Rupin Pass Trek

Assemble in Dehradun by 7 AM and board your vehicles for Dhaula. Dhaula is a quaint village in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand. The homestay cabin is tucked into the lush woods on a gradual mountain slope overlooking the Rupin river below. Spend the night in one of the local guest houses in Dhaula. The Rupin Pass Trek begins from Dhaula the next morning after steaming-hot cups of chai and breakfast.

An easy 7 km trek from Dhaula to Sewa with apple & apricot trees in abundance on the trail. The initial walk is through farms until you enter the dense jungle. The richness of the number of streams in the last leg of the trail is refreshing. As you reach Sewa, the crowned jewel of the village is an ancient Shiva temple that opens once every 12 years to welcome a local visiting god. Camp overnight at Sewa village.

Today we will trek to the village of Jiskun, a challenging but rewarding climb. The trail takes you through potato and barley fields eventually into a dense jungle with deodar and walnut trees. Crisscrossing several streams you head onto a bridge over the stream that flows into Rupin. The main trail to Jiskun is a steep climb after crossing a stream. Overnight stay in homestay.

Today we will cross Hanging Village of Jhaka. Rising up from a deep gorge, Jhaka can be spotted through the forest perched high up on a neighboring mountain. Your ascent today brings many surprises with it. Dense forests, meadows and wooden bridges dot the way. The river is your companion today, and a thundering river waits for you to carefully cross it overhead on a log bridge. As you approach Saruwas Thatch, your climb levels off into a meadow tucked beneath the mountains, painted in purple rhododendrons all around. The proximate distance to Saruwas thatch is 5kms which will take about 4-5 hours. Overnight camping at Saruwas Thatch.

Today brings you your first glimpse of the infamous high-altitude Rupin Pass waterfall, and it is well worth it. Only a 500 ft ascent today for acclimatization purposes, the day’s hike is gentle but stunning, tempting all who walk the trail to take a quick detour and slide (or glissade, as us trekking nerds say) down the snow slopes for a dose of adrenaline. Overnight camp at Dhanderas Thatch, where the Rupin waterfall you will climb tomorrow can be heard thundering above you.

Get your cameras ready- today’s hike is straight up the side of that massive waterfall you’ve inched a little closer to each day. We trek straight up the same cliff that the mighty Rupin River cascades down from just a few feet away. Upper waterfall campsite is waiting for you at the top, and it’s like entering a new world. You’ve left the treeline far below, and the landscape turns to a frozen landscape blanketed in deep untouched snow with jagged black mountains all around.

Today is what you’ve been waiting for- and you’re going to have to work for it. We will break camps early in the morning to have more time. Your newfound skills on the snow will be put to the test (depending on the season), and you will use our snowshoes to traverse the steep, icy climb to the saddle-shaped Rupin Pass itself. The summit is worth the icy climb, revealing a 360-degree view of multiple mountain ranges, connected by the pass, which is adorned with prayer flags. The steep descent down the other side brings you to Ronti Gad camp tucked into a meadow just above the treeline.

What goes up must come down- like on most treks, the last day’s trail is a steep descent. The spectacular views of Kinner Kailash Ranges will keep the photographer in you busy. Slowly but steadily, we glance our first view of civilization far below as we pass through old stone house ruins, fields of grazing chupas and village farms & orchards. The lush green fields are a welcome refreshment after several days in the white landscape of the high mountains. We will reach Sangla in 5-6 hours. After reaching Sangla, we will board our vehicles for the return journey to Shimla. We will reach Shimla late at night, so make your hotel reservations accordingly.