The Hampta Pass Trek is a stunning high-altitude crossover that connects the lush green Kullu Valley with the stark, barren landscape of the Lahaul-Spiti Valley in Himachal Pradesh, India. The pass sits at about 14,000 feet and is known for the sudden contrast in scenery: one side covered in forests, meadows and flowers, the other opening into barren mountains. Starting near Manali, this trek offers trekkers a journey through contrasting ecosystem from dense forests of pine and maple to vast emerald meadows, glacial valleys, and finally, the arid moonscape of Spiti. Along the way you cross rivers, walk through alpine meadows, camp beside Chandratal Lake if the route allows, and get panoramic views of peaks like Deo Tibba and Indrasan.
Shepherds are an important part of the Hamta Pass experience. During the summer, Gaddi shepherds from Himachal lead their flocks through these same trails, moving from the green pastures of Kullu to the drier grazing grounds of Lahaul. On the trek you’ll often see them with hundreds of sheep or goats, their dogs keeping the herd in line. Meeting them gives the route a timeless feel, since people have been using Hamta as a migration pass long before trekkers discovered it.
