The Animal Pass Trek is an exciting and challenging trek located in the Parvati Valley of Himachal Pradesh. This trek is a lesser-known and offbeat trail that takes you through the picturesque Tosh Valley, all the way up to the stunning Animal Pass. You'll cross several streams and waterfalls and walk through lush green meadows and grasslands. The trail is steep in some parts and requires a bit of scrambling, but it's not too difficult. The trek is around 22 km long and takes around 6 days to complete.
The best time to do the Animal Pass Trek is from June to September, during the monsoon season. The valley comes alive with greenery, and the streams and waterfalls are at their fullest. The weather is pleasant, but you need to be prepared for rain. The Animal Pass Trek is a moderate level trek, but it requires some prior trekking experience.
The highest point of the trek is the Animal Pass, which is located at an altitude of 4560 m above sea level. This makes the trek quite challenging, as altitude sickness can be a concern. It's essential to acclimatize properly and stay hydrated throughout the trek. In all, Animal Pass Trek is an offbeat and challenging trek that's perfect for adventure enthusiasts and nature lovers. With its stunning scenery and breathtaking views, it's definitely a trek worth doing.
Itinerary
Day - 1
Arrive in Kasol
After arriving in Kasol, it's a good idea to take some time to rest before embarking on your adventures. Once you're ready, head out to explore the scenic riverside and organic farm at TRO. From there, make your way to the markets of Kasol, where you'll discover an array of amazing hippie shopping opportunities and can indulge in some mouthwatering Israeli cuisine at the local cafes of Kasol.
Day - 2
The day commences quite early, at approximately 7:30 am, with a 1.5 hour drive up to Tosh. Following a brief breakfast stop at one of Tosh's cafes, we embark on a 2 hour trek, with stunning mountain vistas accompanying us throughout. While the terrain does become somewhat steep in places, it remains manageable. Eventually, we reach Kutla, where we're greeted by a breathtaking view of the Kutla mountain range. Here, we indulge in scrumptious home-cooked meals and revel in the opportunity to rediscover our inner child, with a playground at our disposal.
Day - 3
Start trek towards Sharam Thatch - 6 hour Trek
After enjoying a hearty breakfast, we begin our trek today, that is around 6 hours of good walking. The path runs parallel to the Tosh river and ascends towards the tree line, leading us through expansive meadows dotted with rhododendrons and juniper trees. Along the way, we'll encounter huge waterfalls before arriving at our campsite, Sharam Thatch. We'll cook for the night and take some rest before we start for yet another long day tomorrow.
Day - 4
Trek to Shamshi Thatch - 6 hour Trek
There's a possibility that we'll encounter rainy terrain during our trek today. Initially, the climb may prove to be challenging, but the scenery is breathtaking, and the calming sound of the rushing Tosh river makes it all worth it. Afterward, we'll descend to our campsite, Shamshi Thatch, where we'll be treated to stunning vistas of the Tosh glacier and Kullu Makalu Peak.
Day - 5
The Day - Animal Pass - 5 hour
We'll be setting off early today for a challenging trek to reach the summit of Animal Pass. The path is steep and rugged, requiring considerable effort to navigate. However, the panoramic view from the top is simply breathtaking, with stunning vistas of Devachan, Papsura, and Dharamsura peaks, as well as the entire Deo Tibba range. Afterward, we'll make our way back to the Shamshi Thatch campsite to rest for the night.
Day - 6
Walk down to Kutla - 8 hour Trek
Our trek for today will involve a complete descent as we retrace our path back to the Kutla. It is going to be a long 8 hour walk, so we shall start early and reach the base by evening, where we have a hearty warm heavy meal and spend a good nights sleep in cottages, because why not!
Day - 7
Descend back to Kasol - 3 hour Trek
As we make our way down to Kasol today, we're feeling elated and thrilled to have successfully completed one of the most stunning and challenging treks of the Parvati Valley. We've earned ourselves a rocking celebration, and the treat is on us!
Vibe Check
A place that you just cannot visit only once
