Day 5: Dehl to Guntrao (3500 m): Strenuous. Moving to higher elevations (4120 meters). Difficult trail for more than one hour through very narrow path with sheer drops of 200 meters. Good chance of seeing Himalayan Tahr. A long day on the trail. Must be in very good shape, but worth the effort. Distance: 15 kms.

Day 6: Rest Day at Guntrao: Early morning opportunities for observing Himalayan Tahr and Musk deer.
Day 7: Guntrao to Shilt (3100 m). Moderate up and down. Lush bamboo forests, streams and waterfalls. Shilt campsite offers opportunities for evening wildlife.
Distance: 16 kms.
Day 8: Shilt to Gushaini. Steep descent through dense forests. Exiting GHNP into Ecozone. Distance: 15 kms.
Note: A reverse route of the above trek is also popular.
Distance from Neuli to Gushaini: About 85 kms.

 

Gushaini to Shilt Hut

Easy to Moderate three day hike from Ecozone into Park.
Day 1: Gushaini (1500 m) to Rolla (2100 m). Entry into Park. Easy day.
Distance: 9 kms.
Day 2: Rolla to Shilt Hut (3100 m): side trip to Chhordwari waterfall and bamboo forest. Distance: 7 kms.
Day 3: Shilt to Gushaini: Return.
Total Distance: 30 kms.

A seven-day, very strenuous, dramatic hike crossing the mountain passes at Kandi Galu (3627m), and Phangchi Galu (4636m). Incredible vistas. Must be in excellent physical condition as very demanding with elevation ascent of 2000 meters and 1500 meters descent in one day (total up-down, 3,500 m in one day!).
Day 1: Neuli (1650m) to Bhagi Kashahri (2600m). Morning visit to Manu Temple
(2200 m). Evening at village school site. Moderate ascent. Distance: 23 kms.
Day 2: Bhagi Kashahri to Subli (3300m). Strenuous ascent in early morning (3600 m). Pass through Kandi Galu notch (3627m). Distance 17 kms.

Crossing the glacier ahead of the ‘Galu’

Day 3: Subli to Dwada (3150m). Relatively easy hike passing through birch forests and meadows. Distance 6 kms.
Day 4: Rest Day at Dwada: Beautiful meadow surrounded by steep mountain valleys and flowing Jiwanal River. Peaceful and good place to rest after long hike from Subli.

Day 5: Rest Day Dwada: Day hike up to Surtu Glacial Pond in Khandedhar with dramatic mountain backdrops. Opportunities for wildlife observation including Brown Bear, Snow Leopard, etc. Distance: 20 kms. round trip.
Day 6: Dwada to Chippi (3550m): Very strenuous day. Crossing Phangchi Galu Pass (4636 m) below Khandedhar into Parvarti Valley. Continuous steep ascent over rock scree, boulders, and very narrow paths into high alpine meadows, then higher lichen environments. Can be cold and windy. Descent from Phangchi Galu can have deep snow pack and should be done with great care as steep drops and potentially very dangerous. Sublime peace at the higher elevations. Stressful on knees coming down! Distance: 23 kms.
Day 7: Chippi to Pulga: Easier descent back into forests and meadows, ending at village of Pulga. Distance: 18 kms.
Total Distance: 110 kms.

Up To Tirath/Tirthan Valley



A beautiful hike with many habitat transitions. Tirath, the origin of the Tirthan River is a pilgrimage site for the local community. Moderate to strenuous.
Day 1: Gushaini (1500m) to Rolla (2100m): Walk through Ecozone of GHNP. Gentle gradient at the beginning of trek. Distance: 10 kms.
Day 2: Rolla to Nada (3300m) Thach: Moderate to strenuous climb through oak and conifer forests. A prominent tree god near Chalocha (2450 m) from where the climb starts. Possible sightings of Himalayan Tahr or Black Bear. Nada thatch (meadow) very good for bird watching. Distance: 12 kms.
Day 3: Nada Thach to Majhoni (3800m): Gradual to steep descent through forests. Distance: 12 kms.
Day 4: Majhoni to Tirath (4000m) and back Majhoni: Moderate gradient leading into the vast meadow of Tirath Offering views of magnificent mountain panoramas. Tirath, the origin of Tirthan river has a glacial lake which is sacred to the villagers of Tirthan valley. Vegetation is stunted showing influence of extreme cold temperatures. Distance: 8 kms.

Day 5: Trek from Majhoni to Nada Thach. Distance: 12 kms.
Day 6: Rest day at Nada. Bird watching.
Day 7: Nada Thatch to Rolla-descent. Distance: 12 km.
Day 8: Rolla to Gushaini. Distance: 10 km.
Total Distance: 76 kms.

 

Raktisar in Sainj Valley

A trek to the source of the Sainj River. Moderate to strenuous.
Day 1: Neuli (1500 m) to Shakti (2100 m) village. Night at Park accommodation. Moderate ascent. Distance: 22 Km
Day 2: Shakti to Parkachi (3000m) thach. Trek along the Sainj river. Gradual ascent. Distance: 10 kms.
Day 3: Parkachi thatch to Rakti Sar (4500 m): Along the river, quite a strenuous ascent through rocky portions. Crossing of streams along the route is tricky. Distance: 14 kms.
Day 4: Trek from Rakti Sar to Parkachi thatch. Strenuous descent. Distance: 14 kms.

Day 7: Shakti village to Neuli. Distance: 22 kms.
Total Distance: 92 kms.

 

Crossing the Pin Parvati Pass (5319 meters altitude)

One of the most spectacular treks in the Park crossing a high pass into Spiti. Moderate to strenuous. Must be in good shape and have a local guide for crossing the Pass. Main attractions: Village house architecture; tree deities; old Forest Rest House at Pulga; panoramic views; alpine and sub-alpine pastures; huge glacial structures at Man-Talai onwards; about 7 to 8 kms. long stretch of snow fields on the Pass; changing vegetation and distinct bird, mammal, butterfly life.

Day 1: Shamshi (1100 m) to Barsheni (2150 m): by road
Trek from Barsheni to Khirganga (2960 m) Distance: 10 kms.
A busy trekking route. The sulfur springs at Khirganga are very famous in the area. A number of Sadhus (holy men, hermits) can be seen camping in the vicinity of the springs.
Day 2: Khirganga-Tunda Bhuj (3285 m) to Thakur Kuan: Trek is less disturbed, goes through conifer forests, open meadows and birch forests. The journey may be broken in two days, up to Tunda Bhuj (area with high altitude birch forests) in one day and then from there to Thakur Kuan, the next day. Distance: 19 kms
Day 3: Thakur Kuan to Pandupul (3700 m) to Mantalai (4200 m): This part of trek is above tree line in high altitude meadows full of medicinal herbs, alpine grasses, bees and butterflies during summer season. It should be done in two days: up to Pandupul in one day and next day to Mantalai. Distance: 20 kms.
Day 4: Mantalai to Pin Parvati Pass (5319 m) to base of the snow field in Pin Valley (4075 m): This is the most strenuous part of the Pin Parvati Pass trek. It involves a steep ascent from Mantalai to the Pass and then a descent into the Pin valley. About six to seven kms trek is on snow fields filled with potentially dangerous crevices. Weather may change any time at the Pass. Distance: 14 kms
Day 5: Rest day at the base of Pass in Pin Valley.

Day 6: Base of the snow field in Pin Valley to Tariya or near Mud: Trek through arid zone of the cold desert in Pin Valley. The arduous part of the trek is over, but watch out for crossing of streams on the way. This part of trek can be done in two days with a stopover in between. Distance: 11 kms.
Day 7: Tariya/Mud to Maling road head onwards by road to Kaza (3600 m): Mud is the first village to come by. The trekker may hire a pony or one of the famous Chamurti bred Tibetan horses to ride up to the roadhead. Distance: 15 kms.
Total Distance: 90 kms.
Note: A trained guide is required to cross the pass.