Himachal Pradesh · India
Pin Parvati Pass Trek
From the green Parvati valley to the Spiti desert
The trek
A committing high crossover from the lush Parvati valley of Kullu to the cold desert of Spiti, with glacier travel near the pass.
Pin Parvati is one of the great committing crossings of the Indian Himalaya — a route that links two utterly opposed worlds. It starts deep in the green, hot-spring-laced Parvati valley near Barshaini, where the river roars through forest and the trail passes the pilgrim sites of Kheerganga and Tunda Bhuj. By the time you stand on the far side of the pass, you look out over the bare, sand-coloured immensity of the Spiti cold desert.
Between those two extremes lies serious mountain ground. The upper Parvati is a long approach over moraine and meadow to Mantalai, the sacred lake where the river is born, and the pass itself sits above 17,400 ft, reached over glacier and snow that demand rope, crampons and careful timing. Once committed beyond Mantalai there is no easy retreat — the only way out is over the top and down into Spiti.
This is a trek for experienced, well-acclimatised mountain walkers. It is long, remote and weather-dependent, and it carries real objective hazard near the pass. The reward is one of the most profound geographical transitions you can make on foot anywhere in the Himalaya — from monsoon-green Kullu to rain-shadow Spiti in a single, hard-won crossing.
Highlights
- A full crossover from green Kullu to desert Spiti
- Hot springs at Kheerganga and the sacred Mantalai lake
- Glacier travel with rope and crampons near the pass
- A high point above 17,400 ft
- Deep remoteness and a committing, no-retreat traverse
From
₹35,999
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
12 days from Barshaini. Tap any day to read the detail — distances and altitudes are planning figures and may shift with conditions.
Today is all about easing into the rhythm of the mountains. We rendezvous in Bhuntar, just south of Kullu, before setting off on a 2.5-hour drive winding 50 kilometers along the Parvati Valley to Barshaini. At Barshaini, we swap wheels for boots for a brief 20-minute ascent into Kalga, a tranquil village framed by apple orchards and wooden houses. The remainder of the afternoon is unhurried—dedicated to unpacking, running through the day-by-day expedition plan with your trek leader, and bonding with the crew before the big push begins.
What's included
- All camping equipment and meals on the trek
- Certified high-altitude mountaineering leader and crew
- Ropes, harnesses, crampons and glacier safety equipment
- Permits and entry fees
- First-aid, oximeter and emergency oxygen
Not included
- Transport to Barshaini and from Mud
- Personal mountaineering and trekking gear
- Insurance and offloading of personal bags
- Anything not listed
In the field
The country you'll walk
Ready when you are
Walk Pin Parvati Pass Trek with us
Small groups, honest briefings and a crew that has done this route many times over. From ₹35,999 per person.
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