Hampta Pass Trek 2022: A Testing 4-Day Expedition Near Manali

Best Time For Hampta Pass Trek

Mid-June to mid-October is the best time to take the Hampta Pass Trek. It is during this duration that Hampta Pass weather is pleasant during the period and the temperature stays between 12 – 20 degrees Celsius.

About Hampta Pass

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Hampta Pass Chandratal Trek is also what many trekkers address it as. The reason for calling it so is because of the fact that after letting you on an incredible journey, the beautiful trek ends at Chandratal Lake – the crescent moon. Chandratal is one of the most sought-after attractions in Spiti region and most sought after by the adventurers for camping. The lake is a popular attraction in the Lahaul Spiti district and it’s indeed a pleasant gift for the travelers who brave the extreme conditions and negotiate those dangerous curves to complete the trek.

Hampta Pass gets its name from the Hamta Village located in the Pir Panjal region. At 14000 feet, this place is mostly ventured by shepherds and a handful of trekkers. Glaciers, rivulets, jagged mountains, and meadows, Hampta Pass trek is an elusive beauty that not many are aware of.

4-Days Itinerary For The Hampta Pass Trek

Venturing amidst the wild, and marveling at the imposing mountains, it so strange how these pretty experiences feed the wanderlust and make for moments of a lifetime. The trek begins on an easy note and as you walk across the lush green meadows, pastures, glacial valleys, and exciting landscapes, you finally end the journey on a high.

Yes, the Hampta Pass trek ends at Chatru but an extra day is reserved for an excursion and camping at Chandratal Lake – the picture-postcard lake in the Lahaul and Spiti district located at 4300 meters.

Ideal duration: 4 days
Difficulty level: Easy to moderate
Maximum altitude: 14100 feet
Trekking length: 26 km approximately

Route: Manali – Chika – Balu Ka Ghera – Siagoru – Chatru – Chandratal – Manali

Arrival In Hampta Pass

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Hampta Pass Trek, located between the Manali and Spiti Valley, has pretty surprises for adventurers. The hairpin bends and testing routes take you to Chika through Jorba. Chika can be done the same day or the alternate day. Because Manali at 6000 feet is perfect for acclimatization, and the climb from 9800 feet (Jobra) to 10400 feet (Chika) shouldn’t be much of an issue.

The 3-hour trek from Jorba to Chika makes for the perfect start for a wonderful journey. Jobra being the wonderful campsite has campsites and a few lodges for trekkers. But if you are booking your trek with an operator, you need not be worried about food and stay!

Base Camp For Hampta Pass Trek: Jobra has road connectivity with Manali as can be easily reached by a private vehicle.

Day 1: Chika – Balu Ka Ghera

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Balu Ka Gera is the next halt located after so many turns and twists and covering a lot of boulders and rough terrain. Rhododendron trees are one of the prime attractions of this route. But the limelight of this stretch is stolen by the snow-clad Dhauladhar peaks that loom right over you during the course of the trek. Jwara valley comes en route when you are already halfway through. River and rivulets constantly run by your side during the course of the trek. At 11000 plus feet, the wonderful campsite in Balu Ka Gera is covered in flowers and lush greenery.

Jwara valley comes en route when you are already halfway through. River and rivulets constantly run by your side during the course of the trek. At 11000 plus feet, the wonderful campsite in Balu Ka Gera is covered in flowers and lush greenery.

Maximum altitude: 11,900 feet
Time taken: 8 hours approximately

Tip: Fill your water bottles near Jwara. There are a few waterfalls near

Day 2: Balu Ka Ghera – Siagoru

The 6.5 km stretch is rather an exciting one. With moderate climb and followed by steep uphill trek accounts for the most incredible journey during the 4-day trek. Streams can be found during the course of the journey and the trekker has to traverse Hampta Pass, at 14000 feet, during the course of the journey. Further, a refreshing 3-hour trek from Jwara to Balu Ka Ghera will send across another dose of awesomeness packed with nature views. Immediately after the Hampta Pass be prepared for a steep walk followed by a flat trek thereafter.

Further, a refreshing 3-hour trek from Jwara to Balu Ka Ghera will send across another dose of awesomeness packed with nature views. Immediately after the Hampta Pass be prepared for a steep walk followed by a flat trek thereafter.

Maximum altitude: 12,250 feet
Time taken: 9 hours

Day 3: Siagoru – Chatru

It’s a completely downhill journey from Sia Goru to Chatru. Overall a trekker has to descend close to 1900 feet during the journey that encompasses some of the most memorable spectacles en route. The trek, in its final lap, takes almost 5 hours to complete. Mountains with sharp edges, a river flowing by, and deep ridges make this wonderful stretch of the Hampta Pass Trek. Chatru is all about barren mountains and lesser vegetations. The wonderful campsite falls in the middle of Hampta Pass, Rohtang Pass, and Spiti.

Chatru is all about barren mountains and lesser vegetations. The wonderful campsite falls in the middle of Hampta Pass, Rohtang Pass, and Spiti.

Maximum altitude: 11000 feet
Time taken: 5 hours

Day 4: Chatru – Chandratal

Chandratal Lake is 70 km from Chatru, the end point of Hampta Pass Trek, and can be traveled by a reserved vehicle. The moon lake enveloped in exciting surroundings is a few hours away from the campsite and you can’t miss it after getting so close to it. An ideal place with wonderful campsite beside, Chandratal is the perfect place to plan camping and bonfire. Your journey to Chandratal completely depends upon the weather conditions. Head back to Manali on the same reserved vehicle for onward journey.

Your journey to Chandratal completely depends upon the weather conditions. Head back to Manali on the same reserved vehicle for onward journey.

Maximum altitude: 14,100 feet

Popular Attractions Around Hampta Pass

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Hampta Trek has some more of the thrill-inducing and adventure exuding places located in its vicinity. These places have innumerable experiences just waiting to get unfold. Here are the top 4 places that you can cover either while going for the trek or after you are done with the most thrilling part of your excursion. 

• Solang Valley
• Rohtang Pass
• Beas Kund
• Hadimba Temple

Mountains and pathways cutting through them have a lot of stories to tell. Lest you walk across them, they aren’t letting you on any secrets.

What To Pack For Hampta Pass Trek

When trekking, there are a few essential items that one should definitely pack in order to avoid any sort of hindrances and be prepared for the worst. Here we have a list of all the essentials that should be on your packing check list when planning the Hampta Pass trek. 

• Clothes: Fleece jacket, Full sleeves thick jacket, Synthetic track pants, Full sleeves tees, Thermals, Woolen monkey cap/balaclava, Woolen hand gloves/ Synthetic Glove, Woolen head-scarf/ muffler, Towel
• Shoes & socks: Proper trekking shoes, Sports socks, Woolen socks, Gumboots
• Skin care essentials: Sunglasses with 100% UV protection, Lip balm, Cold cream, Sunscreen lotion
• Medicines: Crocin, Avomine, Avil, Combiflam, Disprin, Norflox, Crepe bandage, Band-aid, Digene, Gauze cloth, Leukoplast, Cotton, ORS, Betadine or any antiseptic cream, Volini or Moov spray
• Other accessories: LED Torch/ headlamps, Hot water bottle/bag, Backpack (preferably 55 – 65 L), Daypack, Trekking Pole

How To Reach Hampta Pass

By air: Bhuntar airport, located at a distance of 52 km from Manali is the nearest airport to Hampta Pass. Bhuntar is well connected with Delhi and a lot of airports across the country. Private taxis are available from Bhuntar to Manali, which costs somewhere around INR 1000-1500 m. The Jobra base camp can be easily reached by hiring a private vehicle.

By road: Manali and further the Jobra base camp is well connected with Delhi by road. Overnight buses from Delhi to Manali runs in tandem. Tickets can be obtained from HRTC official website. Overall, reaching base camp from Delhi shouldn’t take you more than 15 hours.

Tips For Trekking 

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Trekking can get very tricky very easily. The mountains have a hint of unpredictability that can get overwhelming quickly. Here are some tips that one should keep in mind when going for the Hampta Pass Trek. 

• It is better to avoid trekking after the sun sets as the hills are full of wild species. You never know which creature you encounter in the jungles of the mountains. 
• Start early for your trek so that you can cover the maximum distance with ease. 
• Make use of the walking poles as you trek. It might not make you look cool but walking poles are a huge support for long treks. They just feel like you got two extra legs. 
• Make sure you have a bottle of water in your hands. It is of utmost importance that you keep your body hydrated throughout the journey. 
• It is important that you wear comfortable footwear. Trekking shoes are the best to go for as they have the ideal weight and cushioning. 
• Practice walking for longer hours with a backpack before you set for your journey. Trekking can get really tiring very soon and since you won’t really find any civilization for most of your way, it is better to have acceptable estimations. 
• Avoid any sort of noise pollution up in the mountains. It is better to keep your volumes at bay as mountains are famed for their calmness.