Day 1: Delhi to Kullu and Drive to Kasol
Kasol is about 30 Kms from the airport in the Parvati Valley of Kullu, close to Manikaran, the site of Sikh pilgrimage and hot water springs. Kasol is surrounded by wonderful forests and off course a small but beautiful Himalayan hamlet.
Day 2: Kasol to Grahan
Grahan is the last inhabited place that you will camp at on this trek. It is a beautiful Himalayan village located at 7700 ft above sea level, overlooking step farms and alpine trees. As is the case with most villages in Himachal, this one is also connected with power supply and is a good place to charge batteries etc. The people are friendly and many inhabitants work as trekking guides during season. The total walk is around 6 hours.
Day 3: Grahan to Ming Thatch
Today’s hike is through thick alpine forests to a large meadow by the name of Ming Thatch. All along the trail are spectacular views of the snow covered Himalayan peaks. The gradient is steep but the distance covered is lesser. Total hiking time should be less than 4 hours for most people
Day 4: Ming Thatch to Nagaru.
This is a longish day that takes you well beyond the tree line to a height of 12000 ft or thereabouts. Nagaru is a high altitude camping site that is prone to high wind speeds and gives a fine bird’s eye view of the valley below. The total hiking time on this day is approximately 6-7 hours.
Day 5: Nagaru to Bishkeri Thatch via SAR Pass
This is the most challenging day of the trek as also the most rewarding. You need to start very early, for 2 reasons: If there’s still enough snow on the trail near the pass, it makes sense to cross it before the snow melts under the hot sunrays and becomes slippery. Secondly, the distance to be covered on the day is long and it is wise to start early so that we can account for bad weather, tiredness, slow speed etc. and reach the camp well in time. Bishkeri is a great treat for the eyes, being a beautiful meadow surrounded by peaks and forests on all sides. Total hiking time on this day is 10-11 hours.
Day 6: Bishkeri Thatch to Pulga (Trek) and Pulga to Kullu drive
The remaining trek is cakewalk, descending all the way to Pulga through the forests and along streams, with thicker air and pleasant weather. At Pulga, the hike ends and you can reach back Kullu by car.
