Bara Bhangal Trek (21 Days)
This trek is one of the most enchanting and picturesque ones leading from Kullu Valley into the scenic Kangra Valley. The magnificent Himalayan region opens up as the trail traverses multiple streams, evergreen forests, and lush green meadows strewn with a fantastic variety of wild alpine flowers. The fauna spotted range from the Himalayan brown bears to the elusive Musk deer. Each day presents different and startling beautiful landscapes.
Day 1: Arrival at New Delhi
Assistance upon arrival and transfer to your hotel. Afternoon and evening at leisure. Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 2: New Delhi-Manali (560 km/12 hours)
After breakfast, we take a half-day city tour visiting the President’s house, India Gate, and the Parliament. In the evening, we board a Volvo bus to Manali. Overnight bus journey.
Day 3: Arrival in Manali
Assistance upon arrival at Manali and transfer to your hotel. After breakfast, we make an excursion tour to Naggar, which was once the old capital of the Kullu Princely state. It has a castle that is now a heritage hotel. We visit the Art Gallery of Nicolas Roerich (a famous Russian painter). He married the Bollywood actress, Devika Rani, and later settled here at Naggar. A short hike to the old Krishna Temple is breathtaking as one can see a beautiful view of the entire valley. By evening, we drive back to Manali. Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 4: Manali to Lamadugh (9580 ft, 4 to 5 hours)
After breakfast, we start the trek from Hadimba Temple, 2.5 km from Manali. Climb through the deodar forest for 3 km to a rocky outcrop with a view of Manali. Just above this vantage point is a small meadow before a steep 400 m ascent through small pastures and conifer and oak forests. The gradient begins to become gentler as you reach the camp in an open meadow at 2920 m. Lamadugh (2920 m) is a lovely meadow ringed by maple, spruce, and oak while you see silver birch further up in the hillside. Overnight camping.
Day 5: Lamadugh to Riyali (10890 ft; 6 to 7 hours)
Now the trail ascends through the ridge below Tanpari Tibba. There are uninterrupted views north towards the Solang and Rohtang valleys. The ascent is long, gradual, and exhilarating, with views of the Hamta valley and Deo Tibba (6001 m). After 4-5 hours, you reach the highest of the ridges. There the trail heads south across a series of verdant ridges. A long descent follows, reaching an intermediate valley and a prominent side of the trail. From this point, a gradual traverse of 2-3 km leads from a small oak forest to the meadow known locally as Riyali. Overnight camping.
Day 6: Riyali to Kali Yahni Base Camp (12140 ft; 5 hours)
The trail winds above the upper river course before gradually descending to the valley floor. After about 2 hours, you cross a small stream and climb a series of grassy ridges and pass several shepherd encampments. There are exceptional views east towards the Chanderkhani Pass and the peaks of the Himalaya range. Overnight camping.
Day 7: Base Camp to Dhanku Thach via Kali Yahni Pass (15125 ft; 8-9 hours)
The landscape slowly begins to change as forests and meadows give way to the rocky background with patches of snow. It is a steep, long pull up to the top of Kali Yahni pass, 4610 m. We travel across the broad glacier and down the moraine and the valley. We camp by a stream at 3500 m. Overnight camping.
Day 8: Dhanku Thach to Lomba Parao (10335 ft; 4 hours)
There is an option of trekking through the trail that leads down into the shepherd's valley, and following the stream after crossing the bridge takes us to our camp. Or you can traverse on the ridge along the main stream with ups and downs and includes crossing some small glacial streams.
Day 9: Lomba Parao to Dadh Marhi (11648 ft; 5 hours)
A downhill traverse across loose rocks and boulders for 2 hours. Then a climb for ½ hour, crossing a stream and further ½ hour of uphill walk. After this, it is an easy walk to the camp in a lovely grass meadow. Overnight camping.
Day 10: Dadh Marhi to Bara Bhangal (7710 ft; 7 hours)
Similar terrain as the previous day, along the side of the hill, looking out across the valley. Finally, a long and gradual descent leads to the village of Bara Bhangal. The trail takes you through a forest of silver birch, rhododendron, and blue pine. The final 500 m to 600 m descent is steep and dusty. Overnight stay in a forest resthouse/camping.
Day 11: Rest Day
Day 12: Bara Bhangal to Madh (12304 ft; 6 to 7 hours)
Cross the bridge over the river flowing from the Kali Yahni pass and commence a steep 400 m ascent. Continue for 3 km to a broad glacial valley before crossing to the right. There follows a gradual ascent across open meadows and steep slopes. Ascend the trail to the right of the waterfall before crossing the river to a series of meadows referred to as Madh. There are beautiful views of Mani Mahesh Kailash and the impressive Pir Panjal range. Overnight camping.
Day 13: Madh to Panhartu via Thamsar Pass (14370 ft; 7 to 8 hours)
The trail gradually climbs up the valley, passing a prominent side valley and glacier to the east. After 3 to 4 km, we climb steep boulder fields to reach a glacial lake. The further trail winds above the steep slope and leads to another glacial lake and the pass's base. After crossing the snowfield, one leads to a prominent ridgeline – the crest of the Dhaula Dhar Range and the Thamsar Pass. The initial steep descent from the pass reaches a large glacial lake at 4370 m. There follows a steep descent to the meadow at Panhartu (3390 m). Overnight camping.
Day 14: Panhartu to Raigundha (7874 ft; 7 hours)
The trail descends across a series of permanent snow bridges for 2 km to 3 km to reach a well-defined trail. The trail leads through a mixed forest of rhododendron, spruce, and oak down to Palachak (2500 m). At Palachak cross the metal bridge and continue through the forest to reach the fields of corn, bean, and potatoes near Raigundha (2400 m). Overnight camping.
Day 15: Raigundha to Billing/Bir (4/6 hours). Drive to Dharamsala (4 to 5 hours)
From Raigundha, the trail continues on the real right of the Uhi valley through spruce, oak, and rhododendron forests. After 4 km to 5 km, the trail heads around contours and alpine ridges to Billing. A gradual downhill walk of 2 hours from Billing leads to Bir. We further drive from Billing/Bir to Dharamsala. We drive further to Maclaudgunj, which serves as the capital of the Tibetan Government in exile. Check-in at a hotel and overnight stay in Dharamsala.
Day 16: Dharamsala
After breakfast, we go for an excursion tour to Norbulinga Monastery at Sidhpur, Dharamsala. Visit the temple cum residence of H.H. 14th Dalai Lama at Maclaudgunj. Evening at leisure. Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 17: Dharamsala- Amritsar (200 km/ 5-6 hours)
After breakfast, we check out from our hotel and continue to drive to Amritsar. The trail passes through the low hills of Himachal before entering the fertile plains of Punjab. We make a stopover for lunch on the way to Amritsar. By evening we reach Amritsar, transfer to our hotel, and check-in. Later after dinner, we visit the Gold Temple for the night ceremony. Late night arrival at the hotel.
Day 18: Amritsar
After breakfast, we drive to the Golden temple for a visit and to take pictures of the temple. We spend a few hours at the Golden Temple and visit the Sikh Museum at Golden temple. Drive to the hotel for lunch. In the evening, we drive to Wagah Border for the Guard of Change between India and Pakistan soldiers. Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 19: Amritsar- New Delhi
Early morning transfer to Amritsar railway station to board the Amritsar Shatabadi Express. Afternoon arrival at New Delhi railway station. Assistance upon arrival and transfer to your hotel. Evening at leisure. Overnight stay at the hotel
Day 20: New Delhi- Agra – New Delhi
Early morning drive to Agra. On arrival, visit Red Fort, Agra, and Taj Mahal. Evening drive back to New Delhi. On arrival transfer to your hotel.
Day 21: New Delhi- Departure
Early morning transfer to the International airport to board a flight back home.