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Rupin Pass Trek

A surprise in scenery every hour

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TREK DIFFICULTY

Moderate-Difficult

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TREK DURATION

7 days

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HIGHEST ALTITUDE

15,279 ft

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TOTAL TREK DISTANCE

40 km

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BASECAMP

Jiskun

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ACCOMMODATION TYPE

Tents and Homestay

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PICKUP TIME

8 AM

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DROPOFF TIME

11 PM

A surprise in scenery every hour

On the Rupin Pass trek, there is something different waiting for you every hour. We never see sceneries change so dramatically and so quickly on any other trek. No two sections on the Rupin Pass Trek feel the same. Yet, you are constantly in awe.

Surprises start right from the drive ahead of Rohru. Unpaved roads through forests open suddenly into expansive grasslands of the Chainsheel Valley. The drive itself is like doing a trek in fast-forward. You experience a rhododendron forest, then pop into expansive meadows while climbing to a height of 11,000 ft. 

Beyond Chainsheel, you descend to Jiskun. Your trek begins from this quaint Himachali village. On the very first day, you see the Jakha village hanging on the mountainside. It almost seems to defy gravity. And immediately beyond this village, you enter a thick forest of ancient fir. This forest ends abruptly, and you arrive suddenly at a huge snow bridge spanning the Rupin River. Then comes Saruwas Thatch and the sudden jaw-dropping view of the Rupin Waterfall. No matter what you have heard of it or how many times you have seen it in photos, its sheer 1,500 ft drop takes you by surprise. Ahead of Saruwas Thatch, the trail winds through the perfectly U-shaped glacial valley of Dhanderas Thatch and climb to Rata Pheri beyond the Upper Waterfall Camp. It is from here that you see the intimidating Rupin Gully for the first time.

Rupin 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 Rupin Pass 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.

Surprises on the Rupin Pass Trek

10 Surprising Twists on the Rupin Pass Trek

A change in scenery at every turn

1. Drive through Chainsheel Valley

The surprises on the Rupin Pass start even before the trek starts. The drive from Rohru to Jiskun passes through the Chainsheel Valley. Not many understand how unique and mind-boggling this drive is. It’s like a trek in fast-forward. You drive past dense rhododendron forests and then into the lush meadows that stretch for miles in front of you. Imagine driving right in the middle of such a landscape.

To add to this, you drive almost at 11,000 feet, at the height of Dhanderas Thatch (11,700 ft) on Rupin Pass trail. In fact, you can even see Dhanderas Thatch from a point on this drive!

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A glimpse of how picturous the drive through Chainsheel Valley is. Photo by Jothiranjan

2. The Hanging Village of Jakha 

Stepping past the post office of the Jiskun village, peer straight ahead and high up in the horizon. A cluster of houses, marking a village hangs out of the mountainside – so incredulous, that it takes time for you to fathom how a village can hang from the walls of a mountain. The village is Jakha, also commonly called the hanging village.

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If there is a trek in Himachal so rich in the ancient culture of the place, it has to be Rupin Pass. Photo by Jothiranjan

3. Fir forests after Jakha

Half hour outside Jakha village, the trail flattens out and plunges into a fir forest, so sudden that it is almost like a gate has opened up. Pine trees over 100 feet tall tower over the trail. And within the enchanting forest Maple trees play hide and seek. The forest ends as suddenly as it starts over a confluence of the Rupin with a tributary.

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The dark, deep fir forest of Rupin Valley is one to cherish. Photo by Vishwas Krishnamurthy

4. Buras Kandi and Saruwas Thatch

Later, past Udaknal and just past Buras Kandi, around a bend in the trail a sight leaves you gaping. Rhododendrons bloom everywhere and climb a thousand feet into the slope. It is a riot of colours: pink, violet and white Rhododendrons – all of the dwarf kind. Some of the Rhododendrons even swoop over the clear waters of the Rupin, their flowers falling into the river to be carried downstream forever. After Buras Kandi you enter Saruwas Thatch, which is another sight in itself. With bursts of yellow flowers and bees buzzing around them, it i a sight to behold!

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Buras Kandi is home to dwarf rhododendrons of almost all colours. It's a treat to your eyes! Photo by Jothiranjan.

5. The first view of the Rupin Waterfall

After a while, stepping over the roots of the Rhododendrons, the trail suddenly tunnels into a view of the U-shaped Rupin glacial valley. In the far distance, at the end of the valley, is the famous three stage Rupin waterfall. It appears to be falling from the clouds.

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The first sight of Rupin Waterfall is a stunning sight that leaves you in awe. Photo by Antara Naik

6. The Glacial Valley around the Rupin Waterfall

Soon after Saruwas Thatch, the trail climbs over a bump to suddenly stand on the lip of the glacial valley. The sight in front is straight out of a picture book. The Rupin flows gently, slowly through the middle of the greenest meadow that you have seen. On the sides of the valley, snow patches stick to the valley walls.

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The glacial U shaped valley around the Rupin Waterfall is a wonder in itself. Photo by Jothiranjan

7. Snow bridges in the valley

If you are trekking in summer, look out for the snow bridges that you have to cross on your way to the lower waterfall camp site (Dhanderas Thatch). Snow bridges are common on slopes but to see them on a wide open valley is a surprise.

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snow bridges are natural marvels that you rarely come across on any other trek. Photo by Jothiranjan

8. The Upper Waterfall Campsite

Getting to the upper water fall camp site is a series of switchback climbs over the three water falls (and many on snow bridges and patches). Climbing the final ridge, the Upper Waterfall campsite is unlike any place you have seen before. It is a large basin where icy flanks of mountains surround it. Below the flanks snow melts to form hundreds of little streams that join together to form the Rupin.

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Upper waterfall campsite where you see the origin of Rupin river. Tirth Bhatt

9. The Gully to Rupin Pass

The final climb to the Rupin pass is through a gully. In the narrow snow laden gully voices echo and reverberate through its confines – something that is new to most trekkers.

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Crossing the Rupin Gully is one of the most adventurous day on the Rupin Pass trek. Photo by Vishwas Krishnamurthy

10. The Kinner Kailash Ranges on the other side of the Pass

Getting out of the Ronti Gad campsite on the Sangla side, the trail descends harmlessly along over meadows, when a sudden bend on the trail brings you face to face with the towering summits of the Kinner Kailash ranges.

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As you get on to the other side of the Rupin Pass, you start seeing the Kinner Kailash range. Photo by Gajendra Kumar

5 Reasons Why Indiahikes

Our No-Compromise Safety Promise

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We are known for our pioneering safety practices in trekking. Microspikes, oximeters, and BP checks became standards thanks to us. 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. When you join our treks, we first make our No-Compromise Safety Promise. It’s our unwavering commitment to keep you safe, no matter what.

Our No-compromise Sustainability promise

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Our commitment to the environment is relentless. We don’t just encourage responsible trekking; we insist on it. That’s why our Green Trails principles are non-negotiable. They don’t involve just our trekkers or our staff members. Our entire trek processes and policies are designed to favour the environment, even if it is often counterintuitive to our business.

We are India’s largest trekking organisation

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More than 30,000 trekkers trek with us every year. In addition, our outdoor learning division (InSoul) has participants from the who’s of the education organisation in India, from the IIMs to BITS to top international schools. More than 5,000 participants from these institutions trek with us annually. We do not spend a single rupee on advertising to get these participants. Our reputation precedes us.

Being pioneers of trekking in India

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We are pioneers in trekking. Since 2007, we have documented and brought out most of India’s famous treks: Roopkund, Rupin Pass, Buran Ghati, Kedarkantha, Kashmir Great Lakes, Tarsar Marsar, Phulara Ridge—the list goes on. In 2023-24 alone, we brought out nine 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 believe everyone must trek.

Our treks are transformative

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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.

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