Chandratal Lake Trek and Camps
The Moon Lake at 4,337 m — walk, trek or camp nearby.
Open mid-June to early October. We plan the 4×4, the camp night below the lake and your Manali hotel in one quote.
Update 5 Nov 2026: the 2026 season is over (Manali–Kaza road shut by snow on 15 Oct). Planning now for the 2027 season.
- Altitude 4,337 m
- Ramsar site since 2005
- Season Mid-Jun – early Oct
- Walk 1.5–2 km from parking
- Camps Not on the shore
- Price Get Quote
Chandratal Lake, at a glance
Chandratal is a crescent-shaped glacial lake at 4,337 m in Lahaul, listed as a Ramsar wetland in 2005. From Manali you cross the Atal Tunnel, follow the Chandra river to Batal, then take a 14 km rough track to the parking and walk 1.5–2 km to the shore. It opens only mid-June to early October; tents stay well back from the lake.
Walk, trek or camp: choose your Chandratal
Only the first photo is Chandratal itself; the others show the kind of track, valley, camp and trail you will meet.
EasiestDay visit by 4×4
StargazingCamp night below the lake
TrekBatal → Chandratal trek
ScenicKunzum La → Chandratal ridge
ComboHampta Pass + Chandratal
Make it a tripChandratal + Spiti circuit
How a Chandratal trip works, step by step
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Acclimatise first
Spend 1–2 nights in Manali (or Kaza if you come from Spiti) before going up to 4,300 m+.
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Early start
Cross the Atal Tunnel and drive the Chandra valley via Gramphu and Chhatru to Batal — a long day’s drive.
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4×4 track
A 4×4 or high-clearance car takes the 14 km rough track from Batal to the parking — or you trek it.
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Walk to the shore
1.5–2 km to the lake; the walk around it takes about 1.5 hours.
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Night or return
Night at the camp area well back from the lake, or carry on to Batal or the Kaza side.
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Onward
Over Kunzum La to Kaza for the Spiti circuit, or back through the Atal Tunnel to Manali.
Manali to Chandratal
- By road → Manali → Atal Tunnel → Gramphu → Chhatru → Batal.
- By 4×4 → 14 km rough track from Batal to the parking.
- On foot → 1.5–2 km to the shore at 4,337 m.
- Or trek in from Batal (~14 km) or along the Kunzum La ridge.
Best time to visit Chandratal Lake
| Months | Status | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| November – May | Closed | Snow on Kunzum and the Batal track; winter trekking ban in Lahaul-Spiti district |
| Mid-June – July | Open (early) | Snow walls near Kunzum, cold nights, streams run high in the afternoon |
| August | Open | Monsoon side-effects on the Manali–Chhatru stretch; check road status daily |
| September | Best | Clear skies, most stable roads, best stargazing |
| Early October | Closing | Freezing nights; first snow can shut the road any day |
Booking for June or early October? Send your dates — we check the road and track status before we confirm.
What we check before we book your Chandratal trip
Suzu Travels is an HP Tourism registered travel agent (Reg. No. DTO-MND-11-243/2022). We arrange the 4×4, camp and trek with registered local operators and plan around these checks:
- AltitudeAt 4,300 m+, first-timers should not do Manali → lake → Manali in one day. Climb high, sleep low, and go down at any sign of altitude sickness.
- RoadThe Batal track needs a 4×4 or high-clearance vehicle; glacial streams are crossed in the morning and we drive in daylight only.
- Lake rulesNo camping or fires on the shore, no swimming, carry all waste back. Chandratal is a Ramsar wetland; trekking pressure and litter are its listed threats.
- Forest entry feeThe HP Forest Department charges an entry and activity fee at Chandratal (since June 2025). We include it in your quote.
- Winter banLahaul-Spiti district orders ban trekking and mountaineering in winter — we only run the trip in the open season.
- No networkMobile network is mostly absent between Gramphu and the lake: tell family your plan and carry cash.
Get a quote in minutes
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Tell us your dates
WhatsApp or the quote form — dates, group size, start city and whether you want a day visit, camp night or trek.
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We check your date
Season window, road and track status, a 4×4 for the Batal track and the camp with a registered local operator.
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You get one quote
Manali hotel, the 4×4 or cab, the camp night or trek and the forest entry fee in one plan.
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Confirm and go
We send the start time, a warm-clothes list and the latest road status before you travel.
What your quote depends on
- Day visit, camp night or a trek option
- Vehicle: a sedan is not enough beyond Batal — 4×4, SUV or Tempo Traveller for groups
- Manali hotel nights before and after, for acclimatisation
- Camp category and meals
- Group size and dates (June opening or September peak)
- Add-ons: Kunzum–Kaza Spiti circuit, Hampta Pass trek, an Atal Tunnel–Sissu stop
The Moon Lake at 4,337 m
Atal Tunnel, the Chandra valley, a 4×4 track and a short walk to the shore: we plan your Manali hotel, the 4×4 and the camp night in one quote.
Get your Chandratal quote
Tell us your dates, group size and start city. We reply with one plan — Manali hotel, 4×4 and camp night or trek — within minutes.
Manali + Chandratal + Spiti
Chandratal sits between Manali and Spiti, so it fits two easy plans: Manali (2 nights) → Chandratal camp (1 night) → over Kunzum La to Kaza (Spiti circuit), or Hampta Pass trek + Chandratal, with hotel and cab always included. See our Spiti Valley tour package from Delhi, the best time to visit Spiti Valley, Spiti via Shimla or Manali and the Rohtang, Atal Tunnel and road status guide.
Chandratal Lake — questions
How high is Chandratal Lake?
About 4,337 m (14,230 ft), per its Ramsar wetland listing.
When is Chandratal open?
Roughly mid-June to early October. Snow closes Kunzum and the Batal side from late October to May, so the next season opens in summer 2027.
Can you camp at Chandratal Lake?
Not on the shore. Tents are at the camp area a few kilometres before the lake, and you walk in to see it.
How far is the walk from the parking?
1.5–2 km one way — about 30–45 minutes on easy ground, but slower at this altitude.
How do you reach Chandratal from Manali?
Through the Atal Tunnel to Gramphu, along the Chandra valley via Chhatru to Batal, then a 14 km rough track to the parking.
Is Chandratal a trek?
It can be: Batal to Chandratal is about 14 km on foot, and a ridge trail comes down from Kunzum La. Most visitors drive and walk the last 1.5–2 km.
Is there an entry fee?
Yes, the HP Forest Department charges an entry fee at Chandratal (since June 2025). We include it in your quote.
Is there mobile network at Chandratal?
Mostly none between Gramphu and the lake. Plan offline and keep someone informed.
What does a Chandratal trip cost?
It depends on the option (day visit, camp night or trek), the vehicle, hotel nights and group size. Send your dates for today’s rate on WhatsApp — Get Quote.
