Yunam Peak (6,111 m), Lahaul: Route, Itinerary & Climbing Guide
A 6,000 m summit that starts from the highway.
About eight days from Manali: over the Atal Tunnel to Jispa, up the Manali–Leh highway to the tent camp at Bharatpur, then on foot over moraine to a stone-shelter base camp and a long, steep summit day of scree and snow. Non-technical, but the thin air is real.
- 6,111 m summit (20,049 ft)
- About 8 days from Manali
- Jul–Sep best months
- Grade trekking peak, steep
- Price Get Quote
Mountains of India › Himachal Pradesh › Yunam Peak
Last verified 5 Oct 2026
How high is Yunam Peak, and how hard is it to climb?
Yunam Peak (Mount Yunam, 6,111 m / 20,049 ft) rises above Baralacha La in Lahaul, Himachal Pradesh. It is one of the most accessible 6,000 m peaks of India: the road reaches Bharatpur at about 4,700 m. The climb is non-technical but steep, with snow slopes of about 50° near the top. Allow about 8 days from Manali, in July–September.
Mount Yunam stands in Lahaul, in the Lahaul and Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh, close to Baralacha La on the Manali–Leh highway. The pass, about 4,850–4,890 m high depending on the source, divides the watersheds of the Bhaga and Yunam rivers; Suraj Tal, the source of the Bhaga, lies just below it.
What sets Yunam apart is access. The highway climbs to the Bharatpur tent camp at about 4,700 m, so the walk to a 6,000 m summit is short. That same road is also its main risk: you gain height far faster than on a valley trek. Yunam is one of the classic Himachal peaks and sits in our list of India’s highest peaks; for the wider picture see the Indian Himalaya guide.
Route, camps and altitudes
From Manali the road crosses the Atal Tunnel into Lahaul and climbs to Jispa or Keylong for a first night at about 3,100–3,200 m. Next day the highway continues towards Baralacha La to Bharatpur, a seasonal tent camp at about 4,600–4,700 m. From there the route crosses a stream and climbs moraine to a stone-shelter base camp at about 5,200 m.
Summit day starts in the small hours. Scree and then snow and ice steepen up to about 5,900 m, where the line turns along the shoulder to a summit of cairns and prayer flags. Bharatpur to the summit and back is about 13 km with about 1,480 m of ascent (fastestknowntime.com route data). Camp heights differ between teams, so the figures below are rounded.
| Camp / point | Altitude | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Manali | 2,050 m / 6,726 ft | Gear check and briefing |
| Jispa / Keylong | 3,200 m / 10,499 ft | About 3,100–3,200 m; drive over the Atal Tunnel, first acclimatisation night |
| Bharatpur | 4,700 m / 15,420 ft | About 4,600–4,700 m; tent camp on the highway below Baralacha La, acclimatisation day |
| Base camp | 5,200 m / 17,060 ft | About 5,200 m; stone shelter on the moraine, snow-skills day |
| Shoulder | 5,900 m / 19,357 ft | About 5,900 m; the slope eases and turns along the shoulder |
| Yunam summit | 6,111 m / 20,049 ft | Cairns and prayer flags; then back down to base camp |
An 8-day Yunam Peak plan
- Day 1 · ManaliArrive, gear check and briefing.
- Day 2 · Manali to JispaDrive through the Atal Tunnel into Lahaul to Jispa or Keylong, about 3,100–3,200 m, for the first acclimatisation night.
- Day 3 · Jispa to BharatpurDrive up the Manali–Leh highway towards Baralacha La to the Bharatpur tent camp, about 4,700 m.
- Day 4 · BharatpurAcclimatisation day at Bharatpur: rest, eat well and let your body adjust.
- Day 5 · Bharatpur to base campCross the stream and climb the moraine to the stone-shelter base camp, about 5,200 m.
- Day 6 · Base campSecond acclimatisation day and snow practice: crampons or microspikes, ice axe and moving on a rope.
- Day 7 · Summit dayStart at about 2 am; scree, then snow to the shoulder and the 6,111 m summit. Expect 9–12 hours back to base camp.
- Day 8 · Back to ManaliDescend to Bharatpur and drive back to Manali.
Itineraries vary with the outfitter, group and weather; rest days are added when needed.
How hard is Yunam Peak?
Yunam is graded a trekking peak: there is no rock climbing. But it is not a walk. The final slopes are steep scree, then snow and ice of about 50° near the top, and summit day is a single long push of 9–12 hours from base camp. Depending on the snow you will use microspikes or crampons.
The real challenge is altitude. Because the road reaches about 4,700 m, you arrive high without the slow gain of a valley trek, which is why a good plan keeps two acclimatisation days. Weather matters too: in September 2024 Lahaul and Spiti police rescued a trekker who went missing from a group near the peak in extreme weather. It is a strong first 6,000 m summit for fit trekkers with earlier high-altitude experience, not a peak to rush.
- ExperienceOne or more earlier high-altitude treks; a mountaineering course is usually not asked for.
- TechniqueWalking in crampons or microspikes, using an ice axe on snow, moving on a rope.
- FitnessA 9–12 hour summit day above 5,200 m on scree and snow.
- AcclimatisationSleeping altitude rises in steps (about 3,200 m, 4,700 m, 5,200 m) with rest days at Bharatpur and base camp.
Best time to climb Yunam Peak
The season runs June to September, while the Manali–Leh highway over Baralacha La is open.
July to September is the most reliable window. Lahaul lies in the rain shadow of the main Himalaya, so it stays much drier than Manali during the monsoon.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
BestPossibleClosed / not advised
Permits for Yunam Peak
Himachal Pradesh requires climbers to go through an HP Tourism-registered outfitter with registered guides, and under the state’s adventure-activity rules every participant needs life and rescue insurance cover. Your outfitter arranges the local permissions.
Foreign nationals also need permission from the Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF): apply at least 90 days ahead. For peaks up to 6,500 m the IMF base fee is US$500 for a team of two, plus per-member charges and US$500 liaison-officer equipment hire (IMF peak-fee page, checked 1 Oct 2026). More in our guide to climbing permits in India.
What a guided Yunam Peak climb includes
The price depends on your dates, group size and nationality, so we quote each climb. Tell us your dates on WhatsApp and you get one plan and one quote. Foreign nationals also pay the IMF fee and liaison-officer charges, shown separately.
- Certified mountaineering guides and support staff
- Tents, camps and all meals on the mountain
- Group climbing equipment (ropes and safety gear)
- Local permissions and paperwork
- Hotel nights in Manali and Jispa
- Road transfers Manali – Bharatpur – Manali
- Two acclimatisation days in the plan
What to pack
- Stiff trekking or mountaineering boots that take crampons
- Crampons or microspikes and an ice axe (often hired)
- Down jacket and warm layers for a 2 am start
- Waterproof jacket and trousers
- Warm summit gloves plus liner gloves
- Glacier sunglasses (UV400) and high-SPF sunscreen
- Headlamp with spare batteries
- Trekking poles for the scree
- Two water bottles and a personal first-aid kit
- Sun hat and a warm beanie
History of Yunam Peak
No documented first ascent of Yunam has been found: the dataset behind our list leaves the year blank rather than guess. Today the peak is climbed every season from the Bharatpur camp, and ascents were still being reported in October 2026.
On 27 July 2023 Shashwat Rao set the fastest known time on the Bharatpur route, 6 h 22 min 50 s up and down, unsupported (fastestknowntime.com). A guided climb takes about 8 days from Manali, with time to acclimatise.
Why a Yunam climb needs two acclimatisation days
On most Himalayan peaks you walk for days before you sleep at 4,700 m. On Yunam the highway takes you there in two drives. That saves time, but your body has not caught up, so the plan builds in rest.
- Night 1 at Jispa, about 3,200 m. A first step up from Manali (2,050 m).
- Two nights at Bharatpur, about 4,700 m. The jump from the road; the second night is the first acclimatisation day.
- Two nights at base camp, about 5,200 m. A rest and snow-skills day before the summit push.
- Summit day to 6,111 m. Start at about 2 am and come back down the same day.
Planning your first 6,000 m summit? Many climbers start with Friendship Peak (5,289 m) above Manali, then try Yunam. For a longer snow expedition afterwards, look at Deo Tibba. We pair you with a registered Himachal outfitter and certified guides, with permissions, stays and transfers in one plan.
Other Himachal Pradesh peaks of a similar height
-
Himachal Pradesh6,132 m20,118 ft
Shilla
-
Himachal Pradesh6,200 m20,341 ft
Shikar Beh
-
Himachal Pradesh6,220 m20,407 ft
Indrasan
-
Himachal Pradesh6,001 m19,688 ft
Deo Tibba
Yunam Peak: questions climbers ask
How high is Yunam Peak?
6,111 m (20,049 ft). Some trip sites round it to 6,110 m.
Where is Yunam Peak?
In Lahaul, Himachal Pradesh, near Baralacha La on the Manali–Leh highway. The climb starts at the Bharatpur tent camp, about 4,700 m.
Is Yunam Peak a trek or an expedition?
It is a non-technical trekking peak, but a real 6,000 m summit day: steep scree, snow of about 50° near the top and very thin air. Crampons or microspikes and an ice axe are used.
Is Yunam the easiest 6,000 m peak in India?
It is one of the most accessible, because the road reaches about 4,700 m. That fast gain in height is also its main risk, so treat it as a serious climb and keep the acclimatisation days.
How many days does a Yunam Peak climb take?
About 8 days from Manali back to Manali, with acclimatisation days at Bharatpur and at base camp.
What is the best time to climb Yunam Peak?
July to September is the most reliable; the season runs June to September while the highway over Baralacha La is open.
Do I need a mountaineering course to climb Yunam?
Usually not. Outfitters expect good fitness and earlier high-altitude treks; snow skills are practised at base camp.
Do foreigners need a permit for Yunam Peak?
Yes: IMF permission, applied for at least 90 days ahead. The base fee for peaks up to 6,500 m is US$500 for a team of two, plus per-member and liaison-officer charges (as of Oct 2026).
Can Suzu Travels arrange a guided Yunam Peak climb?
Yes. We pair you with a registered Himachal outfitter and certified guides, sort the permissions, and add your hotels and transfers — one plan and one quote on WhatsApp at +91 70874 88961.
Plan this climb with Suzu
We pair you with a registered Himachal outfitter and certified guides, sort the permits and add hotel and transfers — one plan, one quote.
Keep exploring
Sources
- Fastest Known Time — Mount Yunam Peak route
- Wikipedia — Bara-lacha la
- Wikipedia — List of mountain peaks of Himachal Pradesh
- The Tribune (Sep 2024) — Trekker rescued from Lahaul-Spiti peak
- ETV Bharat (Oct 2026) — report of a Mount Yunam ascent
- Indian Mountaineering Foundation — peak fees for foreign expeditions
- Indian Mountaineering Foundation — expedition application rules
- HP Miscellaneous Adventure Activities (Amendment) Rules 2021
