Pin Parvati Pass Trek
Eleven days from the forests and hot springs of the Parvati valley over a 5,319 m glacial pass into the cold desert of Pin valley, Spiti.
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Duration
11 days
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Difficulty
Challenging
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Max altitude
5,319 m
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Distance
110 km
Overview
Pin Parvati Pass at a glance
The Pin Parvati Pass trek is a 11-day challenging trek in Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh, reaching a maximum altitude of 5,319 m over about 110 km. It starts from Barsheni, with pickup in Bhuntar. The best time to go is July to September. Guided departures with Himachali Guide start from ₹32,000 per person.
Pin Parvati is a proper expedition, and it joins two valleys that look nothing alike. For six days you follow the Parvati river upstream through dense forest, past the hot springs of Kheerganga, over the natural rock bridge of Pandu Pul and onto the vast grazing grounds of Odi Thach, until the valley ends at the holy lake of Mantalai.
From Mantalai the route climbs a glacier to the pass at 5,319 metres. The descent on the far side drops into the Pin valley of Spiti, where the rain-shadow turns the mountains to ochre and purple and the first village you reach, Mud, feels like another country.
This trek demands previous high-altitude experience, a high level of fitness and tolerance for long days in remote country. The group is roped on the glacier and we carry full safety equipment, with two acclimatisation days built in.
Best time to go
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Logistics
- Region
- Spiti Valley
- Base camp
- Barsheni
- Pickup
- Bhuntar
- Group size
- Up to 15
Highlights
- Cross from the green Parvati valley to the high desert of Spiti over a 5,319 m pass
- Mantalai lake, the source of the Parvati river, at 4,115 m
- Pandu Pul, the natural rock bridge the Pandavas are said to have built
- Soak in the Kheerganga hot spring on the first night
- Finish in Mud village in Pin valley and drive out through Kaza and Kunzum La
- Glacier walk on the Parvati side with a roped crossing
Itinerary
11 days · tap a day to expand
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Day 1 Bhuntar to Barsheni by road, trek to Kheerganga 2,960 m 10 km 5 hrs
Drive from Bhuntar up the Parvati valley through Kasol to the roadhead at Barsheni. Trek via Nakthan village and the Rudranag waterfall to Kheerganga and its hot spring.
- Lunch, Dinner
- Tents at Kheerganga
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Day 2 Kheerganga to Tunda Bhuj 3,285 m 12 km 6 hrs
The crowds thin out after Kheerganga. A forest trail of silver birch and bhojpatra leads to Tunda Bhuj, a meadow camp where the valley starts to open.
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Tents at Tunda Bhuj
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Day 3 Tunda Bhuj to Thakur Kuan 3,560 m 10 km 6 hrs
Cross the Parvati on a pulley bridge and walk past waterfalls to the campsite at Thakur Kuan, with the first clear views of the upper valley.
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Tents at Thakur Kuan
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Day 4 Thakur Kuan to Odi Thach via Pandu Pul 3,800 m 11 km 6 hrs
Climb to Pandu Pul, the huge boulder bridge over the river, and continue across the broad grazing grounds of Odi Thach, full of Gaddi flocks in summer.
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Tents at Odi Thach
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Day 5 Odi Thach to Mantalai Lake 4,115 m 12 km 7 hrs
A long gradual day along the river to the glacial lake of Mantalai, the source of the Parvati, with a small shrine on its shore.
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Tents at Mantalai
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Day 6 Acclimatisation day at Mantalai 4,115 m 3 km 2 hrs
Rest and a short acclimatisation walk towards the glacier. The leader checks everyone's oxygen saturation before committing to the pass.
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Tents at Mantalai
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Day 7 Mantalai to Pin Parvati base camp 4,750 m 8 km 6 hrs
A steep climb over moraine and boulder fields to the base camp below the glacier. Early dinner and early night.
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Tents at base camp
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Day 8 Base camp to Bedu Thach via Pin Parvati Pass 5,319 m 13 km 11 hrs
Pass day. Roped glacier walk to the pass at 5,319 m, then a long descent over snow and scree into Pin valley. Camp at Bedu Thach.
- Breakfast, Packed lunch, Dinner
- Tents at Bedu Thach
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Day 9 Bedu Thach to Wichkurung Thach 3,750 m 12 km 6 hrs
Follow the Pin river down a bare, colourful desert valley. From here on it is all Spiti country.
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Tents at Wichkurung Thach
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Day 10 Wichkurung Thach to Mud, drive to Kaza 3,650 m 12 km 5 hrs
Walk to Mud, the first village of Pin valley, and drive to Kaza through Pin Valley National Park. Night in a homestay.
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Homestay in Kaza
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Day 11 Kaza to Manali 2,050 m
A long drive over Kunzum La and through Lahaul to Manali, arriving by evening.
- Breakfast, Lunch
Gallery
What's included
Included
- Transport Bhuntar to Barsheni, Mud to Kaza and Kaza to Manali
- Two-person tents, sleeping bags and mattresses
- All meals from Day 1 lunch to Day 11 breakfast
- Certified trek leader, high-altitude guide and local support staff
- Technical equipment: ropes, harnesses, microspikes, gaiters
- Forest permits, Pin Valley National Park fees and camping charges
- Oxygen cylinders, comprehensive first aid and pulse oximeter
- Mules and porters for common equipment
Not included
- Travel to Bhuntar and from Manali
- Personal porter for your backpack (available on request)
- Hotel in Kaza on Day 10 if the group chooses one (homestay provided otherwise)
- Travel insurance with high-altitude cover (mandatory)
- 5% GST
- Costs arising from delays due to weather or road closures
Things to carry
- Trekking shoes with ankle support
- Backpack 40 to 60 litres with rain cover
- Three warm layers (fleece, padded jacket, thermals)
- Rain jacket and poncho
- Trekking pole
- Sun cap, woollen cap and gloves
- Sunglasses with UV protection
- Two 1-litre water bottles
- Head torch with spare batteries
- Personal medicines and toiletries
- Government photo ID
- Two pairs of woollen socks per three days
- Gaiters (provided if you do not own them)
- Sunscreen SPF 50 and lip balm
- Energy bars and electrolytes
- Trekking pants plus one warm track pant for camp
Frequently asked questions
Who can join Pin Parvati?
Trekkers who have completed at least one trek above 4,500 m in the last two years and can jog 5 km in under 30 minutes. We ask for your trek history when you enquire, and a fitness update a month before departure.
Why eleven days?
The approach up the Parvati valley alone is five days of walking. We add an acclimatisation day at Mantalai and keep the pass day realistic. Rushing this route is the main cause of altitude sickness on it.
How is the pass crossing done?
We leave base camp before dawn, cross the glacier roped together with the guides, reach the pass by late morning and descend to Bedu Thach in Pin valley. Microspikes and gaiters are provided.
What if the weather turns?
We carry one buffer day. If the pass cannot be crossed safely, the group returns down the Parvati valley to Barsheni and the Spiti transfers are refunded. Safety decisions rest with the trek leader.
From
₹32,000 / person