Brief Description
Originating from the remote village of Sissu, on the Manali-Leh highway, in the Lahaul region of Himachal Pradesh, Ghepan Ghat is a hidden, neon-blue glacial lake in a stunning valley unknown to even many local guides. The trek follows high above a thundering river, leading your past friendly shepherds, consistent panoramic views of towering, snow-capped peaks and a valley flushed with vibrant wildflowers. While the lake itself is situated at 4,140 meters, this moderate trek challenges trekkers with its exposed terrain en-route to the lake, difficult river crossings and extremely rugged and unmarked, but beautiful trail. Throughout the trek, the holy Ghepan peak towers over the valley and the village of Sissu. The lake itself is a beautiful, brilliant blue colour, with icebergs from the calving glacier floating on its surface. The best time to do Ghepan Ghat Trek is May to October.
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Itinerary
Itinerary
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Manali to Sissu (10,235ft) - 85 km Drive
Report in Manali by 12 PM for transportation to the village trailhead of Ghepan Ghat in Sissu. The driving route takes you over the famous Rohtang Pass (13,051ft), passing Beas Temple en-route. Tonight is spent acclimatizing and relaxing in a village homestay.
Sissu to Trailhead (11,500 ft) to Camp 1 (12,500 ft) - 4km
We begin with a short, 9km drive up from Sissu to the trailhead, passing the beautifully colorful Labrang Gompa on the way. From here, the trail is a gentle, 4km incline to your first night's camp, after an initially rocky ascent. Passing makeshift shepherd homes and abandoned stone huts, the grassy trail leads you to Camp 1, a meadow that dramatically protrudes toward the center of this massive valley. From here, Sissu is now a tiny speck below you and a commanding view of snowcapped peaks sits mightily in front of you.
Camp 1 to Camp 2 (12,800ft) - 6km
Day 2 brings you further away from civilization into this deserted green valley. The trail almost immediately crosses a fierce river and takes you on a series of roller coaster ascents and descents, disappearing altogether at times into rocky sections until reaching Camp 2 in a colorful grassy clearing. Wildflowers abound, and you spend the night tucked into a bowl of mountains.
Camp 2 - Ghepan Ghat (13,600) - Camp 2 - 8 km
Today you make the day trek to Ghepan Ghat itself. After an initial rocky ascent over a ridge, you descend among strange rock formations into a vibrantly green, surprisingly flat clearing through which the river flows. From here, the trail passes a small settlement of shepherd-built stone huts used for summer grazing and climbs alongside an offshoot of the river over numerous rock ridges. The view over the final ridge reveals the neon turquoise Ghepan Ghat, with pearl-white ice chunks floating here and there. From here, you return to Camp 2 for the night.
Camp 2 - Sissu (11,800ft) - 10 km. Drive to Manali - 85 km
Today brings you back to Camp 1 along the same route etched into the mountainside. We will leave early to ensure crossing the river near Camp 1 does not happen late in the day, as the snowmelt from higher up the mountains causes the river to become quite dangerous by evening time. We will continue till the trailhead and board vehicles for Manali. The trip ends in Manali.
Frequently Asked Questions
Pick your question
Eligibility: Is this trek good for me?
is a moderate level trek i.e. it requires more strength and endurance than easy level treks. It is recommended that you first gain an experience of trekking to altitudes higher than 3000 metres, and then move one level up with this trek. However, if you are a beginner but committed to prepare, then you need at least 2-3 months to prepare physically & mentally for this trek. For details on trek difficulty level, please read on Bikat Rating Scale.
Eligibility: Experience required
You must have done a small trek of 2-3 days before and hiked to an altitude of more than 3000 meters.
Eligibility: Fitness benchmark
- Jog/Run for 4 Kms in 35-40 mins or Walk continuously for 8 Kms (with 3-4 small breaks) on plain terrain (slight incline is better)
- Hold your breath for 25-30 seconds
Eligibility: Requisite Skills
- Know campsite basics like how to use a sleeping bag, sleeping tet, toilet tent.
- Ascending & Descending technique for mountain trails.
- Basic mountain mannerisms.
Best Season: What are the best months to visit this trek?
mid-May through June and August to October
Packing List: What to pack
Click here for text packing list.
Packing List: How should I pack my rucksack?
Packing List: How should I select my trekking shoe?
Nearby attraction: What are the nearby attractions that I can explore?
Fairly isolated over Rohtang Pass, Ghepan Ghat's nearest hub of civilization is the quaint village of Sissu, which doubles as the trailhead for this trek. Enjoy the Buddhist gompas (particularly the beautiful Labrang Monastery) and the peace that comes with this oasis. Keylong, another cultural hub, is 30km further down the highway. In the other direction lies a fun day trip to Rohtang Pass, the Beas Temple and Manali over the other side. Manali is the gateway to Solang Valley where you can participate in adventure activities like paragliding, and zorbing in the summer months when the snow melts. Visit the ancient Hadimba Devi Temple which has an interesting mythological tale associated with it. Walk through the charming lanes of Old manali. Visit the bazaar to buy some souvenirs. Jogini Fall and Vashisht Temple are other famous attractions in Manali. You can also visit Rohtang pass while you are in Manali.
Age limit: What is the minimum & maximum age limit?
The minimum age limit is 13 years. However, minors aged between 13 to 17 should be accompanied with their parents or guardians. If you are above the age of 60, kindly carry a medical certificate from your doctor that deem you fit for adventure activities like trekking.
Accommodation type: What will be the accommodation type in this trek?
Homestays will be provided where necessary. On trekking days, all the trekkers will be accommodated in twin or triple sharing tents/Huts as per the itinerary. Along with this, there will be also be a toilet tent and a dining tent installed at every campsite as we roll.
Equipment and facilities: What kind of tents and sleeping bags will be provided to us?
We provide 4 seasons tents by Gipfel for higher altitudes which can easily withstand heavy snowfall and storms. They are spacious enough to accomodate 3 people at once with a vestibule to place the backpacks.
Our sleeping bags are made up of Heatseeker Pro synthetic insulation that can provide you comfort in -10 degrees celsius. We also use additional fleece liners to have thermal efficiency even in the extreme temperatures of -17 degrees Celsius.
Equipment and facilities: Are there any washroom/toilet facilities on the trek?
Toilet tents will be provided to you on the trek.These are portable toilets tents where a deep pit will be dug. A shovel will be provided inside the tent to cover the waste after you have made your business. You can take a toilet roll inside. Make sure you dig used toilet paper along with the waste. Though water is recommended in place of toilet paper. Please refrain from using wet wipes as they are non-biodegradable.
There will be no facility for bathing on the trek. Go through our blog section for tips on how to maintain personal hygiene on treks.
Equipment and facilities: If we trek in snow, what equipment will you provide?
You will be provided with good quality gaiters and microspikes from us depending upon the situation of the snow. Our trek leaders will also be carrying ropes and ice axe.
Equipment and facilities: What kind of food will be provided for the trek?
Vegetarian food will be served throughout the trek. The only non-vegetarian item served on our treks are eggs. Our kitchen staff follows a proper and menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner which has been designed in order to fulfill the nutritional requirements of the participants.
Equipment and facilities: What equipment can I rent from you?
You can rent following items from us- Trekking Pole, Trekking Shoes, Fleece Jacket, Rucksack
Miscellaneous : Is there an option to offload my backpack?
If you want to offload your rucksack, you will have to make a request for offloading a few days prior the trek through an email so that arrangement can be made in advance. You will be charged per day for offloading your rucksack.
In case you decide to offload on the spot, you may have to pay a higher price than usual. However offloading your rucksack is not recommended since it is not a safe practice.
Miscellaneous : Who will lead us on the trek?
A team of participant will be led by a course certified trek leader and a local guide. All participants are requested to abide by what their leader says. There will also be a team of kitchen staff and porters on the trek. We maintain 1:8 ratio of trek leader and participants. All our trek leaders and staff have a certified training in first-aid and rescue operation.
Miscellaneous : Is the trekking pole necessary?
Yes, trekking pole is necessary. If you don’t want to buy one, you can rent it from us on minimal daily basis charges. You can request the renting link from us.
Miscellaneous : Are there any local stores/shops from where I can shop trekking necessities?
Manali has a reasonable size market. However, we will have to head to Khanol and there will be no time for shopping. Please do not leave anything for last minute buying.
Miscellaneous : Is it safe for a solo woman traveller to trek in Fixed departures?
Yes, it is absolutely safe for solo woman to travel in fix departures. Women on the trek will be sharing tent with each other. In case you are a single woman on the trek, you will be given a separate tent.
Miscellaneous : Will you give certificates on completion of trek?
Yes, e-certificates will be given at the end of each trek provided that you completed it. It will bear your name, the trek, and the maximum altitude you achieved on the trek.
About the Trek: Why should I go for this trek?
Ghepan Ghat Trek - The Hidden glacial lake trek near Manali
This beautiful trek takes you high above a thundering river, leading your past friendly shepherds, consistent panoramic views of towering, snow-capped peaks and a valley flushed with vibrant wildflowers. The moderate level trek is good for beginners and well as seasoned trekkers. The glacial lake is situated at an elevation of 4,140 m. The campsites of this trek are magnificent. The trek is mostly unexplored and offers trekkers a pristine experience of the Himalayas.Connectivity: What is the cellular network connectivity for this trek?
There is Cellular network available till the base village, Sissu.
Connectivity: How to Reach the base of the trek & how to go back from the end point?
Report in Manali by 12 PM for transportation to the village trailhead of Ghepan Ghat in Sissu. The transportation back will be from Sissu to Manali at the end of the trek.
Weather conditions: What will the temperatures be like during this trek?
The temperatures stay between 5 - 10 degree celsius.
Transport: What time will you drop us at the end point on last day of the trek?
We will drop you at Manali at the end of the trek.
Transport: In case we opt for the transport with you, where will you pick us from and where will you drop?
We will pick you from Manali at the start of the trek and drop you at Manali at the end.
Mandatory documents: What are the mandatory documents required for the trek?
NA
Why Bikat
Why Bikat
Learning Experience
- We are an Adventure Learning Organisation first.
- We want you to not just complete a trek safely but also pick up some basic trekking knowledge and skills along the way.
- To achieve this we have integrated learning modules into our itineraries.
- These modules will help you build the necessary skills to progress from trekking to mountaineering over time.
Loyality Programs
Our community is an integral part of us and we take pride in our trekkers and climbers. When you complete at least three days on any trek or expedition with us, you become eligible for our membership and referral programs.
- Currently we have three levels:
- Basic Membership
- Summiteer Membership
- Leader Membership
Personalized Attention
- Our group sizes on treks don’t exceed 15 members in order to maintain a healthy Participants : Leader Ratio of 8:1.
- Over time we have found this number to be optimum when it comes to ensuring personalised attention to every member of our group.
- On mountaineering expeditions this number is even smaller. Our group sizes are capped at 12 members ensuring a Participants : HAP Ratio of 2:1.
Best Expedition Leaders
- Our Expedition leaders are advanced mountaineering course qualified, specially trained in rescue procedures from NIM and certified first-aid responders.
- Even our local guides are certified first-aid responders.
Eco-friendly Practices
- Group sizes are capped at 15 people.
- Batch sizes are capped at 250 people per trail per season.
- We follow a rolling campsite model.
- We are constantly exploring and introducing new trails to reduce the burden on existing ones.
Safety
For us, a successful summit is not about reaching the highest point of a mountain but about making it safely back to base.
- To ensure this:
- Every region of ours is mapped with an emergency evacuation plan.
- The equipment we use is UIAA certified.
- Our trek leaders are AMC certified with specialisation in rescue procedures.
- Our support staffs are trained in first aid as well.
Reviews
What's Included
Whats Included
- Food as per menu on the trek (Lunch on Day 2 till pack lunch on Day 5)
- Forest Permits/Camping Charges, if any (upto the amount charged for Indian nationals)
- Tents, Sleeping bags, Sleeping mats
- Micro-spikes, Gaiters, and Helmets as required
- Experienced Trek guide, cook, helpers, and porters for carrying common supplies
- Mountaineering course certified Trek Leader with First Aid certification
- Guesthouse/Home stay accommodation in Sissu on Day 1
Whats Not Included?
- Portage of personal bags during the trek
- Cost of any kind of Travel Insurance.
- Any Expense of personal nature.
- Any Expense not specified in the inclusions list.
- Meals during road journeys
- Transportation from Manali to Sissu and back to Manali.
Cancellation Policy
Cash Refund
Cancellations up to 30 days prior to departure date
5% Deduction
Between 30 days to 15 days prior to departure
50%
deduction
Less than 15 days of departure
No Cash Refund
Voucher Refund
Cancellations up to 5 days prior to departure date
No Deduction
Cancellations less than 5 days prior to departure
No Refund
Please note
- Cash refund is applicable only in case of bookings made without using any promotional offer code or vouchers.
- This is only a brief of cancellation terms. For finer details please refer Detailed Cancellation Policy.
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