Difficulty
Difficult | Level 3
Duration
8 Days
Highest Altitude
16,207 ft
Age
13 to 62 years
Duration
8 Days
Age
13 to 62 years
Difficulty
Difficult | Level 3
Highest Altitude
16,207 ft
Bali Pass Trek
A Grand Pass Crossing High on Adventure
A Rare Adventure Among Big Mountains
There aren’t many treks that let one experience the raw grandeur of a Himalayan pass crossing. Connecting Har Ki Dun valley with Yamunotri, the Bali Pass is an exhilarating trail. Almost an exploration on its own. It traverses the confluence of Tons and Ruinsara rivers, the undisturbed serenity of the Ruinsara Valley and the lush meadows of Devsu Thach.
Soon, greenery paves way for an alpine zone. At 16,207 ft, the Bali Pass offers a 360-degree panoramic view of the Bandarpoonch, Kalanag and Swargarohini peaks. This reward doesn’t come easy, as this trek is difficult and only suitable for experienced trekkers.
Bali Pass - Ruinsara Tal Videos
Watch these videos to plan and prepare for your trek.
Quick Itinerary
Study this chart to know how much altitude you would gain/lose every day on the Bali Pass trek.
Day 1
Drive from Dehradun to Kotgaon
Drive Distance: 200 km | Duration: 10-11 hours | Pick up point for Indiahikes trekkers: Grand Legacy Hotel, near Laal Pul, Dehradun or Library Chowk, Mussourie | Pick up Time: 6.30 am | Location of Indiahikes basecamp: Kotgaon
Drive from Dehradun to Kotgaon. This costs Rs.6,500 per vehicle (for a 5-6 seater SUV) & Rs. 10,000 per vehicle (for 11-12 seater Tempo Traveller) which is to be shared by trekkers and paid directly to the driver. Pick up time: 6.30 am.
Day 2
Kotgaon to Taluka drive then Taluka to Chilurgad trek
Drive Distance: 12 km | Drive Duration: 1-hour drive
Trek Distance: 11 km trek | Trek Duration: 7-8 hour trek | Altitude gain: 6,520 ft to 8,160 ft
Day 3
Chilurgad to Devsu Thach
Trek distance: 6 km | Duration: 4-5 hours | Altitude gain: 8,160 ft to 9,795 feet
Day 4
Devsu Thach to Ruinsara Tal
Trek Distance: 10 km | Trek Duration: 4-5 hours | Altitude gain: 9,795 ft to 11,715 ft
Day 5
Ruinsara Tal to Thanga
Trek distance: 3 km | Duration: 3 hours | Altitude gain: 11,715 ft to 13,080 ft
Day 6
Thanga to Advanced base camp via Odari (Bali Pass Base Camp)
Trek distance: 5 km | Duration: 5-6 hours | Altitude gain: 13,080 ft to 15,100 ft
Day 7
Advance Base Camp to Lower Damini via Bali Pass
Trek distance: 14 km | Duration: 9-10 hours | Altitude loss: 15,100 ft to 10,080 feet via 16,207 feet (Bali pass)
Day 8
Lower Damini to Janakichatti to Dehradun
Trek distance: 6 km | Trek Duration: 1 hour
Drive Distance: 169 km | Driving time: 8 hours | Altitude loss: 10,080 ft to 8,270 ft
Please note: The distance between campsites may vary by 100 meters depending the weather conditions and the route you take. The altitude may also vary by 100 feet for similar reasons.
Day 9
Buffer Day
If Buffer day is used, trekkers will have to pay Rs 2100 +5% GST. The money will be collected by the Trek Leader only if we use the buffer day. This depends completely on the weather conditions on the trek and the call will be taken by the trek leader.
You’ll be back in Dehradun by 8 pm. Please factor in the buffer day in your travel plans – book your onward journey from Dehradun only after 9 pm on Day 9.
IMPORTANT POINTS
- It is mandatory for trekkers to carry a copy of their photo ID along with the mandatory documents of the Medical Certificate and Disclaimer form. This is required for trek permissions.
- There are no facilities at Kotgaon. Do not leave this or any other gears till the end.
- The stay at Kotgaon will be on our campus where we have a lodge.
- On the trek, you will be staying 3 in a tent
- We won't have a Cloak Room facility at the base camp for excess luggage. This is because you will be descending to Janakichatti from the Bali pass.
Please note: Twin sharing tents may not be available in May, June, July and August. This is because raw materials for making tents are sourced from different countries. But their export has been affected due to international unrest. This has led to a global shortage of tents. Having said that, you'll still have comfortable space as these tents have been designed to accommodate three trekkers.
Study this chart to know how much altitude you would gain/lose every day on the Bali Pass trek.
PRO-TIPS
Onward Travel
The drive to Kotgaon takes you along the narrow mountain roads along the River Yamuna. Within an hour of driving from Dehradun, you reach Mussoorie. Further ahead, the journey takes you past Mori and Purola. You see beautiful valleys and forest cover throughout the journey. Cross the villages of Nainbagh, Naugaon, Purola, Jarmola, Mori Naitwar, and finally Kotgaon. The 18 km stretch of the dense pine forest after Purola and the drive through the Mori valley alongside River Tons will stay with you for a long time. Do not miss to watch out for them.
The village offers a beautiful view of the sun setting behind the greater Himalayas. The peaks of Swargarohini shimmer in the evening sun, standing tall over the ridges beyond Kotgaon.
Return Travel
The drive back to Dehradun follows the route from Janakachatti. The road goes along River Yamuna.
You are expected to reach back at Dehradun at around 8 pm. Plan your return journey only after 9 pm on the 9th day to factor in your buffer day.
Bali Pass - Ruinsara Tal is Best Discovered Through Pictures
First rays of the sun lighting up the magnificent Mt. Swargarohini.
Picture by: Akhlesh Tomar
Campsites at a Glance
At Indiahikes, we are very particular about choosing terrific campsites. For the Bali Pass - Ruinsara Tal trek too, after a lot of back and forth, we have settled on these terrific campsites, which trekkers have come to love.
Picture by Jagadeesh DM
Picture by Preetham
Picture by Akhlesh Tomar
What I Like Like About Bali Pass Trek
What I Like Like About Bali Pass Trek
Know Your Trek
We have always wanted trekkers to be well-informed before they go on a Himalayan trek. Knowledge is the difference between a safe trek and a dangerous one. It’s also the difference between a wholesome experience and a superficial experience.
Use this section to learn about the Bali Pass - Ruinsara Tal trek. It has in-depth information about each day of the trek, what to expect, and how you need to prepare for it. Many years of expertise have gone into this content. Trekkers find that extremely useful.
PRO TIPS
Trek Trivia
Spotlights and Orange Glows in the Forests of Bali Pass Trek
Most of the trail for Bali Pass is similar to that of Har ki Dun. However, for Har ki Dun, the majority of the time you are walking on the left side of the Ruinsara-Tons river and the right side of Bali Pass. These two trails meet at a point.
After this, beyond Boslo village towards Rain Basera, you face a steep descent through dense forest. As Bali Pass is filled with adventure in its truest sense, proper technique and guidance are needed to climb down the narrow path here.
However, on this path, you see something magical. Sunlight takes on different colours and forms. The reason for this is the different kinds of canopies formed by the various trees here. The spruce trees, for instance, with their needle-like branches and leaves, break the sunlight into what seems like countless small spotlights falling on the ground. If you look up from under the golden oak trees, sunlight appears like an orange bulb above you. And it is through this ‘enchanted forest’ that you get to walk in the Bali Pass trek.
The Thunderous Ice- and Rock-falls in Bali Pass Trek
Beyond the Thanga meadows in the Bali Pass trek, a narrow gorge shows you how untamed nature is. Here, you get to witness what is known as icefall and rockfall. On one of the mountains around you, you will be able to see a very rocky and steep cliff. Here, the snow that has accumulated, tumbles down the entire cliff, taking rocks along with it.
In the daylight, it is a humbling, yet, fascinating sight. During the nighttime, though, this fall is not visible in the pitch darkness. But, you can hear the heavy rumbling of the rocks creating a thundering sound effect. If you are a light sleeper, you might even get woken up by this sound!
If you get to view it in the dark, the rocks clashing with each other at times create sparks. And from afar, this gives you the illusion of a matchstick being lit.
This is when you see that nature is alive and the mountains are making their presence felt.
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