Exhilarating travel is in store for hikers on the first day of the Hampta Pass climb. As we leave Manali to begin our journey, we are looking forward to getting a glimpse of the varied landscape that lays in store for us. The first segment of our trip comprises 15 km by car and leads us through a series of hairpin turns and bends. At the conclusion of this segment, we get a spectacular view of the Beas River in the valley below. The town of Jobra, which is situated at an elevation of 2,743 metres, will serve as our first halt. We pause here for only a bit before continuing on foot for the remaining three km to reach our next destination, which is Chikka. As soon as we step onto the route, we are met with a verdant and verdantly green forest that is full of oak, maple, and deodar trees. While we take in our surroundings, a refreshing wind gently brushes across our faces. We quickly come to a weathered wooden bridge, which we confidently over while taking in the breathtaking natural scenery that surrounds us. Following the passage of the bridge, we continue our journey through the woods, staying in the cool of the trees for the next 1.5 km until we reach the valley that will take us to Chikka. Chikka, the first of our overnight stops along the trail, is finally in sight after a gruelling two hours of hiking. We are unable to help but feel thrilled for the days ahead as we make our way to our accommodations for the evening, which are surrounded by the sound of the river and the rustle of the trees.

We have to make our way from Chika to Balu Ka Ghera on the second day of the Hampta Pass Trek, trekkers are treated to a breathtaking and immersive experience. The climb of the mountain starts after an early start at 8:00 in the morning, with the traversal of a short wooden bridge. Trekkers should be prepared for a moderate ascent during the first two km of the trail, despite the fact that the first terrain is doable. Due to the fact that the weather is difficult to forecast, hikers may find themselves having to fight their way through mud and slush. After a distance of 2.5 km, hikers reach their first river crossing, which leads them to the vivacious and colourful meadows of Jwara. The scenery seems like it was taken straight from a picture post card due to the lushness of the vegetation and the stunning natural features that can be seen here. Before moving on in your journey, here is the ideal spot to stop, relax, and take a little break. The trekkers arrive at Balu Ka Ghera, our second campground, after travelling about four km over a track that is very easy. It is a tranquil and beautiful environment that is surrounded by high mountains and has air that is fresh and crisp, which helps to restore both the body and the spirit.

We will go through a distance of 9 km in 7 hours, reaching a height of more than 600 metres, and this will be the longest and most difficult day of the hike. Because of the amazing opportunity that lies ahead of us, today is going to be well worth our time. We will start the day by breaking camp at the Balu Ka Ghera location at around 6:00 in the morning and beginning our journey down the Rani Nallah path on foot. When we get to this area, we will walk a km that has been paved with zigzag patterns, which will be both exhilarating and difficult to manage on foot. As we continue to go forward, the valley begins to open out, revealing a massive river that will remain in our line of sight for close to two kilometres. This vista will undoubtedly cause us to lose our breath. After making it across the Hampta Pass without incident, we will notice a shift in the surrounding environment as we make our way to the Shea Goru campground, which will be our third stop. Even though the last two kilometres will consist of walking on a level, straight track that is considerably more pleasant, we will still need to be cautious since there is a possibility that the weather may change unexpectedly. After making it through such a challenging route, we will be rewarded with breathtaking vistas of the natural beauty that this location has to offer when we finally arrive at the Shea Goru camping. We are certain to have an experience of a lifetime thanks to the snowy peaks and verdant foliage that are contained inside the confines of our campground.

The journey from Shea Goru to Chattru and the drive to Chandratal Lake is one that is packed with of exciting opportunities for adventure thanks to its tough terrain and stunning scenery. We ford the glacier stream that is located close to the campground and continue on our way after leaving Shea Goru to begin our hike in the area. Due to the difficult terrain, it takes us around four hours to cross the five km, which puts both our stamina and our strength to the test. The difficult terrain, however, is more than compensated for by the breathtaking views of the Himalayas that we take in along the way. As we continue to go downhill, the Chandra River will be on our left. Its presence will help to create an environment of peace despite the rough terrain. We spend around four hours making our way down to the Chhatru campground. After arriving at the campground at around 11 in the morning, we take a breather that is well earned and enjoy the gorgeous nature that surrounds us.

On the last day of the Hampta Pass Trek, we will make our way from Chhatru to Manali, a picturesque town located in the valley below Hampta Pass. After gathering our belongings and saying our goodbyes to the breathtaking valley, we will get an early start on the next part of our adventure at approximately 8:00 in the morning.