Nestled amidst the mighty Himalayas, Spiti Valley is a mesmerizing destination that captivates travelers with its raw beauty and rugged charm. Located in the northernmost part of Himachal Pradesh.
Each year, as the rain gods advance over the Himalayas, the shepherds of Kinnaur gather their sheep and leave for the higher pastures of the mountains. They walk through these mountains, crossing many high mountain passes to reach Spiti Valley, where the dry weather and the snow-fed grass provide great nutrition for their sheep. As they leave, their footsteps form a mystical trail that leads you from the barren landscapes of Pin valley in Spiti Valley, to the lush grasslands of Kinnaur.
Starting from Mud, the last village of Pin Valley, you will descend to the boisterous blue Pin River, before crossing over and hiking along the multi-coloured mountains of the Trans-Himalayan region. You will then continue on the five-day long Bhabha Pass trek. During the trek, you will get a chance to climb up to a height of 15,906 feet. Standing at the snowclad pass, the geographical variations of the Pin and Bhabha valley is revealed. On one side stand the barren mountains of Pin Valley and on the other lay the lush landscapes of Bhabha, infiltrated by gushing streams.As you make your way through the Bhabha valley and cross the pass towards Kafnu, the snow-capped peaks of Kinnaur flank your path.
The group shall meet in Kaza at a pre-decided time and start the drive to Pin Valley.
Imagine a national park with an abundance of animals and birds, with some rare plant varieties, a river that gushes when it isn’t frozen and trekking opportunities for the adventure-seekers. The Pin Valley promises all this and more. We first visit the Kungri Monastery and then the beautiful hamlet of Mudh – the last motorable village of the Pin Valley.
Overnight at a homestay / guest house in Mudh.
On the second day, you’ll start from the last village of Pin Valley, Mudh. A meandering path will take you down to the banks of roaring Pin River, where you would cross a bridge to continue on the trail to Mangrungse.
A gradual ascent through the moraine patch will lead you to the first check point, Bara Boulder. Leaving Mud village behind, you’ll venture further into the mountains, cross a stream, and ascend gradually as to reach Mangrungse campsite point. On the other side of the valley, you can spot the trail leading to Pin-Parvati Pass.
Day 3 is sure to be the most exciting day of the trek, since you will cross the Pin Bhabha pass. Starting the day at Mangrungse, you will ascend for 7 kms. About 5 kms into the ascent, you’ll have to take off your shoes and cross Pin River.
Crossing this pass is akin to summiting a peak and since you go in without high expectations, the supreme views from the top will surprise anyone. Leaving Pin valley behind, you will cross into Bhabha valley. From the saddle point, at the pass, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the entire region.
After a 4 km descent, you will camp at Phustirang. This campsite offers the perfect vantage point of three mountain passes, Nimish Khango, Tari Khango and Pin Bhabha pass (Wang Khango).
Spend the wee hours of Day 4 capturing the enthralling skies above the Bhabha valley. As you begin descending from Phustirang, you’ll encounter a few stream-crossing and humps.
Although a day of descent, it’s still quite challenging due to the region’s inherent loose mud and slush. Before reaching the campsite at Karah around the end of the day’s trek, you will cross a gushing tributary of Bhabha River.
You can explore this heavenly region, as there’s a lake near the campsite that provides stunning reflections under the sunlight.
A relatively short day, the features of the descent to Mulling is an absolute treat to the senses.
Aromatic flowery meadows and subterranean rivers will have your senses on overdrive through the day’s trek.
A steep waterfall before Mulling and a meadow shortly after are attractive sights to end the day’s trek with.
On the 6th day of the trek, we start the descent from Mulling to Kafnu.
While it’s a steep day’s climb of 5-6 hours, it also is the day to hold your cameras close, for the breath-taking scenery is sure to alleviate the senses.
Make sure to breathe deep, smile more and enjoy the special vibes during the hike to Kafnu. For this is where the trek ends.
On the final day of your Bhabha Pass trek, we will drive back to Shimla – the capital of Himachal Pradesh - and end the tour.
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