Bhrigu Lake Trek: Gulaba Route, Distance & Best Time
A high glacial lake above Manali in three days
Gulaba to the lake and back, with a guide, camps, cab and your Manali hotel in one quote.
- Lake ~4,235–4,300 m
- Start Gulaba, ~22–26 km from Manali
- Distance ~24 km out and back
- Days 3–4
- Season June – mid-Oct
- Price Get Quote
Bhrigu Lake trek, at a glance
The Bhrigu Lake trek is a 3–4 day walk from Gulaba, about 22–26 km above Manali on the Rohtang road, to a small glacial lake at about 4,235–4,300 m. You camp at Rola Kholi, climb to the lake on day two and return to Gulaba or down to Vashisht. The season runs June to mid-October; in winter the trail is under deep snow.
Ways to do the Bhrigu Lake trek
Pick the plan that fits your group. Photos show Himalayan trails and camps in general.
Classic pickClassic 3 days, Gulaba – Gulaba
Best viewsLoop, Gulaba – Vashisht
First trek4 days with a Manali rest day
Your three Bhrigu days
- Manali → Gulaba → cab up the Rohtang road to about 3,000 m.
- Day 1 → about 7–8 km to Rola Kholi camp (about 3,820 m).
- Day 2 → steep 2-hour wall, then the lake and back to camp.
- Day 3 → down to Gulaba or Vashisht, cab to your hotel.
How your Bhrigu Lake trek works
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Day 0 — arrive in Manali
Rest at your hotel in Manali (about 2,050 m), meet the trek team for a kit check and briefing.
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Day 1 — Gulaba to Rola Kholi
Cab up the Rohtang road to Gulaba (about 3,000 m), then about 7–8 km (4–5 hours) through the Jonker Thach meadows to the Rola Kholi camp (about 3,820 m).
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Day 2 — up to the lake
A steep climb of about 2 hours to the first ridge, then on to Bhrigu Lake (about 4,235–4,300 m) and back to camp, or across to Pandu Ropa — about 12–14 km, 7–8 hours.
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Day 3 — back to Manali
Walk down to Gulaba, or about 8 km down to Vashisht on the loop; your cab drives you to your hotel.
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Start early, finish before dark
Leave camp early and be back before dark. Never walk down alone or after sunset on this route.
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Hotel and cab included
We add your Manali hotel nights and the cab to Gulaba and back in the same quote.
Nights at the meadow camp
You sleep in tents at Rola Kholi, a high meadow at about 3,820 m. The trek team sets up camp and cooks; you carry a day pack, or add a porter or mule for your backpack.
There is no mobile network beyond Gulaba. Carry 2 litres of water and refill at the streams before Rola Kholi, and pack a warm layer and a rain shell — nights are cold even in summer.
Best time for the Bhrigu Lake trek
| Months | Trail | Our advice |
|---|---|---|
| Nov – May | Deep snow, camps closed | Closed for regular treks; plan for June |
| June | Snow above about 12,000 ft; the lake may be partly frozen | Good for snow views; microspikes on request |
| July – Aug | Monsoon rain, green meadows and flowers | Possible, but slippery; we watch road and weather alerts |
| Sept – mid-Oct | Clear skies; nights below freezing at the lake | Best for first-timers |
Planning for 2027? The trail opens again in June. Until then, see snow activities in Manali for a winter trip to the same valley.
What we check before we book your trek
Suzu Travels is an HP Tourism registered travel agent (Reg. No. DTO-MND-11-243/2022). We arrange the trek only with registered local operators and a guide, and plan around these checks:
- Registered guide onlyTrekking guides and operators fall under Himachal’s adventure tourism rules (registration and insurance), and Kullu district asks trekking groups to register as it directs.
- Never alone, never after darkTrek in a group with a guide, start early and be back at camp before dark. Tell us your planned return time.
- AltitudeThe trek climbs about 1,300 m in two days. Rest a day in Manali first and turn back on headache, vomiting or breathlessness.
- Season endEarly snow after mid-October ends the season, so we do not book winter attempts.
- No networkThere is no mobile signal beyond Gulaba; your guide keeps the group together and knows the way down.
- Weather alertsIn July–August we follow weather alerts and any district orders for your dates.
Get a quote in minutes
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Tell us your dates
WhatsApp or the quote form — dates, group size, ages, fitness and where you start from.
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We check your date
Trail, snow and road conditions for your month, and a guide and camp with a registered local operator.
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You get one quote
Trek, Manali hotel nights and the cab to Gulaba and back in one plan.
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Confirm and go
We send the kit list, reporting time and what to expect before you travel.
What your quote depends on
- Group size, and 3 or 4 days
- Gulaba return or the Vashisht loop
- Camps, meals, guide, and porter or mule load
- Cab Manali – Gulaba both ways (and from Chandigarh or Delhi)
- Manali hotel nights before and after
- Gear arranged on request (jacket, poles, microspikes in June) — today’s rate on WhatsApp within minutes
Your 3 days to Bhrigu Lake
About 24 km out and back from Gulaba with a night at Rola Kholi camp; we arrange the guide and camp with a registered local operator and add your Manali hotel and the cab both ways in one quote.
Get your Bhrigu Lake trek quote
Tell us your dates and group size. We reply with one plan — trek, Manali hotel and the cab both ways — for your dates within minutes.
Manali + Bhrigu Lake + Solang
A good plan is Delhi or Chandigarh → Manali 2 nights → the 3-day Bhrigu Lake trek → Manali 1 night, with a Solang or Atal Tunnel day, or a paragliding flight in September–October. Read our Manali guide, see the Himachal tour package from Delhi, or browse adventure activities in Manali. Want another trek? Try the Beas Kund trek below Hanuman Tibba, or the Hampta Pass trek from Kullu to Lahaul. Prefer a night out without the climb? See camping in Manali.
Bhrigu Lake trek — questions
How long is the Bhrigu Lake trek?
About 24 km out and back from Gulaba over 3–4 days. The loop down to Vashisht is about 27–30 km.
What is the height of Bhrigu Lake?
About 4,235–4,300 m, roughly 14,000 ft. Wikipedia gives 4,235 m; most trek guides say about 4,300 m.
Where does the Bhrigu Lake trek start?
At Gulaba, about 22–26 km from Manali on the Rohtang road. Some treks end at Vashisht, near Manali.
What is the best time for the Bhrigu Lake trek?
September to mid-October for clear skies; June for snow. From November the trail is under snow and regular treks stop.
Do I need a Rohtang permit for the trek?
Not for the trek itself — the Rohtang permit is for vehicles going beyond the Gulaba barrier. A cab drop at Gulaba is enough.
Is the Bhrigu Lake trek good for beginners?
Yes, for fit beginners. It is non-technical but climbs about 1,300 m in two days, so rest a day in Manali first.
Does Bhrigu Lake freeze?
It can stay partly frozen into June, and nights at the lake drop below freezing from late September.
Can I camp at Bhrigu Lake?
Treks camp lower, at Rola Kholi or Pandu Ropa. Camping at the lake itself is not advised.
