Hampta Pass, Will Make You Pack Your Bags Today

Route: New Delhi - Manali – Chika – Balu Ka Ghera – Siagoru – Chatru – Chandratal – Manali - New Delhi

To experience the crossing of an Ice-cold river and of course an uphill thrilling climb to the pass which is more fun when it rains, to the end, witnessing the desert like landscapes of Lahaul and Spiti and with some luck from the weather God can take a tour of Chandratal, the moon lake! This 4 days Trek covering Hampta Pass in Himachal Pradesh has indeed, a lot to offer!

Day: 1 Delhi to Old Manali!

At an altitude of 14,010 feet, Hampta Pass is one of the most stunning and moderate level of trekking options that Himachal Pradesh has. True to it’s promise, Hampta has Dense pinewood forests, endless green meadows, rustling mountain streams, vibrant wildflowers, beautiful valleys, serene lakes, and pools – the entire trail is pinched with everything you can dream of to witness on a trek.

Reaching there? You can take a Volvo or local bus from delhi till Manali. This is the easiest way to reach Manali!!

Rest for a day in Manali, and head for the trek the next day!! ????

Here are few glimpses of Old Manali for you ????

After what seemed like a never-ending cycle of taking turns and ascending up the mountain, we had arrived at Jobra. So the first day of your trek begins from ‘Jobra’

It’s a small village after Sethan (approx 1.5 hours) ahead from Old Manali. One needs to take a taxi from Old Manali to reach here, since there are no other ways to reach here.

We began our trek around 12:30 PM post reaching at this spot and aimed at reaching ‘Chhika’ our first campsite at around 3:30 PM.

Today’s trek was supposed to be challenging, we started the day with Garma Garam Paranthe/Bread toasts for breakfast at 7 am, and we were ready to go around 8 am. The total duration of the trek would be around 6 to 7 hours starting in the morning after breakfast with lunch on the way which would be packed and provided in the morning itself. We trekked until 4 or 5 pm, arriving at Balu Ka Gera. The trek from Chika-Balu Ka Gera was relatively easy, I passed stunning waterfalls, boulders everywhere, and experienced my first river-crossing. Crossing the high current river was so painful and exciting on different levels – the water was ice cold, and it was moving so fast against you. To cross, we had to hold hands and face the current while shuffling sideways among the rocks underneath.

Once you reach the campsite which is Balu ka Ghera you can just relax for the evening. You can go around the campsite and enjoy the natural beauty at its best. The place is a firm bed of grass from where you can view some snow clad peaks heading you towards Hampta Pass. The weather was dancing from cold air to sunny rays to drizzling. We did not have a literal camp fire on the trek. But yes we did have our share of fun. Four of us gathered in a tent and played UNO post dinner, had discussions over how did the day go and what is this new day bringing in plate for us & before going to sleep, we used to remind each one of us that it is indeed going to be a new challenge tomorrow.

Here comes the Final Day, exactly what we came for; Hampta Pass! <<This trek phase will take you from Balu ka Ghera (11900 Feet) to Hampta Pass (14100 Feet) and finally to Shea Goru Campsite (12900 Feet)>> The morning sun shines bright in my face. The blue sky, snowed mountains and even a small rainbow reflect brightly in the water. The beauty dazzled me and I can’t imagine being anywhere else than here. After our breakfast at Balu ka Ghera, we were to trek for around 10 to 11 hours covering a distance of around 7 kilometers. Careful we walk slowly up, first balancing from rock to rock over endless boulders and then up slippery snowed slopes. Do remember to carry enough water or fill up at regular intervals where drinkable fresh water sources are available.

It’s a completely downhill journey from Sia Goru to Chatru. Overall a trekker has to descend close to 1900 feet during the journey that encompasses some of the most memorable spectacles en route. The trek, in its final lap, takes almost 5 hours to complete. Mountains with sharp edges, a river flowing by, and deep ridges make this wonderful stretch of the Hampta Pass Trek. Chatru is all about barren mountains and lesser vegetations. The wonderful campsite falls in the middle of Hampta Pass, Rohtang Pass, and Spiti.

Chatru is all about barren mountains and lesser vegetations. The wonderful campsite falls in the middle of Hampta Pass, Rohtang Pass, and Spiti.