Rupin Pass Trek

Day 00: Arrival in Dehradun | Dehradun to Dhaula
Upon arrival in Dehradun by a train from Delhi, you can choose between driving to Dhaula and taking a bus from Dehradun to Naitwar. Upon reaching here, take a shared Jeep ride to the village of Dhaula. On arrival in the village, enjoy an overnight stay at the campsite.

Day 01: Dhaula to Sewa (13 km/approx. 7 hours)
The adventurous Rupin pass trek starts today from a site, located a little outside Dhaula. Along the trail, you will encounter a few human settlements, and after sometime the pristine Rupin River will be visible flowing through a gorge about 500 feet below. The trek continues as you walk along the left side of the valley and pass through fragrant apple and apricot trees.

Carry on with the walk till you reach a shop, selling refreshments, on the way. Relish a steaming cup of tea, complemented with some light snacks, here. This break will refresh you enough to continue the Rupin pass trekking tour further. Today’s excursion ends at Sewa – a village, which a little uphill from the floor of the Rupin River. Upon reaching Sewa, you will come across a small temple that reflects the exquisite Kinnauri traditions and beliefs. Stay on the trail until you hear the rippling sounds of the stream.

Post hiking for sometime along the gushing rivulet, come across a bridge, which acts as a passage between the states of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Cross the bridge to reach the bank of the river, and set up tents here for an overnight stay.

Day 02: Sewa to Putodhar (2300 metres)
In the morning, walk along the same trail along the right side of the valley. Continue the trek to Rupin Pass on a relatively unhurried pace, and pass the two large yet faraway villages of Dodra and Kwar. Walk on the bridge, across a river, and then take the track leading up to the village. Climb up to Kwar and reach the rapidly ascending trail, which will take you to the village of Jiksun. The trail heads along the right bank of the river, as you tackle the demanding climb to Jiksun. Located near the conflux of the Rupin and Narkund Khad rivulets, this village is your camping destination for the night.

Day 03: Putodhar to Jakhu (8 km/approx. 4 hours)
Resume the Rupin Pass trekking venture by descending along the trail that becomes more demanding and steep as it leads towards a tributary of the main river. Here, you chance upon a sharp climb that will have to be accomplished to reach the Jakhu village. Later, travel to the outskirts of the village for an overnight stay.

Day 04: Jakhu to Rupin Valley Camp (Waterfall) (11 km/approx. 5 hours)
In the morning, continue the trek to Rupin Pass by walking through picturesque and thick maple and blue pine forests. After strolling for a while, you will eventually start to descend towards a river. Cross the bridge to reach the left side of the valley from the right side. Maple forests now give way to those of silver birch and rhododendrons, and finally to alpine meadows. In the blooming seasons, the vivid colours of the wild flowers and blue poppies come alive and turn the meadow into something enchantingly beautiful. While walking along the trail, you will also stumble across a scenic waterfall. Thereafter, transfer to the campsite for an overnight stay.

Day 05: Rupin Valley Camp to Kanda via Rupin Pass (8 km/approx. 4 hours)
En route Rupin Pass, you will be treated to spellbinding views of glaciers and snowfields. The Rupin Pass trekking tour now becomes a bit more challenging as you move along a trail, less in width and having a high angle of ascent. Continue to make progress on the expedition while passing through perilous boulders. For your safety, take the support of a rope if these have snow. On reaching the summit of the pass, enjoy the spectacular views of the Kinnaur Kailash Range of the Himalayas. Finally, descend towards alpine meadows to set up camps for an overnight stay.

Day 06: Kanda to Sangla
This stage of the Rubin Pass trekking expedition will be delightful as you will tread through lush forests of deodar and oak trees. All the while, continue enjoying enthralling views of the Sangla Valley. Descending towards Sangla, the trail grows steeper, so walk downhill carefully and maintain a comfortable pace. Hike downhill for around one and a half hour and experience an elevation decline of more than 1500 feet. Thereafter, the track from the narrow valley of Ronti Gad skews to the left towards another valley, giving views of the Rukti Gad rivulet.

The magnificent view of an imposing mountain range, standing at about 20000 feet in height, will take you by awe. Way beneath that, notice the first mark of civilisation in the form of the village of Sangla Kanda. The sight of a human settlement after this long a trek will fill you with a refreshed vigour. Channel the energy to hike for another one and a half hour to reach the village. On arrival in Sangla Kanda, transfer to campsite for an overnight stay.

Day 07: Sangla to Shimla/Chandigarh
The Rupin Pass trek comes to an end upon reaching Sangla. Having reached here, you will find that the town has excellent links to other cities. Either stay in Sangla in any of the numerous accommodation options offered in the form of hotels, and bed and breakfasts; or travel to Shimla or Chandigarh by road.