The Pin Bhaba trek is a unique trek that takes you through the lush green countryside of the Kinnaur valley and the mesmerizing barren landscape of the Spiti valley. The trek starts from Kafnu situated in the Kinnaur valley and moves along the grazing fields and flower carpets on the banks of the Bhaba river. From the Bhaba pass, your descent into the Pin Parvati valley over boulder-strewn glaciers, making it a sharp contrast to the green valley you just came from. Simple walks in meadows, glacier traversing, boulder hopping and movement on snow & moraine also add to the diverse experience on the trek.
The trek also gives you the opportunity to combine other activities in your vacation like exploring the quaint villages, monasteries and other important landmarks in the region – the Bhimkali temple in Sarahan, the Tabo monastery etc. You can also choose to relax and rejuvenate in the popular hill stations of Shimla and Manali.
Trek Months – Mid June to October.
Travel Itinerary
Day 01: Report to base camp Kafnu (2500m/ 8203ft).
- Assemble at the base camp Kafnu at 6pm. Kafnu is approx. 282kms from Shimla and would take approximately 9-10 hours by road.
- Western Mountains can arrange for taxis on request and additional trekker expense to pick you from the Shimla and drop you at Kafnu. Please let us know during registration if you would like to opt for the pick-up service.
- The drive from Shimla to Kafnu on the Hindustan Tibet road takes you through the quaint town of Sarahan which is famous for the Bhimkali temple. The temple is one of the most important temples of Kali in India and is known for its amalgamation of both Buddhist and Hindu architecture.
- Overnight stay in a hotel.
- Meals – Tea& Snacks, Dinner
Day 02: Trek from Kafnu to Mulling (3279m/ 10758ft, 15Kms).
- Post breakfast, trek eastward along the Bhaba river on a well-marked trail, passing through mixed Cedar forests.
- The 15km trek to Mulling will take approximately 6-7 hrs. and gives you a good glimpse into the amazing variety of Himalayan flora. You will be rewarded with excellent views of the Spiti and Kinnaur mountain ranges.
- Overnight stay in tents.
- Meals – Breakfast, Lunch, Tea & Snacks, Dinner
Day 03: Trek from Mulling to Kahra (3559m/ 11676ft, 6kms).
- Kahra is a small valley in between two mountain ranges with the river crossing right in the middle.
- From the Mulling campsite, trek towards the Kahra valley keeping the river to your right. Watch out for the rare Himalayan Poppy flowers growing all around.
- The Kahra valley will open into lush green meadow sprinkled with brightly coloured flowers and medicinal herbs. The meadows also serve as pasture grounds for the gaddi shepherds.
- Overnight stay in tents.
- Meals – Breakfast, Lunch, Tea & Snacks, Dinner
Day 04: Trek from Kahra to Pustring (3940m/ 12927ft, 6kms).
- Today, you will be camping at the base of the Bhaba pass. The trek starts with a gradual climb up the left valley. Though it gets colder as you gain altitude, you will be enthralled with the scenic view made of beautiful alpine flower carpets and waterfalls in the adjoining ranges.
- From the view camp, the climb to Bhaba pass looks tough with a steep slope right in the first section.
- Overnight stay in tents.
- Meals – Breakfast, Lunch, Tea & Snacks, Dinner
Day 05: Trek from Pustring to Phuldar via Bhabha Pass (4198m/13776ft, 13kms).
- It is a tough climb today to the pass on a boulder, moraine ridden trail with moderate amount of snow at the top. The going gets tough as you climb up towards the pass and is physically and mentally demanding.
- At the top of the pass, take a minute to soak in the contrasting landscapes on either side of the pass. You will see greenery on the Kinnaur side and the dry and barren mountainscape on the Spiti side.
- The descent to Phuldhar on icy trails and moraine can get a little slippery and would require your full attention.
- Overnight stay in tents.
- Meals – Breakfast, Lunch, Tea & Snacks, Dinner
Day 06: Phuldar to Mud Pharka (3850m/ 12632ft). Drive to Kaza (3600m/ 11812ft, 3-4 hrs)
- The trail today takes you on an easy walk through the Pin Parvati valley to the small hamlet Mud Pharka.
- Most of the valley is dry and the village of Mud Pharka stands out like an oasis in the desert with its greenery. The village Gompa on a cliff between two streams stands out and makes for a good photo opportunity. After exploring the village sights, drive towards the Kaza town.
- Meals – Breakfast, Lunch, Tea & Snacks, Dinner.
Day 07: Drive from Kaza to Manali (1837m/6027ft, 200 km, 8 hrs)
- Depart towards Manali by taxi.
- Western Mountains can arrange for taxis on request and additional trekker expense to drop you at Manali. Please let us know during registration if you would like to opt for the dropped service.
Trek Facts
Grade: Difficult
Altitude: 4850 meters
Temperature: One can expect the temperature to range from 25 degree Celsius during the day and drop down to as low as -2 degree Celsius during the night.
Trek Duration: 7 days.
Trek Season: June – October
Base Camp: Kafnu
How to reach Basecamp:
Kafnu is situated in the beautiful valley of Kinnaur and is accessible only through road. To reach Kafnu, you can either come via Shimla or Chandigarh. Western Mountains can help arrange cabs for the trekkers on cost sharing basis at Shimla. It is advisable to reach Shimla a day earlier to be able to start early the next day for the 10hr long drive to Kafnu.
Nearest Airport / Rail line/road connectivity: The airport at Shimla in Jubbarhatti is not easily accessible and takes hours to traverse by car from Shimla. The other nearest airport is at Chandigarh at a distance of 120kms.The nearest railhead is at Kalka and is a 4-7 hour journey from Delhi. Alternatively, you can also take buses and taxis from Delhi /Chandigarh to reach Shimla.
Submit enquiry for cost
Cost Inclusions:
- Accommodation in dome tents (2/3 per tent).
- Accommodation in Kafnu on Day 1.
- Meals mentioned in the itinerary on a fixed menu/ buffet basis.
- Transfers as per itinerary.
- Camping Equipment: Tents, Sleeping bags, mats, gaiters.
- Internal transport from Mud Pharka to Kaza.
- All charges for guides and permits.
Cost Exclusions:
- Travel to base camp Kafnu and travel from Kaza to Manali.
- Backpack offloading: Trekkers are expected to carry their own backpacks. If the trekker cannot carry his/her backpack due to physical inability and chooses to offload on mules/porters, this will be on additional cost.
- Airfares, airport taxes and anything not mentioned in the inclusions and itinerary.
- Meals, tea, coffee, mineral water, tips, transfers not mentioned in the itinerary.
- Doctor, telephone, laundry and other personal expenses.
- Cost of personal emergency exit or expenses due to external factors such as climatic conditions.
Health & Fitness Requirements:
This trek does not require you to have any previous trekking or mountaineering experience. We do however highly recommend having an adventurous spirit and willingness to undergo the joys & hardships of outdoor camping, in addition to good physical and mental fitness, to completely enjoy the trek. If you suffer from severe muscular, chest, heart or bronchial ailments, we advise you against participating since most treks happen in remote areas with limited access to medical services & hospital facilities.
Our Trek Leaders are experienced mountaineers and we trust their judgments. If during the trek, the Trek Leader advises you against continuing on the trek, we request you to respect his/her judgment and follow his/her instructions.