Hampta Pass: From Kullu Forests to the Spiti Desert in Five Days
Youth Travel India ·
Cross from Kullu green to Spiti dry over 14,100 ft in five budget days.
→ The Hampta Pass route map: camps, passes and elevation
Hampta Pass is the classic crossover trek, from green Kullu forest to stark Spiti desert in five days. You start in Manali, walk about 24 to 28 km from Jobra to Chhatru, and cross Hampta Pass at about 14,100 ft, roughly 4,290 m. One day you camp in flower meadows beside streams, the next you look over grey moraines and dry valleys. With an optional drive to Chandratal lake at 14,000 ft, it packs huge contrast into a short week. It is graded moderate and suits a fit first-timer with basic stamina and a good guide.
Getting there: base in Manali at 2,050 m, easy from Delhi and Chandigarh. Overnight Volvos from Delhi to Manali often cost roughly ₹800 to ₹1,500, ordinary buses less, peak Volvos more. Trains run to Chandigarh, then bus to Manali in six to eight hours. From Manali the operator drives about 16 km in two hours to Jobra at 9,800 ft. Return is Chhatru to Manali, 70 to 80 km in five to seven hours via Atal Tunnel, usually in the package.
Getting there: keep Manali cheap. Dorms near Old Manali often cost roughly ₹400 to ₹1,000, basic hotels ₹800 to ₹2,000. Eat at dhabas where rice, dal and momos cost little. Arrive a day early for gear check and confirm the Chandratal plan, which depends on road and snow. Carry cash, as ATMs thin out beyond Manali toward the pass and Spiti side.
What it costs: this is best value Himalaya. For 2025 to 2026 Manali groups are listed from about ₹6,000 to ₹12,000, budget near ₹5,000 to ₹8,000, standard near ₹9,500 to ₹15,000 plus tax. That covers Jobra drive and Chhatru return, tents, meals from day one lunch to last breakfast, guide, cook, permits and safety kit. Extras are offloading, gear at ₹300 to ₹500 per item, tips and travel to Manali. Most students book a group for safety and logistics.
When to go: go mid-June to September, with July and August peak for meadows. June can hold snow on the pass, September is quiet with clear skies and cold nights. October to May the route closes and Chandratal road shuts. Kullu can be wet while Spiti stays dry, but landslides can delay Manali roads. Never push the pass in bad weather, and keep a buffer night in Manali for delays.
Stay safe: gain is fast, so pace matters. You sleep from 10,100 ft at Chika to 12,900 ft at Shea Goru and cross 14,100 ft on summit day in seven to nine hours. Headache or nausea means stop and tell the leader. Be able to walk six to eight hours with a day pack, so train with walks and stairs. Streams can be knee deep, so use poles and the line your guide sets. Insurance for trekking is advised, permits are handled by operators.
Day by day: drive Manali to Jobra and trek two to three km in one to two hours to Chika at 10,100 ft along Rani river. Camp in a sheltered clearing. Next walk Chika to Balu Ka Ghera at 11,900 ft, five to nine km in five to six hours past meadows and falls. This sandy flat by glacial water is the rest stop before the pass. Sleep early and keep layers dry.
Day by day: cross Balu Ka Ghera to Shea Goru over the pass, eight to ten km in seven to nine hours past boulders and snow to 14,100 ft, then drop to 12,900 ft. Next descend six to seven km in three to five hours to Chhatru at 11,000 ft, then drive if open to Chandratal for sunset. Last morning drive to Manali for hot food. Treat Chandratal as a bonus, as weather rules the road.
Leave no trace: Hampta links forest, alpine and desert, all fragile. Carry back all wrappers, use refill bottles and treated camp water, never wash with soap in rivers or lake. Stay on trail to save flowers, camp only in set sites, and use toilet tents fully. No fires, no plants picked, no stones moved near streams. Deserts heal slowly, so one careless season can scar land for years to come.
If you are visiting from abroad: Himachal is relaxed but manners help. Greet kindly, ask before photos, dress modestly in villages, remove shoes where asked. Carry passport original plus copies for forest posts and Chandratal entry. Most need an Indian e visa before arrival. Food is veg with rice, dal, soup and eggs on request. Keep rupees handy and expect low signal beyond Jobra.
This is ideal for a short break with full shift from forest to desert without a long expedition. Start guided on land, learn layering and pacing, then try longer routes.
Route craft, safety thinking and expedition notes in this guide draw on Dr Satinder Singh Malik's Adventure Tourism in India.