Day 1: Arrival in India
You will be met at the airport and transferred to the hotel. Spend the afternoon and evening relaxing in your hotel room or taking in the sights of Delhi. Overnight Hotel.
Day 2: Delhi to Manali (2050 m)
We leave Delhi in the early morning and drive north to Manali. Over the next three days the scenery changes from flat arable land, to alpine meadows, wooded mountains, and finally to the barren high altitude landscape of Spiti; a fascinating and adventurous journey. The beautiful hill station of Manali is on the banks of the Beas River on the lower slopes of the Himalaya. Overnight at our hotel.
Day 3: Relax in Manali
A relaxing day today offers you the chance to explore this lovely town; you can visit the colourful market and the Roerich Art Gallery. The Hadimba Temple is also worth a visit. Overnight hotel.
Day 4: Rohtang Pass
After breakfast drive two hours up to the Rohtang Pass (4000 m) and hike for two to three hours to get acclimatised. We have lunch at the pass and drive back to Manali. Take the evening to do any last minute shopping and pack up for the climb.
Day 5: Manali to Bakkarthach (3328 m): 1 hr drive & 3/4 hrs trek
After an early breakfast drive for one hour via Palchan and Solang Nallah to Dhundi,(2850 m), the starting point of the trek. The short walk goes along the Beas River before crossing it and then ascends steeply to reach the grazing grounds of Bakkarthach. The DMAS (Directorate of Mountaineering and Allied Sports) runs a semi-permanent camp here and uses the surrounding area to train mountaineers. Overnight camp.
Day 6: Bakkarthach to Beas Kund Base Camp (3586 m): 2/3 hrs
A steep climb for an hour from the camp brings us to the Beas Kund Glacier on the south facing slopes of the mighty Pir Panjal Range. A short walk over the moraine from here and we arrive into the plains of the Beas Kund which are dotted with numerous small streams.
Beas Kund has a small water body on the left side of the glacier draining one of the many trickles which join to form the mighty Beas. It is considered to be the true source of the river. Legend has it that Rishi Vyas, the author of the epic poem Mahabharata and sacred Hindu Vedas would meditate at the Rohtang Pass and would come to this lake for his daily bath. Overnight camp.
Day 7: At Base Camp (3586 m)
Spend the day around the base camp practicing movement on snow and ice. Get familiar with the use of your equipment. Learn the ropes and how to arrest a fall on the slope.
Day 8: Base Camp to Camp 1 (4653 m): 5/6 hrs
We start early and usually arrive at Camp 1 for a late lunch. After lunch we take a short acclimatisation walk climbing a little higher and then returning to camp for dinner. Overnight camp.
Day 9: Camp 1 to Summit (5294 m) to Base Camp: 10 hrs
Wake up early in the morning and after a quick bite to eat get ready for the climb up to the summit. It's best to be up at the summit early in the morning to make the best of the weather and get good views. A panorama of spectacular views is dominated by Hanuman Tibba (5984 m) just to the west and far to the east Indrasan (6221 m), Deo Tibba (6001 m) and the lesser mountains of the Pir Panjal Range. Descend to the base camp and have a well earned nights sleep. Overnight camp at Base Camp.
Day 10: Base Camp to Manali (1960m): 3/4 hrs trek & 1 hr drive
We trek from Beas Kund to Dhundi, the road-head, and drive back to Manali. Celebration dinner and overnight hotel in Manali.
Day 11: Manali to Delhi 12 hours.
Today is “namaste” or “farewell” day meaning both “hello” and “goodbye”. As we drive back to Delhi we hope that the memories you take with you(and the photographs) will be lasting and treasured, and that the IntoIndia team will have the opportunity to share some more of this magnificent sub-continent with you and yours in the not too distant future. Transfer to your hotel.
Day 12: Depart India
After breakfast depart to the international airport for your flight home. Trip ends.
