Where is the starting point of the Bali Pass Trek? And How Long Is The Bali Pass?

Sankri village in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand is the starting point for the beautiful Bali Pass trek. At a height of 1,920 m above sea level, Sankari lies at the edge of the Govind Ballabh Pant National Park. The proximity to the national park makes the village a trekking hub and base camp for many Himalayan treks like Har Ki Doon, Kedarkantha, and the Bali Pass trek. One can easily find appropriate accommodation at Sankri, from home stays to Guesthouses. This quaint little village hasn’t been overrun by commercial tourism yet, making it a perfect offbeat destination and a perfect location to start the Bali Pass trek.

The distance from Dehradun to Sankri is about 200 Km, and it would take 8 to 10 hours to reach there. The ride to Sankri is filled with tall pine trees and the Tons River running parallel to the road.

The Bali Pass Trek, high up at an altitude of 4,890 m, connects the Har ki Doon valley and Yamunotri. The trek to the Himalayan Pass is approximately 55 to 66 kilometers from the base camp of Sankri, and it takes about 8 to 9 days to complete. The Trek takes the trekkers on a journey offering scenic beauty along with a rich cultural experience filled with adventure and thrill.

Starting from the base camp at Sankri, the trekkers climb up to the snow-capped peaks, covering approximately 2,970 m in the process. The trail to reach Bali Pass provides the trekkers a variety of terrains, from the emerald green meadows to the rocky, high Himalayan landscape. To face the sharp rise in altitude when scaling closer to the summit, one has to take planned breaks to avoid altitude sickness.

BRIEF ITINERARY

Day 1: Dehradun to Sankri

The journey to the Bali Pass trek begins from Dehradun. The base camp at Sankri Village is at a distance of 220 km and would take at least 10 hours to reach. The curving roads from Dehradun to Sankri will take you from the green Shivalik hills, deep into the middle Himalayan mountains.

Day 2: Sankri to Taluka

The second day begins with a 12 km drive from Sankri to Taluka, which takes about 12 hours. From Taluka, the trek begins, climbing 12 km from Taluka, you will reach the Seema campsite.

Day 3: Seema to Rainbasera

The trek begins again from Seema and reaches Rain Basera, which is at an altitude of 10,200 ft. The trail climbs running parallel to the Supin River and is filled with ups and downs of moderate difficulty. On the way to the Rain Basera campsite, one also gets to witness the KalaNag Peak, a unique mountain that gets its name because of its tilted peak resembling a snake. The night is spent at the Rain Basera campsite.

Day 4: Rainbasera to Ruinsara Tal

 The trek will begin from the Rain Basera campsite and end at Ruinsara Tal, a beautiful alpine lake nestled amidst the mountains. The lake is beautifully surrounded by meadows. From the campsite, you can spot the Dhumdar Kandi, Black Peak, White Peak, and Yamuna Kanta. We will camp beside the lake at night.

Day 5: Ruinsara Tal to Odari

On this day, we climb higher to an altitude of 13,100 ft to reach Odari, Acclimatization is crucial here. It is a 4 km long trek and takes about 3 to 4 hours to cover. You climb up with the beautiful Swaragini Peak overlooking the trek and get the first glimpse of the Bali Pass.

Day 6: Odari to Bali Pass Base Camp

 The trek will now take you from Odari to the Bali Col camp. The steep trail goes along a mountain ridge, and after walking for 7 to 8 hours, you will reach the Bali Col Camp.

Day 7: Base Camp to Lower Dhamni Via Bali Pass

The Summit day on the seventh day, we trek to Bali Pass. At 16,200 ft, this will be the highest point of the trek. After reaching the peak, we descend down to Lower Dhamni, which is lower at 11,100ft. The Total distance from the summit and then down to Lower Dhamni is 14 km. This will be a long day as it will take a total of 11 hours to reach the top and then to climb down. On reaching the summit, views of Bandarpoonch, Kalanag, as well as of Ruinsara and Yamunotri valleys, welcome the trekkers. The descent from the Bali Pass summit is also quite steep and technical. On reaching Lower Dhamni, we will set up tents and stay the night in them.

Day 8: Lower Dhamni to Janki Chatti Via Yamunotri

On the last day of the trek, we descend from Lower Dhamni to Janki Chatti via the Yamunotri temple, and from Janki Chatti, drive back to Dehradun.

The terrain and the altitude make Bali Pass a difficult trek. This, combined with the unreliable weather of the Himalayas, makes it essential to take this challenge in the presence of expert guidance. The Himalayan Daredevils provides the adventures from near and far, an opportunity to be close to nature, to explore the unexplored, and do this under the safety of veteran guides who know these mountains like the back of their hands. We provide High-quality support and guidance at an affordable rate so that your trek to this wonderful part of the world remains safe and enjoyable.