Hampta Pass Trek: Manali to Lahaul in 4–5 Days
Green Kullu one side, bare Lahaul the other
A 4–5 day crossing from Jobra to Chhatru over the Pir Panjal — we plan the trek, your Manali hotel and the cab at both ends.
- Pass ~4,270 m
- On foot ~26 km
- Trek days 4–5
- Open Mid-Jun – Sep
- Grade Moderate
- Price Get Quote
Hampta Pass trek, at a glance
Hampta Pass (about 4,270 m) is a 4–5 day trek of roughly 26 km that crosses the Pir Panjal from the green Kullu side near Manali to the dry Lahaul side at Chhatru. It is open only from mid-June to September; snow closes it from October to May. Treks start at Jobra, about an hour’s drive from Manali, and many groups add a Chandratal day.
Ways to do Hampta Pass
Pick the version that fits your group. Photos show high Himalayan trails and camps in general.
Classic pickClassic Hampta (4 days)
With ChandratalHampta + Chandratal (5 days)
EasyJobra–Chika day walk
WinterWinter alternative: Sethan snow
Green to grey in 4 days
- Kullu side → forest, meadows and streams up to Balu ka Ghera.
- Pass day → about 4,270 m, then a steep drop to Shea Goru.
- Lahaul side → bare, brown, high-desert valley at Chhatru.
- Chandratal → a road add-on, only when the road is open.
How your Hampta trek works
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Arrive in Manali a day early
Sleep one night at about 2,000 m to acclimatise. Kit check and briefing with the trek team; carry ID copies and any medical form the operator asks for.
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Day 1 — Jobra to Chika
About an hour’s drive to Jobra on the Prini–Sethan road, then a short walk to the riverside camp at Chika (about 3,050 m).
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Day 2 — Chika to Balu ka Ghera
Walk up the valley to Balu ka Ghera (about 3,600 m), the last camp below the pass.
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Day 3 — the pass day
Early start, cross Hampta Pass (about 4,270 m), then a steep descent to Shea Goru (about 3,900 m). Plan 7–9 hours on your feet.
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Day 4 — down to Chhatru
Descend to Chhatru (about 3,350 m) on the Gramphu–Kaza road; your cab drives you back to Manali through the Atal Tunnel.
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Day 5 — Chandratal (optional)
If the road is open, drive on to Chandratal lake before heading back. Never guaranteed — it depends on the road and the weather.
Life at camp
Nights are spent in tents at meadow camps beside the stream. The trek team sets up camp and cooks; you carry a day pack, or add a mule/porter for your backpack.
Pack a warm layer and rain shell even in summer, good trekking shoes with grip, and spare socks for the river crossings. There is no mobile signal after Sethan.
Best time for the Hampta Pass trek
| Months | Conditions | Our advice |
|---|---|---|
| Mid-Jun – early Jul | Snow still on the pass, cold nights | Good for snow lovers; strong stream crossings start late June |
| Mid-Jul – Aug | Monsoon: flowers, rain, highest river levels, landslides on roads | Possible but riskiest; follow that year’s monsoon orders and weather alerts |
| Sep | Clearest skies, colder nights, fewer streams | Best month for views |
| Oct – May | Pass under snow, route closed | Plan for next season; do Sethan snow or Solang instead |
Planning for 2027? Searches and bookings climb from March. Snow already shut the Manali–Kaza road in mid-October 2026 — see our 15 Oct 2026 road update.
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 team + check postTrek only with a registered operator and guide, and register at the forest/tourism check post on the Jobra side. Lost or late groups on Hamta–Chhatru have needed police searches (31 trekkers traced by Lahaul-Spiti police in June 2025).
- No signal after SethanLeave your full itinerary and Chhatru exit day with family; the trek team carries the communication device.
- AltitudeOne night in Manali first. The pass day climbs to about 4,270 m — watch for headache or nausea and descend if it gets worse.
- River crossingsJune–August streams run high: cross early in the morning, roped and in groups, as the guide says.
- Weather ordersHimachal stops adventure activity when heavy rain is forecast (in 2021 trekking was covered too). In July–August we follow that year’s Kullu/HP order.
- Exit roadThe Atal Tunnel road needs no Rohtang permit. The Chandratal road (Gramphu–Batal) can close with landslides, so the Chandratal day is never guaranteed.
Get a quote in minutes
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Tell us your dates
WhatsApp or the quote form — dates, group size, ages and where you start from.
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We check the season window
Pass conditions, the year’s orders and team availability with a registered local operator.
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You get one quote
Trek, Manali hotel nights before and after, and the cab to Jobra and back from Chhatru 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
- 4-day classic or 5 days with Chandratal
- Group size; private trek or a fixed group
- Tent sharing (twin or single) and a mule/porter for your backpack
- Month (June snow kit vs September)
- Manali hotel nights, the cab to Jobra and back from Chhatru, and rental jacket/poles/shoes — today’s rate on WhatsApp within minutes
Your Hampta crossing, green to grey
About 26 km over 4 to 5 days from Jobra to Chhatru across a pass of about 4,270 m; we plan the trek with a registered local operator and add your Manali hotel and the cab at both ends in one quote.
Get your Hampta Pass quote
Tell us your dates and group size. We reply with one plan — trek, Manali hotel and both cabs — for your dates within minutes.
Manali + Hampta + Chandratal
Most groups plan 6–7 days: two hotel nights in Manali, the trek, the cab from Manali to Jobra and back from Chhatru. Read our Manali guide, see the Himachal tour package from Delhi, or check adventure activities in Manali — a paragliding flight in Solang fits before the trek in June or September. Going on to Spiti? See our Spiti valley tour packages. Need only a cab to Manali? Book a Delhi to Manali taxi or a Chandigarh to Manali taxi.
Hampta Pass trek — questions
How high is Hampta Pass?
About 4,270 m (around 14,000 ft). Published figures range from 4,200 to 4,300 m.
How long is the Hampta Pass trek?
Roughly 26 km on foot from Jobra to Chhatru over 4 trekking days, or 5 days with the Chandratal drive.
What is the best time for the Hampta Pass trek?
Mid-June to September. June still has snow on the pass, July–August is the monsoon with high streams, and September has the clearest views.
Can I do Hampta Pass in October or winter?
No. Snow closes the pass from about October to May. In winter we plan Sethan snow and igloo nights in the same valley instead.
Is Hampta Pass difficult for beginners?
It is rated moderate. Fit beginners manage it with a guide, but the pass day is long (7–9 hours) with a steep descent and cold river crossings.
Do I need a permit for Hampta Pass?
Trekkers register at the forest/tourism check post on the Jobra side, and your operator arranges the forest permits. No Rohtang permit is needed to return through the Atal Tunnel — see Rohtang permit vs Atal Tunnel.
Is there mobile network on the trek?
No. Signal fades after Sethan and the camps have none until you are back on the road at Chhatru.
Can children do the Hampta trek?
There is no government age rule; operators usually take fit children of about 9–10 years and up with a parent. Tell us the ages and we suggest the 4-day plan or the Jobra–Chika walk.
