Sar Pass Trek

• Altitude: 3,400 m
• Altitude Gain: 1,050 m
• Trek Distance: 10 km | Duration: 5 to 6 hrs
• First 9 km steep ascent and last 1 km steep descent
• Water source at Min Thach Campsite (groundwater tap)
• Dense forest of Rhododendrons, Pine trees, Golden oak
• Camping on meadows
• Beautiful view of mountain peaks from the campsite 
• Stay in tents

Today we will trek to Min Thach, a beautiful meadow that falls en route to your trek. To reach Min Thach, we will follow the trail that goes north from our campsite at Grahan, this path will lead you to Min Thach. We will start our trek post a hearty breakfast at the Grahan campsite.

After walking for some time, wonderful mountain views begin to open up and the trail to Min Thach will be on your right. The climb to the meadow is a little steep and sometimes the trail becomes a little confusing, follow your trek leader’s instructions during these confusing patches. After walking for a few hours through the dense forests, it will open into a grassy ridge, this is Min Thach clearing and we will find a proper location here and pitch our tents for an overnight stay. Min Thach is usually used by locals to graze their cattle.

On the northwest side, you will get views of Chanderkhani and its adjoining mountain ranges stretching across the horizon. In the southeast, it is lined with dense evergreen forests. Sometimes there are also seasonal vendor stalls that sell tea, coffee, and the like. There’s also a water source in the form of a tap, and you will get potable water here. This is a good place to camp as the ridge protects the tents against strong winds.  Also, having a day between Grahan and Nagaru campsite allows for the body to acclimatize well to the weather and the altitude. Sunset and sunrise views are especially beautiful here. Once you reach the campsite, relax and enjoy a beautiful sunset over the snow-clad mountains. After a hot dinner at the campsite, you will end the day and retire in your tents.

• Altitude: 3,800 m
• Altitude: 400 m
• Trek Distance: 6 km | Duration: 4 to 6 hrs
• All ascent
• No water sources on the way
• Nagaru camp site is above the tree line and too windy
• Sometime networks are also available (Jio and Airtel are the best)
• View of snow mountains and meadows from the campsite
• Stay in tents

From Min Thach, you get glimpses of Nagaru and it doesn’t seem all that far but we are not going to take the straight ridge path to Nagaru, rather the trail entwines up towards the south and follows into the woods. Depending on the time you are visiting the trek, you may find patches of snow on the trail. It’s a good idea to start early as most of the time the weather remains favorable up until noon, post which it can be unpredictable. So, we will start out early today. 

After walking some time through the forests, you will climb onto another ridge, this one is quite a bit rocky and overlooks the meadow down below. You have to take the left on the ridge, and it becomes pretty steep here. Nagaru sits atop a cliff that you have to ascend to reach the campsite. Follow the trail, it is pretty well marked here and after some time the tree line recedes and grassy patches begin to open up. If you are trekking in a season when there is snow on the trail then you have to be really careful as the snow can make the trek pretty tricky and slippery. Exercise extra caution and follow your guide’s instructions to avoid any mishap. Waterproof gloves and an ice axe can be helpful in these places.

After a couple of hours of trekking through varied terrains, you will arrive at a flatland on the top of a hill, this is Nagaru. As soon as you reach Nagaru, you will be totally amazed by the sight lying ahead of you. All of a sudden it seems like you have entered a different world from the one you have been trekking in so far! On the northern side, you can see the majestic mountains rising from the Parvati Valley down below. The Chanderkheni Ranges simply look magnificent and the Beas Valley with its greenery is amazing too. On your left, down below, you can see a bird’s eye view of Min Thach and Grahan village and to your south, you can see the vast expanse of snow up to the mountains. This is the direction you will trek in next to reach Sar Pass. The winds are very strong at Nagaru and the temperature drops pretty quickly so it is wise to set up the camps as soon as possible.

The nights here can be very chilly so have the appropriate layers on to protect yourself from the cold. After an early dinner, we will retire into the tents as the winds get stronger at night. Sleep well as tomorrow you will make your summit to Sar Pass.

• Altitude: Sar Pass - 4,200 m; Biskeri Thach - 3,350 m
• Altitude Gain: 400 m
• Trek Distance: 14 km | Duration: 6 to 8 hrs
• 5 km steep and gradual ascent on snow till Sar Pass top
• Can witness the amazing Sunrise
• Views of Parvati Valley and local villages
• Packed lunch will be provided for the day
• Biskeri Thach camp is on a meadow and the last camp of the trek
• Stay in tents

Today is an exciting day of trekking and also the longest trekking day. Today will head to Sar Pass! We will start the day early and wake up before dawn as we have a distance of 14 km to cover. The climb to the Pass is much like yesterday and you will use the same techniques. We will climb along the ridge line in a southward direction, there will be a couple of steep stretches that would test your physical and mental endurance. Keep a steady pace as you climb these stretches and cross the snow patches.

It is a bit easier to walk on the snow and the strikingly beautiful surroundings will take your tiredness away, and we are always there to motivate you along the way. From Nagaru, you can see a hill, and once you climb the hill another hill comes into view that we need to climb. The ridge becomes sharper and steeper and on one side the ridge falls steeply to the ridge below. Be very careful and cautious here. Crampons and ice axe will make walking on the snow easier.

Once you make it to the top of the hill after an arduous climb, you will forget all the struggles that you have faced because of the view lying in front of you. You have reached the summit at Sar Pass. You will observe a flag tied to a Trishul at the summit indicating that you have arrived at the summit. The pass has derived its name from ‘Sar’ meaning a ‘pond’ which lies at the top. The pond remains frozen till late summer. The beautiful peaks of the Tosh Valley greet you on the one the east and to the south, you can see snow-ensconced mountain peaks. There’s a sharp drop to a beautiful valley ahead of you, which you have to slide down as there is no other way to climb down. Soak in the heavenly beauty of the place before we slide down to the valley below.

The slide is harmless and really fun but also follow the team’s instructions to slide down properly. Keep all your loose materials in a bag and keep your legs tight together and do not dig into the snow. Also, keep your elbows firmly by the side and push your trunk back into the snow. The slide will take about a kilometer into a gentler slope in the valley and after walking for some time you will come across another slope though not as steep depending on the snow accumulated, you can choose to slide down once again till you reach level ground. Another slope will come not long after this. You can again cover this slope by sliding down. You will now reach a narrow valley with a beautiful meadow on the left, this is Biskeri Thach. There are a couple of stream crossings before you reach the meadows. This campsite presents the sublime beauty of pine forests and snow-covered mountains as the backdrop. There are lots of water streams beside the campsite, so you can refill your water here. There’s a water tap as well. You may even find network coverage for some networks as well. Tonight we will stay at Biskeri Thach and return to Kasol the following day.

• Altitude: 2,400 m
• Altitude Loss: 950 m
• Trek Distance: 10 km | Duration: 4 to 5 hrs
• Drive Distance: 15 km | Duration: 40 minutes to 1 hr
• Trek is a complete descent
• Last 2 km trek is on off-road till the power project (Pick-up point)
• On the way to Kasol you can visit Gurudwara Sahib Manikaran and the hot spring, taxi waiting charges will be applicable
• Drive to Kasol is next to the Parvati river
• Reach Kasol by 4-5 pm 

Today is the last day of trekking in the mountains and also the last day of your wonderful journey to Sar Pass. Today is also a long walk and we have to cover a distance of 10 km downhill. From Biskeri Thach a steep path goes down below by the side of a stream. The trail ends at a fenced plot of land so you have to go through the land before you hop on the trail again.

Follow the trail and you will enter a dense forest, there are many trails here, follow the one that leads in the north-eastern direction. After walking through the forest for some time you will come across a stream crossing. Getting to the stream is pretty tricky as you have to rappel down some twenty feet of rock with a rope. You will then cross the stream on wooden planks laid across it and then climb up the path that leads to some campsites. The trail follows a water pipeline that takes you to Pulga village. Pulga and Tulga are twin villages that are separated by a stream. From Tulga, you will have to cross another bridge over the Parvati River to reach the village of Barshaini. The river is dammed ahead for a hydroelectric power project. 

Barshaini is the last village of Parvati Valley, which is connected by a road-head, albeit a bumpy one, and is often used as the road-head for treks like Kheerganga, Pin Parvati Pass, Matalai Lake, etc. From Barshaini you will drive back to Kasol. Kasol is about 15 km approximately from Barshaini and it takes about 45 minutes to 1 hr to reach Kasol depending on the road conditions. Thus ends this wonderful trek with so many beautiful memories for you to cherish forever.