It is a fairly remote trek and is now regarded as the classic route from Kinnaur to Gangotri, which was first crossed by Marco Pallis in 1933. The trek is also known as Chitkul to Gangotri trek or Harsil to Chitkul trek. It trek can be done from either side. The beautiful route takes you through some of the most remote areas of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, like the Jalandhari valley that is covered with flowers post-monsoon. The snow in the early season could impede your progress. Harsil is famous for Wilson's Cottage built in 1864. Gangotri is a short drive from Harsil, while Chitkul is the last village in the Baspa valley. Though the difficulty is a relative term, the Lamkhaga pass trek is considered the most difficult in Kinnaur-Garhwal Himalayas. Lamkhaga pass trek offers a diverse landscape that includes Ranikanda meadows, boulder-strewn terrain, Baspa glacier zone, Baspa Glacier Snout and Meadows, and small glacial lakes of Kyarkoti in Harsil valley.
Overview
Region: Garhwal Himalayas of Uttarakhand
Duration: 9 days
Grade: Tough to Challenging
Minimum group size: 6
Maximum group size: 10
Maximum Altitude: 5284 meters
Best Season for the trip: May to October
Detailed Itinerary:
Day 01: Shimla – Chitkul
Day 02: Chitkul – Nagasthi – Rani Kanda
Day 03: Rani Kanda - Dumti
Day 04: Dumti - Gundar
Day 05: Gundar – Lamkhaga Pass Base Camp
Day 06: Lamkhaga Pass Base Camp – Base camp II
Day 07: Base camp II – Lamkhaga Pass – Base camp III
Day 08: Base camp III - Kyorkati
Day 09: Kyorkati - Harsil
Cost : On email / phone
Detailed Itinerary:
Day 01 [: Shimla – Chitkul
Reception at Shimla and drive from Shimla to Chitkul via Kufri and Narkanda after breakfast. Dinner and overnight stay in Chitkul in guest house/ village homestay.
Day 02: Chitkul – Nagasthi – Rani Kanda
Chitkul is the last village in Baspa valley and is located on the true right bank of the river. The valley of Sangla is 26 km from Chitkul and is very beautiful and one of the best in Kinnaur. We start the trek from Chitkul and trek up to Rani Kanda. Dinner and overnight stay in tents in Rani Kanda.
Day 03: Rani Kanda – Dumti
Today we trek through and cascading waterfalls and flowery meadows to reach Dumti. Dinner and overnight stay in tents in Dumti.
Day 04: Dumti – Gundar
Start the day from Dumti and trek up to Gundar. We follow the Baspa River all along and cross several small streams along the way to reach Gundar.
Day 05: Gundar – Lamkhaga Pass Base Camp
It could be a tough day depending upon the snow conditions and so an early start is recommended. The climb is steep and may require some technical gear. Dinner and overnight stay in tents at the base camp.
Day 06: Lamkhaga Pass Base Camp – Base camp II (Kinnaur)
Today we trek from the base camp to base camp II on the Kinnaur side. The climb is steep and on snow. We start early because at times it might take longer than expected.
Day 07: Base camp II (Kinnaur) – Lamkhaga Pass – Base camp III (Gangotri)
Today we start our final ascent to the Lamkhaga Pass and we cross the mountain pass and get over to the base camp on the Gangotri side. The climb is steep and might require technical gear.
Day 08: Base camp III (Gangotri) – Kyorkati
Today we descend down from the base camp to Kyorkati at the mouth of the glacier which is a meadow. We pitch our tents here and camp for the night.
Day 09: Kyorkati – Harsil
The final leg of the trek is through very beautiful and through thick forests, numerous waterfalls, and unnamed streams. We finally reach Harsil and rest for the night in village homestays or tents. The next morning we depart for Uttarkashi.
Cost Inclusion:
All arrangements for overnight stays during the trip.
All food expenses. Food will usually consist of morning breakfast, lunch, evening high tea, and dinner.
Special trained certified guides trained for emergency situations.
Local guides and workers with in-depth knowledge about the local area.
Backpack carrying by the porters.
Inner line permits and arrangements en route will be arranged by the operator.
All stays and lodging on twin sharing basis shall be provided.
Detailed cost inclusion/exclusion and cancellation policy will be shared on email or Whatsapp.
Also check out other Trips & Adventurous Activities in Manikaran.
