Two lakes, a snow pass, and a long way down to Chamba

The Minkiani Pass Trek is a challenging and rewarding trek up the Dhauladhar mountain range in India's Himalayas. It begins in the Gaddi village of Kareri and climbs through forest along a river to Kareri Lake, the base camp for the pass. The hardest ascent of the trip is the snow-peaked Minkiani Pass itself, at 13,950 ft.

The descent brings you to a second lake at 12,000 ft, then down through forest to a camp by the Darkund Forest Rest House. The final day is a slow one — a last stretch out of the wilderness and into a few Gaddi villages around Brehi, a fitting close to the trek before the taxi ride back to Palampur.

Day by Day

What each day covers, camp to camp

Kareri Village to Reoti Ghot

Day

1

Along the river, through mixed forest

• Leave Palampur

  • Cottage Altitude: 3,850 ft

• Drive from Palampur to Kareri (2 hrs)

  • Village tour

  • Lunch before Trek

• Start Trek

• Starting point - Kareri Village (Nohli Bridge)

  • Starting Altitude: 6,350 ft

• Trek from Kareri Village top Reoti Ghot

  • Ascend along the river through mixed forest

  • Water, drinks and snacks available at camp

• Reoti Ghot Campsite

  • Set up camp by food stall, near Reoti Bridge

  • Aniticipated Temperature at night: 45 F

Reoti Ghot to Kareri Lake

Day

2

Up to the Minkiani Pass base camp

• Breakfast & Pack

• Start Trek

• Starting Altitude: 8,200 ft

• Trek from Reoti Ghot to Kareri Lake (Minkiani base camp

  • Ascend along the river up to Kareri Lake

  • Personal snacks along the way

• Kareri Lake Campsite

  • Set up camp wherever desired near Lake

  • Anticipated Temperature at night: 40 F

Kareri Lake to Nagara Lake

Day

3

• Breakfast & Pack

• Start Trek

  • Starting Altitude: 9,800 ft

• Trek from Kareri Lake to Minkiani Pass

  • Most difficult part of the trek - steep incline

  • Ascend on snow, 2.1 miles

• Minkiani Pass

  • Altitude: 13,950 ft

  • Enjoy the Peak with photos for a short time

• Trek from Minkiani Pass to Nagara Lake

  • Descend on rough snow & rocky terrain, 1.1 miles

• Nagara Lake Campsite

  • Set up camp near by lake

  • Anticipated Temperature at night: 40 F

The hardest day - a steep snow climb, then a rough descent

Nagara Lake to Darkund

Day

4

Back down into the forest

• Breakfast & Pack

• Start Trek

  • Starting Altitude: 12,000 ft

• Trek from Nagara Lake to Darkund

  • begin descending into forest area

  • Personal snacks and lunch on the way

• Darkund Camp

  • Set up camp by the Forest Rest House

  • Anticipated Temperature at night: 47°C.

Darkund to Brehi Village

Day

5

A snow last day, back into civilization

• Breakfast & Pack

• Start Trek

  • Starting Altitude: 6,350 ft

• Trek from Darkund to Brehi Village

  • Enjoy a slow last day

  • Exit the wilderness, enter back to civilization

• Brehi Village

  • Explore village(s) from 10 am to 12 pm

• Taxi back to Palampur Homestay (7 hrs)

Good to know

What to expect before you commit to the pass.

Difficulty

This is a challenging high-altitude trek. Day 3 is the crux — a steep snow climb to 13,950 ft, followed by a rough descent over snow and rocky terrain to Nagara Lake.

Camping & Food

Four nights in tents — at Reoti Ghot, Kareri Lake, Nagara Lake, and Darkund. Nights 1 and 4 are cooked over a campfire; nights 2 and 3, up by the lakes, use a gas stove.

Overnight temperatures

~45°F at Reoti Ghot on night one, dropping to ~40°F at both lake camps, and back up to ~47°F at Darkund on night four.

Acclimatization

Before you start

After the trek

Kareri Lake serves as the base camp for Minkiani Pass, giving the group a night at 9,800 ft before the push over the top on Day 3.

The trek departs from Kareri Village, about a 2-hour drive from Palampur. There's a village tour and lunch before the trek starts at noon.

The taxi ride from Brehi back to Palampur takes about 7 hours, with a lunch stop in Chamba and a break at Jot Pass for the mountain 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 Indrahar 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