Trip Info
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Tents
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Manali
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14,065 ft
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26 Km
One of the Most Dramatic Crossover Treks in the Himalayas
Hampta Pass has long been celebrated as a natural bridge between the lush Kullu Valley and the stark high-altitude deserts of Lahaul and Spiti. Ancient traders once laden with tea, spices, wool, and silk traversed this very route, and local lore even hints at mythic pilgrimages along its ridges. Today, as you follow in their footsteps, you are not only trekking through some of the most dramatic Himalayan landscapes but also retracing centuries of cultural exchange and mountain lore.
Your journey begins in the pine- and oak-shaded environs of Jobra, just a short drive from Manali. From there, a gentle 2 km walk brings you to Chika, nestled at 10,000 ft amid rhododendron and silver-birch groves. The trail then opens into the verdant Jwara meadows, where buttercups and primulas flourish beside the tumbling stream. Beyond Balu ka Ghera, the forests thin and give way to a rugged world of glacial moraines and boulder fields. By the time you crest Hampta Pass at over 14,000 ft, you will stand on a narrow spine overlooking emerald pastures to the south and arid, blue-skied deserts to the north.
At the summit, you’re rewarded with sweeping panoramas of peaks such as Deo Tibba and Indrasan, their snow-capped flanks glowing in the morning light. As you descend to Sia Goru, the trail narrows and becomes technical in places, with loose stones and steep pitches demanding careful footwork. Each bend reveals a new vista: narrow valleys strewn with wildflowers, ridges carved by ancient glaciers, and, occasionally, the flit of a mountain bird along the cliff edges.
Perhaps the crowning jewel of the trek is Chandratal Lake, a turquoise crescent set against rugged scree slopes. Accessible by a weather-permitting drive from Chhatru, this high-altitude “moon lake” shimmers under clear skies and reflects the surrounding peaks like a giant sapphire mirror. It’s the perfect finale to a trek defined by its contrasts: green meadows and barren deserts, leisurely valley walks and heart-pounding ascents.
