Treks around Kasol are the main highlight of Parvati Valley. One of the main reasons why trekkers and adventure lovers’ throng to Kasol and Parvati valley, in general, is there are trekking trails suited for every kind of trekker. From strenuous multi-day treks to easy short hikes, Kasol has got it all.
Kasol is one of the most sought-after destinations for trekkers and adventure enthusiasts and there are a number of treks around Kasol. These include treks that take about half an hour to treks that need days to be completed. If you are in Kasol, you can definitely find at least one trek that suits you.
Through this blog, I hope to shed some light on all kinds of treks around Kasol. It will be very helpful for the first-timers to choose which trek or trail they want to embark on as per the difficulty level. For all the seasoned trekkers there are a plethora of moderate to difficult treks around Kasol that you can undertake to challenge yourself.
13 Treks around Kasol: From Beginners to Expert Level
Not long ago Kasol was just another quaint little hamlet tucked away deep in Himachal Pradesh that no one knew about. Recently it burst onto the tourist map due to two main reasons, one being the easy availability of high-quality hashish (Possession and consumption of Hashish are illegal in India, you can be even arrested if you happen to have it), and the second due to beautiful hiking and trekking trails all around Kasol.
If you are travelling to Kasol for the first time, I would definitely suggest you go to one of the treks on Kasol. No matter how long you plan to spend on Kasol, you can definitely find a trek into your itinerary. If you are travelling to Kasol or Parvati valley, in general, for the first time, you may find my Itinerary helpful. In this blog, I have shared 2, 4 and 6-day Itinerary for Kasol.
Here are some of the best treks around Kasol that I would suggest to first-time visitors in the region:
| Easy or Beginner level Treks near Kasol
In order to finish these treks hikes, you need not be super fit. The slopes are no that steep and the trail is well defined. These are short hikes that take anywhere between 30 minutes to 2 hours to complete. Chalal Trek Kalga Trek Kutla Trek Buddhaban Trek |
| Moderate Level Treks around Kasol for the Adventurers
These treks need the traveller to have at least the basic level of fitness. In most cases, the trails for these treks are well defined. These treks would take around 2-5 hours to complete. Rasol Trek Grahan Trek Kheerganga Trek Rudranag Trek |
| Difficult Multi-Day Day Treks for the Experts
These are some of the most difficult level treks in Parvat Valley. These treks should only be attempted by experienced trekkers who are very fit. These treks take days to complete. Pin Parvati Pass Sar Pass trek Mantalai lake Trek |
6 Super Easy & Short treks around Kasol for the Beginners
There is no denying the fact that some of the most beautiful treks in India are in Himachal Pradesh. Whether it is Triund trek, which is popular amongst beginners or the Pin Parvati Pass trek, one of the most challenging in the Himachal, there is no dearth of trekking routes for an adventurer.
If you are new to trekking or hiking in the Himalayas, there is no better place to start than Kasol. Kasol has some of the easiest and beginner-friendly treks in Himachal.
Trust me, even if you haven’t hiked at all your life, you can surely totally complete these treks:
1. Trek to the ‘Infamous,’ Malana village
Malana trek is one of the most popular as well as one of the shortest treks around Kasol. It just takes around 1.5 to 2 hours to reach the infamous Malana village from Malana gate.
The village is a world of its own. Some of the weird rules about this village will leave you confused. The residents of Malana claim to be descendants of the Soldier of Alexander the Great. You cannot touch anything in the village, nor you can touch its residents, breaking this rule would cost you a hefty fine of 3000 INR. The main deity of the Jamlu Devta who is the supreme of the village and no decision can be taken without his permission.
| Starting point – Malana gate |
| Cost – No cost required as this just a small trek to the village. |
| Time Taken – 1.5 to 2 hours |
| Difficulty – Easy |
| Where to Stay – A lot of Guesthouses are available near Malana gate. You cannot stay in Malana village. |
| Accessibility – The trail is open throughout the year with trails being slippery due to snow during winters. |
To reach the Malana gate you have to first reach Jari from Kasol. From Jari private cabs take you towards Malana gate and then you can start the Malana trek.
The trail is well marked, so trekking from Kasol to Malana shouldn’t be a problem even if you are solo. The only real problem is during winters when there is snow on the trail, and it becomes slippery so only attempt this if you are confident enough with proper winter boots, else it is always better to take a guide with you. I bought these incredibly low priced snow hiking boots for my winter expedition and was really surprised by their quality and durability.
2. Possibly the easiest: Kasol to Chalal trek
This is one of the easy treks in Kasol. I wouldn’t even call it to trek as it just a short hike to the less crowded village of Chalal and is one of easiest trekking route in Kasol.
It takes around 30-45 minutes to reach this beautiful hamlet and is mostly a level walk so there are no ascents or descents.
| Starting point – Kasol |
| Cost – No cost required as this just a small trek to the village. |
| Time Taken – 30 to 45 minutes |
| Difficulty – Easy |
| Where to Stay – A lot of Guesthouses and hotels are available in Chalal. |
| Accessibility – All throughout the year |
Hence this short hike can be undertaken by anybody. To reach Chalal you need to get to the Kasol market area from there you’ll see Panj tara café which is where the trail to Chalal. Once you move a little further away, you’ll be able to see Chalal bridge.
Kasol is swarming with travellers mostly during the summer months when people rush to the hills to escape the brutal heat. So, if you are someone who doesn’t like too much crowd, Kasol to Chalal trek can be your best bet to escape the crowd and seek some solitude. Chalal is one of the best places for camping and trekking in Kasol as there many operators which provide which camping options.
3. Trek to the extremely picturesque Kalga Village
This is one of the most beautiful villages of Parvati valley which is starting to become popular these days because of the extremely picturesque landscapes it offers. One of the best things about this village is that not a lot of people visit this village despite its growing popularity which is hard to find in Parvati valley these days.
The trail is well-marked one and it just takes around 30-45 minutes to reach this village from Barshaini bridge.
| Starting point – Barshaini |
| Cost – No cost required as this just a small trek to the village. |
| Time Taken – 30 to 45 minutes |
| Difficulty – Easy |
| Where to Stay – A lot of Guesthouses are available in Kalga. |
| Accessibility – All throughout the year |
The hike to Kalga village is a bit uphill but is not that difficult. From Kalga you can go to the villages of Pulga and Tulga. Usually, the villages of Kalga-Pulga-Tulga are always associated together as they are very near to each other. Well-marked trails exist to the villages of Pulga and Tulga.
Kalga route also acts as an alternative route to Kheerganga. The route is a bit longer than the traditional route of via Nakthan village but the trail from Kalga is said to be more picturesque
4. Trek to the last motorable village Tosh
Tosh village is also the last motorable village in the Parvati Valley. Surrounded by lush green mountains with pine, deodar, oak trees, it offers a magnificent view of these mountains. I backpacked to Tosh Village in winters and was completely awestruck by the winter landscapes around it. You can read my complete backpacking guide to Tosh in this blog.
| Starting point – Barshaini |
| Cost – Approx 1000 INR if you stay a night at Tosh |
| Time Taken – 2 to 3 hours |
| Difficulty – Easy |
| Where to Stay – You can find budget guesthouses as well as hostels here. I stayed at the 11: 11 bunker house hostel |
| Accessibility – Except for peak winters the trail is accessible throughout the year. |
In order to trek to Tosh from Kasol, you first need to read Barshaini. Local buses are available every hour which will take you to Barshaini from Kasol. Once you reach Barshaini you can just hike on the motorable road from Barshaini to Tosh which is just 3kms.
From Tosh you can take several short treks such as Kutla trek and Buddhaban trek
5. Trek to Kutla Village for the views
Kutla is a small hamlet near to Tosh. It offers an excellent view of the snow-clad mountains and is a must-do trek around Kasol. It is just 2 hours away from Tosh village.
| Starting point – Tosh |
| Cost – Approx 1000 INR from Tosh to Tosh If you spend a night at Kutla |
| Time Taken – 2 to 3 hours |
| Difficulty – Easy |
| Where to Stay – You can find budget guesthouses as well as tents if you intend to camp. |
| Accessibility – Except for peak winters the trail is accessible throughout the year. |
The trail is well marked so if anyone wants to do it solo then it shouldn’t be a problem. Also, there are a lot of people on the trail during the season months so chances of losing your way are slim. But it is better to ask locals in case of any confusion.
During winters though, the trail remains buried in deep snow so reaching Kutla can be a problem.
If you are going to attempt this during winters, then make sure you get the proper gear to do it and hire a guide as the difficulty increase quite a bit when there is a lot of snow on the trail.
6. Trek a little further to Buddhaban Campsite
Buddhaban is only about half an hour trek from Kutla village. Buddhaban serves as the base for many other treks such as Animal Pass Trek, Spiti trek, etc.
| Starting point – Tosh |
| Cost – Approx 1000 INR from Tosh to Tosh If you spend a night at Buddhaban |
| Time Taken – 2.5 to 3 hours |
| Difficulty – Easy to Moderate |
| Where to Stay – You can stay at Kutla or pitch a tent at Buddhaban campsite |
| Accessibility – Except for peak winters the trail is accessible throughout the year. |
The trail from Kuta to Buddhaban is a little steep for about a kilometre. If you are trekking to Kutla, this place can be covered easily.
Challenge Yourself with these 4 Moderate Level Treks Around Kasol
If you are feeling a little adventurous and are reasonably fit, I would suggest that you go a little further and challenge yourself to the moderate level treks.
These are the Treks I would definitely suggest:
1. Trek to the lesser-known Rasol
Rasol village is tucked away deep in the Parvati valley. It is one of the villages in the higher reaches of Parvati valley and can be only reached by foot. Since it requires an uphill climb of a few hours to reach this village is not frequented by a huge number of people and remains one of the lesser-explored villages of the valley.
| Starting point – Kasol |
| Cost – Approx 1000 INR from Kasol to Kasol If you spend a night at Rasol |
| Time Taken – 4 to 5 hours |
| Difficulty – Easy to Moderate |
| Where to Stay – You can find budget guesthouses as well as tents if you intend to camp |
| Accessibility – The trail is accessible throughout the year but keep caution during peak winters as trails become slippery due to snow |
Kasol to Rasol trek takes around 4-5 hours to complete with a strenuous uphill climb required in the latter part of the Trek.
Beginners may have a hard time on this trek, but since it is not very far off from Kasol beginners can attempt and gain vital experience through this trek.
Though one can come back on the same day from this trek If you can start early from Kasol, I would advise against it as you would not be able to enjoy fully and would have to rush back in order to reach Kasol back before dark. So, reach the village chill and enjoy the views around and only start to descend on the next day.
2. Take the unexplored Grahan Trek
Grahan village is another of those unexplored gems in the Parvati valley as it is frequented by very few travellers. One of the main reasons being that it can be only reached on foot. Located at an altitude of 2350 m offers an excellent view of the mountains and Pine forests in the backdrop.
| Starting point – Kasol |
| Cost – Approx 1000 INR from Kasol to Kasol If you spend a night at Grahan |
| Time Taken – 4 to 5 hours |
| Difficulty – Easy to Moderate |
| Where to Stay – You can find budget guesthouses as well as tents if you intend to camp |
| Accessibility – The trail is accessible throughout the year but keep caution during peak winters as trails become slippery due to snow |
This is one of the most beautiful treks in Kasol with the initial part of the running along the Grahan Nallah and later part of the trail involves arduous uphill climb through the forest to reach the Grahan village. It is around 10 km from Kasol and takes around 4-5 hours to complete.
Similar to Rasol trek, Grahan trek is also not very far off from Kasol and can be great for beginners looking to get into trekking. Also spending a night at Grahan is advisable, otherwise, you would have to rush back to Kasol without being able to explore much. Grahan also acts as a base to Sar pass trek.
3. Trek to the Rudranag Temple and Waterfall
Rudranag lies on the famous trek trail of Kheerganga. You can climb up to the Rudanag temple from Pulga. There is also a beautiful waterfall at this site.
| Starting point – Barshaini |
| Cost – 1500 INR including stay and food from Kasol to Kasol. (excluding guide) |
| Time Taken – 6 to 8 hours |
| Difficulty – Easy to Moderate |
| Where to Stay – You can find budget accommodation in the form of tents. |
| Accessibility – The trail is accessible throughout the year except for winter months when the trail is buried in deep snow once its start to snow heavily |
The trek trail to Rudranag is around 6 km from Barshaini. A lot of travellers pitch a tent at Rudraanag campsite before trekking further to Kheerganga.
4. Kheerganga Trek the star of Parvati Valley
Kheerganga nestled at around 10,000 ft is one most famous and the beginner-friendly treks around Kasol and in general Himachal. Kasol to Kheerganga trek is one of the most popular things to do in Parvati valley and can be a perfect weekend getaway. Kheerganga is famous for its hot water spring.
| Starting point – Barshaini |
| Cost – 1500 INR including stay and food from Kasol to Kasol. (excluding guide) |
| Time Taken – 6 to 8 hours |
| Difficulty – Easy to Moderate |
| Where to Stay – You can find budget accommodation in the form of tents. There are a lot of them in Kheerganga |
| Accessibility – The trail is accessible throughout the year except for winter months when the trail is buried in deep snow once its start to snow heavily |
The trail passes through beautiful deodar forests. You’ll be able to witness a beautiful waterfall en route Kheerganga.
It is around 12 -15 km from Barshaini which is the start point of the trek and can take anywhere between 6-8 hours depending on the fitness and speed of the person
Though this is one of the easier treks in the Himachal, I have still included this in an easy to moderate category as first-timers may find it difficult. But that being said, this is perfect for beginners who are looking to get into trekking in the Himalayas. As far as seasoned trekkers are concerned, they shouldn’t have a problem dealing with this one.
The trail to Kheerganga is marked one, so making your way to the top solo should not be that difficult and there are many people on the trail during most times of the year as this is one of the most popular treks around Kasol.
The trail is accessible throughout the year except for the winter months of January, February, March. Once it starts to snow heavily the latter part of Kasol to Kheerganga trek remains buried in deep snow and the difficulty level of the trek increases exponentially. So, If you are adventurous enough and want to attempt the trek in winters, then I would highly recommend having a guide along with you, and proper winter gear is mandatory that goes without saying.
3 Multi-day treks around Kasol for Pro’s
If you are a pro, Kasol has something to offer for you as well. If you want to pursue any of such treks, make sure that you are well-experienced and have done some Himalayan treks in the past
There are many multi-day treks around Kasol, among which my favourite ones are:
1. Trek to Mantalai Lake, the source of River Parvati
This trek takes you to the source of the sacred river Parvati. Mantalai lake, which is fed by the Mantalai Glacier. The lake is located at an elevation 4100 m and is one of the more difficult treks in the valley. Pin-Parvati pass trek and Mantalai lake trek follows the same route until the Mantalai lake from where the trails for Pin-Parvati pass go further towards Spiti side.
| Starting point – Barshaini |
| Endpoint – Mantalai lake (though you would have to come back to Barshaini following the same route) |
| Cost – Could not find a credible source |
| No of Days – 7 days |
| Difficulty – Difficult |
| Where to Stay – At several campsites throughout the trek |
| Accessibility – April to October |
Again, this is a difficult trek, so it requires decent fitness when terrain and altitude are challenging. Even for seasoned trekkers, this can be a challenging trek to complete. Beginners can give it try but as it is a difficult trek.
The route you would take for this trek is as follows:
| Barshaini- Kheerganga – tunda bhuj – Thakur Kaun – Odi thach – Mantalai lake |
The trails to lake remain buried in deep snow once it starts to snow in the heavily in high-altitude areas after October and hence, there is only a small window of April-October to attempt this trek.
2. Pin Parvati Pass Trek, the Ultimate test your trekking skills
Pin Parvati pass trek is one of the most challenging non-technical treks in our country. The trek starts in Parvati valley and ends in pin valley national park in Spiti.
| Starting point – Barshaini in Parvati valley |
| End point – Mudh village in Pin Valley National Park, Spiti |
| Cost – INR 35K by Trek the Himalayas it is one of the famous trekking companies in the country ) of course you also trek with local guides. |
| No of Days – 9 to 10 days |
| Difficulty – Very Difficult |
| Where to Stay – At several campsites enroute to Mudh village |
| Accessibility – July to September |
The distance of this trek is around 100 km which involves crossing the might Pin-Parvati pass which has an elevation of around 5319 m over the course of several days. This trek takes around 9 days to complete.
To attempt this trek, one has to be extremely fit as it requires to cross a pass which is over 5000m which is very difficult. A professional guide along with the porters is a must in order to complete this arduous multi-day trek. The is one of the most difficult treks in the country and according to me should only be attempted if you are insanely fit and have decent experience in crossing high-altitude passes above 4000m.
The trails and landscapes of this trek will definitely leave you awestruck. During the initial part of the trek you are trekking through lush green deodar forests, while in the latter stages you experience the barren, but surreal landscapes of Spiti valley which is a cold desert.
One of the highlights of the trek is Mantalai lake which is the source of the river Parvati.
You would take the following route to reach Mudh village in Pin valley
| Barshaini- Kheerganga – tunda bhuj – Thakur Kaun – Odi thach – Mantalai lake – Pin-Parvati Pass – Tiya – Mudh |
A professional guide and porters are mandatory if you wish to attempt this one. These days there a lot of options in terms whom you want to trek with. There are famous trekking companies which operate a lot of treks in the Himalayas. There are many local guides as well who are running this trek.
3. Sar Pass trek
This is one of the more popular long treks around Kasol. Sar in local language means lake. The pass is located at an altitude of 4280m and while crossing the pass you happen to pass through a small lake hence the name Sar Pass trek.
| Starting point – Kasol |
| End point – Barshaini |
| Cost – 7.5K INR by Kailshrath |
| No of Days – 5 days |
| Difficulty – Moderate to Difficult |
| Where to Stay – Several campsites as per the guide or the trekking company |
| Accessibility – April to October |
The initial part of the trek involves traversing through dense Pine and Deodar forests as you reach Grahan village. From the Grahan village, the trail starts becoming rocking and very steep till the Sar pass. The climb to the pass offers an excellent view of the peaks and the Tosh valley. Once you cross the pass you have to descend to the campsite of Biskeri thach. It offers surreal views of the snow-clad mountains and pine forests.
The is a moderate level trek and you need to have high fitness levels if you are going to attempt this one. It takes around 4-5 days to complete this trek. Beginners with decent fitness can attempt this trek, while seasoned trekkers will love it as there are enough challenging moments that will keep them engaged. You will need a professional guide or trekking company to complete this trek.
Since this a high altitude trek the trails are navigable from May to October. The trails are buried in deep in snow in winters and hence the trek is not possible during winters months.
What to take on your Treks around Kasol?
So, if you are doing any one of the treks or hikes to the villages then you can pretty much get away with your regular things which you would take for a normal trip. But in case, you are doing one of the multi-day treks then you need to be prepared with certain things.
In this section, I will be sharing with you things to take on your tres around Kasol. I am also suggesting a few things that I have personally used in my treks.
3 Must-Have Things for short hikes or treks to the villages
If you are planning to go for short easy and moderate hikes, there are not many things that you would need. However, I would suggest you carry these things for sure.
- Trekking Shoes – The only thing which is a must are a good pair of trekking shoes that too only for treks like Grahan, Rasol, Kheerganga, Kutla. Since my recent trips have been in winters, I bought these hiking boots and believe me, they have really worked well. You can get away with normal sport shoes or even sandals for Chalal trek.
- Raincoat – Another thing that might come in handy is raincoat or Poncho as it can rain at any point of time in the mountains especially if you are doing the trek in monsoon. I use a Quechua raincoat, it’s reasonably priced and very convenient to carry.
- Winter Gear- Now if you are attempting the aforementioned treks in winters except Chalal chances are that there might be a lot of snow on the trails which increases difficulty drastically. Therefore, you need proper winter gear and maybe a guide as well. A good spot I would suggest to buy all your hiking gear is Decathlon. You can find all the gear you need for trekking at very affordable prices.
12 Absolute Essentials for Multi-day Treks around Kasol
The needs for multi-day treks are different. You need more sophisticated gear for such treks. Here are the 12 things that are a must-have for multi-day treks.
- Rucksack above 55 litres
- 3-4 to warm layers including layered, padded jackets
- 2-3 cotton trek Pants (Jeans and denim is a big no for the Multi-day treks)
- Good trekking shoes
- Thermals
- Waterproof hand gloves
- Sunglasses
- Poncho
- Head Lamps
- Water bottle
- Toiletries
- Basic medicines and your own prescription medicines (if any)
Don’t do these 4 Dangerous things When Trekking in Parvati Valley
While visiting Parvati Valley is the complete joy for the heart and the soul, not everything is as easy as it sounds. If you are trekking in the mountains for the first time, NEVER do these 4 things:
| DON’T Indulge in Drugs
Parvati valley is infamous for being a hippie’s paradise due to the easy availability of drugs. However, remember that the possession and consumption of drugs are completely illegal in India. I request everyone visiting to not indulge. |
| Beware of undefined Paths
Being adventurous is one thing, but make sure you don’t tread on paths that are not defined well or you are not sure about. A lot of travellers go missing in Parvati Valley each year and many believe that they lose their way. Make sure you take a local guide with you if you aren’t sure of the trail. Also, going in groups is a huge advantage. |
| Watch the Weather
The weather is very fickle in the mountains. If the weather conditions are not good, abort your expedition and wait for the weather conditions to get better. |
| Don’t go Unprepared
If you are planning to go on a moderate to difficult level trek, make sure that you have the gear with you. Do your in-depth research before venturing out into an unknown trek in the Himalayas. Take all the essential gear and be prepared mentally and physically. |
Is a guide really necessary for trekking and hiking around Kasol?
Many of you might have these questions and there is no simple answer to this as it depends on which trek you are attempting and in which season you are attempting the trek.
| For Multi-day treks like Sar pass trek, Pin-Parvati pass trek a professional guide or a trekking company is absolutely necessary. There are parts when the trails are very challenging and only a professional guide can help you navigate it safely. |
Now coming to treks like Rasol, Grahan, Kheerganga, Kutla etc. a guide may not be necessarily required as these have well-marked trails. Most of them are villages and villagers as well travellers use these trails regularly.
Also, there are signboards set up at several places during the trek so that you don’t lose your way. If you are beginner, but you don’t feel confident enough to do these treks on your own then go ahead and hire a local guide. Having a guide is always an added advantage.
In winter though, the difficulty level increases drastically if there is a lot of snow which is exactly the case for treks around Kasol like Kheerganga, Grahan, Rasol, Kutla etc. So, in winters if there is a lot of snow on the trails then hiring a guide is strongly recommended if you intend to trek to these places. But yes if you love challenging yourself then trekking in Kasol in winters can be an awesome experience.
Always ask the locals about the condition of the trails beforehand so that you can make necessary arrangements. You can get winter boots and trekking shoes on Rent in Kasol, Barshaini which is a must if you are attempting these treks in winter.
How to Reach Kasol, Malana gate, Barshaini, Tosh?
The internal commuting in Parvati valley is pretty good. There are locals buses plying between Bhunter and Barshaini frequently and it is budget-friendly. Of course, you can hire private cabs to reach these places, but it is a bit of an expensive affair if you are not in a group.
The only downside of using local buses is that you have to wait for most of the times, so if you are a group of around 5-6 people then hiring a cab makes much more sense.
Reaching Kasol is very easy, for more information you can check out my the Kasol itinerary blog. To reach Malana gate you have to get to Jari which in between Kasol and Bhunter. Local buses ply from both sides frequently i.e Kasol and Bhunter. From Jari, you have to take private cabs to reach Malana.
For the treks starting from Barshaini or Tosh, you can board buses going towards Barshaini from Kasol or Bhunter. Tosh is just 3km from Barshaini and private cabs can take you, Tosh from Barshaini.
Last but Definitely no the Least – Travel Responsibly
It is quite sad to see the current state of Parvati Valley. There is plastic on the roads, on the trails, literally everywhere. Please travel responsibly do not litter around and if possible do not buy plastic water bottles. Just get your own bottle and refill your water bottles wherever you stay and from the springs. Trust me, It is completely safe to do that.
I hope that this blog on treks around Kasol will be helpful to you and will help choose a trek as per your fitness levels and experience. If you are a beginner, then I hope that one of these treks becomes your first trek in the Himalayas. So, don’t hesitate to pack your bags and enjoy the hikes and treks in and around Kasol and Parvati Valley.