Treks in Kinnaur, Spiti Valley and Garhwal
Kinnaur and Spiti valley are two of the most fascinating regions of India fringing the Tibetan plateau. The general state of knowledge about these regions, occupying the northeastern quarter of Himachal Pradesh, can at best be described as scanty.
Their geographical inaccessibility has resulted in their attracting the sporadic attention of only the most tenacious of travelers who love to tread on relatively less explored trails like Lamkhaga pass, Mangsu pass, Kinner-Kailash Parikrama and Nalgan pass trek.
Lesser explored treks in Kinnaur-Spiti & Garhwal Region
- Lamkhaga Pass Trek: Chitkul to Harsil in Gangotri.
- Chotakhaga Pass Trek: Chitkul village to Gangotri (a shorter route).
- Nelang/Nelong Pass Trek: Chitkul to Nelong valley in Gangotri.
- Charang-La (Kinnaur Kailash Parikrama Trek): Charang to Chitkul.
- Mangsu Pass Trek: Charang to Chitkul (on a different route).
- Larsa We pass Trek: Asrang village to Kaza in Spiti valley.
- Listigarang-Kashang Pass Trek: Bhaba valley to Pangi village.
- Manirang Pass Trek : Mane in Spiti to Ropa village in Kinnaur.
- Temso Lake Trek: Lippa village to Temso lake.
- Haran Ghati Pass Trek: Barang village to Sangla valley
- Khimloga Pass Trek: Chitkul village to Sankri in Uttarakhand.
Read our trek+travel stories
Snow Leopard Photo Tour in Spiti Valley (Kibber WLS)
It might strike you as both bizarre (and equally fascinating) to drive to Spiti valley and Kinnaur during wintertime. Though for solitude seekers and wildlife photographers — with a goal to unplug and get off-grid, or spot endangered (now vulnerable) snow leopards and assorted mammal and bird species in Kibber wildlife sanctuary — the snowscapes…
Crossing the Himalayas: From Leh To Kathmandu
The 28-year-old French adventurer Eliott Schonfeld, winner of the GEO Adventure contest, crossed the Himalayan chains on foot and on horseback from August to December 2017. After four and a half months of trudging in trans-Himalaya, he gradually got rid of the modern comforts & paraphernalia. The aim was to replace the products of modern…
Exploration Of Peaks in Kinnaur & Spiti Valley of Indian Himalaya
We went to Kinnaur and Spiti region in the summer of 2014 to explore the untrodden virgin peaks. Our expedition team consists of five members, Akira Taniguchi, Masahiro Fukumoto, Masayasu Murakami, Etsuko Kobayashi, and Kimikazu Sakamoto (Leader). We are so much interested in the Spiti area, being impressed with the book “Spiti – Adventure in…
Kedartal Lake Trek – A Dream Trail For Hikers
Kedartal, as the name indicates, it is the Lord Shiva’s lake. The legend says Shiva created this lake as a contribution to River Bhagirathi. The lake is believed to be the origin of Kedar Ganga, a tributary to Bhagirathi which joins the river at Gangotri. But, in that landscape, you happen to see Kedar Ganga…
My Solo Trip To Spiti Valley in Frigid Winter
Better late than never. After multiple attempts to convince my parents, I finally completed my FIRST ever solo trip to Spiti valley in frigid winters. Like every first thing, it was special. So, I chose to go solo to SPITI Valley. Yes, the most beautiful, serene, and one of the most exotic places in the…
How Lamkhaga Pass Trek Made Chitkul Worth Visiting?
The Lamkhaga pass trekking is an amazing but exhausting experience. We trekked through beautiful villages, farm terraces, river streams, forests, and suspension bridges. Jaw-dropping views compensated for the boulder-strewn terrain & strenuous climb. 8 to 12 hours of trekking on average every day. Lamkhaga Pass The route to the Lamkhaga Pass is exceptionally scenic with…
Sangla Village Of Kinnaur
Visiting Kinnaur and spending some time with the locals was high on my bucket list for a long time. Finally, I got a chance to check out the Chitkul village in Sangla valley before our Lamkhaga Pass trek in May 2017. Thanks to the impeccable planning of Gautam Baliga ji. On the 18th of May,…
Lamkhaga Pass Trek Blog – May 2018 Expedition
Lamkhaga Pass (5282m) (Chitkul in Sangla valley to Harsil village of Garhwal, Uttarakhand), May 2018 Chitkul to Harsil/Gangotri trek The trek starts from the last village of Kinnaur, Himachal and ends at Harsil in the Gangotri valley of Uttrakhand. That is why, the Lamkhaga pass trek is also known as Chitkul to Gangotri trek or…
Lamkhaga Photostory: The Chitkul-Harsil Trek
Lamkhaga photoblog Lamkhaga Pass (5284m) is one of the most beautiful and challenging treks I’ve done so far. This 8-day trek connects the beautiful village of Chitkul in Sangla or Baspa valley of Kinnaur, Himachal to Harshil (Gangotri region, Uttarakhand) through some of the remote regions, usually not accessible for the civilians. The amount of…
Kinnaur Kailash Trek Blog
Otherwise, called Kinnaur Kailash Parikrama, this trek is circumambulation (parikrama) around the holy Kinnaur Kailash Range.Kinnaur Kailash is one of the 5 Kailash a Shiv Bhakt must-visit (others being Shrikhand Mahadev, Manimahesh Kailash, Adi Kailash, and Kailash Mansarovar). Kinnaur Kailash Parikrama Trek Kinnaur Kailash itself has two important routes from the pilgrimage perspective.1) Kinnaur Kailash…
Lamkhaga Pass Trek (May 2018) Expedition Log
Lamkhaga Pass (5282 m) (Chitkul to Harsil), May 2018This Himalayan high pass divides Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh from Uttarakhand in India. We followed the following route: Chitkul to Harsil (Gangotri) Trek This is a remote pass and very few groups have finished this. Thus, it could be a good option for all those who loves to…
Lamkhaga Pass Trek
Lamkhaga pass trek is a fairly remote trek and is now regarded as the classic route from Chitkul to Gangotri, which was first crossed by Marco Pallis in 1933. The trek is also known as Chitkul village to Gangotri trek or Harsil to Chitkul trek. It can be done from either side.
The beautiful route takes you through some of the most remote areas of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, like the Jalandhari valley that is covered with flowers post-monsoon. The snow in the early season could impede your progress.
Harsil is famous for Wilson’s Cottage built-in 1864. Gangotri is a short drive from Harsil, while Chitkul is the last village in the Baspa valley Though the difficulty is a relative term, the Lamkhaga pass trek is considered the most difficult in Kinnaur-Garhwal Himalayas. Lamkhaga pass trek offers a diverse landscape that includes Ranikanda meadows, boulder-strewn terrain, Baspa glacier zone, Baspa Glacier Snout and Meadows, and small glacial lakes of Kyarkoti in Harsil valley.
3-Pass Trek [Auden’s Col-Mayali-Patangini Dhar]
Auden’s Col is a pass connecting Rudugaira valley and Bhilangna valley, named after John Bicknell Auden, a British Geographical Survey officer, who first discovered it in 1935 and crossed it in 1939.
The pass is at 5490 m altitude and connects the ridge coming from Gangotri III (6580 m) peak on the north-west and the ridge coming from Jogin I (6465 m) on the east, and also binds a glacier coming from Jogin I, on the north side of Rudugaira valley, Auden’s Col & infamous Khatling glacier on the south side of Bhilangna valley.
Snow Leopard Photo Tour in Spiti
A century ago, Rudyard Kipling in his novel “Kim” described Spiti as “a world within a world” and a “place where the god lives”. Little has changed since that time. During the harsh winter months, this primeval and unforgiving terrain is frequently isolated from the outside world. The elusive wild cat comes down from its lofty peaks and ridges into the valleys to hunt Bharal (Blue Sheep), Ibex, and the livestock of native Spitian.
The snow leopard is generally found in Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary and Pin Valley National park of Spiti valley. The snow leopard has also been spotted by locals around Lippa – Asrang Sanctuary. The Kibber Snow leopard Expedition will take you to far faraway and incredibly beautiful regions of Himachal Pradesh, into the very heart of the Western Himalayas.
As Seen On
The Better India
10 Best Himalayan Treks To Explore in Autumn for Breathtaking Views
Lonely Planet India
Lonely Planet India, 20th Edition, November 2024 edition.
ISBN-10: 1838698000
ISBN-13: 9781838698003
