Day 01: Manali to Chikha via Jobra [ drive/45 mins & trek/2 hrs ]

We drive to Jobra’s dam site in the morning and walk through a beautiful landscape from there. We will begin our walk in a mixed forest with pines, spruce, deodar, chestnut, and maple trees. We pass through a lovely meadow with a gaddi shepherd camp. If the Gaddis hasn’t built a makeshift bridge anywhere along the river, we’ll have to cross at a vantage point. We cross the river and ascend along a side stream to Chikha, a lovely meadow. The hike today is quick and will take about 2 hours. After you’ve rested for a while, you’ll be told to take a quick walk up to a nearby waterfall.

Day 2: Chika to Balu ka Ghera [ trek 4-5 hr ]

Today’s hike promises to be an interesting one. We cross the stream shortly after leaving the campsite and begin climbing towards a gorge section on the river’s right side. To get to our day’s campsite, Balu-ka-Gheera, we’ll walk through boulder parts, wildflower meadows, a waterfall, and a side river that may need careful handling. With a few breaks, this hike should take about 3.5 to 4 hours. This campsite is surrounded on all sides by broad mountains and is located along with a network of river channels. Our guides can also choose to walk an additional hour to reach an upper campsite with the same name. We rest and relax at the campsite, recharging our batteries for the climb to Hampta Pass the next day. Tents would be used for the night.

Day 3: Balu Ka Ghera to Siagoru crossing Hampta Pass 

The time we leave today will be determined by the weather and trail conditions, but it will most likely be between 5 and 6 a.m. Depending on the season and weather conditions, the walk would most likely be partly or entirely on snow. We start from the camp with a steep scree slope climb to a ridge, then continue climbing towards another ridge that leads to the pass. This climb will take roughly 4-5 hours, and you will be rewarded with breathtaking views all around. The landscape is totally dominated by the Indrasan and Deotibba peaks, and the ranges towards Lahaul appear to be very majestic. The Siagoru campsite is also by the riverside. Spiti can also be seen from this vantage point. You’ll arrive at the bottom of the valley, which will take you to Siagoru, in around an hour and a half. The valley is surrounded by snow-capped mountains, and Siagoru’s path is the only accessible side. On flat ground, the trek to Siagoru is easy. We will set your camps on the grounds and retire for the night with a feeling of contentment at the heart.

Day 4: Siagoru to Chatru

You will walk from Sia goru to Chatru, which will take approximately 5 hours of simple downhill trekking. Siagoru is 12,900 feet above sea level, and Chatru is 11,000 feet. It’s a pleasant descent from Siagoru. The path follows the side of the river valley between mountain ranges once more. Chatru can be found from a long distance. The sterile mountains are devoid of trees. The tricky part is yet to come.

You must exercise caution because the trail can sometimes lead you to the edges of mountains and ridges. There are also some slick sections on the route. To go any further, you must be sure-footed and navigate carefully.

You’ll find the Chandra River flowing below you, as well as a road that runs alongside it. After that, there are more than two glaciers to climb. Chatru, the next camping zone, is on the other side of the Glacier. Choose a spot with a river flowing through it.

The three passes, Hampta, Rohtang, and Spiti, have come together to form Chatru, a magnificent camping spot. It will take about two hours to get to the destination.

Day 5: Final Day Chatru to Manali

You can hike up to the beautiful Chandratal lake, also known as the moon lake if the weather permits and the roads are clear of turbulence. The lake’s deep blue hue has a spectacular impact on the surrounding environment. Chandratal Lake is 70 kilometers from Chatru campsite and takes a few hours to reach. A vehicle can also be arranged from Manali to transport you from Chatru to Chandratal and back. Chandratal is only open during the summer months. Otherwise, you’ll have to travel straight from Chatru to Manali, skipping Chandratal entirely.