Rupin Pass Trek

You will start your journey from Shimla at 6:00 AM to reach the basecamp, Jiskun village. The road to Jiskun goes through the most beautiful and scenic Chainsheel valley. Expect to reach Jiskun by evening. Jiskun is a quaint village with handful of home and homestays.

A 3.5 kilometer walk from Jiskun to Jhaka, the highest village on the Rupin pass trek. The trail passes through a forest and over a wooden bridge before climbing through a mixed forest with frequent changes in scenery. Along the way, there is a diversion in the trail, with one path leading to a village higher than Jhaka and the other path leading to Jhaka.

The trail begins by winding through a beautiful fir forest, one of the most stunning sections of any trek. After a steep descent, the path levels out as it follows the banks of the Rupin River. Along the way, be sure to keep an eye out for the vibrant dwarf rhododendrons just past Udaknal, before reaching the idyllic meadows of Saruwas Thatch.

The hike from Saruwas Thatch to Danderas Thatch is a short and easy walk, with minimal elevation changes. It is often considered the most scenic day of the trek, as you will pass through colorful meadows and fields. At the end of the day, you will reach the famous Dhanderas Thatch or Lower Waterfall campsite, located at the base of the majestic Rupin waterfall of a height of 1500 feet. You will spend the night here, surrounded by the sounds of the waterfall’s thunderous roar.

Today’s trail is continuously uphill and can be challenging due to snow patches at the base and top of the waterfall. In the summer months, you may need to cross the waterfall on a snow bridge. In the autumn, the trail becomes rocky and slippery. Despite the difficulties, the climb beside the waterfall is an exciting adventure. The views from the snout of the waterfall are breathtaking and well worth the effort to reach them.

Wake up before dawn and be ready to leave your campsite by 5:00 am. You’ll need all the energy you can get for the steep climb to the pass, followed by a sharp descent. This will be the longest and most challenging day of your trek, but also the most exciting.

You’ll encounter the snowfields of Rata Pheri, get a glimpse of the Rupin pass in the distance, climb through the gully, reach the top of the Rupin Pass, take in the stunning views of the Kinnauri mountains, slide down the snow on the pass, and finally arrive at the meadows of Rontigad. This day will be full of adventure and will stay with you for a long time.

On the final day of the trek, you will make a steep descent to the beautiful and picturesque town of Sangla. The trek will take you through lush grasslands and offer stunning views of the Kinner Kailash range and the blue pines of the Baspa valley.

Although the descent may be challenging on your knees and toes, the breathtaking scenery more than makes up for it. Transportation from Sangla to Shimla has been arranged for 2:00 PM and you can expect to arrive in Shimla between 11:00 PM and midnight.

The total distance of the Rupin Pass trek is around 35 km long. You cover this distance over 6 days. The average distance you will cover is 5- 7 per and walk for 5-6 hours a day. The longest day is the last day of your trek. You will cover a total of 11 km today. 

Rupin Pass is a demanding trek trek suitable for trekkers with prior experience. However, with dedicated physical training, beginners can also attempt the trek.  The Outdoor Leader will decide whether you are eligible for participation. 

Rupin Pass is a challenging trek recommended for trekkers with prior experience of high altitude exposure. The trek requires trekkers to be in good physical condition to trek comfortably.  

Rupin Pass temperature in summer is recorded between 13°C to 17°C during the daytime. The days are warm and sunny. Expect cold nights and freezing temperatures at the higher campsites.  

Find out the month-wise temperature of  Rupin Pass. 

The best time to visit the Rupin Pass trek is during summer and autumn. The summer season begins in May and continues till June end. 

Read more the best time to visit Rupin Pass Trek. 

You will find the remains of the snow at higher altitudes. If you do the Rupin Pass trek in summer, you will find snow from the Lower Waterfall campsite. However, there will be no fresh snow on the trek. 

The Rupin Pass trek cost is Rs. 16450/.

The trek cost covers your experience from basecamp to basecamp. 

The trek starts from Dhaula village in Uttarakhand. Dhaula is around 180 km from Dehradun. Rupin Pass also starts from Jiskun Village in Himachal.

The trek is located in Himachal Pradesh.  

Rupin Pass is a 7-day long trek. This includes travel to and from the base camp. 

Rupin Pass trek is at an altitude of 15,250ft.

The Rupin Pass is challenging and has long walking hours. The trek spreads over seven days and climbs to the highest altitude of 15250ft. The trek requires experienced guides to help you navigate the challenging terrain. If you plan to go solo on this trek, hiring a guide is a must to avoid any unforeseen situation.

Yes, it is a demanding trek, and you need prior experience of at least one high-altitude trek to attempt the Rupin Pass trek.

The most important thing to do on a trek to avoid AMS is to drink water, more than your daily intake. Water is an excellent way to avoid AMS. Along with this, you should also have all the nutritious meals we provide on the trek. If you still are sceptical about getting AMS, we would advise you to carry Diamox tablets with you. However, according to the situation your Outdoor leader will advise whether or not you should take it.

We encourage everyone to trek, even if or not they have a medical condition. We have an in-house doctor at OWLS with whom you can discuss your medical condition and accordingly, we can help you better prepare you for the trek.

Please keep the following documents ready before filling out this form

1. ID proof
2. Health form (for all participants of Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh treks) and (for all participants <15 and > 60 years of age)
3. RTPCR for children <15 years/Vaccination certificate for adults (for Nepal treks)

Although we provide filling breakfast, lunch, and dinner along with morning tea and evening snacks, you can carry some light snacks for munching on the trail. You can carry protein bars, dry fruits, and homemade snacks like Shakkarpara to help you give that extra energy on the trek. 

Our Outdoor Leaders are a team of experienced and well-trained individuals. They have completed the Basic Mountaineering Course and possess first-aid knowledge. In addition to this, they are certified Wilderness First Responders and have been trained to act responsibly in case of any unforeseen accidents.

You don’t need to carry your medical kit. If you have your prescribed medications, you need to carry them on the trek

The accommodation will be on twin sharing basis. One tent will be shared by two trekkers. 

Yes. Communicate your requirement to the trek leaders beforehand, as it will be difficult to arrange to offload at the last minute. The offloading charges will be Rs 350 per bag, and your bag should not weigh more than 9 kg. 

Note: At OWLs, we suggest our participants carry their backpacks and avoid offloading. However, in case of pressing circumstances, you can opt for offloading.

The cloakroom facility is unavailable for treks like Rupin Pass, Buran Ghati and Bali Pass. This trek begins in one village and concludes in another village. 

The OWLS team will set up a toilet tent near the campsites. The toilets will be dry toilets and you will have to use toilet paper. There will be a pit dug by the team and you will have to cover your nature’s call with dry soil. Avoid using wet wipes, as they are not biodegradable. At OWLS, we thrive to leave no trace in the mountains. 

At the base camp, you will have regular concrete toilets.

The food offered will be as per the nutritional requirements. As you will be walking every day for 4-6 hours, you will be burning a good amount of calories. The team makes sure that the food you will be offered is healthy and helps you sustain through the day. The regular meal comprises eggs, locally grown vegetables, rice, roti, and pulses. The menu changes from day to day. 

You will have access to most mobile networks in the base camp in Jiskun. We suggest our participants make important calls while at the base camp. There will be no signals throughout the trek.