Day 1: Manali -Solang Nala – Bakerthach (3500mts/11480Bmt)
This exciting trek to Friend peak will begin with a trek through one of the most popular trekking routes in Himachal Pradesh. Early morning, a jeep will transfer you to Solang Valley, where you will check in a hotel. After breakfast in the Solang Valley hotel, you will load your baggage into vehicles, followed by a departure to the starting point of the trek, Dundi. On the third day, you will travel till Bakerthach via Palchani Tach. Trekkers can use the rest of the day to explore Bakerthach. Dinner is served in the Bakerthach camps.
Day 2: Bakertach Camp - Beas Kund Base Camp 3690m
After breakfast, trekkers will start their trek to the first basecamp, Beas Kund, a holy river of Himachal Pradesh. Beas Kund is a known stopover point for many other trekking trails like Shitidhar, Ladakhi, Manali. The trek takes you to the Base camp while passing by the Beas Kund Glacier. Lunch and dinner will be served at the camp in Beas Kund. Overnight stay at the camp.
Day 3: Full day in Beas Kund Base Camp
After breakfast, tourists will attend a training session in which they will be told about equipment and their usage. In this training course, guides will prepare you to brave to the snow glaciers, which you might cross in coming days. Time is allowed to get used to the climbing gear including harness, crampons and climbing boots. You get familiar with your equipment and you learn how to arrest properly slope falls. After the training sessions, tourist will go for lunch, followed by packing for the advance camping. Dinner and overnight stay in the Beaskund camp.
Day 4: Base camp - Advance camp
After breakfast, you will trek uphill for approximately 4-5 hours to the advance base camp. Amidst the mountain ranges, the location of the advanced base camp is picturesque. While relishing, the view of the hills, trekkers will set their tents. From the advanced base camp site, one can see the view of the beautiful ranges like Hanuman Tibba, Maker Beh, Shiker Beh and the grandest Friendship peak. Dinner and overnight stay in the advanced base camp.
Day 5: Reserved day for summit attempts - Bakarthach
Early morning, around 3 AM, the journey to the peak will start. From the base camp, you will have to walk for 6 hours to the reach the summit. It will be a steep trek; you will pass through glaciers, snow peak and cross various crevasses. If everything goes as planned, trekkers will be able to reach the summit by 9 in the morning. From the top of the hill, tourists will be able to see the uninterrupted view of neighbouring mountains, towns like Lahaul & Spiti and Manali. After spending some time at the summit, tourist will go back to the advanced base camp for lunch. Following lunch, they will trek downhill till Bakarthach camp. Overnight stay in Bakarthach camp.
Day 6: Back to Manali
Return the same way to civilisation. On the eighth day, after the breakfast trekkers will descend to the starting point of the trek, Dhundi. From Dhundi, a four tyre vehicle will take you to Manali. After lunch, you will get an opportunity to explore Manali. Make sure that you take a look at Hadimba, the hot water springs of Vashisht and maybe even the Naggar Roerich Art Gallery. A dinner is arranged at the Manali hotel where you are staying.
