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The Pin Bhaba Pass trek (aka Tarik La), is one of the few treks where the trekkers witness the lush green mountains as well as the barren lands. The Pin Bhaba pass is at a cross over of the dense forests and the shepherd's trail of Kinnaur in Himachal Pradesh and the stark Pin valley in Spiti, attaining a maximum altitude of 16,125 ft. The dramatic landscape and the moderate difficulty level make Pin Bhaba one of the best Himalayan treks. The best time to do Bhaba pass trek is from Mid-May to September end. The USP of this trek is that it is one of the rare Himalayan treks which can be done in the monsoon season as well. Stay on this page for more details like - Pin Bhaba trek route map, itinerary, temperature chart, photos, and videos. Scroll to the end to read Pin Bhaba Pass trek blogs.
Shimla to Kafnu (7,874 ft) - 205 km Drive
Assemble in Shimla early morning (7 AM) and board your vehicles for the journey to Kafnu, which is the start point of the Pin Bhaba Pass trek. The distance between Kafnu to Shimla is 205 km and the drive is about 7 hours long. Kafnu is a quaint village in Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh. As soon as you reach the village, you can see the astounding views of Bhaba Valley. Spot India’s first underground Hydel Project on Bhabha River. The large dam located in the middle of the green lake looks spectacular. Spend the night in one of the local guest houses in Kafnu. The trek begins from Kafnu next morning.
Kafnu (7,874 ft) to Mulling (10,777 ft) - 10 km
On this day, begin your trek from Kafnu to Mulling. From the open parking area in front of the Lake View Resort follow the dirt service road and then head up towards the valley to a bridge. Cross the bridge and immediately turn left on the good trail. The valley narrows quickly as you walk upstream on the true left bank. Pass the few homes of Musrang and enter a forest that leads to a set of switchbacks climbing for 150m or so to a level trail in pleasant pine forest that leads to open pasture and then descends back to the river. Once beside the river you begin climbing you will walk in the thick pine forest and sometimes cross a tributary or streams for a couple of hours. Cross another grassy pasture before winding through a large gully cut around an ancient terminal moraine, climbing on an easy gradient the entire time. At the end of the gully the trail climbs very slightly into a magnificent broad alpine valley, called Mulling, where there are many good campsites. Camp overnight in Mulling.
Mulling (10,777 ft) to Kara (11,745 ft) - 5 km
Continue up the Mulling valley, which looks like the mountain Gods have landscaped it to make the most of surrounding mountain scenery. Beyond the pasture you enter a boulder field and then sparse forest. The valley narrows near the junction of the Yuchdiun river and after the confluence you cross a step-sided gully via a boulder bridge at 11,056 ft. Then climb steeply for about 200 m before traversing to another stunning alpine valley and an extensive pasture popular among the shepherds at Kara. Set up camp next to a small lake. You might be able to buy fresh goat milk and meat from some of the shepherds here.
Kara (11,745 ft) to Pushtirang (13,664 ft) - 5 km
The Pushtirang Nala heads northwest from Kara, and you will need to find a convenient crossing point near the confluence with the main valley before climbing the true left (north) bank. The trail climbs rapidly up a grassy spur before the gradient eases as you cross gently undulating pastures with many boulders. There are many herder shelters in the valley but the best campsites are at the base of the pass-climb. There are two main camps, a lower site, and after a short climb an upper site that offers an easier start for the following day. One can witness the magnificent views of Hansbeshan Peak (19,160 ft) from here. Camping at Pushtirang is a treat since it is a huge river delta, one of the only kind in the Himalayas.
Pushtirang (13,664 m) to Mangrungse (13,800 ft) via Bhaba Pass (16,125 ft) - 12 km
Begin your day in the direction of Bhabha Pass. The trail climbs a scree-covered spur that heads steeply up the centre of pass-approach valley. After about 350 m of ascent the trail crosses a melt-water stream and then climbs steeper ground for another 150 m to reach a plateau at 15,190 ft, which some groups use as a high camp. Traverse around a shallow basin to your north (right) and ascend a rocky moraine hillock to reach another, larger basin. The pass is the lowest point on the surrounding ridge to your north and is reached by crossing the basin and climbing directly upwards. The vistas and sceneries visible from this point are jaw-dropping. The desert mountain valleys of Pin contradict the green valleys of Bhaba which you left behind. The arid landscape marks your entry in Spiti region. If snow conditions permit, make a direct descent into the valley below, but if avalanche is a danger you will have to traverse left and take a less steep route. Reach the flat-bottomed valley and long lake (14,189 ft) in less than 1 hour. The trail winds around the true right (north) side of the valley floor, which is mostly lake or wet ground. From the lip of the valley you look down on the confluence of three rivers at Tiyaand a trail junction. We will camp near the junction at Mangrungse.
Mangrungse (13,800 ft) to Mudh (12,467 ft) - 17 km. Drive Mudh to Kaza
On this day, we begin our return from Mangrungse to Mudh via Pharka Village. Follow a trail that traverses north (right) before the last descent and wind around scree-covered hillside. Then descend a little before traversing above the Pin river to Bara Boulder. The trail to Pharka Village is well paved and gradual, following the true right bank of the Pharka Nallah. You will walk through a number of small settlements and flock of sheeps. Cross the Pin River and Mudh village, last village in Spiti region. Drive from Mudh Village to Kaza, the traditional capital of Spiti. The trip ends here.
Departure from Kaza
Kaza is famous for spectacular monasteries and local shopping souks. Kibber, Komic, and Dhankar Village are few of the famous villages in the capital. In case you are interested in staying for longer in Kaza or want to avail the transport back to Manali can contact our team on 7838148127 and get your special request registered. If you are heading straight back to Manali, the it is going to be a long yet scenic drive from Kaza to Manali passing through the two spectacular high mountain passes; Kunzum La and Rohtang Pass.
Buffer Day
This day will only be used if the need arises during the trek. You are advised to keep a buffer day in your travel plan. If the buffer day is used, you have to pay Rs. 2,300 per day (INR) +5% GST / per person. The amount will be collected by the Trek Leader.
Pin Bhaba Pass is a moderate plus trek climbing to a high altitude of 16125 feet. It requires more strength and endurance than moderate level treks. Therefore, it is recommended that you first gain an experience of trekking to altitudes of 3700 metres and learn about campsite basics, ascending and descending on mountain trails, basics of high altitude acclimatization process and then move up a notch with the Pin Bhaba Pass Trek. For details on trek difficulty level, please read on Bikat Rating Scale.
If you are not meeting these benchmarks, please use the preparation schedule to improve your fitness till you achieve the above benchmarks.
Should have at least 7-10 trek days in the Himalayas in their kitty along with the experience of trekking at altitudes of 3700 metres or above.
Click here for packing list.
The Pin Bhabha Pass Trek begins in Kafnu and ends in Mudh.
Getting to Kafnu: The distance of Kafnu from Shimla is 205 km and takes about 7 hours drive. The road journey can be done by hiring private or shared taxis. There is also an HRTC bus that leaves from Shimla at 8:40 AM and reaches Kafnu at 6:30 PM. Kafnu is a quaint village in Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh.
Onward from Manali: There are overnight HRTC and private Volvos from Manali to Delhi. Alternatively, Manali is also connected by Delhi by air through a daily Air India flight from Bhuntar Airport.
There is no cellular connectivity once the trek starts from Kafnu till crossing the Rohtang Pass on the return journey to Manali. There are satellite phones at Batal and Chhatru on the Mudh - Manali route.
Pin Bhaba pass trek best time is from the months of mid-May to the last week of September. The USP of this trek is that it can be done during the monsoons as well.
You can opt to stay in the guest house at Kaza where you can enjoy a hot shower and have some rest. Kaza is famous for spectacular monasteries and local shopping souks. Kibber, Komic, and Dhankar Village are few of the famous villages in the capital.
The return journey from Mudh to Manali passes through two high altitude passes - Kunzum La and Rohtang Pass.
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.
On trekking days, all the trekkers will be accommodated in twin or triple sharing tents. 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. If you carry your own sleeping bag, you will get a cashback reward provided that you inform us as soon as you have booked your 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.
The temperatures vary between 0 to -5 degree celcius.
Yes, there will be snow on the trek.
It is not mandatory but it is more convenient with the pole. 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.
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 the only woman on the trek, you will be given a separate tent.
The end point of the trek would be Kaza and trekkers will be dropped at Kaza around the afternoon.
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 this trek.
The pick up will be from Shimla ISBT by 7 am.
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.
Shimla has reasonable size market but because of immediate departure from Shimla last minute purchasing might be difficult. Please do not leave anything for last minute buying.
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.
You will be provided with good quality of 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 menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner which has been designed in order to fulfil the nutritional requirements of the participants. There will be milk, poha, eggs, muesli/corn flakes, bread and butter served for breakfast. Rice or simple roti sabzi will be packed for lunch. In dinner, you will have dal, egg curry or any other vegetarian dish along with rice, roti, and a dessert item. Packed lunch will be provided to you on the days you are trekking. You are requested to carry your own tiffin box and a mug to consume food. The meals consumed on journey and arrival day are not included in our cost.
You can rent following items from us- Trekking Pole, Trekking Shoes, Fleece Jacket, Rucksack.
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.
For us, a successful summit is not about reaching the highest point of a mountain but about making it safely back to base.
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
Cancellations up to 5 days prior to departure date
No Deduction
Cancellations less than 5 days prior to departure
No Refund
Sarthak Madan 31 October 2018
Knowing how to correctly pack your backpack can mean the difference between enjoying and enduring a trek. The video below details the process and principles to keep in mind while packing your backpack.
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