Trek Itinerary - Shepherd Trail Trek

Duration: 12 Days

Difficulty: Moderate

Highest Altitude: 4800 m

Best Season: June to October

(Image courtesy Trekking India) 

Brief Information: One of the most beautiful treks in Himachal Pradesh that engrosses the mind of travellers, the Sepherd trail, locally known as Gaddi trek, connects the rich and pictorial valley of Kullu with Kangra valley. The journey stretches from an elevation of about 2,050 meters to 4,800 meters. The highest point on this trail is the Kalihani pass at an elevation of 4,800 meters. Gaddi refers to the nomadic shepherd tribes in the local Himachal dialect. The Gaddi trail or the shepherd trail trek is used by the shepherds to cross over to the Kangra valley from Kullu in Himachal. The journey traverses through several other high altitude mountain passes, namely the Khanpari pass at 3,600 meters and Thamsar Pass at 3,500 meters. The Gaddi Trek, which is one of the alpine treks in Himachal Pradesh, passes through numerous shepherd villages and grazing cattle farms tucked high in the mountains. The trail is enriched by several alpine woodlands and meadows, wild animals and colourful orchards and gushing streams.

Brief Itinerary:

DAY	STARTING POINT	ENDING POINT	ALTITUDE (meters)	TREK/DRIVE DURATION (hours)	TREK/DRIVE DISTANCE (Km)
1	Manali	Lamadugh	2930	5	12
2	Lamadugh	Riyali Thach	3320	7	16
3	Riyali Thach	Kalihani Base Camp	3750	5	8
4	Kalihani Base Camp	Donku Thach#	3900	10	14
5	Donku Thach	Lamapadh	3550	7	14
6	Lamapadh	Dal ki Marhi	3450	7	12
7	Dal ki Marhi	Bara Bhangal	2350	7	13
8	Rest Day at Bara Bhangal
9	Bara Bhangal	Marhi	3750	7	8
10	Marhi	Payentu**	2720	8	12
11	Payentu	Rajgundha	2390	7	12
12	Rajgundha	Billing/Bir	2350	6	13
	Billing/Bir	Dharamshala	2050	2*	50

*Drive duration on a shared cab

^# via Kalihani Pass (4750m)

** via Thamsar Pass (4800m)