Hampta Pass Trek to Chandratal: A Journey That Stays With You

Situated in the Himachal Pradesh district of India the Hampta Pass Trek is a himalayan crossover trek taking you from the lush green valleys of Kullu to the stark, barren and almost desert-like mountains of the Spiti valley. Trekking to Hampta Pass offers you a little bit of everything - From lush green meadows to Tall Pine Forests and from Glacial Rivers to High Mountain passes. It will take you around four days to complete the trek and at the end of it you also get the opportunity to extend your journey and visit the otherworldly crescent shaped Chandratal lake. The constantly changing colors and scenes of the Chandratal and Hampta Pass trek are perfect for adventures looking for an exhilarating and visually stunning experience.

Where the Hampta Pass Trek Begins and Ends

The Base camp of the Hampta Pass trek is in Manali, from Manali you take a 2 Hour drive to a quaint himalayan village called Jobra, this is the Hampta Pass starting point. Jobra is surrounded by dense forests of pine,oak and birch and is also known for its vibrant wildflowers that bloom during the trekking season. The trek to Hampta Pass that lasts for about 4 days will take you on trails that follow the river upstream and take you to hidden waterfalls coming straight down from the snow capped peaks, the trail will also take you to the lush green meadows where you will camp while looking at the stars above. On the third day of the trek you will climb up to reach the highest point of the trek, The Hampta Pass standing tall at 14,100 ft. From here you will look down to see the wide and green valleys and look up to see the panoramic view of the Himalayan snow capped peaks. 

The trek ends on the fourth day, on this day you will trek down from Siagoru to Chatru, entering the cold desert-like region of the Spiti valley. From Chatru, Chandratal is about a 3 Hour drive away.

What Makes the Hampta Pass Trek Unique?

The Hampta Pass trek is unique, as it is easy to trek to and also because it offers a variety of experiences in a short amount of time. In just four days you get to see the lush green meadows exploding with wild flowers, the himalayan waterfalls filled with cold glacial water, you get to reach the high mountain pass at a staggering height of 14,100 feet and while doing all this you get to witness the changing landscape of himalayas, going from the lush green valleys of Kullu to the barren but beautiful mountains of Spiti.

In just four to five days the Hampta Pass trek shows you all of the colors of Himalayas, so that by the end of the trek you truly feel like you know these mountains and what they have to offer.

Day-by-Day Route Overview

Day 1: Manali to Jobra, Trek to Chika (10,400 ft)

On the first day of your Journey you will drive to Jobra from Manali, along the way you will see the beautiful pine forests and flowing river streams. After having lunch at Jobra you will start the trek and climb for about 3 to 4 kilometers to reach Chika.

Day 2: Chika to Balu Ka Ghera (11,900 ft)

The distance from Chika to Balu Ka Gera is around 5 to 6 Kilometers and will take you about 4 to 6 hours to reach. The trail is easy in the beginning, going through alpine meadows and crossing numerous streams. As you come closer to Balu Ka Gera the sights of Hampta Valley and the grand Himalayas welcome you.

Day 3: Balu Ka Ghera to Hampta Pass (14,100 ft), descend to Siagoru (12,900 ft)

The third day of the trek is the most beautiful as well as the most challenging. On this day you will trek up to reach 14,100 feet above sea level, to a place that gives the trek its name, Hampta Pass. 

It will take you five hours to reach the Hampta Pass from Balu Ka Ghera, the trail is around 7 kilometers long and is the most challenging part of the whole trek. You will find steep terrain, boulders, snow patches and loose rocks, all of this makes the trek more difficult than usual, but at the end of it you get to witness the most exhilarating view that is sure to take your breath away. The Hampta Pass scenic views include the panoramic vistas of the Indrasen Peak, Deo Tibba and the beautiful view of Kullu Valley on one side and the Spiti valley on the other.

After enjoying the view for some time, you will now climb downhill to reach Siagoru and camp there around tall trees and green bushes.

Day 4: Siagoru to Chatru (11,000 ft)

On the fourth and the final day of the trek you will trek down to Chatru, which will take you around four to five hours. On reaching Chatru you will surely be surprised to see the barren landscape of the campsite in contrast to the lush greenery of Kullu.

It is on the same day that you will take a 3 hour drive and reach the beautiful and other worldly crescent shaped alpine lake, the Chandratal.

Why Chandratal Is the Highlight of the Hampta Pass Trek

Lying next to the barren and brown himalayan mountains of the Spiti valley is the Chandratal lake. It can be said that the lake is the highlight of the Hampta Pass trek as it surprises and amazes the trekkers with its surreal, almost other worldly charm. From far away the lake looks like a bowl filled with blue water. The changing colors of the alpine lake reflect the mountains that surround it and the remote habitat of this lake offers a tranquil stillness that is rare to find.

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