From the green Kullu valley over a 4,200 m pass into the bare desert of Lahaul.
After the pass · the almanac
The trek in four numbers
One pass, two worlds: forest and flowers on one side, rock and dust on the other.
⛰️
4,200m
Hampta Pass
🥾
22km
Walking, over 4 days
📐
~50°
The steep way down
💧
4,250m
Chandratal lake
💪 Moderate (BRS 4)☀️ Season: Jun–Oct⛺ 3 camps
Day by day
Five days, step by step
The Bikat Adventures plan, Manali to Manali.
How high you are on each kilometre
🚙Day 1
Manali → Jobra → Chikka16 km drive via Prini, then a short walk3 km🛏️ Tents at Chikka · 3,048 m
🌸Day 2
Chikka → Balu Ka GheraThrough the Jwara meadows5 km🛏️ Tents at Balu Ka Ghera · 3,600 m
⛰️Day 3
Balu Ka Ghera → Hampta Pass → Shea GoruOver the top, then a steep descent9 km🛏️ Tents at Shea Goru · 3,900 m
💧Day 4
Shea Goru → Chhatru → ChandratalWalk out, then about 70 km to the lake and back5 km
🏠Day 5
Chhatru → ManaliThrough the Atal Tunnel
Stories and nature
Two valleys
🌲The Kullu side
Green
Oak, deodar and maple forests, waterfalls, and the flower meadows of Jwara.
🏜️The Lahaul side
Desert
Over the pass the land turns dry and bare: the high, desolate Chandra valley.
💧The bonus
Chandratal
A turquoise lake at 4,250 m, a drive of about 70 km from Chhatru.
When to go
A summer crossing
Bikat runs it from June to October.
☀️Jun–Oct
Flowers in the Jwara meadows, waterfalls on the Kullu side.
💰Cost
₹12,500 + 5% GST with Bikat.
Plan your trip
Getting to Manali
Manali is the base town; the trek starts and ends there.
Manali🚙 16 km via Prini
Jobra
⛰️Hardest part
Day 3: the climb to the pass, then about 3 km of steep descent.
🤕Altitude sickness
Headache, sickness or dizziness? Tell your leader, rest, and go down if it gets worse.
Good to know
The small things
Cash, signal, water, permits and help on the way. Checked October 2026; confirm with your operator.
💵Bring cash
There are no ATMs after Manali. Use the ATMs in Manali's main market. Bikat Adventures
📶No signal at camp
Manali has every network. There is no signal after Sethan, the last village, and none at the campsites. Bikat Adventures
🔌No charging
The last charging point is your hotel in Manali. Bring a full power bank. Bikat Adventures
💧Fill up on Day 3
On pass day the last fresh water is about 3 km out of Balu Ka Ghera. Fill both bottles before the climb. Bikat Adventures
🌡️Weather
Days 10–15 °C. Nights 0–5 °C. Expect rain on the Kullu side. Bikat Adventures
⛺Toilets
Each camp has a toilet tent over a dry pit. Water is not allowed inside, so bring toilet paper. Bikat Adventures
🐴Offloading
Bikat carries your bag for ₹1,500 for the trek. Book it with your seat. Bikat Adventures
🚕Getting to Jobra
Most fixed departures include the drive. On your own, a car from Manali to Jobra costs about ₹3,000, shared by the group. Chhatru back to Manali is about ₹9,000 for a car of five. Ascent Descent Adventures
Travel Master AdventureRent · tents, sleeping bags, pads, poles, gloves, gaiters. Refundable deposit ₹2,000 for a sleeping bag100 m from the Volvo bus stand, Mall Road · +91 93186 16000 · Website
Shop details are from each shop's own page. Phone to confirm prices and stock.
Who runs it
Choose an operator
We found 8 operators with a fixed-departure or bookable Hampta Pass page in October 2026. Prices range from ₹5,500 to ₹20,000, partly because some include the Chandratal drive and Manali transport and some don't. Trek The Himalayas blocks automated visits, so its price is from a search snippet.
Prices are base prices from each operator's own page (October 2026); most add 5% GST. Ratings are what each operator shows, not an independent audit. Names marked † show last season's price or one seen only in a search snippet.