Away From the Crowds of Ladakh, This Neon Lake in Lahaul is Every Trekkers Dream Come True!

How to reach Sissu?

Take an HRTC bus from Delhi to Manali. Once you reach Manali take another bus Manali- Leh which operates from Manali Bus Stand. It will pass through Lahaul Valley and various villages. One of them is Sissu Village. You must stay at Sissu village and there are plenty of homestays available starting from 400- 500 per Room.

Difficulty Level

The trail falls under the category of moderate-difficult. There are no definite routes which you can find easily. One has to cross boulders and small river crossings. There are grasslands and steep slopes and one will have to walk on moraines

Cost

This can be solo if you have done harder treks before. There are a lot of trails passing through the meadows. It would be better if you hire a guide that would be helpful for your trek. Hiring a guide and going in a group is highly recommended. Guides charges are usually between Rs800-1000. This trek is lesser-known and not many trekking companies organize this trek. The trekking equipment can be brought from Manali on rent.

Trek Route

There is no definite trek route. One may get lost and not reach the lake. Sometimes you have to guess the route. Lot of people reach the lake in one-and-a-half days and camp there itself. The idea is to get closer to the base camp of the lake.

Manali- Sissu- Trailhead- Camp 1- Camp 2- Alyas Lake(Ghepanghat)-Camp2- Sissu

When to do it

The best time to do this trek is between mid-July and mid-September. The trail remains under a thick blanket of snow for the rest of the months.

Brief Itinerary

Manali to Sissu

Take an HRTC Bus from Delhi going to Manali. After reaching Manali, take a bus from the Manali bus stand going to Leh Highway passing Lahaul Valley and the village Sissu. Get down and stay there. There are lot of homestays. Admire the beauty of the mountains in Lahaul and Lahauli Culture. You can also trek up to Sissu waterfall and experience some thrill before heading for the trek

Cost: Bus fare from Delhi- Manali will be Rs600-700

Bus fare from Manali-Leh with stop at Sissu(Rs75-90)

Homestays starts from Rs500. If you bargain you can get it in Rs400.

Sissu – Trailhead – Camp 1

Pack your food and carry all your essential camping equipment and essentials. Sissu village is the last village you can get a network. Drive to the trailhead by taxi. Taxis are easily available. It is the last motorable road. The trail is rough uneven and steep. You will pass through the beautiful landscapes of Sissu village, several homes. It's a 15 mins drive and the driver will drop you the trailhead. The trek starts from here. It will be a roller coaster ride because of frequent ascent and descends. The first few hours are comparatively easy. In between the trail will have and narrow pathways and nala crossings and a river to be crossed. Be mentally prepared as it’s an exciting moment. The trail gets challenging when you move ahead. There are no straight routes and three 3 big Nalas have to be crossed. Boulders, moraine, and scree are the main attraction of this trek. After crossing the nalas and steep trails one will find a flat vast meadow. You can pitch your tent there. The trek can be completed in 6-7 hours. One will get spectacular views of the Pir Panjal range and snow-clad mountains.