Bali Pass Trek

A Grand Pass Crossing High on Adventure

Bali Pass Full? Check The Pin Bhaba Pass for an equally challenging adventure!

Check out why it is called the most dramatic pass-crossing trek in our country

TREK DIFICULTY

Difficult

TREK DURATION

8 days

HIGHEST ALTITUDE

16,207 ft

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.

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.

Bali Pass - Complete Trek Information

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.

Bali Pass - Ruinsara Tal Videos

Watch these videos to plan and prepare for your trek.

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

Expert Speak

Dushyant Sharma, Slope Manager

Dushyant Sharma, Slope Manager

Dushyant is a Slope Manager and Trainer at Indiahikes. He has been with Indiahikes for over 6 years now. Dushyant is one of the most on-demand Trek Leaders at Indiahikes for his expertise in safety and high altitude trek leading. He is also the face of the popular Hindi video series Chalein Trekking with Dushyant Sharma. He has led more than 100 treks including a few of the toughest treks organised by Indiahikes, including Warwan Valley, Kedartal and Pin Parvati Pass. He is known for his leadership and storytelling.

What I Like Like About Bali Pass Trek

What I Like Like About Bali Pass Trek

Dushyant Sharma, Slope Manager

Dushyant is a Slope Manager and Trainer at Indiahikes. He has been with Indiahikes for over 6 years now. Dushyant is one of the most on-demand Trek Leaders at Indiahikes for his expertise in safety and high altitude trek leading. He is also the face of the popular Hindi video series Chalein Trekking with Dushyant Sharma. He has led more than 100 treks including a few of the toughest treks organised by Indiahikes, including Warwan Valley, Kedartal and Pin Parvati Pass. He is known for his leadership and storytelling.

1. The ancient villages of Osla and Gangad take you back in time.

On day one, the ancient villages of Gangad and Osla strike a chord with unique village cultures and folklore. The ancient temples at Osla have riveting Himachali architecture that can keep you absorbed for a long time.

2. The alpine meadows of Devsu Thach in middle of the Ruinsara Forest are a grand surprise of the trek.

The setting of Dev Thach is picture-perfect. A thriving meadow surrounded by tall trees with Swargarohini and Kalanag looming in the background makes for a perfect setting. It makes for a very tempting spot to camp.

3. The trail from Devsu Thach to Ruinsara Lake, meandering next to the Ruinsara River

This is a beautiful and tricky stretch. The valley is narrow and one can be excused for comparing it with Rishi Gorge from Nanda DeviSanctuary, although it isn’t as difficult as the latter. The array of alpine flowers across the riverbank is astonishing.

4. The Ruinsara Lake is a special glacial lake

Resting amidst the beautiful mountain ranges of Swaragrohini, the lake is serene and calming. The meadows around are neat and untouched. One can experience a sense of tranquillity all around the lakeside.

5. The challenging approach to Bali Pass

Like most Himalayan pass crossings, it is best done in either pre or post-monsoon seasons. In June and July, the higher regions of the past are covered in snow while in post-monsoon season, it is a drier, rockier approach. Trekkers who enjoy high altitude pass traverses will find themselves totally at home.

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.

When you trek with us, you leave mountains better

Green Trails is our promise to leave the mountains better. We have removed over 1 lakh kilos of the waste left behind by others on trekking trails. Yet this is a small percentage of what we do. Green Trails dives into reducing the use of resources, reducing our carbon footprint and bringing about a change in the daily practices of our trekkers too.

5 Reasons Why Indiahikes

We are India’s safest trekking organisation

When we brought out new trails in Indian trekking, safety came with us. Back in 2012, we were the first to introduce microspikes, and two years later, pulse oximeters became standard thanks to us. Nobody does safe treks like Indiahikes. In the mountains, emergencies don't care who you're with – everyone knows that when trouble hits, you look for the yellow tents of Indiahikes.

We are pioneers of treks in India

We are pioneers in trekking. Since 2007, we have brought out treks that have become India's most famous treks: Roopkund, Rupin Pass, Buran Ghati, Kedarkantha, Kashmir Great Lakes, Tarsar Marsar, Brahmatal, Phulara Ridge—the list goes on. In 2023 alone, we brought out five new treks in Indian trekking. We know treks better than anyone. This comes directly from the reason why Indiahikes was born: to bring out trek information and enable trekkers to trek on their own.

We are India’s largest trekking organisation

More than 25,000 people trek with us every year. We are the largest trekking organisation in India. 24% of our trekkers come back to trek with us every year. Over 4,000 students from the top educational institutions trek with us every year. Aside from this, families with children choose to trek with Indiahikes knowing that our treks are the safest. We have taken over 8000 children trekking so far, and the number continues to grow.

Our treks are transformative

We focus on designing transformative experiences. Our trek leaders conduct thought-provoking exercises that help you reflect and contemplate. This impact stays with you for a long time. Trekkers return feeling energised, more confident, or developing abilities to deal with difficulties. Many have changed careers, rethought their core values, become more humble, shown gratitude to others, or started a new fitness journey.

We are India's most sustainable trekking organisation

Since 2012, we have pioneered sustainable practices that have become standard in trekking. Using eco-bags, our trekkers have cleared over 120 tonnes of litter from the mountains. We do not carry packaged foods; instead, we serve freshly made food. We do not light campfires; we carry coal to light angethis to keep you warm. Our bio-toilets not only keep our toilets odour-free but also enrich the soil. When you trek with us, you leave mountains better.

Indiahikes Features

You’re guarded with our trek again philosophy

If you are unable to complete a trek, or if you love a trek, you can repeat it with us anytime. You don’t have to pay us for it. See our thoughts behind this here.

Daily 3-time health checks keep you safe at any altitude

Our thrice-a-day oxi-metre checks keep altitude sickness at bay, never allowing you to reach a point where you need evacuation.

Join any group, they are all women-friendly groups 

With around 30% of our trekkers being women, all women, including those travelling solo are comfortable to join any of our groups.

Request Jain/Vegan-friendly food

Our kitchen teams understand your needs as a vegan (or a Jain). We will take special care of your food, even in the remote Himalayas. 

Be comfortable and sustainable with bio toilets

We have specially designed bio toilets to ensure you have no sight or smell in toilets, at the same time making sure the toilets cause no harm to the fragile ecosystem we trek in.

Fresh, nutritious food at every camp

We’ll admit it. Our love for food surpasses our love for minimalism. Expect freshly cooked, multi-cuisine food at all camps, designed to meet your nutritional requirements and keep your taste buds happy!

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