Hampta Pass

Arrive at the Indiahikes Jungle Line Campus in Manali by 8:00 am. Drive to the Jobra Roadhead and begin your trek to Jobra.
Jobra serves as the base camp for the Hampta Pass trek. The drive from Manali, featuring 42 hairpin turns, offers stunning views of the Kullu Valley. You'll follow the Rani Nallah stream, which accompanies you until it disappears under the snow at Hampta Pass. From Jobra Roadhead, it's a 30-minute trek through a forest of pine, green maple trees, and silver birch to reach the campsite.
Cross the road where you get out of the vehicle and take a small path into the forest. The forest, mostly pine with occasional maple trees, has a gentle slope. After 20 minutes, you'll reach a bend with a large rock overlooking a meadow with small rocks.
Camp in the meadows for the night to acclimatize.

Start at Jobra, where the Rani River flows through a meadow surrounded by hills with rocky faces. You'll see cows and sheep grazing among Maple and Pine trees. Early in the season, there might be some snow near the river.
You can either cross the meadow or take a shorter path by climbing the left hill. The river provides plenty of water, and you can rest at Chika.
From Chika, head right towards Jwara, marked by distant waterfalls. Keep to the left bank of the river. The initial climb involves stones and boulders but isn't too difficult. The right bank has dwarf Rhododendrons in the lower areas and Birch trees higher up.
Look back to see the snow-covered peaks of the Dhauladhar range. You'll come across a waterfall where you can rest and refill your water.
After the waterfall, move to your right towards the river, which is surrounded by boulders. You might need to remove your shoes to jump across the icy cold Rani River.
You’re now halfway through your trek as you enter a walled valley with rock faces on one side and the river below. After crossing the river, you’ll reach Jwara, a place of stunning natural beauty.

Begin your trek along the Rani River, which is fed by melting snow. The area is lush with green grass, where sheep and mules graze, and framed by snow-capped mountains leading to the Hampta Pass.
As you walk into a rectangular valley, you'll leave the trees behind and encounter a variety of small flowers in shades of purple, yellow, and pink. It takes about half an hour to cross this valley.
Senior Trek Leader Aditya Bodke describes this part of the trek: "You pass through a flat area filled with flowers like pink distorts, marigolds, and blue poppies. The Rani Nallah flows beside you, and the gentle ascent allows for a leisurely walk and introspection."
After exiting Jwara, the path flattens as you reach Chota Balu ka Ghera, where you can take a short break and snack. Continue along the river, navigating small snowflows and rocks.
Near the end of the trek, the rocks become more challenging to cross, but soon you will arrive at Balu Ka Ghera, a sandy area formed by river deposits. Here, set up your tent and enjoy the sunset behind Hanuman Tibba Peak. You are now close to 12,500 feet above sea level.

The journey today consists of two parts: an easy climb to Hampta Pass and a quick drop to Shea Goru. Aim to make it to the pass by lunchtime, stop for a break, have lunch, and then start the journey down.
Start from Balu Ka Ghera and head towards the mountains. You might see tiny pink and yellow flowers by the river. Follow the river for an hour, then move above it. The trail may fade in some places, so stay with your team to avoid getting lost.
After an hour of gentle climbing in a rockfall-prone area, the incline becomes steeper. In about half an hour, you'll reach the first plateau, with a view of the Deo Tibba peak. In early summer, this area might be covered in snow; otherwise, you'll see patches of it.
Take a break, let your team catch up, and start the next ascent. This climb has two stages and takes 20-30 minutes, ending at a ridge. From here, you can see another ridge, your next goal. Hampta Pass is just around the bend from this second ridge.
Before descending, walk along the first ridge for a panoramic view of the surrounding peaks. After a 15-minute descent, begin a vertical climb that takes about 20 minutes, bringing you to the top of Hampta Pass at 14,000 ft.
The descent is trickier and depends on snow conditions. Sliding down might be an option if there's snow. Turn right at the pass and take a zig-zag route down the mountain. The first downhill section takes about 30 minutes.
A U-turn puts you below the pass, where you can either trek straight down on snow or follow a zig-zag path to the valley below. In an hour and a half, you'll reach the base of the valley, surrounded by snow-clad mountains. From here, it's an almost level walk to Shea Goru, although it might feel tiring after the long day. Follow the river and find a good campsite by the water to rest for the night.

The descent becomes tricky as you near the road. You may need to walk along the edges of rocks, and sometimes it's easier to go down to the river or glacier bed to avoid rocky sections and then climb back up.
There are also some spots with slippery soil where you'll need to move quickly to avoid sliding.
This section takes 2½ to 3 hours to complete once you're out of the mountains. You’ll still be at a height, with the road visible across the Chandra River.
Several large glacial streams flow down from the mountains into the Chandra River.
You'll need to cross these streams to reach a camping spot with water.
Pick a camping spot near one of the many streams that join the river. Chhatru is a beautiful campsite with stunning views of various mountain ranges, and the Chandra River flows swiftly below.

After an early morning briefing, we leave Spiti Valley and head to Manali via Rohtang Pass, a scenic 5-hour journey.
Ask our Trek Leaders to teach you group games like Hand Uno and Lateral Situations for the ride back!
If the roads are clear, a visit to Chandratal, the moon lake, is highly recommended. Chhatru is about 50 km from Chandratal, and the drive takes around 3 hours each way on a bumpy road, so it's best to start early. If you suffer from motion sickness, take Avomine tablets. The dusty road can be challenging for those with asthma.
At Chandratal, you can hike up a nearby hill for a view of the lake's moon shape and a second distant lake surrounded by peaks like CB-13. Since Chandratal is at 14,026 ft, ensure you're well-hydrated to avoid Acute Mountain Sickness.
The trip to Chandratal is optional and depends on weather and road conditions. Late summer usually means clear roads, but early or late season may require walking on partially cleared roads.
Note: The Hampta Pass trek doesn't include camping at Chandratal. After visiting in the morning, we will continue to Manali.