Himachal Pradesh

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Welcome to Himachal Pradesh

The insider's travel guide to Himachal Pradesh

Loved by backpackers for its laidback mountain towns and cafe culture, this is where I found the right mix of easy going trails in my newbie hiker days, and tougher climbs as I grew more ambitious. This province bridges the gap to Ladakh and is the gateway to the trans-himalaya, its road route (Manali-Leh) is one of the most scenic driving trips in India, and increasingly popular as a mountain biking route as well. Himachal Pradesh is home to the stunning Tirthan Valley, where the Tirthan river flows through a lush valley criss-crossed with easy hikes, juxtaposed with the stark Spiti Valley guarded by mountains that can be traversed only via some truly imposing passes.

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The Himachal Pradesh atlas

3 picks Places & Experiences You Won't Find Elsewhere

Difficulty: MildMax Elevation: 3,810 metres (Mud) and 4,400 metres (Pin base camp)Duration: Five daysStart/end point: Mudh village, Spiti valley Accommodation: Homestays & camping A hike through the Pin Valley National Park in Himachal’s Spiti Valley is my recommended alternative to the crowded and over-popular Valley of Flowers hike. Pin Valley is perfect for those who want a remote but quiet and beautiful landscape, with a sprinkling of local Buddhist culture. Easy day hikes can be done from Mudh, a quaint village that I love for its whitewashed, traditional houses in the midst of pea and barley fields surrounded by windswept valleys and intriguing rock formations. Alternatively, you can make longer forays into the Pin National Park to places like Gechang, Ka, and Thango. You could go to the Pin base camp via Tia and Shia on a three-day camping trek. The Pin-Parvati traverse is suitable for more ambitious hikers. Need to know While the hikes here are fairly easy, getting to Pin Valley is a challenge. The full day drive from Manali (comfortable overnight buses from New Delhi get you here, or a 14-hour taxi/self drive) to Spiti is best ended in the valley’s capital Kaza, from where you can continue to Mudh the next day via shared taxis. Factor in additional days for roadblocks due to minor landslides, a common occurrence in the region.
Loved by backpackers for its laidback mountain towns and cafe culture, this is where I found the right mix of easy going trails in my newbie hiker days, and tougher climbs as I grew more ambitious. This province bridges the gap to Ladakh and is the gateway to the trans-himalaya, its road route (Manali-Leh) is one of the most scenic driving trips in India, and increasingly popular as a mountain biking route as well. Himachal Pradesh is home to the stunning Tirthan Valley, where the Tirthan river flows through a lush valley criss-crossed with easy hikes, juxtaposed with the stark Spiti Valley guarded by mountains that can be traversed only via some truly imposing passes.
This trek in Himachal Pradesh state was once a traditional route for Gaddi shepherds to relocate their flocks from Lahaul Valley into Kullu Valley, via the 4,277 metre Hampta Pass which connects these two starkly diverse landscapes and gives the trek its name. As I pressed on through my journey, through steep ascents, fast-flowing river crossings and craggy trails, I got to experience for myself the transition from the pale-green meadows of Kullu to the semi-desert landscape of Lahaul. A note of caution: unregulated tourism is taking its toll in this area, as with much of the Indian Himalaya. What was once a remote trading route for shepherds to barter barley, potato and wool is now under great pressure from littering and irresponsible camping. If you come here, please ensure you visit respectfully and responsibly.