- Max altitude
- 4,950 m
- Days
- 8 days
- Distance
- 54 km
- Difficulty
- Difficult
A high pass crossing for experienced trekkers: the climb from Odari to the base camp and pass is steep and often on snow, the crossing day is 10-11 hours with a narrow ridge and a long, steep descent to Dhamni, and operators ask for prior high-altitude trek experience.
Photos
On the trail
The route
Day by day
Day 1
Dehradun → Sankri
640 m → 1,950 m
Day 2
Sankri (drive to Taluka/Dhatmeer) → Seema
1,950 m → 2,560 m
Day 3
Seema → Devsu Thach
2,560 m → 3,100 m
Day 4
Devsu Thach → Ruinsara Tal
3,100 m → 3,565 m
Day 5
Ruinsara Tal → Odari
3,565 m → 4,008 m
Day 6
Odari → Bali Pass Base Camp
4,008 m → 4,650 m
Day 7 · highest point
Bali Pass Base Camp → Lower Dhamni (via Bali Pass)
4,650 m → 4,950 m → 3,400 m
Day 8
Lower Dhamni → Janki Chatti via Yamunotri (drive to Dehradun)
3,400 m → 2,650 m
Ups and downs
Altitude profile
Where it is
Map
Trailhead and high point only — not a recorded track. Use it with a proper map.
Weather
Next 5 days on the trail
Live forecast for the trailhead and the high point. Mountain weather changes fast — check again on the morning you start.
Trailhead · Sankri
at 1,950 mLoading forecast…
High point · Bali Pass
at 4,950 mLoading forecast…
Each day: high / low °C · rain mm and chance · snow cm · wind km/h
Weather data: Open-Meteo.comModel forecast, not an official warning. For alerts follow IMD and the local administration.
Plan the trip
How to reach
- Trailhead
- Sankri
- Nearest railway
- Dehradun
- Nearest airport
- Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun
- By road
- Dehradun to Sankri (about 190-200 km via Mussoorie, Purola and Mori); Janki Chatti back to Dehradun (about 170 km, 7-8 hours)
- Drive
- About 9 h from Dehradun
Plan the trip
Permits and fees
We could not confirm the current permit rules and fees from an official source. Check with the local forest department or tourism office before you go.
Plan the trip
Cost
Self-guided
₹15,000–25,000
With an operator
₹22,000–26,000
Per person, ex-Dehradun. Guided prices published October 2026: Bikat Adventures ₹21,500 + 5% GST ex-Sankri plus ₹2,200 for Dehradun transport; Trek The Himalayas ₹23,500 + 5% GST; Himalaya Shelter ₹22,000 + 5% GST. Self-guided is an estimate: bus or shared jeep to Sankri and back from Janki Chatti, a local guide and porter for 7 days over a pass that should not be crossed alone, tent, stove and food, and forest entry fees in Govind National Park.
Gear
Top picks for this trek
The gear that matters most on this route, chosen from its altitude, season and risks.
Ad · affiliate link
Ad · affiliate link
Ad · affiliate link
Ad · affiliate link
Ad · affiliate link
Ad · affiliate link
Ad · affiliate link
Ad · affiliate link
Store buttons open a search on that store, not a product we picked. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Photos show the kind of item, not a specific product. Affiliate disclosure
Packing checklist
Matched to this trek: altitude, season, days and the risks on the route.
Packed 0 of 34
Nights near 4,950 m can drop close to freezing even in summer. Pack one more warm layer than you think.
Tick each item as it goes in the bag.
Know before you go
Good to know
- Mobile network
- Only BSNL and Jio work in Sankri; no mobile reception after Sankri until the Yamunotri/Janki Chatti side.
- Last ATM
- Purola (Sankri has none reliable); carry enough cash from Dehradun
- Nearest hospital
- Mori and Purola for first care; Dehradun for serious cases
- Water
- Streams and the Supin and Ruinsara rivers in the lower valley and at Ruinsara Tal; the climb to the pass has dry stretches, so carry at least 2 litres. Boil or treat all water.
Highlights
- Crossing a 4,950 m pass between the Ruinsara valley and the Yamunotri valley
- Camping beside Ruinsara Tal, a small lake under Swargarohini and Bandarpoonch
- The Devsu Thach meadow ringed by conifers with views of Kalanag
- Ending the trek at Yamunotri, source of the Yamuna, with its hot springs
Risks
- The ascent from Odari to the base camp and pass is steep and often on snow; microspikes, crampons or an ice axe may be needed.
- The pass crossing day is 10-11 hours and includes a narrow ridge and a long, steep descent to Dhamni; weather can change fast with rain, snow or hail.
- Altitude sickness above 4,000 m; the itinerary needs gradual acclimatisation and a buffer day.
- Operators run the trek only before and after the monsoon (May-June, September-October). In July-August the route is landslide-prone, Himalayan Dream Treks says the Sankri-Taluka road is usually closed, and roads to Sankri and from Janki Chatti can be blocked.
- Snow returns to the pass from around late September to November; outside May-June and September-October the pass is generally not attempted.
Know before you go
Questions
How long is the Bali Pass trek and how many days does it take?
Most operators run it in 8 days Dehradun to Dehradun, with about 50-56 km of walking over 7 trekking days from Sankri to Janki Chatti.
Is Bali Pass suitable for beginners?
Generally no. Bikat Adventures and Himalaya Shelter rate it difficult and ask for prior high-altitude experience; the pass day is 10-11 hours over snow and a narrow ridge.
What is the best time for the Bali Pass trek?
May to June and September to October. Operators schedule departures only before and after the monsoon; in July-August the route is landslide-prone and the Sankri-Taluka road is often closed, and the pass is snowbound in winter.
Where does the Bali Pass trek start and end?
It starts at Sankri (a short drive further to Taluka or Dhatmeer begins the walk) and ends at Janki Chatti below Yamunotri, from where you drive back to Dehradun.
Do I need a permit for Bali Pass?
Yes. The route passes through Govind National Park, so forest entry fees apply; guided groups include them. We could not confirm the current official fee, so self-guided trekkers should check at the forest office in Sankri.
Is there mobile network or an ATM on the trek?
Only BSNL and Jio work in Sankri and there is no signal beyond it. The nearest ATM is in Purola, so carry cash.
In an emergency
Save these numbers before you lose signal. Tap to call.
- 112All emergenciesIndia’s single emergency number — works in every state
- 108Ambulance
- 1077District disaster control room
You are in
District: UttarkashiUttarakhand
- Nearest hospital
- Mori and Purola for first care; Dehradun for serious cases
- Last ATM
- Purola (Sankri has none reliable); carry enough cash from Dehradun
- Phone network
- Only BSNL and Jio work in Sankri; no mobile reception after Sankri until the Yamunotri/Janki Chatti side.
Before you set off
- Tell someone your route and when you will be back.
- Carry a charged phone and a power bank.
- Download an offline map of the route.
- Turn back if the weather turns bad — the mountain will wait.
Questions about Bali Pass
No questions yet. Ask something and trekkers who have done it can answer.
Share your trek photo with #TreksAndTrails
I trekked this
Did Bali Pass look different from this page? Tell us what changed and we will check it.
Where this comes from
Sources
Last reviewed:
- Bali Pass Trek 2027 — Bikat Adventures
- Bali Pass Trek — Trek The Himalayas
- Bali Pass Trek — Himalayan Dream Treks
- Bali Pass Trek — Himalaya Shelter
- Bali Pass Trek Difficulty Level — Himalaya Shelter
Photos: Biswajit Majumdar, CC BY-SA 3.0; Biswajit Majumdar, CC BY-SA 3.0; Biswajit Majumdar, CC BY-SA 3.0
