Grade:Moderate

Location: Himachal

Altitude:3990 m

Duration:8 Days

Miyar Valley Trek starts from Udaipur in Lahaul, Himachal Pradesh. The trail starts from the village of Shukto in the stunning Miyar Valley - the Yosemite of the Himalaya. The walk is mostly on an easy flat trail through some of the most spectacular landscapes in the Central Himalaya. Miyar valley hosts medicinal plants and herbs, wildlife like snow leopard and the Himalayan brown bear apart from countless migratory birds, sapphire and ruby encrusted rocks, and seven crystal green glacial lakes. We follow the Miyar River across vast pastures, wildflowered grassland and cold glacial streams till Kesar Yon Chhaap, an idyllic campsite near the snout of the 24 km long Miyar glacier, surrounded by hidden lakes. The best time to do Miyar Valley is May - June, and September - October. Scroll to the bottom to read some amazing blogs posts. The page includes all essential information like - Miyar Valley trek route map, temperature and weather charts, photos and videos.

Itinerary

Day 1

Manali to Changut (10,500 ft) via Udaipur - 135 km Drive

We leave from Manali early morning and drive across the Rohtang Pass to Udaipur in the Chandrabhaga valley. From Udaipur, we turn north into the stunning Miyar valley to the small village of Changut. Overnight in Changut.

Day 2

Changut to Thanpattan (11,800 ft) via Shukto (11,300 ft) - 4 km

We have a short drive till the roadhead at the village of Shukto, from where we cross the Miyar nallah on a swaying wooden bridge to start our hike. Just across the bridge is Khanjer, the last village in the Miyar valley. The trail winds up the village to the local temple and chorten. We will walk through the pea and cabbage farmland of Khanjer before crossing a couple of streams. From here, we walk across vast meadows for a couple of kilometres before coming to the campsite at the grazing grounds of Thanpattan, where we will set camp. There is a chorten on a small hill near the campsite you can visit in the evening. Overnight in Thanpattan.

Day 3

Thanpattan to Yolithang (12,300 ft) - 6 km

Today is another short walk on easy trail to another idyllic campsite at Yolithang. There is an initial steep section to the chorten after which views of the upper valley open up. There are huge rock cliffs on either side of the valley. We will pass through the grazing grounds of Tharang, filled with pink Himalayan fleece and the huge rock and ice faces of Tharang peak to our right. It is a short walk from Tharang to Yolithang, our campsite for the day.

Day 4

Yolithang to Zardung (12,800 ft) - 10 km

Although this day's walk is longer than the first two days, the trail is still fairly flat and easy. We will cross a boulder field near our campsite and descend to a vast grassland that continues for 3 km. On our right, another subsidiary valley offers views of a gigantic rock pyramid - a pass over this valley connects to Darcha on the Manali Leh highway. From here the valley turns slightly eastward to Gompa, another campsite with a couple of small lakes that relfect the surrounding mountains. From Gompa, we walk to Zardung. Zardung is a magnificent campsite with gigantic boulders, some of which are said to contain precious stones. The evening is well spent exploring the boulder area. Overnight in Zardung.

Day 5

Zardung to Kesar Yon Chhaap (13,100 ft) - 10 km

Today is the most interesting day of all. The Miyar valley becomes even more beautiful as we walk towards the source of the Miyar river. We will cross a glacial stream coming down from our right (true left) - the stream iscold and wide and fans a distance of almost half a kilometre. From here, a short walk brings you to a section of the terminal moraine of the Miyar glacier, across which lies our campsite at Kesar Yon Chhaap - which literally means seven holy waters. There are seven emerald green lakes near our campsite, which you can explore in the evening - see if you can find them all! Overnight in Kesar Yon Chhaap.

Day 6

Kesar Yon Chhaap to Gompa (12,800 ft) - 16 km

Today, we will retrace our steps halfway down the valley to the campsite at Gompa we passed on our way up. Overnight in Gompa.

Day 7

Gompa to Changut (10,500 ft) via Shukto - 14 km

We will walk down to Shukto today and board our vehicles for Changut. Overnight in Changut.

Day 8

Changut to Manali via Udaipur - 135 km Drive

We will drive back via Atal tunnel to Manali, which we will reach late in the evening (around 4PM). The trip ends in Manali. Please keep a 2 hours gap in case you are booking a return bus from Manali on the same day.

What's Included

Meals during the trek starting dinner on Day 1 till breakfast on Day 8
Forest Permits/Camping Charges/Permits, Trek Permit Fee/IMF Permission (Upto the amount charged for Indian nationals)
Camping tents, Sleeping bags, mattress
Microspikes, gaiters, seat harness, carabiners, helmet as required
Mountaineering course certified Trek Leader with Wilderness Emergency Responder
Experienced Local guide, cook, helpers
Porters or mules for carrying common luggage

What's Not Included

Meals during road journeys
Any kind of Insurance
Any expense of personal nature
Any expense not specified in the inclusion list
Carriage of personal rucksack

Are you Eligible for this Adventure?

Moderate

3990 m

60 km

BRS Level Required

BRS 4

Miyar Valley Trek is a level 4 adventure on the Bikat Rating Scale.

This makes it mandatory for you to have high-altitude experience of preferably multiple treks marked at level 5 on the BRS. The altitude, the terrain and the nature of the climb demand a certain level of skill and a need for you to be aware of how your body reacts to the various features of high altitude environment.

If you do not know what level of BRS trek would suit you best, worry not! Fill out this Form:

we will send you a progression chart to help you comfortably get out of your comfort zone in order to level up and ultimately reach your highest potential in the big, bad world of outdoor adventure.

Packing List

This is a list of essential items for individuals doing the trek with Bikat Adventures. This list contains only those items which the participants are required to bring with them. The list excludes those items which are provided by Bikat Adventures on the trek. We have divided the items into five categories. All the items in the list are essential except for those marked as optional.

Trekking Gear

Ruck sack bag with rain cover. Qty -1
Day Pack Bag - Recommended for treks with summit day
Head Torch with spare Batteries. Qty -1
U V protection sunglasses. Qty -1 Here is how you can choose the best sunglasses for trekking.
Water Bottles: 2 bottles of 1 liter each

Footwear

Non-skid, deep treaded, high-ankle trekking shoes Qty -1
Pair of light weight Slipper/Sandals Qty -1

Clothing

Quick Dry Warm lower or Track Pants. Qty - 2
Full sleeves T-shirts/ Sweatshirts. 1 for every 2 days of trekking
Pair of thick woolen socks. 1 pair for every two days of trekking
Thermal Body warmer Upper & Lower. Qty-1
Undergarments. Qty - 1 for every day of trekking
Warm jacket closed at wrist & neck .Qty-1
Full sleeves sweater. Qty -1
Rain wear ( Jacket & Pants ) . Qty-1
Pair of waterproof, warm gloves. Qty-1
Woolen cap. Qty-1
Sun shielding Hat. Qty -1

Toiletries

Personal toiletries kit (Small Towel, Toilet paper, paper soap, Bar soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, cold cream, etc.)
Sun screen lotion small pack. Qty -1 Here is your Sun Protection 101 to stay safe in the bright sunny outdoors.
Lip Balm small pack. Qty-1

Utensils

Small size, Light weight & Leak proof lunch box. Qty-1
Plate. Qty- 1
Spoon.Qty-1
Tea/Coffee (plastic) Mug.Qty-1

Miscellaneous

Camera (Optional)
Carry your medicines in plenty in case you have any specific ailment. Consult your doctor before joining the trek.
Dry fruits, Nuts, Chocolate bars (Optional)

Frequently Asked Questions

You must have done a small trek of 2-3 days before and hiked to an altitude of more than 3000 meters.

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

If you are not meeting these benchmarks, please use the preparation schedule to improve your fitness till you achieve the above benchmarks.

Know campsite basics like how to use a sleeping bag, sleeping tet, toilet tent.
Ascending & Descending technique for mountain trails.
Basic mountain mannerisms.

The Miyar valley trek is one of the best treks for people stepping up from their first Himalayan trek. It offers some of the most stunning landscapes in the Indian Himalaya, with easy flat trails.

May-June and August-October

The base site for Miyar Valley Trek is Manali.

Manali is well connected to Delhi with through road and air. There are no direct trains from Delhi though.

By Road

The road distance from Delhi to Manali is 536 km. There are overnight HPRTC buses and Volvos available from ISBT Kashmere Gate, Delhi for Manali. It is a 14-hour journey by bus. You can book your bus tickets online through hrtchp.com or any other bus services available. You can also hire a private taxi or an outstation cab from Delhi.

By Rail

To reach by train, take a direct train from Delhi to Pathankot. Some of the trains that run on this route are Delhi-Pathankot Express, Jammu Tawi Express, Delhi-Dhauladhar Express. You can then take a bus from Pathankot to Manali. Or you can take a connecting train from Pathankot to Joginder Nagar which is the nearest station to Manali. There are buses running frequently between Joginder Nagar and Manali.

By Air

The nearest airport is Bhuntar airport which is located 50 km from Manali. There are taxis available at the airport which will take you to Manali. You can also take local buses that keep running from Bhuntar to Manali frequently. Buses are decent and very cheap compared to a taxi that can cost you around INR 2000 to 2500 depending upon the season.

There is connectivity for all major networks in Manali. You will lose connection as we drive towards Rohtang Pass. There is decent BSNL network in the Miyar valley, even till the second day of the trek - at Yolithang.

Fairly isolated over Rohtang Pass, Miyar valley'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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

You can rent following items from us- Trekking Pole, Trekking Shoes, Fleece Jacket, Rucksack. Visit: http://rent.bikatadventures.com

Miyar valley trek temperature varies from a maximum of 25 degree Celcius to -5 degree Celcius during the trekking months of June to October.

There is snow on Miyar valley trek during the pre-monsoon season.

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.

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.

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.

Manali has a reasonable size market. However, we will have to head to Lahaul and there will be no time for shopping. Please do not leave anything for last minute buying.

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.

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.

We will arrange reserve taxis from Manali to Changut and back from Changut to Manali. Check the "transportation cost" add-on above for the additional cost. The vehicles will leave Manali at 1200 Hrs and reach Changut by 1600 Hrs. On the way back, the vehicle will start from Changut at around 0900 Hrs and reach Manali by 1300 Hrs. The timings may change due to road conditions.

On the last day you will reach Manali by 1300 Hrs. We advise you to keep at least a 3-4 hrs buffer in your further travel plan.

ID Proof (Soft Copy to be sent to us in Advance & original to be carried) and Medical Certificate (Soft Copy to be sent to us & original to be carried) are the mandatory documents required for the trek.

Why Bikat?

Small Group Size

Our batch sizes are capped at 15 for smaller treks with the trek leader and trekker ratio of 1:8. This ratio, in our years of experience, has proven to deliver the best trekking experience for individuals as well as groups. Capping the size of the group ensures individual attention to each trekker so that no signs of distress or need during the trek go unnoticed. It also helps to form a more cohesive cohort with better group energy which helps define the rhythm and pace of days on the trek.

As you go higher up on the BRS scale, since the stakes are higher, expeditions have an even smaller group size with the ratio of expedition leader to climber set at 1:2.

Qualified Trek Leaders

We follow a rigorous regime of hiring and training our experts in the field. Each trek leader is a certified mountaineer with years of experience in the field. In addition to their qualification, they also go through practical and situational training to tackle any and all kinds of sudden conditions that may present themselves on the ground. Being unpredictable is the core nature of the mountains but being ready for any circumstance as best as possible is a controllable asset that we try to nurture.

Our field experts are also trained in basic medicine and first-aid response.

Watch: Forerunners - The Making of A Trek Leader At Bikat Adventures

Guided Progression

Since Bikat Adventures is a learning-based organization, we help you climb up the ladder of difficulty within the sphere of outdoor adventure systematically. Our on-ground training modules are designed to handhold you through the upskilling process so that you are ready to take on bigger challenges.

Equipment Quality and Check

All the gear used on our treks and expeditions is tried and tested, maintained for good quality, and is overall top-notch in quality and condition. We are continually looking to obtain the best of everything there is in the market so as to ensure optimum safety.

Support Systems

Along with the staff you see on-ground, we have a team of superheroes working in the background to give you the best experience possible. Our background team also comprises local staff from each area who know the region best. Having local support helps with studying the area, pre-planning, execution, and in receiving timely support in case of emergencies in these remote locations.

Communication

Our on-field staff is in constant contact with our teams based in primary locations so as to eliminate any avoidable delay in reaching additional help and support when required. We try to use the best tools for communication available, including satellite phones, in regions where they are not restricted.

Reviews

Cancellation Policy

Cash refund

Cancellations up to 30 days prior to departure date

Cancellations between 30 days to 15 days prior to departure date

Cancellations within 15 days prior to departure date

Voucher refund

Cancellations up to 5 days prior to departure date

Cancellations within 5 days prior to departure date

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.

Blog Posts

Opinion

Why Miyar Valley is the Perfect Trek for Beginners

Why Miyar Valley is the Perfect Trek for Beginners! So your friend went on a trek. Suddenly their Instagram game is on fire, they can’t stop talking about how transformative it was to have a high-altitude getaway from life’s cha...

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Informative

These 4 Campsites of Miyar Valley will Leave you Speechless

Himachal Pradesh is infamous for its trails, and why wouldn’t it be? Rupin Pass, Patalsu Peak, Hampta Pass - the list of legendary treks goes on and on, but there’s one thing they’ve all got in common. They all center around one spe...

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Experiential

Rainbows and Near Death Experiences: Trekking Miyar Valley to Kang La

This blog is a little different from our other ones. It was written jointly by members of our Exploration Team, Sarthak and Cambria, each with their own voice and perspective on their adventure through the Miyar Valley and over Kang La, an 18,000ft g...

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