Lakes of Kullu

Day 1: Delhi to Manali by Overnight Volvo bus

Your adventurous journey to Lakes of Kullu trekking tour begins from Delhi. Today board your overnight luxury AC Volvo bus from Delhi to Manali in the evening time. The Volvo shall reach Manali next morning. The journey is comfortable and the bus shall stop midway for meals and snacks. Travel by Volvo is the best option to reach Manali from Delhi. Please note that sleeper buses are not allowed to run in Himachal after a ban was imposed on the same by the hon’ble high court citing the safety of the passengers. The Volvo buses are semi sleeper.

Day 2: Manali Arrival

Today you have time to prepare for your trekking/hiking tour. Check out the tents, sleeping bags and other essentials. Also do your personal shopping. Hopefully you are fully equipped with good trekking boots and clothes.

Day 3: Day hike to Dashaur Lake

We shall start with trek to the easily approachable lake above Rohtang pass. Dashaur lake has religious significance for people of Manali. This will be more like an acclimatisation trek that will check your preparation for trek to other lakes. This lake is reachable from many routes including one from Rohtang top and other from above Marhi. We shall drive till Rohtang or Marhi and start climbing from here. After visit, spend some time near the lake and return back to Rohtang/Marhi and drive back to Manali.

Day 4: Manali – Gulaba – Rola Kholi (Bhrigu Lake trek begins)

We drive 25KM up the Manali-Rohtang Highway to the meadows of Gulaba. The views of the upper Kullu valley from here are quite spectacular. Here starts our trek toward holy Bhrigu lake, the lake where sage Bhrigu (Rishi) had medidated.  The trail goes eastwards and climbs steadily through forests. We walk slowly as the altitude can make you a little breathless. We cross a mountain stream to reach Rola Kholi meadow where we shall camp for the night. If sky is clear, this place is best for star gazing.

Day 5: Rola Kholi – Bhrigu Lake – Rola Kholi

Today after breakfast in our camp, we shall continue climb upwards. Keep climbing till we cross a mountain ridge, then after little downhill walk and a sudden climb and another ridge beyond which lies the Bhrigu Lake at an altitude of 4270m. After spending some time here, photography and meditation, climb down to Rola Kholi for night camping.

Day 6: Rola Kholi – Manali

Today we shall start downhill climb after sunrise. Board the taxi at Gulaba, drive down to Manali. Rest of the day for planning for Beas Kund treak.

Day 7: Manali – Dhundi – Bakar Thatch (Beas Kund Trek begins)

We shall start with travelling in jeep till Dhundi via Solang Valley. Depending on conditions, trek can be started from Solang. A 9.02km-long Rohtang tunnel (Atal tunnel), longest tunnel of the world above 10,000ft, is being built at Dhundi to connect Kullu with Lahaul valley after bypassing Rohtang pass. Gradually ascending from the valley, the trail continues to the scenic campsite at Bakar Thach (10,820ft), which is a high altitude shepherd field. Bakar Thach is actually a meadow of shepherds. Name Bakar emerged from Bakri (goat) and thach means meadow. One can get beautiful sight of Mt Hanuman Tibba, Seven Sister Peak and lower Dhundi valley and many glaciers from here. Overnight in camps.

Day 8: Bakar Thatch – Beas Kund – Dhundi – Manali

This is short climb up the ridge and then to the plateau of Beas Kund (12,000ft). A small climb is steep and then we negotiate large boulders. We now get glimpse of Shetidhar, Friendship and Ladakhi peaks. We shall descend down a little and walk on the vast plateau to reach the Beas Kund just below Shetidhar and Friendship peaks. The lake is very deep and water is icy cold. The holy lake is worshipped by the locals, so leather products including shoes are not taken close to it. From here one can see the north face of towering Mt Hanuman Tibba. Packed lunch will be provided for a full day excursion in Beas Kund plateau. Later we shall come back to Manali via Bakar Thach, Dhundi and Solang.

Day 9: Manali – Patlikuhal – Shangchar – Dudu (Bran forest)

Drive till picturesque Shangchar village located at high altitude (about 30 KM from Manali via Patlikuhal and Pangan). Our trek starts from here. We shall enter dense deodar forest, cross some water streams in Bran forest area and climb to Dudu for night stay.

Day 10: Dudu – Rani Sui Lake

After breakfast, we shall start our remaining trek to Rani Sui Lake with moderate climb. The trek is beautiful that passes through rhododendron and birch forest. Now we shall enter some of the most beautiful high altitude meadows of Western Himalayas from where one can get 360 degrees view of the Himalayan mountains including snow-capped Dhauladhar and Pir Panjal mountain ranges. Also, we shall get to see some of the amazing rock formations that are believed to be built by Pandavas of Hindu epic Mahabharta. Legend is that Pandavas during their banvasa (exile) were wondering these mountainous regions. A half-built base of a bridge, which is believed to be built to connect another mountain range next to this place, can also be captured en-route the lake. After having delightful sighting of the lake one can get bird eye view of Manali town (about 6,000 ft below) from a ridge close to the lake. Overnight camping near the lake.

Day 11: Rani Sui – Shangchar – Manali (or via Shaleen village)

Trace back the same route to reach Shangchar village to catch taxi back to Manali or other option is to climb down to the highway via Shaleen or Bran village.

Day 12: Manali -Kandi – Parashar Lake (Mandi) – Banjar – Jibhi (or Shoja)

Today our entire trip will be done in the vehicle with almost no climb. We shall drive via Kullu, Bhuntar, Bajaura and Kandi. The vehicles go almost close to the lake area in Mandi district. One need to walk only 400 to 500m to reach Parashar Lake and Parashar temple dedicated to Sage Parashar Rishi. You can climb to the nearby hillock to get panoramic view of the lake and the temple for photography. After walking around the lake and enjoying natural beauty of the area, we shall drive back till Bajaura from where we shall drive towards Aut, then Larji and Banjar. Today we shall stay overnight at Jibhi or Shoja village.

Day 13: Jalori pass – Serolsar Lake – Jibhi (or Shoja)

After early morning breakfast, we shall drive till Jalori pass, the gateway to Anni and Nirmand sub-divisions of Kullu district. From here we shall start our beautiful trek to Serolsar lake amid thick forest. We shall mostly walk inside the dense forest, however, there will be adequate sunlight and outer view at regular distance. The whole trek route is now a regular pathway as local villagers use this 4 to 5km long route to reach the holy lake. A beautiful temple dedicated to Goddess Boodhi Nagin is located next to the lake. The water is clean and not even a leaf floats on its water despite the fact that the area is surrounded by trees. The legend is that a sparrow takes care of the holy water of the Serolsar lake and it lifts the leaf or grass straw soon after it falls into the water. Spend some time near the lake and we shall return back to our hotel at Jibhi or Shoja.

Day 14: Jibhi/Shoja – Aut (Board overnight Volvo bus to Delhi)

As our trip to the major lake of Kullu has come to an end, its time to say goodbye. Check-out from the hotel and leave for Aut (or Bhuntar or Kullu) to board your Volvo bus back home. The bus will drop you in Delhi next morning.

(If you have your bus in the late evening, you can plan a short trip to Tirthan or Sainj valley (including Shangarh). This way you can utilise your whole day.)

Your amazing “Lakes of Kullu” tour concludes here. Believe us, you have collected the best of the treasure that Kullu-Manali has to offer.

Included in Package

Delhi-Manali-Delhi Volvo Ticket

Hotel accommodation

All transportation (taxi/jeep)

Camps,  sleeping bags, mattress and required trekking/climbing gears

All meals during treks and breakfast and dinner on non-trekking days

Trekking Guide (Porters and mules depending on group size and requirement)

Manali Volvo stand pick-up and drop to Volvo on last day

24 hours guidance in entire tour

GST

No hidden charges

Not Included in Package

Beverages and meal other than the finalised meal plan

Flight/rail tickets

Laundry, tip, shopping expenses

Personal trekking gears like shoes, jacket, other clothes (Contact if you don’t have)

All that is not included in the “Included in package” column

— Get special cost on request —

Things to Carry while Trekking in Himalayas

Remember that you can face extreme weather conditions (rain, snow, extreme cold, direct sunlight) on the mountains, so your preparations should be accordingly. We have a saying on mountains: “Those who carry extra survive extra”

• – Rain coat/poncho, warm jacket, fleece, sweater
• –3/4 pair of cotton socks, innerwear and thermal wear
• – Trekkig shoes, slippers, gloves, hat/cap, trekking pants/trousers
• – Backpack with waterproof cover
• – Water bottle
• – Sunglasses/goggle, sunscreen lotion, lip balm
• – Your toothbrush/paste, soaps, oil, cream, etc (toiletries)
• – Your prescribed medicines (if any)
• – A copy of your identity card
• – Camera with extra batteries (if any) (Please note generally you will find no power source to charge while on trekking/climbing)
• – Mobile phone with power bank (optional)
• – A torch (optional)
• – Mosquito/insect repellent (optional)

Checkout for more details on Mountaineering Equipment Checklist