Himachal Pradesh · India
Buran Ghati Trek
Forests, an alpine lake and a rappel off the pass
The trek
Rising to an impressive elevation of 15,000 feet (4,572 m) in Himachal Pradesh, the Buran Ghati trek is often called the undisputed "all-rounder" of Himalayan trails. Connecting the pastoral, meadow-filled Pabbar Valley with the apple-rich hamlets of Kinnaur, this high-altitude crossover packs every iconic mountain landscape into a single, cohesive circuit. Where typical trekking trails highlight one signature feature—such as a dense forest, an alpine tarn, or a steep pass—the Buran Ghati expedition delivers them all in quick succession. Over 7 to 8 days, hikers navigate ancient wooden villages, rolling bugyals, glacial streams, sacred tarns, and the highlight of the trail: a near-vertical descent down a dramatic ice and snow wall on fixed ropes
Buran Ghati saves its drama for the end. For the first few days it is a trek of gentle plenty — thick forests of oak, pine and rhododendron above the village of Janglik, then a procession of rolling meadows where shepherds graze their flocks through the short Himalayan summer. It lulls you into thinking it is an easy walk.
Then the route climbs to Chandranahan, a glacial lake fed by snowfields and revered as a source of the Pabbar river, and the character changes. The pass itself is a steep snow wall, and the standard descent off its far side involves a guided rappel and a controlled slide down snow — a short, sharp burst of genuine mountaineering flavour that is the highlight of the trek for most who do it.
Beyond the pass the trail unwinds gently again, down to the village of Barua in the Sangla region. The combination of soft forest days, a sacred high lake and one heart-in-mouth descent makes Buran Ghati feel like several treks stitched into one well-paced week.
Why Buran Ghati Stands Out Among Himalayan Treks?
The distinctive appeal of Buran Ghati lies in its diverse, day-by-day variety:Traditional Wooden Hamlets: The trail begins in the heritage village of Janglik and concludes in Barua. Both settlements feature multi-tiered deodar-timber and slate houses, narrow cobblestone alleys, and terraced apple orchards that have remained unchanged for centuries. The Velvet Bugyals of Dayara: Emerging from dense pine forests onto Dayara Thach reveals a rolling alpine tableland surrounded by snow-dusted ridges, frequently ranked among the most scenic meadow campsites in the Himalayas. The Sacred Waters of Chandranahan Lake: An acclimatization detour past the Litham camp brings trekkers to Chandranahan Lake (approx. 13,200 ft), a glacier-fed cirque tarn revered by locals as the source of the Pabbar River.The 15,000-Foot Ridge. Panorama: The razor-sharp col delivers front-row vistas of the snow-clad peaks of the Dhauladhar, Pir Panjal, and Kinner Kailash ranges.The Snow Wall Rappel: Unlike any standard trekking descent, the drop from Buran Pass into the Kinnaur side involves descending a 400-foot, 65-to-75-degree steep snow wall using fixed safety ropes and snow slides.
The Buran Ghati trek is an exceptional mountain journey. By combining tranquil bugyals, ancient Himachali hamlets, sacred glacial tarns, and the mountaineering rush of fixed-rope snow walls, it offers one of the most complete adventures across the Indian Himalayas.
Highlights
- Old-growth forests and shepherd meadows above Janglik
- The glacial Chandranahan lake below the pass
- A guided rappel and snow descent off Buran Ghati
- A crossover finishing in the Sangla/Barua region
- Excellent late-spring snow and crisp autumn light
From
₹13,499
per person
- Free reschedule up to 21 days out
- Small groups, certified mountain leaders
- Oximeter, oxygen & evacuation plan on every route
Day by day
The itinerary
8 days from Janglik. Tap any day to read the detail — distances and altitudes are planning figures and may shift with conditions.
A long road journey from Shimla through the apple country of upper Shimla district, following the Pabbar valley past Rohru and Chirgaon. The road narrows and climbs as it nears the trailhead. Janglik is a traditional Himachali village of timber-and-slate houses perched above terraced fields, the last settlement before the high country and the base for the trek.
What's included
- All camping equipment and meals on the trek
- Certified high-altitude trek leader and crew
- Ropes, harnesses and rappel equipment for the descent
- Microspikes, gaiters and safety equipment
- First-aid, oximeter and emergency oxygen
Not included
- Transport to Janglik and from Sangla
- Personal trekking gear and insurance
- Offloading of personal bags
- Anything not listed
In the field
The country you'll walk
Ready when you are
Walk Buran Ghati Trek with us
Small groups, honest briefings and a crew that has done this route many times over. From ₹13,499 per person.
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