Itinerary Description
Rupin Pass, which spans over 65 kilometres between the states of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, is unquestionably one of India's grandest cross-country treks. Every bend in the route feels like a huge theatre curtain opening, presenting stunning views steeped in a dizzying variety of hues that leave you speechless in their wake. There is never a dull moment on the trail, whether you are hiking through dense pine and rhododendron forests, meandering through a hanging village, traversing enormous glacial valleys, climbing Rupin Pass' steep, narrow gully, sliding down snow chutes to Ronti Gad, or climbing to the top of a waterfall. The Rupin Pass, which rises to a height of 4,650 M, is a moderate-level trip ideal for hikers wishing to advance their skills after completing an easy walk. The walk does provide some problems, necessitating a certain set of talents to negotiate its terrain well, despite the modest distances travelled each day and the continuous altitude climb. The terrain is not the only thing that changes dramatically. While travelling from one campground to another, the Rupin River transforms into a different avatar. This is perhaps the aspect of the walk that we like the best if we had to choose just one. It's unique in that you can hike from the Dhaula riverbed all the way to the summit of the Rupin Waterfall. Few people can claim to have observed a river's path as closely as one does on the Rupin Pass Trek.
Introduction
A heartthrob of many trekkers, Rupin Pass is undeniably the most brilliant crossover trek in the Himalayas. It is one of the few treks that will have you gasping with joy and wonder at every turn. The dramatic change in scenery almost feels like nature playing tricks with your eyes. The landscape on Rupin Pass changes more colors than a chameleon. One day you are walking through rhododendron forests, and another day you are glissading down snowy slopes. A kaleidoscope of the best sceneries, Rupin Pass never fails to mesmerize you.
Best Time for Rupin Pass Trek
Perched at an altitude above 4,500 meters, the trek is only accessible for a few months in a year, i.e., May-June and September-October.
In the summer season, the trail is open from early May till the end of June. While you can expect snow-covered trails in May, June is when the meadows are resplendent with wildflowers and greenery along with snowy patches.
Come autumn, the whole scenery is transformed. The trail turns entirely green, and hundreds of waterfalls erupt from the mountains. October welcomes the first snowfall of the winter season.
Difficulty Level
Rupin Pass Trek lies between moderate and challenging on the trek difficulty scale. The trek soars at an altitude of 4,500 meters, posing a fair share of challenges. Expect high altitude gains, lengthy hikes, harsh weather, snow bridges, and steep ascents and descents on the trail.
The trek will push your limits and demand high strength and endurance throughout the trail. Therefore, it is advisable that you first gain experience with easy and moderate-level treks before you venture out on the Rupin Trail
Short Itinerary
Day 1: Shimla (2276 m) - Jiskun (2099 m) 198 km (9-10 hours)
Day 2: Jiskun (2099 m) to Jhaka (2750 m) 6-7 km (4-5 hours)
Day 3: Jhaka (2750 m) to Saruswas Thach (3280 m) 8-9 km (6-7 hours)
Day 4: Saruswas Thach (3280 m) to Dhanderas Thatch (3566 m) 9 km (7-8 hours)
Day 5: Dhanderas Thatch (3566 m) - Upper Waterfall Camp (4080 m) 4 km (3 hours)
Day 6: Upper Waterfall Camp (4080 m) - Rupin Pass (4657 m) - Ronti Gad Camp (4005 m) 8 km (8-10 hours)
Day 7: Ronti Gad Camp (4005 m) - Sangla Valley (2675 m) 13 km(5-6 hours) and drive to Shimla (2276 m) 225 km (7 hours)
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1
Day 1: Shimla (2276 m) - Jiskun (2099 m) 198 km (9-10 hours)
Jiskun is a small, quiet agricultural village in Himachal Pradesh. It is located 198 km from Shimla and will take about 9-10 hours to reach Jiskun. Stay overnight in a local homestay and get some rest for the next day.
Day 2
Day 2: Jiskun (2099 m) to Jhaka (2750 m) 6-7 km (4-5 hours)
Trail: Embark on the journey through hamlets and remote villages. A couple of hours into the trek, you will come across a wooden bridge - the portal to Himachal Pradesh. The trail follows a steep incline on the other side of which lies the famous “hanging village” of Jhaka.
Campsite: Expect to reach Jhaka late in the afternoon. The small quaint riverside village has a couple of tea stalls and guest lodges. Stay overnight in a lovely homestay.
Day 3
Day 3: Jhaka (2750 m) to Saruswas Thach (3280 m) 8-9 km (6-7 hours)
Trail: The narrow and uneven path climbs through thick fir forests followed by a quick descent to the Rupin riverbed. The walk along the river is easy and leveled out.
Campsite: Saruswas Thach offers you thundering views of the Rupin Waterfall. The campsite lies right in the middle of a meadow with Bhoj trees and rhododendrons surrounding the periphery.
Day 4
Day 4: Saruswas Thach (3280 m) to Dhanderas Thatch (3566 m) 9 km (7-8 hours)
Trail: Today is an easy day as we relocate from Saruswa Thach to Dhanderas Thach. The trail goes through sprawling meadows covered in tiny flowers if you are visiting in summer.
Campsite: The campsite of Dhanderas Thach lies at the foot of the roaring Rupin Waterfall.
Day 5
Day 5: Dhanderas Thatch (3566 m) - Upper Waterfall Camp (4080 m) 4 km (3 hours)
Trail: Expect some challenges today as we climb up the steep ascent with snow bridges and rocky fields. Don’t worry! We will take full precautions and teach you how to maneuver tricky parts of the trail. The real challenge is the snow bridge near the lower waterfall. Once you are in clear, the Upper Waterfall campsite will mesmerize you with its raw and untouched beauty.
Campsite: When you reach the campsite, it feels good to be on the edge of the waterfall.
Day 6
Day 6: Upper Waterfall Camp (4080 m) - Rupin Pass (4657 m) - Ronti Gad Camp (4005 m) 8 km (8-10 hours)
Trail: It is the last challenging phase of the trek with ultimate rewards. The trail from Upper Waterfall to Rupin Pass is a steep climb covered in knee-deep snow in some sections. The landscape takes a U-turn at Rata Pheri. The trail to Rupin Pass has a danger of loose rocks. Stay close and follow your trek leader.
Campsite: The descent to Ronti Gad campsite is comparatively easier except for one steep section. Overnight camp at Ronti Gad
Milestone of the day: When you notice the stone cairns and colorful prayer flags, you will know you have reached Rupin Pass. The ginormous views of Kinner Kailash Ranges welcome you with arms wide open
Day 7
Day 7: Ronti Gad Camp (4005 m) - Sangla Valley (2675 m) 13 km(5-6 hours) and drive to Shimla (2276 m) 225 km (7 hours)
The descent from Ronti Gad is long and arduous. There will be a rapid drop in altitude. We will follow the trail to Sangla Kanda, meandering through blue pine forests, beautiful apple orchards, and quaint villages. A car will be waiting for you at Sangla to transport you to Shimla.
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- ●Veg meals as per menu on the trek (Starting Dinner on day 1 till pack lunch on the last day )
- ●During the camping Tents on twin sharing basis, Sleeping bags, mats
- ●Forest Permits/Camping Charges, if any (Upto the amount charged for Indian nationals)
- ●Mountaineering course certified Trek Leader with First Aid certification
- ●Certified and Experience guide, Experience cook, helpers, and porters for carrying common supplies
- ●• All Technical & safety equipment - as required, depending upon snow conditions like (Micro-spikes, Gaiters, Helmets)
- ●First aid medical kits and oxygen cylinder
WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED
- ●Portage of personal bags during the trek.
- ●Cost of any kind of Travel Insurance
- ●Meals during road journeys
- ●• Any Expense not specified in the inclusions list.
- ●Any Expense of personal nature
Are you eligible for this adventure?
Annapurna Base Camp Trek takes you to a height of 4,130M and is rated a moderate level trek for its long trekking distances. For its elevation and distances, it is recommended for trekkers with some prior experience in the high-altitudes.
Grade
Moderate
Max Altitude
4632 mts
Distance
52 km

WMRS Level Required

Terrain

Prerequisite Skills

Fitness Benchmark
WMRS Level Required
WMRS 4
Annapurna Base Camp Trek is a level 4 adventure on the Bikat Rating Scale.
This makes it mandatory for you to have high-altitude experience of preferably multiple treks marked at level 3 on the WMRS. The altitude, the terrain, and the nature of the climb demand a certain level of endurance and a need for you to be aware of how your body reacts to the various features of the high-altitude environment.
If you do not know what level of WMRS trek would suit you best, worry not! Fill out this Form:
We will send you a progression chart to help you comfortably get out of your comfort zone in order to level up and ultimately reach your highest potential in the big, bad world of outdoor adventure.
Packing List
This is a list of essential items for individuals doing the trek with Bikat Adventures. This list contains only those items which the participants are required to bring with them. The list excludes those items which are provided by Bikat Adventures on the trek. We have divided the items into five categories. All the items in the list are essential except for those marked as optional.
🟩 Trekking Gear
- Ruck sack bag with rain cover. Qty -1
- . Day Pack Bag - Recommended for treks with summit day
- Head Torch with spare Batteries. Qty -1
- U V protection sunglasses. Qty -1*
- Water Bottles: 2 bottles of 1 liter each*
🟩 Footwear
- Non-skid, deep treaded, high-ankle with water resistant trekking shoes Qty -1
- Pair of light weight Crocks/Sandals Qty -1
🟩 Clothing
- Quick Dry Warm lower or Track Pants. Qty – 2*
- Full sleeves T-shirts/ Sweatshirts. 1 for every 2 days of trekking
- Pair of thick woolen socks. 1 pair for every two days of trekking
- Thermal Body warmer Upper & Lower. Qty-1
- Undergarments. Qty - 1 for every day of trekking
- Warm jacket closed at wrist & neck .Qty-1
- Full sleeves sweater. Qty -1
- Rain wear (Poncho/ Jacket & Pants) . Qty-1
- Pair of waterproof, warm gloves. Qty-1
- Woolen cap. Qty-1
- Sun shielding Hat. Qty -1
🟩 Toiletries
- Personal toiletries kit (Small Towel, Toilet paper, paper soap, Bar soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, cold cream, etc.)
- Sun screen lotion small pack. Qty -1 (Minimum SPF 30)
- Lip Balm small pack. Qty-1
🟩 Miscellaneous
- Camera (Optional)
- Carry your medicines in plenty in case you have any specific ailment. Consult your doctor before joining the trek.
- Dry fruits, Nuts, Chocolate bars (Optional)
Here are a couple of tutorials on What & How to pack your rucksack for your upcoming trek from our experts:
Note-
- *For long trek please carry one spare sunglass
- *In winter trek please try to carry one hot water bottle
- * For long and winter trek to carry warm pent one pair
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Wanderin Man?
(SET- Safety, Expertise & Trust )

Safety
- ●Small Group Size in the ratio of 6:1 (participant to leader)
- ●No compromise on safety and sustainability promise
- ●Experienced and Certified Mountaineering Professional Leaders
- ●Region Mapped with Emergency Evacuation Plan
- ●Certified Standard Equipment by UIAA (International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation certification) & other Similar Bodies
- ●Minimized Risk Management Standard Operating Procedure are applied for every Trek and tour
- ●Certified First Aid Support and Doctors* with constant availability of Safety Equipments like Medical Kit, Rescue Kit
- ●Constant communication is aided with the help of Communication Devices
- ●Certified and registered Transporter for transportation purpose

Expertise
- ●Founders of the company have extensive experience of 15 years having organized approx 2000+ trekking, Expeditions and other adventure activities.
- ●Wanderin’ Man Adventures operating expeditions above 8000 mts.
- ●Under the umbrella of Wanderin’ Man Adventures 15 + adventure activities Programs have been organized
- ●Founders have mountaineering certifications from the esteemed mountaineering institutes of India.
- ●Team is composed of experienced mountaineers and trek leaders with thorough understanding of norms and procedures.

Trust
- ●Trust has been the hallmark of our company since its inception be it any program on the list.
- ●Special emphasis is laid on the use of standard procedures and equipments as per the mountaineering norms
- ●95% of our clients have availed our service on repeat basis.
- ●Our business has expanded primarily based on the “word of mouth” from our existing clients to new ones
What Our Customers Say
Cancellation Policy
Cash Refund (All events including Friendship Peak Expedition except other Mountaineering Expeditions) - Cash refunds are only available for bookings made without any discounts, such as promotional codes or dynamic discounts. Additionally, cash refunds are not available for shifted batch bookings or if the booking status is "Booked". The amount of the refund will be determined based on the following guidelines:
Cancellations made up to 45 days before the departure date
Cancellations made up to 31 days before the departure date
Cancellations made between 30 and 21 days before the departure date
Cancellations made between 20 and 11 days before the departure date
Cancellations made less than 11 days before the departure date are not eligible for a cash refund.
Similar Adventures

Khopra Ridge Trek
Less popular, less crowded, more beautiful alternative to ABC
- Nepal
- 10 Days
- BRS 4
- 4767 m

Tarsar Marsar Trek
A Shorter and Easier Alternative to the Kashmir Great Lakes Trek
- Kashmir
- 7 Days
- BRS 4
- 4024 m

Hampta Pass Trek
An Enchanting Cross-Over from Manali to Spiti
- Himachal
- 5 Days
- BRS 4
- 4200 m