The old shepherd road between two valleys

The Jalsu Pass Trek is one of the most frequently traveled mountain passes between the Kangra and Chamba valleys. Busy with pilgrims and adventurers alike, the trail has earned a name of its own — the Flower Valley of Himachal Pradesh. For centuries, Gaddi shepherds have relied on this path to move between Kangra and their homeland in Chamba, and the trek still starts and finishes in Gaddi villages today.

Compared to the higher, more technical passes nearby, Jalsu is a gentler introduction to trekking in the Dhauladhar — five unhurried days, a lower peak, and camps that sit among working shepherd communities rather than bare rock and snow.

Day by Day

What each day covers, camp to camp

Utrala to Baqlood

Day

1

The gentle start, up out of the valley

• Breakfast and leave Palampur (4,121 ft)

  • Drive from Palampur to Utrala (1 hrs)

  • Start trek

  • Water, drinks and snacks available in Utrala

• Trek from Utrala to Baqlood

  • Starting Point - Utrala

  • Starting Altitude: 4,442 ft

  • Lunch on the way

  • Arrive by ~ 2/3 PM

• Baqlood 5254 ft

• Anticipated Temperature at night: ~ 77°F

Baqlood to Paraieen

Day

2

A steady climb, with a night to acclimatize before the pass

• Breakfast & Pack

  • Start Trek

  • Starting Altitude: 5,354 ft

  • Lunch on the way

  • Arrive by ~3/4 PM

• Paraieen 7,683 ft

• Acclimatize to high altitude

• Anticipated Temperature at night: ~ 68°F

Paraieen to Yadda Goth

Day

3

• Breakfast & Pack

  • Start Trek

  • Starting Altitude: 7,683 ft

• Trek from Paraieen to Jalsu Pass

  • The most difficult part of the trek - incline and can be snow in some parts.

• Jalsu Pass 12,895 ft

  • Enjoy the Peak for a short time

  • Lunch (Packed)

• Trek from Jalsu Pass to Yadda Goth

  • Descend on rough snow & rocky terrain

• Yadda Goth 8,854 ft

  • Gujjar muslim, Gaddi Shepherd

• Anticipated Temperature at night: ~59°F

The hardest day - the pass, then a shepherd camp on the far side

Yadda Goth to Surai Village

Day

4

Down toward the Chamba villages

• Breakfast & Pack

  • Start Trek

  • Starting Altitude: 8,854 ft

• Trek from Yadda Goth to Surai

  • Lunch on the way

• Surai 7808 ft

  • Meet with people in village

• Anticipated Temperature at night: ~60°F

Surai Village to Neyagran

Day

5

A short final descent to the pickup point

• Breakfast & Pack

  • Start Trek

  • Starting Altitude: 7,808 ft

• Trek from Surai Village to Neyagran

  • Explore village on descent

  • trek ends at Neyagran village

  • Taxi will pick us up at Neyagran Temple

• Drive from Neyagran to Palampur

  • Leave Neyagran

Good to know

What to expect before you commit to the pass.

Difficulty

Jalsu is a moderate trek by Dhauladhar standards. Day 3 is the crux — a steady climb to 12,895 ft, with snow possible in parts, then a rocky descent to camp.

Camping & food

Four nights in tents — at Baqlood, Paraieen, Yadda Goth, and Surai. Meals are cooked over a campfire every evening of the trek.

Overnight temperatures

A mild ~77°F at Baqlood on night one, cooling steadily to ~59°F near the pass at Yadda Goth, then back up to ~60°F by Surai.

A historic route

Before you start

After the trek

Known as the Flower Valley of Himachal Pradesh, this trail has carried pilgrims, adventurers, and Gaddi shepherds between Kangra and Chamba for centuries.

The trek departs from Utrala, about an hour's drive from Palampur, with water, drinks, and snacks available before setting off at 10:30 am.

The taxi ride from Neyagran back to Palampur takes 9–10 hours, with a lunch stop in Chamba and a break at Jot Pass (8,000 ft) for the view.

Your Guides

At Gaddi Tours we only provide the best local certified guides for your trek. We have decades of experience climbing these very mountains. Our guides are registered with the Himachal Pradesh Department of Tourism. Our guides are from the Gaddi Tribe so they are not just registered and qualified to lead these treks, but are locals from these mountains. They were born and raised in these mountains and know them better than anyone in the world. They love to show foreigners the beauty and wonder of their mountains, homeland and culture.

Ready for the pass?

Gadditours runs the Jalsu Pass Trek out of Palampur - get in touch to book your trek.

Address

Ghuggar, Palampur Himachal Pradesh 176061
India

Contact Us

gadditours@gmail.com
+91 94187-56198