LAHAUL TO KANGRA OVER MANIMAHESH LAKE

This enchanting trek takes you along the ancient trails of the Gaddis - the shepherds - over high mountain passes from dry Lahaul valley into the beautiful and un-spoilt valleys of Chamba and Kangra. You will visit the hamlet of Bharmour, encircled by the mighty ramparts of the Dhauladhar. The trek also takes you close to the Manimahesh Lake at foot of the 5656m Manimahesh Kailash peak, believed to be the abode of Lord Shiva. The trek ends in Macleodgunj, the adopted hometown of the Dalai Lama, the exiled spiritual and political head of the Tibetans.

SEASON: July - September

MAX. ALTITUDE: 4966m

NUMBER OF DAYS: 15 days

HIGH PASSES: Rohtang Pass (3970m), Chobia Pass (4966m) and Minkiani Pass (4314m)

TREK GRADIENT: Challenging

Day 01: Arrival un Manali

Day 02: Manali - Trilokinath Temple (2591m) by road
Duration: 8 hours

Day 03: Trilokinath - Camp I (2950m)
Duration: 6 hours

Today's trek involves a gradual ascent towards the first camp through alpine grazing meadows.

Day 04: Camp I - Chobia Pass Base (4010m)
Duration: 6 hours

The trail changes from alpine wilderness to sparse vegetation, as one approaches the pass.

Day 05: Chobia Pass Base - Alias (3020m)
Duration: 6 hours

The ascent to the Chobia Pass is steep. The trail climbs up through shrubs and over rocky terrain to the pass, and thereafter, it is an easy descent to Alias, the campsite.

Day 06: Alias - Camp III (2050m)
Duration: 6 hours

It's a gradual walk along the Chobia River, which originates from the Chobia Glacier. The trail has abundant streams and you have to cross over log bridges quite a few times. The way is a little tricky as the trail is narrow and winding. The trail is full of boulders and one has to walk through moraine but as you walk down into the valley it gets easier.

Day 07: Camp III - Hadser (2085m)
Duration: 6 hours

Chobia is the first village as you enter the valley of Manimahesh and Bharmour. The trail passes through thick forests of deodar, pine, oak and rhododendron. Hadsar lays 16km east of Bharmour and the trail branches off from here, and ascends up the Manimahesh range, up to the Manimahesh lake at the foot of the Manimahesh Peak (5656m).

Day 08: Hadser - Danchu (3120m)
Duration: 4 hours

The trail is a steep and continuous climb up to Dancho, before proceeding to Manimahesh Lake the next day.

Day 09: Danchu - Manimahesh Lake (4172m)
Duration: 4 hours

The trails continues to ascend steeply till you reach Manimahesh Lake. The lake is the site of one of the biggest and most well-known fairs held every year in the months of August-September.

Day 10: Manimahesh Lake - Hardser (2085m) and to Bharmour by road
Duration: 5 hours

The descent from the lake to Hadser over Danchu will be fast - about 4 hours. A jeep ride to Bharmour from the roadhead at Hadser will take another hour.

Day 11: Bharmour - Dunali by road and trek to Drakund (2150m)
Duration: 6 hours

The jeep ride and short trek will take you to Drakund, the trailhead to Dharamshala, over the Minkiani Pass (4314m).

Day 12: Drakund - Dugga Got (3075m)
Duration: 6 hours

Trekking through dense forests and steadily gaining height, at the end of the day, the beautiful green camping ground of Dugga Got is reached.

Day 13: Dugga Got - Kareri Lake (1990m)
Duration: 7 hours

The steep trail through sparse vegetation of shrubs and thickets will take you to the Minkiani Pass (4314m) and then descend to the beautiful Kareri Lake.

Day 14: A day at leisure at Kareri Lake

Day 15: Kareri Lake - MacLeodgunj (2100m)
Duration: 8 hours

An easy trek takes you down to MacLeodgunj. The majestic Dhauladhar range provides a grand backdrop to this small town, also known as the "Little Lhasa".

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