TREK TO BHABA PASS

OUR PLEDGE & PLEA

We conduct all our treks following the
principles of Leave No Trace policy and try
to keep our impact minimal. We will request
you to participate in this initiative by first
knowing more about it and finally
contributing by adhering to the tenets of this
policy. You are sure to enjoy this kind of
mountain
travel
where
you
dont
compromise on any personal comforts and
yet help nurture & preserve a habitat which
is beautiful and a source of joy, happiness &
life to many

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS
NATURE OF TRIP
Trekking

LOCATION
Kinnaur & Spiti, Himachal

DURATION
09 Days (Chandigarh - Chandigarh)

TREKKING DAYS
07 Days

MAXIMUM ALTITUDE
Bhabha Pass (4850 m)

GRADAE
Moderate+/Vigorous

SEASON
June to mid October

MAX. GROUP SIZE

ACCOMODATION

12 eople (we do only small group trekking)

Alpine Camping-6 Nights, Hotel/Guesthouse-2 Nights

OUR PLEDGE & PLEA

We conduct all our treks following the principles of
Leave No Trace policy and try to keep our impact
minimal. We will request you to participate in this
initiative by first knowing more about it and finally
contributing by adhering to the tenets of this policy. You
are sure to enjoy this kind of mountain travel where you
dont compromise on any personal comforts and yet
help nurture & preserve a habitat which is beautiful and
a source of joy, happiness & life to many.

Why Trek With Us

Unique trekking style we absolutely love the
mountains and care for them and have pledged to do
our bit to take care of them. We know you love them
too, else you wouldnt be reading this right? To
further this this pledge, we have adopted the Leave
No Trace & Tread Light philosophy in all our trips.
You are sure to love our style of trekking where you
dont compromise on anything and yet help nurture
& Preserve nature. We believe in an inclusive style of
running our programs where the guests are
encouraged to contribute with their bit to run the
trek whether it is in camp set up, wrap up kitchen
and so on. This builds camaraderie within the
trekking group and adds to the overall experience of
the trip.
We only run small groups We strongly believe that
mountains are best enjoyed & preserved in small
groups. You get the opportunity to be with yourself
to enjoy the calmness and serenity of the mountains,
walk at your own pace & in your own space & meet
local people, get to know the trekking staff & get
their full attention and the opportunity to engage
and build friendships with fellow trekkers as well.
We never have more than 12 trekkers on any group
Great pricing we offer high quality trips at a great
value. Our all inclusive prices include cost of good
quality transport also. We are not the cheapest but if
one were to do a fair comparison one will see that
the little extra that we charge is for the extra services
which we believe will surely enhance the whole
experience. We urge you to get more informed by

asking questions and knowing fully what youre

getting for the price charged
High quality Camping equipment absolutely clean
& washed sleeping bags (something you never get
easily), inflatable trekking mattresses (not sure if
anyone else offering these!) & high end high quality
3 season imported tents (cost 3-4 times the normal
tents)
Our Team & Pedigree. We are a 100+ strong team
with 98% people represented from different parts
of the Himalayas. We were born & raised in the
mountains understand & appreciate wilderness
travel very well. Our entire team is trained and
certified from Nehru Institute of Mountaineering
(NIM), and basic first aid. Apart from this, there is
enormous emphasis on internal training and
constant enhancement of skills and each guide is
hand-picked for attitude & love for the mountains
as much as sheer trekking excellence. Our team is
headed by Nalin Khanduri (MD of the
company)whose experience in the mountains is only
surpassed by his passion for them.
Personal Gear purchase/rental facility you dont
need to spend big sums on expensive personal gear
as you could just take it on hire from us. Also we
have a facility where you can purchase new gear
from us. We store trekking boots, sleeping bags,
jackets, rainwear, trekking poles etc. Please contact
our team for more information on our range and
prices.
Our Loyalty program we always appreciate the
opportunity you have given to us by our guests and
in return reward them with meaningful benefits. So
you get handsome discounts on other treks, our
rafting trips, family vacation to our lodges
(www.himalayanecolodges.com), skiing trips etc.
also you are the first ones to get information on
great deals & new trips. But the biggest benefit is
the opportunity to join the GIO team on special
reccee trips where you pay minimal amount. For
more information this, you can write into us and we
would gladly include you in the growing GIO Family.
..We welcome you to join us on this memorable
trip to the Himalayas

Brief Description Of The Trek

This is one trek which is liked by most, including our
trekking team guys. There arent many trek of
moderate+ difficulty level where you get so much of
variety & excitement. The landscape you start from and
the one you finish in have nothing in common other than
the fact that both are mesmerising. The contrast is very
refreshing indeed. You add to this the excitement of
crossing a high Himalayan pass (4850 m), which can be
testing on certain days of the season, and you have a
complete winner. Another stand out feature would be
the high culture element in this trek. One gets to
experience the Kinnaur & Spiti culture at very close
quarters, with both being distinct and welcoming
Trek starts from Kinnaur, which is picture perfect with
lush green landscapes, inviting meadows, gushing
streams and beautiful valleys. This region is as famous
for its beauty as it is for its apples. After a couple of days
we get to the top of Bhabha pass at 4850 m (with some
difficulty!!) and will be rewarded by expansive views of
the surrounding valleys. The thrill of reaching such a
height is immense and something you will surely carry
back. From here we descend and walk through some
hidden jewels in the Spiti valley. Spiti valley is in every
sense as beautiful, if not more, than its famous
neighbour, Ladakh. Only, it is still untouched by the
impact of tourism and not too many people are aware of
its surreal existence. The landscape of this valley is stark
and spectacular and challenges ones idea of beauty at
all stages. This valley is open only for a few months every
year as the high passes leading to it get blocked by
snowfall. The trail ends at a small and quaint village
called Mudh in the famous Pin valley. From here w e will
drive to Kaza, the district headquarter of Spiti
Spiti is surrounded by ranges of the Greater Himalaya in
a semi circular arc, separating it from Lahaul on the west,
Kullu to the south and Kinnaur to the southwest. These
ranges prevent the moisture laden monsoons from
reaching the region, thus creating in Spiti, a bleak and

arid landscape common with Ladakh and Tibet. Lacking

vegetative growth, the exposed terrain is a geologists
paradise. It records every geological age from the PreCambrian to the recent, in pristine formations. Last but
not the least you will drive to Kunzum La a high pass
(4550 m) and from there trek down to Chandratal
(moonlake). Chandratal is a spectacular high altitude
lake with turquoise green water and snow capped
mountains all around. You will camp here for a night
before moving to Manali. You will get an evening in
Manali to explore the markets and do some shopping

Itinerary
DAY 01: Chandigarh to Sarahan (1920 m)
Drive/8-9 hrs
We will meet at a centrally located point in Chandigarh
at 7 a.m and from here board a vehicle (arranged by us)
and be driven up to Sarahan. This is a long drive and we
will cross Shimla & Narkanda en route. Sarahan is a
small town famous for the Bhimakali temple, which has
a rare combination of Buddhist and Hindu Architecture.
The main idol of the goddess is about 200 years old.
Overnight in a hotel
DAY 02: Sarahan to Kafnu drive 3/hrs
And Kafnu Mulling (3100 m) trek /6 hrs
After breakfast we drive from Sarahan to the starting
point of the trek, Kafnu. From here we set out on the
beautiful trail leading to the Bhabha pass. We walk
through apple orchards initially and then through a
nicely wooded area with a well marked trail. Gradient is
moderate and we should take about 6 hours to reach
the meadows of Mulling. On reaching here you will
surely wonder how other places on the trek are prettier
than this and also why trek any further. This is truly
nature play at its best. Overnight in tents
DAY 03: Mulling (31000 m) to Phustirang
(4000 m) - trek 6/7 hrs
Today we have a few interesting river crossings involving
traverse by natural bridges (rocks) and wading. You will
also come across beautiful carpets of alpine flowers and
mostly meet a few gaddi shepherds along the way. Chatting up with them is highly recommended. We

will take a pit stop at the meadows of Kara and enjoy

lunch in the beautiful surroundings. We will reach the
campsite by the riverside early in the evening and relax.
Overnight in tents
DAY 04: Phustirang (4000 m) to Bhabha pass
(4850 m) to Baldar (3900 m) - trek 7/8 hrs
We start the day climbing up on the trail leading to the
pass. The trail is steep and if there is lots of snow it
might require good effort on our part as walking on
snow is more energy/time consuming. On reaching the
top of the pass your effort will be suitably rewarded with
fine views all around and a feeling of having achieved
something. You can see many mountain ranges and the
famous Pin Parvati pass from here. After a brief stop we
descend towards the Spiti side. After a couple of hours
you will tread upon a stark trans Himalayan landscape
confirming your arrival in Spiti. Spitian landscape is a
wonderful collage of grasslands and mountains of
different hues. Overnight in tents
DAY 05: Baldar (3900 m) to Mudh (3740 m)
Trek 3/4 hrs & drive to Kaza (3800 m)/2 hrs
It is pleasure walk right through to Mudh. The gradient is
gentle and landscape awe inspiring. There are purple
coloured mountains, Pin river flowing by and miles of
open space all around conjuring a beautiful picture. We
will drive to Kaza after spending a couple of hours
exploring the quaint village of Mudh. Today we camp by
the riverside. Evening at leisure. Overnight in tents
DAY 06: Kaza (3800 m) rest/exploration/rafting
Today you go on a monastery tour and visit some of the remotest monasteries in the country and also
visit a few villages to appreciate Spiti way of life. Also for activity inclined there is river rafting on the
Spiti river. This rafting is suitable for first timers and non swimmers. In the evening we head back to the
camp. Overnight in tents
DAY 07: Kaza (3800m) - Kunzum La (4550m) - drive /3 hrs and
Trek to Chandratal (4270m) 3 hrs
Its a wonderful drive to Kunzum La with every second giving joy to the senses. We ill pass by a few
villages to get a closer look at the local culture. We will from Kunzum La walk for about 3 hours to reach
our campsite close to the lake. Chandratal is surely a sight one will always cherish. The turquoise
coloured lake with high mountains all around is quite a sight. We will spend the evening exploring the
lake surroundings. Overnight in tents

DAY 08: Chandratal (4270 m) to Manali (2000 m) trek 1/3 hrs & drive 6/7 hrs
Today depending upon the condition of the road we might have to walk for half an hour or maybe 3
hours to reach the road head. From there we get onto the waiting vehicles and drive to Manali via the
famous Rohtang pass. In Manali we check into a hotel where a hot shower awaits us. Evening at leisure.
Overnight in a hotel
DAY 09: Manali to Chandigarh drive 8 hrs
After an early breakfast we will start on the drive to Chandigarh via Kullu & Mandi. We will reach
Chandigarh by 4 p.m and one can proceed with the onwards journey. Trip ends here

Fixed Departure Dates

JUL

13-21

OCT

7-15

AUG

9-17

SEP

14-22

Trip Cost
FIXED DEPARTURE PRICES
ON TWIN SHARING
throughout the Trek

ON SINGLE OCCUPANCY
during Alpine Camping

ON SINGLE OCCUPANCY
throughout the Trip

Rs. 23,000 for the trek

+Rs 4125 for Transport

Rs. 26,000 for the trek

+Rs. 4125 for Transport

ON TWIN SHARING
throughout the Trip

ON SINGLE OCCUPANCY
during Alpine Camping**

ON SINGLE OCCUPANCY
throughout the Trip

2 Pax

26,000

29,900

33,800

3-5 Pax

24,000

27,600

31,200

6-9 Pax

22,000

25,300

28,600

Cost per person includes

good quality transport

Rs. 20,000 for the Trek

+Rs. 4125 for Transport

PRIVATE DEPARTURE PRICES

Not including Transport

Note: All fixed departures treks are guaranteed to run with a min of 3 Persons.
Also none of our departures will ever have more than 12 participants

Cost Includes
All road transfers from and back to Chandigarh in good quality vehicles (Tempo traveller, Innova,
Xylo & Scorpio)
o Transport cost for private departures is extra and can be provided to you once we know
the dates, choice of vehicle and the group size.
Accommodation in hotels/guest house in Sarahan & Manali and in 3/4 season alpine tents at
other locations
o Single during Alpine camping is an option for people who want the luxury of having a
tent to themselves during the trek part only
All vegetarian meals beginning with dinner on Day 01 to Breakfast on Day 09
Porter/mules for client baggage (one bag per client not weighing more than 15 kgs)
Camping equipment international quality equipment will be provided
Professional guide (trained from Nehru Institute of Mountaineering, Uttarkashi or equivalent)
and kitchen staff would accompany the group
Park entry fee
Forest/other camping charges

Camping equipment provided on the trek (in case of tent stay)

3/4 season Mountain Hardwear (www.mountainhardwear.com) or similar imported alpine tents on
single & double sharing
Fresh and clean Sleeping bags of good quality/you can buy new sleeping bags at good rates from our
store.
Imported Inflatable Camping Mattresses as against traditional foam mattresses.
Camping stools.
Mess tent.
Toilet tents
First Aid / Medical kit

Cost Does Not Includes

Service Tax For Fixed Departure Trips 3.09% / Private Trips 4.94%
Travel between Delhi and Haridwar (can be arranged by us on request)
Any meals/services not mentioned above
Any charges for video cameras, still cameras, etc.
Alcohol, soft drinks, beverages, etc.
Personal expenses like tips, telephone calls, laundry, etc.
Any costs arising out of unforeseen circumstances like landslides, road blocks, bad weather, etc.
Insurance

Payment Terms & Conditions

Full payment to be made in advance at the time of booking the trek

 Payment to be made by Bank Transfer/Cheque/DD in favour of GREAT INDIAN OUTDOORS (P)

LTD. payable at New Delhi/Gurgaon
Payment for this trip will not be adjusted against any future trips
Cancellation policy
>30 days: Full refund (after deducting any expenses that have been incurred for hotel bookings,
transport, etc.)
21-30 days: 75% of trip cost will be refunded (after deducting any expenses that have been incurred
for hotel bookings, transport, etc.)
14-21 days: 50% of trip cost will be refunded (after deducting any expenses that have been incurred
for hotel bookings, transport, etc.)
<14 days: No refund

Important Information
Transport Options (Delhi Chandigarh Delhi)
For travel to Chandigarh and back one can choose between air, rail & road. Chandigarh airport is well
connected to Delhi and other parts of the country by Air India, Jet Airways, Kingfisher Airlines & Spice
Jet. Train travel is highly recommended with enough options being there. For train details, you could log
on to www.indianrail.gov.in and for online railway ticket bookings you could log on to www.irctc.co.in
There are frequent Public Transport buses including Volvos available from Delhi to Chandigarh that cost
about Rs. 200 500 per person. These buses depart from Delhi ISBT every 30 mins. or so and take about
4/5 hrs to cover the distance. The same is also applicable on the return journey. A private vehicle could
also be arranged for if you require the same

Weather Details
Season for this trek is from June to mid October. In the early days of the season we will catch a lot of
snow on the high passes which reduces considerably by July end. As the season proceeds we might catch
rain towards Kinnaur but on the other side, Spiti we will have sunny days. Days are generally going to be
sunny and warm (16 25 deg) while the night temperature at the highest campsite would be in the
range of 6 to 12 deg. In the latter part of the season (Sep mid Oct) there is very little snow on the trail
and good weather throughout. The days are sunny with temperatures hovering around (12 18 deg) the
evenings start getting cold with the onset of October and nights are comparatively colder (- 5 to 5 deg)
Please keep in mind that the above information is not exact and does not account for sudden changes.
Whatever the temperatures and conditions rest assured we will be prepared to handle it with ease as
we use equipment of very high specifications

List Of Essentials
Mountain/adventure travel requires one to be adequately equipped with the right kind of personal gear.
Since one is travelling in the wilderness there will be hardly any opportunity to buy anything once you

hit the trail so we urge you to carefully pack everything into your bags. Also please keep in mind you can
rent out or purchase equipment from our Gear Store, if required.
1. Shirts / T-shirts 3/4
2. Jeans / Trekking Pants 2/3
3. Windproof jacket of decent quality (no flimsy wind cheaters please!) preferably with a hood
4. Warm and thick Fleece / Full-sleeve Woollen sweater
5. Thermal inner wear (upper & lower)
6. Woollen cap
7. Woollen gloves
8. Woollen socks & regular socks (3 4 pairs)
9. Scarf/muffler (optional)
10. Comfortable Trekking/Hiking shoes (shoes with a thick sole are recommended)
11. Light weight floaters/sandals/chappals
12. Raincoat / Poncho
13. Small light weight towel
14. Water bottle (sturdy ones, no empty Bisleri bottles!!)
15. Cap / Hat to keep the strong sun away from your face
16. Sun glasses
17. Walking stick / Trekking pole
18. Sunscreen Lotion
19. Lip Balm
20. Torch / Flashlight (with extra batteries)
21. Medicines, if requiring any specific medication
22. Personal toiletries
23. Book, if you like reading
24. Day pack/small bag which you will carry on your back every day and keep your essentials in it
25. Camera if you like (with fully charged batteries)
26. LOADS OF ENTHUSIASM!! AND A PLEDGE TO LEAVE NO TRACE
Carry your stuff in a duffel bag, soft shoulder bag or a rucksack. Avoid suitcases, trolleys or any other
hard luggage. As you will be walking long distances carrying a rucksack, avoid bringing unnecessary items
on the trek. Please avoid carrying expensive watches, jewellery and electronic items on the trek. Also
remember that the bag which will be carried by the porters can have a maximum wt. Of 15 kgs so pack
sensibly

GIO Trekking Code

We are mountain lovers and have pledged to bring no harm to them in our pursuit of running organised
wilderness travel in the Himalayas and seek your assistance too in this regard. We are more than
convinced that one can have more fun on a trip if we go about it in a way that no harm is caused to the
ecology. In this regard we have a set of guidelines that we adhere to based on the tenets of Leave No
Trace & Tread Light policies. These guidelines are very simple and emphasise on travelling in small
groups, better planning, understanding impact of camping, proper waste disposal, respecting local
cultures, sensitivity towards wildlife and so on. We have a complete section on our trekking code in the
GIO trekking Manual. This manual will be couriered to you once you confirm a trip with us

Acclimatisation & High Altitude Sickness

This is one of the most important aspects of travelling in the high Himalayan mountains and cannot be
ignored or set aside. Acclimatisation basically means our body adjusting to lower levels of oxygen
(rarefied air) & reduced air pressure as me move up. In case one does not acclimatise properly there are
chances of the person facing extreme discomfort and this can be fatal in extreme cases. While there is
no set route to getting properly acclimatised there are a general precautions and steps that one can take
to initiate good acclimatisation. Our trekking guides will assist you with these steps and also once you
book a trip with us the GIO Trekking Manual which will cover this aspect extensively will be couriered
to you. This is sure to help you enoy the trek in very good shape.

Selecting the right trek & training for it

Most important thing is to select the right trek keeping in mind your experience or inexperience, health,
objectives & ability. Our senior team people can assist you with this, so when contacting us do mention
if you need guidance on this front also refer to our trek grading system mentioned below. Once the right
trek is selected comes your preparation. Once you have booked a trip with us we will courier the GIO
Trekking Manual to you which will have a complete practice drill explained in details.

GIO Trek Grading System

We have broadly classified our treks as below
Easy: These treks are 3 to 5 days long and involve walking for about 3/4 hrs daily. The trail on such treks
is well defined but not always flat. These are great for families and first timers
Moderate: On these treks one is not required to trek for more than 5/6 hrs a day. Also the terrain is not
too difficult. These treks are normally a week or so long. For these treks prior trekking experience is not
necessary. Very rarely on these treks would one camp at altitudes higher than 3800m. These treks are
great for first timers or for veterans wanting to go on a trail which is relatively less demanding
Moderate +: These are moderate treks with mostly one difficult day. These trails are fine for fit
beginners also
Vigorous: On these treks one can be required to trek continuously for more than a week through
remote areas and at times trekking for more than 7 hrs a day. On most of these treks one has to cross
passes or areas which are snow covered and involve camping at altitude of more than 4000 m. Fit
people with some kind of hiking experience & a spirit of adventure can contemplate going on these
trails.
Strenous: These treks apart from having continuous trekking stretches are at places technical and might
require assistance from trip leader/guide and other staff people. All these treks have rest days in
between. Also all of them involve crossing passes or areas having altitude of more than 4500 m. First
timers are discouraged from walking such routes
Expedition Style: These involve long walks at high altitudes at times around 6000 mts. Camping can also
be well over the snow line and on glaciers at times. Safety ropes, ice axes and crampons might be
required on these treks. These treks are not technically very difficult but are considerably challenging.
Previous vigorous/strenuous trekking experience is required
GEAR STORE
YOU COULD ALSO AVAIL RENTAL/PURCHASE FACILITY FOR TREKKING GEAR FROM OUR GEAR STORE