point: Shia Ghoru
• Day start time: 05:00 AM
• Trekking distance: 6 km
• Trekking time: 5 hrs

• Start point: Shia Ghoru
• End point: Chhatru
• Day start time: 06:00 AM
• Trekking distance: 8 km
• Trekking time: 5 hrs

• Start point: Chhatru
• End point: Rumsu
• Day start time: 06:00 AM

Detailed itinerary:

Day 1: Arrive at Rumsu – explore a remote village, camp with bonfire.

Kindly reach the base camp at Rumsu by 08:00 hours to complete all paperwork and go for an acclimatisation walk. You can explore the dainty Rumsu village and experience the village life in the mountains. You will have an orientation briefing in the afternoon for the upcoming trek and are free to explore the base camp for the rest of the day. You will be camping in tents here tonight at Rumsu.

Day 2: Rumsu to Chikha – River crossings, majestic waterfalls and delicious lunch.

Today you will be driven to the base camp at Hampta Dam from where you will begin your trek. It is an easy hike today across a simple trail through the forests dotted with a wooden bridge crossing over rivers and streams and a few gorgeous waterfalls. You will reach your campsite for the night at Chikha where you will spend the night in tents.

Day 3: Chikha to Balu Ka Ghera – Capture the beauty of Mt. Indrasan.

Today you will trek towards Balu ka Gera past a river bank lined with large boulders. You will get to stop at several vantage points and admire the tallest peak in the Manali Valley, the majestic Mt. Indrasan. As you cross over a river stream, you will reach a large meadow called Balu ka Gera. Enjoy a peaceful sunset in the mountains and set up camp for tonight. Overnight in tents.

Day 4: Balu Ka Ghera to Shia Ghoru via Hampta Pass – Observe Spiti Valley in its splendour.

Today will be a challenging climb towards the Hampta Pass with a tough and steep terrain with moderate difficulty. However, once you reach the pass, you will be rewarded with unending views of the Himalayan peaks of the Spiti Valley. You will spend some time to celebrate your victorious ascent and then begin your descent towards Shia Goru on the other side of the pass. You will be camping tonight at Shia Goru.

Day 5: Shia Ghoru to Chhatru via Chandratal Lake – Stunning views of the Pir Panjal Trek.

You will have an early start today to begin your descent towards Chhatru. The majestic Pir Panjal range will accompany you as you make your way down. Upon reaching Chhatru, you will be driven to the Chandratal Lake. This high altitude, crescent-shaped lake is open for visitors only during the summers and is a sight to behold. You will return to Chhatru once again and set up camp for the night. Overnight in tents.

Day 6: Chhatra to Rumsu – Drive through Rohtang Pass on your return.

You will be driven back to the Rumsu base camp, via the stunning Rohtang Pass. En route, you'll pass through the hill station of Manali. You'll reach the Rumsu base camp by early evening. Your trip ends here.

Inclusions:

Travel arrangements between Rumsu and start/end point will be provided in private, non-AC jeep or similar vehicles. Accommodation in tents for 5 nights on a triple-sharing basis is included. All equipment required for camping: alpine tents, sleeping bags, mattress, common kitchen/dining tents and washroom tents will be provided.

All vegetarian meals from breakfast on day 1 to breakfast on day 6 will be provided. All necessary government permits and charges are included. Services of experienced trek leader and support staff are included. First aid kit (including oxygen cylinders and HAPO chamber bags) will be available with the trekking staff. All applicable taxes are inclusive.

Exclusions:

Travel arrangements between your home city and Rumsu are not included. Services of porters/mules to carry personal luggage are not included but can be arranged at an additional cost of approximately INR 500 per bag per day. Costs arising out of unforeseen circumstances such as bad weather, roadblocks, natural calamities etc. or personal expenses such as tips to staff, extra meals or beverages, apparel or gear etc. are not included and will be additional. Any items not mentioned in inclusions will be additional.