Confluence of the Pin and Bhabha valleys
Maximum Altitude
16,100 ft.
Trek Duration
7N / 8D
Trek Distance
51 Km
Difficulty Level
Difficult
Start/End Point
Shimla / Manali
Nearest Airport
Chandigarh International Airport
Best Season
Monsoon (July, August & September)
Accomodation
A night in homestay & 6 nights in campsite
Meals
Breakfast, lunch, evening snacks and dinner
Permits
Forest Department & Trekking permit
Temperature
15°C to 20°C (day) ; 0°C to -5°C (night)
Snow
June has the highest snow month
The Pin Bhaba Pass Trek (4,950 m) is a high-altitude crossover trek with an approximate distance of 51 Km that spans 8 days. It begins at Kafnu (2,400 m) in Kinnaur and finishes at Mudh (3,810 m), an isolated village in Spiti. The ecological significance of the trek lies in its 180-degree flip in terms of ecology; covering approximately 50% of the trek in the Rupi-Bhaba Wildlife Sanctuary passing through dense forest (oak and silver birch) and the famous alpine meadows (Mulling and Kara) of Kinnaur, the last day of the trek represents a climatic doorway into the Pin Valley National Park. Although this trek is not overly technical, it does require trekkers to negotiate a 3,000 ft ascent over loose scree, glacial moraines, and occasional patches of snow from Phutsirang (4,107 m) to reach the summit. Geologically this area is interesting due to the rain shadow effect of the pass; which is located on a narrow ridge interrupting the flow of the Indian monsoon, produces vegetation on the Kinnaur side of the ridge that is lush, flowering and, on the Spiti side, a barren, sterile cold desert resembling the surface of Mars. Culturally, this trek is a connection between the Hindu-influenced orchards found in the Sutlej Valley and the Tibetan Buddhist landscape of Mudh and Kaza.
The Pin Bhaba Pass Trek (4,915 m) is a peerless trekking experience due to its dramatic style and size, a crossover trek in the Indian Himalayas. The trek is a high altitude passage from one side of the world to the other; it contains an incredible amount of scenery transformed in a matter of hours unlike many other treks which provide a gradual transition of the same kind.
1. The Incredible Geographical Change: The Pin Bhaba trek changes instantly when compared to many treks through the Himalayas, that are spread over several days and have a gradual change of scenery, through the different landscapes. The Pin Bhaba trek provides a portal experience from the lush hilly Kinnaur side with its dense forests of cedar trees and pine trees to instantaneously being in the Martian like arid landscape of oxidized red rock and purple mountains that are characteristic of the Pin Valley in Spiti. As you cross over the high point of the trek (indicated as the 4,915m peak) the Kinnaur and all of its trekking characteristics are behind you and you are facing an immediate difference in terrain from the rainforest-type environment in the Kinnaur valley to the dry, barren, and flat Spiti valley.
2. The Difference in Weather: During the rainy season between July and August, the Monsoon Season is when this is one of the few high-altitude treks to take place. Due to the brute force of the monsoon rains on one side of this mountain range, it acts as a natural wall preventing the rain clouds from passing into the dry zone on the other side. Thus creating a very dramatic weather difference between the two regions: during the first half of the trek, you are in flower-filled and rainy valleys with lots of water flowing in the Bhaba River until you cross over into the rain shadow. Once you enter Spiti Valley, the amount of rain that has fallen is near zero for several weeks; therefore, you will have dry air and a bright blue sky against which to enjoy your trek through the two areas.
3. Cultural Linkage Between Two Cultures: The trek starts in Kafnu, which is a traditional Kinnauri village. In this village, life is centered around wooden Hindu temples, apple orchards, and terraced gardens. The culture changes completely when you cross over the pass and descend into the village of Mudh; you enter a place of Tibetan Buddhism with whitewashed, mud-brick homes, colorful prayer flags known as Lungta, ancient monasteries (Gompas), and an entire way of living that is dependent on the extreme conditions of a high-altitude desert.
4. From Switzerland to Mars: The various campsites located on this trek offer some of the most diverse aesthetics of any Himalaya region. Mulling and Kara are two of the finest meadows in the world, comparable to the beauty of Switzerland or Kashmir with wide-open grassy fields, grazing Gaddi sheep, and enormous vertical cliffs made of granite. After the summit, the landscape changes to include a rugged-looking cold high altitude desolate region or terrain filled with multi-colored rocks; some made from burnt orange, deep purple and ocher rock. They appear in contrast to many massive, glacial moraines; all create an otherworldly feeling leading you to believe you are no longer on earth but have entered into another world.
5. Technical High Altitude Challenge: With a total height of 4,915 m, this trekking experience presents an intense high-altitude experience whilst presenting a less extreme degree of objective hazards than the Pin Parvati Pass. The area of specialty relates to the abundance types of terrain experienced whilst trekking: from dense forest navigation to crossing traditional wooden log bridges, as well as traversing icy glacial streams to negotiating very steep inclines of loose scree/ snow. You will have the opportunity to descend through the Pin Valley National Park, which is a protected area and home to many endangered species of wildlife and potentially you might catch a glimpse of a rare Snow Leopard or a Himalayan Ibex in the rise & fall of the rugged mountains.
This is a linear trek, rather than an out and back trek; as you trek further into the Trans Himalayas, away from the humid, oxygen-rich forests, you are actually going deeper into the isolation of the trans Himalayas in a meditative state. The colour variation throughout the Pin Valley provides one of the most unique sensory experiences along your entire journey; the hills are constantly changing colours from bright burnt orange to darker and the transition from the roaring Bhaba to the silent Spiti desert creates a sound experience that is as memorable as any other aspect of your trek.
The Pin Bhaba Pass Trail is rated as difficult and represents a considerable increase in challenge level compared to conventional Himalayan treks due to requirements of extreme physical endurance and mental determination. The principal challenge of the trek is the Pass Day where you will gain approximately 800 m of vertical elevation in progressively rarified air to a maximum elevation of 4,915 m, followed by a steep, harshly jarring descent across loose, sliding scree and moraine on the Spiti side of the Pass. As a result, your experience on this trek will be defined by the intensely raw, technical aspects of navigation across the narrow traditional wooden Himalayan log bridges over the torrent of the Bhaba river and also on crossing very unstable, glacial streams by foot because there will be no bridges. While this trail does not expose you to the extreme objective dangers that exist along the adjacent Pin Parvati Pass, the terrain will challenge your cardiovascular fitness level and the ability to maintain constant and stable foot trek while traversing four different ecosystems from humid forest to dry, high desert at high altitude.
The Pin Bhaba Pass Trek spans two different ecological environments, connecting the Rupi-Bhaba Wildlife Sanctuary with the Pin Valley National Park.
The trek is an uncommon ethnic corridor which unites Hindu Kinnaur with Buddhist Spiti. It commences in Kafnu, a verdant Kinnauri village defined by Kath-Kuni Architecture (that is interlocking wood and stone) and extensive apple orchards. There is an excitement about life; the people living here have a dependence upon the woods for their existence and are centred around the age-old wooden altars and individuals wearing traditional green striped hats called Thepang. Mudh is a Skodavan Spitian high-altitude fort, and the difference in architecture from Mudh to Kafnu is glaring: there are whitewashed shed like mud-brick homes with flat roofs and vividly coloured window frames, and there are edifices honouring Tibetan Buddhism, such as ancient chortens, mani walls, and multi-coloured prayer flags hung from them. This trek is an excellent illustration of how the land impacted the beliefs of the people, as they have moved away from the ritualistic green valleys of Kinnaur towards the inlets of Spiti, which are west desert and a site of quiet meditation.
On the summit of the 4,915 m (16,100 ft) mountain, you will experience a significant shock to all five senses because you are standing on the great divide and are very close to the Kinnaur and Spiti boundaries which are separated by extreme weather. As you look back towards Kinnaur, you can see heavy grey monsoon clouds trying to tear their way across the mountaintops from Kinnaur but cannot find a way through; however, as you look forward into Spiti, you see the never ending vast expanse of the Tibetan Plateau which is bone dry. The last 800 m vertical push from the Phutsirang (4,107 m) to the top of the prayer flag covered pass is extremely strenuous due to trekking on a loose glacial moraine; thus, reaching the summit will be an overwhelming feeling of success.
This trek features an incredible transformation of the landscape upon crossing the pass. On the Kinnaur side, you trek through the Bhaba Valley, which has a beautiful juxtaposition of bright and mossy colors due to the dense coniferous (pine and cedar) forests and into the large alpine meadows of Mulling and Kara. When you cross the ridge, there are no more green trees; as you descend into pin valley you are engulfed by a Martian-like cold desert filled with oxidized red rock, crumbling purple scree, and chocolate brown sun-bleached mountains with a dry turquoise sky above.
