Hampta Pass Trek: A Complete Travel Guide 

Overview

A complete combination of fun, adventure, peace, and suitable for beginners is something how I can define this trek. 

For beginners it would be a little exhausting and tiring but one thing is sure for everyone visiting this place whether beginners or experienced is a bunch of memories and loads and loads of fun which will be unforgettable and probably some of the best days of your life. 

Location & Introduction

Hampta Pass is situated at an altitude of about 4270 m in the Pir Panjal Range in the Himalayas. Situated between the Chandra Valley and the Kullu Valley; the lower regions of these areas are small beautiful grasslands often used by shepherds to graze their cattle. 

The point is Manali, in Himachal Pradesh. Most of the people plan to incorporate vehicles from Manali to Jobri, from where the trip starts. It requires 3-4 days to finish the trip and cover a distance of about 35 km. You can prepare yourself accordingly and plan the best route through which you can start your journey. 

From where to start the trek? 

Driving till pass is not possible. But you can drive to Jobri through Prini and afterward it’s a multi-day trip to Hampta Pass and afterward 1 day either to Chatru or return to Jobri if you are a better than expected traveler. 

Of course what’s the point of trekking if you’re driving all your way to the destination. This is the time where you can live your life to the fullest and experience some of the best moments of your life as you don’t come to trekking everyday. 

Things to be carried

• Extra pair of clothes 
• Head torch / Flashlight: Electricity is not available in the hilly areas so torches are necessary especially at night. 
• Medicines for any medical emergencies
• First Aid kit in case of any physical injuries
• Warm clothes like sweatshirts, pullovers, full sleeve T shirts, thermals, warm inner wears etc. 
• Waterproof trekking shoes whether trekking in rain or snow to ensure comfortable trekking with thick soles.
• Thermos and water bottle in case of warm water.
• Cosmetics like sunscreen, cream, moisturizer, body lotion, body wash , face wash, lip balm etc. 
• Sunglasses
• Caps / Hat
• Rope
• Walking / trekking pole 
• Waterproof and thick sole shoes or footwears in case of rain or snow to ensure comfortable climbing 
• Toiletries
• Eatables like snacks, packed lunch incase if you are not able to find any eating point as the journey is going to be long and tiring. 
• Mosquito repellents
• Camera (most important to capture the beauty of the place)

Why should you go there?

The difficulty level of this trek is moderate and suitable for both Beginners and experienced travelers this makes it fit for all travel lovers. 

The beautiful green valley of Kullu, with woods and grasslands, is on one side of the trail. The almost parched, austere environment of Lahaul, with the unfertile mountains devoid of flora, is on the other side. For a good portion of the walk, you’ll be accompanied by a lovely view of flowering flowers. Their energizing scent will keep you going all day. A bonus is a tiny green vallies protected by snow-capped mountains!

The lake ‘Chandratal’ which literally translates to ‘The Lake of Moon’. This lake is the point of attraction for Hampta Pass which is a crescent shaped lake and it is said that it changes its colors almost throughout the day. Camping near this lake is the best part of this trek as who doesn’t love stargazing and jamming besides the bonfires. The mesmerizing beauty of this lake is just that people climb 4270 m and walk 35 km all their way and trust me all their hardships are worth it. 

The amazing fact about lake Chandratal is, it is said that it changes color throughout its day and has a great religious significance. On the lake’s borders, there are large meadows. These meadows are covered with hundreds of types of wild flowers in the spring. 

Best time to visit 

The Best time to visit Hampta Pass Trek is during the monsoon seasons like May to October as during this time you can get the best experience of the place and also it has a moderate climate during these seasons although there is rain. But the other months are completely snow laden and the temperature falls to zero making it tougher for the travelers to survive and climb during these harsh conditions. During this time you can get to see amazing flora and fauna and lush green hills which are snow laden or barren the rest of the year. Being the first trekkers of the season, loose rocks, landslides, and otherwise freezing conditions will undoubtedly offer an existential threat. There are opportunities to observe a few snow on the high passes in the beginning of the period and afterward it dissolves down totally by August.  August is the time when the place is totally sunny and the temperature ranges between 12 to 20 degrees during the day and falls to around zero degree at night. Least snow will be observed during August and if you wish to trek in snow then you can plan your trip in May and find abundant snow in your path.