About Charang Valley Trek
One of the most alluring treks in Himachal Pradesh, the Charang
Valley trek attracts lots of trekkers and adventure enthusiasts from
different parts of the country. Offering spectacular views of majestic
mountains covered in snow, lush meadows, and striking vineyards; as you
make your towards the Charang valley crossing verdant forests,
high-mountain passes, picturesque alpine villages, ancient Buddhist
monasteries, enticing apple orchards and milky white rivulets, the
Charang Valley trek gives you the most exciting and rewarding
experiences of your lifetime.
Area : Himachal Pradesh
Duration : 12 Days (4 days trek/8 days traveling)
Best Season : Mid May - September
Grade :Tough
Altitude : 5260mts/17250ft
Total Trekking : 60 K.M
Considered to be one of the most challenging treks in the region, be
prepared to embrace a steep and strenuous climb walking on tricky
glaciated tracks, narrow gravel and loose soil pathways, slippery slopes
and dangerous moraines. As you proceed towards your destination, enjoy
the breath-taking panoramas of the Kinner Kailash range, take in the
beauty of roaring rivers, observe the sight of some rare Himalayan
birds, revel in the experience of overnight camping under an open
star-lit sky accompanied with dance and music against the bonfire,
witness the gradual transformation of cultures from Hinduism to Buddhism
and visit old yet beautiful and peaceful monasteries.
The actual Charang Valley trek commences from a tiny hamlet of Thangi
near Chail and ends at Manali. With its stunning vistas and scenic
landscapes, this trek takes one of the top most positions on the maps of
ardent trekkers.
Charang Valley Trekking Tour Highlights
- Get the opportunity to visit world's highest cricket pitch at Chail
- Witness spectacular natural beauty and astounding panoramas
- Get the lifetime opportunity of crossing some of the high mountain passes in India, namely Charang La and Kunzum La
- Witness the Buddhist culture and visit some famous and beautiful Buddhist monasteries like Ki monastery, Tabo monastery and Dhankar Gompa
- Get the opportunity to camp next to flowing streams accompanied with bonfires.
- Kinner Kailash Mountain
- Lower valley of Spiti area
- Vivacious Sutlej River
- Beautiful Landscape sights
Best Time to Visit Charang Valley Trek
The trek can be commenced between the periods of mid June to October
but, the ideal time is between September and October as before that, the
region faces heavy monsoon showers resulting in landslides, avalanches
and cloud bursts. The more early you visit, better are the chances of
seeing lots of snow. Amount of snow cover reduces significantly by
August. As the season progresses, we will witness rain towards the
Kullu-Manali Valley, and conversely, find sunny weather conditions in
the Spiti. Generally, the days will be warmer and sunny (12-20°C) and
the night temperature, especially at the high campsites, would range
between -2 and 6°C.
As the season is about to come to a close (Sept to mid-Oct) the
amount of snow in the trail decreases to a great extent. Weather is
normally good throughout, but there is some possibility of snowfall. The
days are mainly sunny and the temperature varies from 12 to 18°C.
Evenings become cold and night temperature starts to fall further (-6 to
4 °C) with the arrival of October.
Where is the Charang Valley Trek
The Charang Valley sits amidst the captivating Kinnaur Valley in
Himachal Pradesh. Considered to be the land of dreams and fantasies, a
trek to this fairyland is an unforgettable experience. The valley is
also home to the Mt. Kinner Kailash, the abode of Lord Shiva. A
circumblation or the Kinner Kailash Parikrama around the base of the
peak is considered to be religiously significant for many Hindus. Owing
to the same reason, many pilgrims and devotees venture on this trek
every year.
Charang Valley Trek will take you to a trekking expedition to the
revered Kinnaur Kailash Mountain. A few years back, Kinnaur was a
forbidden territory for trekkers, thus the trails over here are less
used and hence more adventurous. The Kinnaur Kailash Range of mountains
fences the district of Kinnaur at the south side. Kinnaur Kailash (6,349
m) and Jonkarden (6,473 m) are the most prominent peaks in the range.
In this trek, there is only one pass – Charang La – which is situated at
an altitude of 5,300 m. Charang Valley Trek is one of the most
difficult treks in Himachal Pradesh. The trek is 60 km long. It
commences from Thangi, goes from Charang, Lalan Ti, crosses Charang La
Pass and concludes at Chitkul Village. The Chitkul Village is the last
inhabited village near the Indo-Tibet border, in the Baspa Valley of
Kinnaur, Himachal.
How to Reach Charang Valley Trek?
Chail, near Shimla in Himachal Pradesh is the main starting point for
the Charang Valley trek. Following modes of transport can be used to
reach the location.
By Air: Nearest airport is located in Shimla, the
'Jubbarhati Airport' to which flights regularly ply from the Chandigarh
airport. Buses and private/shared taxis can be easily availed from the
Shimla airport to reach Chail.
By Rail: Kalka is the nearest railway station
connected through Delhi and Chandigarh railway stations. To reach Chail,
Himachal state run buses or taxis can be hired from outside the Kalka
station. A toy train also runs between Kalka and Chail. If time permits,
do take this option to have a memorable experience of a train journey
that passes through winding hilly trails and tunnels.
By Road: Volvo, Himachal state run buses, Delhi
tourism buses and taxis can be directly hired from Delhi and Chandigarh
up till Shimla or even directly to Chail.
