Sara Umga Pass Trek
Trip Details
Trip Type: Trekking Holiday India
Region: Tosh and Lahaul Valley - Himachal
Grade: Moderately Challenging
Duration: 09 days
Max Altitude: 4700m
Batch Dates: Bespoke Tours Only
Sara Umga Pass Trek Overview
The Sara Umga Pass Trek also begins in the village of Tosh. The Tosh is a feeder valley of the popular Parvati Valley which leads to the Pin Parvati Pass. The Tosh Nallah meets the Parbati river at Pulga coming from the North. The Tosh valley is initially narrow but as you progress higher the valley starts to open up and you cross several beautiful meadows. At the head of the valley is the Tosh Glacier surrounded by some well known peaks: Papasura (6451m) & White Sail (6446m). After crossing Sara Umga Pass, you descend into Lahaul valley.
Trip Cost
This is a custom departure tour and so please write to us for prices and more info on this trek.
Sara Umga Pass Trek Detailed Itinerary
Day 01: Arrival in Kasol/Manikaran
Arrive in Manikaran in the morning. Walk around town and orient yourself to your surroundings. The group meets for a trip orientation in the evening by the trip leader at the hotel. Overnight in a hotel - meals and stay not included in the trip cost.
Day 02: Kasol / Manikaran - Tosh village by jeep (2400m) - trek from Tosh village - Buddhaban (3020m)
Duration: 4 hours
The ascent to Barsheni from Manikaran takes about an hour over steep mountain roads. The trail starts from above the Barsheni village, with a commanding view of the Parvati valley dam and the confluence of Parvati and Tosh rivers. The walk is a gradual climb from the Tosh village. We follow the raging Tosh river through dense pine forests to Buddhaban, a large meadow with a spring of its own and many rocks.
Day 03: Buddhaban - Sharam Thach (3505m)
Duration: 7 hours
It's a long day's walk as the path climbs from Buddhaban to cross the treeline. It then continues over meadows and rhododendron clusters to the high altitude meadow at Sharam Thach.
Day 04: Sharam Thach - Shamshi Thach (3800m)
Duration: 5 hours
An initial steep climb peters out to a narrow path over patches of snow. The Tosh river continues its noisy course throughout. After a short descent, you arrive at Shamshi Thach, beautifully set in a little bowl at the base of the valley. To the north is the Tosh Glacier, to the east the massive face of Kullu Makalu peak and the glacier descending from it.
Day 05: Exploratory day at Shamshi Thach
Duration: 5 hours
There is a choice of either going up to Animal Pass (4560m) for the day or hiking up to the snout of the Tosh Glacier (4300m).
Day 06: Shamshi Thach - Kuta Thach (4100m)
Duration: 4 hours
Walk to the snout of the Tosh Glacier and continue up on the path bordering the glacier to the small meadow at Kuta Thach.
Day 07: Kuta Thach - Sara Umga Pass (4700m) - Putiruni (3800m)
Duration: 8 hours
The day starts early as the pass needs to be crossed before noon. From the camp, the climb to the pass is steep over snow and scree. From the top of the pass, you get fabulous views of peaks in both Lahaul valley as well as the Tosh valley and other surrounding by-valleys. The descent on the other side takes you down to the meadow at Putiruni.
Day 08: Putiruni - Chota Dhara (3700m)
Duration: 6 hours
Another long day but this time the path is gradual with not too many ups or downs. Chota Dhara on the Manali - Kaza road will be the camp for the night.
Day 09: Chota Dhara - Manali by jeep
Duration: 8 hours
We return to Manali by the evening. Trip Ends!
- Accommodation on twin sharing basis in tents.
- Camping Tents, Kitchen tents, Dining Tents, Western Style Toilet Tents.
- Sleeping bags (Down Feather/ Primaloft).
- Insulated sleeping pads.
- All meals as detailed in the itinerary and safe drinking water.
- Guides, Cook and camp staff.
- Porters to carry loads on the route with personal portage up to 10kg/person
- All HP state Forest Permits
- All transport Kasol/ Manikaran to Tosh village and Chota Dhara to Manali
- All hotel stays
- Any food in hotels.
- All expenses of personal nature like bottled water, drinks, tips, telephone calls, mineral water etc.
- Personal Clothing.
- Medical and evacuation expenses, we strongly recommend purchasing a suitable insurance cover - asc360 provides adventure insurance in the Indian Himalayas.
- Any transport outside of mentioned inclusions.
- Any expense incurred due to force majeure such as landslide, bad weather or reasons beyond our control.
Pack:
- Backpack 40 - 50 Lt with rain cover - Goes on the horse/porter
- Day Pack 15 - 20 lt with rain cover- to carry your camera, water bottle, trail layers, trail food etc.
Footwear:
-Trekking Shoes: Please do not wear sports shoes as on most treks, as we go higher it gets harder to use sports shoes.
Socks:
- 2 -3 pairs of trekking socks.
- 2 pairs of woolen socks - ideal to sleep in and best to use when in camp. We do not recommend them while trekking
Clothing:
- Pants: 3 pairs (including the ones you wear) - Ideal are the quick dry trekking pants. Alternatively, track pants are also comfortable to trek in.
- T-shirts 3 pairs (including the ones you are wearing) - Preferably quick dry, full sleeve t-shirts You can also choose to get T-shirts with collars, they offer extra protection for the neck from sunburns.
- Fleece Jacket
- Rain & Wind Protection
- Down filled / Hollow fiber fill insulated Jacket
- Thermal liners - 1 pair upper and lower (optional).
Accessories:
- Warm Cap
- Gloves
- Sun Cap
- Sunglasses with UV protection.
Other recommended necessities:
- Toiletries - sunscreen SPF 40+, moisturiser, lip balm, soap, toilet paper.
- Repair Kit (needle and thread).
- Headlamp/ Torch.
- Camera.
- Water Bottle- Ideally keep two bottles 1 liter each.
- Trekking Pole - Optional.
- Plastic Packing covers. (Please pack all your gear in waterproof plastic bags so that your clothes etc do not get wet while on horses or porters. Also, carry extra plastic bags in case you need to pack wet clothes.)