Pin Parvati Pass is one of the most scenic treks in the Himalayas. The trail is through lush green forests, wide open meadows, uncountable waterfalls, a high altitude lake and brings you face to face with Parvati glacier. Very few treks give you a chance to walk on a glacier, and Pin Parvati trek is one of them. The crossover to the contrasting Pin Valley in Spiti adds a cultural spin to the trek making it even more attractive. The best time to go for Pin Parvati trek between the months of June and September. It is a challenging trek that requires a great deal of stamina and excellent trekking skills and therefore is not recommended for beginners. If you are a seasoned trekker and jonesing for some thrilling adventure - Pin Parvati trek is where you should head next. Stay on this page for more details like - Pin Parvati Trek itinerary, temperature chart, photos, and videos. Scroll to the end to read Pin Parvati trek blogs.
Why Bikat?
Learning Experience: We do not just focus on completing the trek butalso help you develop basic trekking skills like:
Packing a rucksack
Morning Yoga & Evening stretching
How to pitch and dismantle a camping tent and properly use a sleeping bag
Ascend and Descend on a mountain trail
How to ensure camp safety and hygiene
Identify trail signs and signals
Loyalty Programs: Join Bikat community and enjoy benefits of our vouchers and referral programs.
Personalized attention: We have small batch size (max. 15) and we maintain a healthy ratio of 8:1 (Participants: Leader) on all our batches to enable individual focus and monitoring.
Best Expedition Leaders: Our 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.
Safety norms: We have mapped every region with an emergency evacuation plan and safety protocols maintaining a zero accident record so far. We carry an extensive first-aid kit including oxygen cylinders and high altitude medicines.
Safety equipment: Our trek leaders carry UIAA certified rescue equipment like static rope, ice ax, harness, carabiners, jumar, pulley, short and long slings.
Itinerary
Show detailed itinerary
1Day 1 Day 1 : Report in Bhuntar. Road drive from Bhuntar to Barsheni.
Report at Bhuntar bus stop at 11:00 AM. From Bhuntar road distance to Barsheni is about 48 Kms and should take about 2 hours. Barsheni is the nearest road head for this trek which is also a Dam site. Stay in Hotel/Guest house on Sharing basis in Kalga which is around 15 minutes hike from last road head of Barsheni.See more images and videos
Pin Parvati Pass trek starts from Kalga. In the beginning, trail descend sharply till you reach the riverbed thereafter there is a moderate climb till Nakthan. Nakthan is a small village of 10-15 houses with some tea shops, maggi point and a pool table under the trees. The trail from Nakthan till Rudranag is a gentle walk through apple orchards, is very soothing and pleasant. A small temple, waterfall and a wooden bridge don Rudranag. After breaking for lunch here brace up for some steep climb till Kheer Ganga. We will cross the wooden bridge over to another side of Parvati river and will follow the trail till Kheerganga. There are lots of stream crossing and rest points on the way till our campsite for the day. Kheerganga is a small colony of temprory tent shelters. It’s a large meadow and has a hot water spring with a pool. After reaching campsite you can take a bath in this pool probably your last for the entire trip.See more images and videos
3Day 3 DAY 3: Kheerganga - Tunda Bhuj - 3333m - 4 to 5 hours
We will take an early start from Kheerganga and will head towards Tunda Bhoj our campsite for the day. As we begin, the trail is muddy as opposed to the partly rocky one we had encountered during the second half of the previous day’s trek and was thus quite easy going on the feet. The entire trail today is through thick forest, except for some a mild ascent here it’s pretty much flat. Today is probably one of those days when you will have ample time to capture photos and let the beauty of this vast expense soak in. As you travel through the dense forest you will be surprised to find families settled in this wilderness managing herds of their callous buffaloes. The last phase is a steep rise full of muck and mire that is followed by a short walk through a meadow with an enchanting view of a couple of huge foamy waterfalls off the rich green cliff on the opposite side of the river. This is Tunda Bhuj. We will camp here for the night.See more images and videos
4Day 4 DAY 4: Tunda Bhuj - Thakur Kuan - 3570m- 3 to 4 hours
After having breakfast and packed lunch we will continue our journey and Thakur Kuan will be our another pit stop for the day. We have to gain all of 250m today and hence will not be a very tough day except for a small tricky section at the beginning where the trail is washed away by a landslide. We will encounter this broken trail just after an hour into the trek. Once this section is negotiated today’s trek is fairly easy. Since we will be above treeline here so the entire trail is a little rocky and hence ensure firm footing during your trek today. Thakur Kuan is a large pasture beside river Parvati. There is trolly bridge nearby and you can check it out if you reach well in time and want to have some adrenaline rush. Make sure you go with Trek Lead if you do want to use this beast.See more images and videos
5Day 5 DAY 5: Thakur Kuan to Odi Thatch -3620m- 4 to 5 hours
Today is going to be the most thrilling day of your life for sure and a little longer. Campsite for the day is Odi Thatch and one may ask so what’s special about Odi Thatch that makes it so thrilling. Well, it’s not Odi Thatch but the two bridges that we will be crossing today that makes the day special. The trail begins with a mild ascent and then rises steeply before you reach the first bridge. Once you descend down to the stream there is a huge boulder which acts as a bridge, Pandu Pul-1 for this stream. Once you cross over to another side of this stream and think that adventure is over you will encounter another 20 feet boulder which is on Parvati river and this is your second bridge, Pandu Pul-2. After crossing Pandu Pul the trail is a straight walk till Odi Thatch. This trail is frequently used by shepherds and there are many offshoots from the main trail. So be extremely careful here and never lose sight if the person ahead of you. Odi thatch is a vast flat pasture in the valley and if one is a Sci-Fi fan can easily relate this place to some interplanetary travel.See more images and videos
6Day 6 DAY 6: Odi Thatch to Mantalai – 3700m- 5 to 6 hours
If the day before was the most thrilling, then, today is going to be the most enjoyable. The trail for today is pretty straightforward and there are practically no ascents or descents except the last 300 mts to the lake. The entire trail is a walk alongside river Parvati. You will be a seeing the river Parvati in its infancy and it’s a huge transition from the day we embarked on this journey. It’s hard to imagine that it’s the same river that could send shivers down the spine of even the toughest at the mere glimpse from the wooden bridge at Rudranag. Midway there is place often called mini Mantalai by the locals where the thousands of tiny streams are flowing over a vast expense of flat land and this is the where mighty Parvati is still in embryonic stage. After we cross mini Mantalai there is a steep climb of about 300 m. This is the final assault and can be negotiated pretty quickly. After this ascent is over we reach the glacial lake Mantalai. Here we will set our camp for the day. It’s an amazing campsite on the shores of Mantalai surrounded by mighty Himalayas.See more images and videos
7Day 7 DAY 7: Mantalai – Base Camp I of Pin Parvati Pass - 4940m - 5 to 6 hours
We are in for a challenging day today. We will take an early start and as we leave Mantalai Lake sun might just be rising over the mountains. There is a muddy steep section to begin with, here rocks and pretty loose so maintain a safe distance from the trekker ahead of you. Once this muddy section is negotiated the trail is over a spur and there is a fairly good ascent. Trail after crossing this spur eases out with gradual ascent till you hit the moraine area just 1 Km from our campsite for the day. This moraine section is just 1 km but it takes a little while to get through it. Climb during this section is pretty steep and hence require patience. As soon as you reach the campsite you will realize that we are camping just at the edge of Parvati glacier (approx. 300m). It’s a sight to behold and moonlit clear nights is always a cherry on the cake.See more images and videos
8Day 8 DAY 8: Base Camp I over the Pass - 5300m - Base Camp II - 4900m 7 - 8 hours
D-Day has arrived and we have to start real early today when the ice/snow is still firm and hence easier to walk on. Today we will cross the Might Pin Parvati pass over to another side into Spiti valley. So take a good look around the Parvati valley one last time as you were here for the last 6 days. Since today we will be negotiating around 3 km of glacier walk, be exercise extreme caution today and follow the trek leaders’ footstep all the time. On a glacier sometimes there are hidden crevasses which are very dangerous. Once this glacier section is over there is a steep climb of around 300-400 m just before the pass. Once you reach the pass take a deep breath and congratulate yourself for achieving this great feat. Yes, it’s you who has done it, it’s you who reached 17000 ft on your own. After spending some time here we will leave our campsite for the day which is about an hour or so from the pass. The trail descends gradually for around 1.5 Km to the campsite.See more images and videos
9Day 9 DAY 9: Base Camp II to Wichkurung Thatch - 3500m - 6 hours
Today we have to reach Wichkurung Thatch our penultimate campsite for the trip. The trail descends down sharply for around 3Km. Be extremely careful and maintain a gap from trekker in the front. Always ensure firm footing before making the next move. After around 1.5 km there is a stream crossing, after that the decent still continues. After around 3 km into the trail we will cross the river to other side and continue our trek on this side of the river till we reach Wichkurung Thatch. Trail after crossing the river is pretty flat and hence a welcome breeze after 2 tough back to back days.See more images and videos
10Day 10 DAY 10: Wichkurung Thatch - Mud - 3970m - 5 hours trek - Kaza by taxi
The trail today enters a wide-open valley with numerous streams and leads into the ancient Mud village in the Pin valley of Spiti. From mud village, we drive in a taxi to reach Kaza. We will spend the night in a hotel. Rooms will be on twin or triple sharing basis. About Kaza: Kaza is popular with tourists and adventure seekers during summer months because of its central location and connections to the rest of the valley and outside. This central location also makes Kaza an ideal base camp for trekking, mountaineering, and tours directed to other parts of the valley. Some of the major tourist attractions in and around Kaza beside Tangyud Monastery are the Key Gompa, Kibber village at an elevation of 4205 m. above MSL, Gette Village at an altitude of 4270 m above MSL, Langza village famous for the presence of marine fossils, the Pin Valley National Park, a protected area for Himalayan high altitude wildlife and the Losar village 40 km to the north of Kaza at an altitude of 4079 m above MSL.See more images and videos
11Day 11 DAY 11: Kaza - Manali
After breakfast get ready for a long road journey to Manali. Drive in a taxi from Kaza to reach Manali by the evening. The trip ends here.See more images and videos
12Day 12 DAY 12: 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.See more images and videos
Frequently Asked Questions
Eligibility: Is this trek good for me?
Pin-Parvati Trek is a difficult trek climbing to an altitude of 5298 metres. This expedition should only be attempted by the seasoned trekkers and for those who have done moderate level treks before. A maintenance of good physical stamina and fitness is a requisite.
Eligibility: Experience required
Should have at least 7-10 trekking days in the Himalayas in her kitty.
Should have done at least one Moderate Plus category trek.
For the trek’s achieving more than 6000 Mts, it would help if the person has experience of trekking at altitudes higher than 4500 mts.
How to use basic mountaineering equipment like gaiters & micro spikes
How to cross small and large water streams
Basic principles of acclimatization
Eligibility: Fitness benchmark
Jog/Run for 5 Kms in 25-30 mins Or Walk continuously for 10 kms (with 3-4 small breaks) on plain terrain (slight incline is better)
Hold your breath for 40 seconds
3 sets of Climbing 30 – 40 steps in one stretch
Push Ups – 10
Lunges & Squats – 15 X 2 sets
If you are not meeting these benchmarks, please use the preparation schedule to improve your fitness till you achieve the above benchmarks.
Connectivity: How to Reach the base of the trek & how to go back from the end point?
The trek starts from Pulga Valley which is half an hour drive from Bhuntar. There are direct buses available from Delhi to Bhuntar. All the buses going from Delhi to Manali drop down at Bhuntar. The trek ends in Kaza Valley which is 200 km away from Manali. It takes about 7 hours drive from Kaza to Manali. The frequency of buses between Kaza and Manali is low. However, you can take a private taxi from Kaza to Manali.
Manali is well connected to Delhi with all kinds of transport (except direct train) and can easily be reached through road or air. By Road:
The road distance from Delhi to Manali is 536 km. There are overnight HRTC 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 to Joginder Nagar from Pathankot 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 at very regular frequency. Buses are decent and very cheap compared to taxi that can cost you around INR 2000-5000 depending upon season.
Nearby attraction: What are the nearby attractions that I can explore?
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. Kaza, the capital of Spiti is also famous for a number of tourist attractions. There are spectacular monasteries and local shopping souks. Kibber, Komic, and Dhankar Village are few of the famous villages in the capital. You can visit the world’s highest motorable village - Kibber and the highest post office of the world - Hikkim (pin code 172114).
Connectivity: What is the cellular network connectivity for this trek?
You can find mobile reception till Pulga Village. There will be no connectivity beyond this point. BSNL user may get good signals in Kaza, and in Kibber.
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.
Packing List: How should I select my trekking shoe?
Eligibility: Experience required
Should have an experience of at least 10 – 15 trek days in the Himalayas, At least one Moderate Plus category trek, Experience of trekking at altitudes higher than 4700 - 5000 mts, Medical fitness certificate from CMO of a recognized hospital.
Eligibility: Fitness benchmark
Jog/Run for 5 Kms in 25-30 mins Or Walk continuously for 10 kms (with 3-4 small breaks) on plain terrain (slight incline is better) - You would be required to produce a screenshot from a fitness app testifying the same
Hold your breath for 40 seconds
3 sets of Climbing 30 – 40 steps in one stretch, Push Ups – 10, Lunges & Squats – 15 X 2 sets
If you are not meeting these benchmarks, please use the preparation schedule to improve your fitness till you achieve the above benchmarks.
Eligibility: Requisite skills
How to use an Ice Axe How to use Climbing boots & Crampons How to rope up & follow queued climbing/descending How to self-arrest using an ice axe Knowledge of Basic First aid
Eligibility: Is this trek good for me?
Pin-Parvati Trek is a difficult trek climbing to an altitude of 5298 metres. This expedition should only be attempted by the seasoned trekkers and for those who have done moderate level treks before. A maintenance of good physical stamina and fitness is a requisite.
Mandatory documents: What are the mandatory documents required for the expedition?
Medical Certificate (Soft Copy to be sent to us & original to be carried) is the mandatory document required for the trek.
About the Trek: Why should I go for this trek?
Pin Parvati Trek
Hands down Pin Parvati trek is one of the best treks of the Indian Himalayas. This trek takes you from the lush green Kullu Valley to the barren Spiti valley. Pin Parvati trek is not meant for inexperienced trekkers. The 10-day trek is highly scenic and offers some of the best camping locations. Trekkers looking to push their limits should go for Pin Parvati trek.
Best Season: What are the best months to visit this trek?
Pin Parvati trek best time is from July to September.
Connectivity: How to Reach the base of the trek & how to go back from the end point?
From Bhuntar road distance to Pulga is about 48 Kms and should take about 2 hours. Pulga is the nearest road head for this trek which is also a Dam site.
The endpoint Kaza will also be reached by a taxi ride.
Nearby attraction: What are the nearby attractions that I can explore?
Pin Parvati trek ends in Spiti Valley which is famous for its eternal beauty. You can keep some spare days to explore the places around Kaza like - Kibber village, key monastery, Langza, Komic and Hikkim. You can plan a day trip to Chandratal Lake also. Manali is also a huge tourist attraction. Travelers come to visit Manali from all over the country.
Here's the list of top attractions near Manali
Accommodation type: What will be the accommodation type in this trek?
The stay will be at hotels/guesthouse.
Accommodation type: What will be the accommodation type in this trek?
The stay will be at hotels/guesthouse.
Equipment and facilities: What kind of tents and sleeping bags will be provided to us?
We use four-season tents and the sleeping bags we use are rated from -15 to -20 degree celcius.
Weather conditions: When will there be snow on this trek?
Yes, there will be snow on Pin Parvati Trek.
Miscellaneous : Who will lead us on the trek?
A trek leader will be assigned to lead you on the trek.
Transport: In case we opt for the transport with you, where will you pick us from and where will you drop?
You might say as I appreciated Bikat Adventures too much as there are other kings in the ring of the trekking like Indiahikes, but believe me when I justify my calling them as Juggernauts because they care for the mountains the way I have not witnessed anywhere else.
If you want to have the experience of the wild and the thrill of trailing far off to the beautiful mighty mountains, Bikat Adventures is the right place to choose to go with.
I had trekked the Pin Parvati Pass with Bikat Adventures in September 2018. It was a beautiful experience as the valley unfolded in front of our eyes. This accompanied by the caring nature of the support staff including the trek leader, the trek guides and the big mention, the mighty porters was such bliss and a blessing.
Since I loved the fact that Bikat Adventures does not believe in fixed camping, I would recommend on any day to choose Bikat Adventures for your treks in the Himalayas. After all, we need to care for the beauty of the Himalayas and preserve it, as does Bikat Adventures.
Terms & Conditions
What's Included
Veg Food (Starting Dinner on Day 1 till lunch on Day 10).Three Meals a day
Gamow Bag (HAPO Chamber) - 1 per batch
Portable Stretcher - 1 per batch
Stay in Hotel/Guest house on triple Sharing basis in Pulga. Guest House stay in Kaza on twin sharing basis
Satellite Phone & Radio Set for emergency communication
Forest Permits/Camping Charges/Permits, Trek Permit Fee/IMF Permission (Upto the amount charged for Indian nationals)
Camping tents on twin sharing, Temp rated sleeping bags, mattress
Micro-spikes, Gaiters, Helmets, Harness, and carabiners, as required
Mountaineering course certified Trek Leader with Wilderness Emergency Responder & special rescue course from NIM Uttarkashi
First Aid Certified Local guide, cook, helpers
Porters or mules for carrying common luggage
Transportation from Bhuntar to Pulga while going and Mud to Manali while returning.
