Pin Parvati Trek (Light)

OPTIONAL:

AntHill Adventures can help you organize your return to Manali from Kaza via taxi at an extra cost. Please let us know while booking the trek to allow us to fulfil this requirement.

Day 1: Arrive at Manali. Overnight in a hotel.

Day 2: Bhuntar to Kheer Ganga

Drive to Pulga from Manali. This will take approximately 2 hours. Enroute at Kasol we will stop for breakfast.  A small town, Pulga is just a short distance away from where the river Tosh meets the river Parvati. This trek follows the Parvati upstream all the way to its source. The first leg of this trek is the walk up to Khirganga (2960 meters). Khirganga is a clearing at 2960 meters. To get here we hike for approximately 4-5 hours through a beautiful mixed oak and conifer forest. It’s a popular day hike, one of the attractions being the hot springs which are welcoming to tired legs at the end of the day.

Day 3: To Tundabhuj

It’s a steady uphill walk through denser forests as we continue to follow the river Parvati upstream past some Gujjar settlements. Every now and then you hear the water raging downstream. The Tundabhuj campsite (3400 meters) is in a beautiful setting around high mountain ranges and waterfalls.

Day 4: To Thakur Kuan

We will stay to the Parvati’s left bank as we continue to walk towards Thakur Kuan (3550 meters). The route here is less defined and includes a few scrambles over boulders. Thakur Kuan is located opposite the confluence of the Dibibokri stream and Parvati river. This is also the site of the original Parvati dam, now an abandoned project.

Day 5: To Odi Thatch

The tree-line ends just past Thakur Kuan and one must tread carefully as we ascend. The meadows of Odi Thatch (3800 meters) are renowned for wildflowers that grow here. A relatively short walk continuing on the left bank will give you time to take in the beautiful hanging glaciers that surround the upper Parvati valley.

Day 6: To Mantalai

After crossing a stream that requires careful negotiation, we immediately descend to Pandu bridge, a natural rock formation over the Parvati river. Hindu mythology ascribes this to the work of the Pandavs, as they made their way to Spiti and Tibet. Once crossed, the trail winds across open meadows for a couple of kilometres from where you can see the outflow of Mantalai lake (4115 meters). From here the lake is around 4km away. Climb a steep ascent of about 100 meters just short of the lake. There is a small shrine here. Continue alongside the lake to reach your campsite.

Day 7: To Parvati Base Camp

The walk from Mantalai towards the base camp initially takes us through level grazing ground with many small streams passing through. The route to the base camp lies in the north east direction climbing through a narrow inconspicuous gully, which requires a guide familiar with it. The route is very steep and narrow with many lose boulders, demanding a slow yet steady pace. After a couple of hours of climbing the route levels, but only momentarily. The views of the South Parvati are imposing from here. After a short rest, we continue the steep climb once again. Another hour’s steep climb brings you to the Parvati valley base camp (4300 meters). The camp is located just below the Parvati glacier, in a boulder strewn moraine.

Day 8: To Pin Base Camp

Today we cross over the Pin Parvati pass. It is important to start early morning, as the weather in the high himalayas can change suddenly after noon. After an initial walk through the moraine we will be ascending mostly on snow and ice. The gradient is low, however, the glacier is ridden with crevasses and needs an experienced eye to traverse it. The pass at 5329 meters is difficult to locate. The views from the top are panoramic. As you head down from the pass towards Pin Base Camp (3700 meters), the stark views of Spiti valley welcome you.

Day 9: To Kaza via Mud

As you start the walk down from the Pin base camp towards Mud, one cannot help but admire the distinct change in the landscape from the Kullu valley. Mountains of rock, eroded into a multitude of forms by wind and water over millennia make the walk interesting. Further downstream, you will see the first grazing grounds, and the first sight of habitation in over a week. The almost complete lack of vegetation brings forth the scale of the gigantic mountains around you. As we go further we will cross a bridge from where the road to Mud begins. Our jeep will meet us here and we will be driven to Kaza. Enroute, feast your senses to the beautiful Sagnam valley.

Day 10: Return to Manali.