Gunas Pass Trek
Shimla (Pabbar valley) and Kinnaur (Sangla/Baspa valley), Himachal Pradesh
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- Max altitude
- 4,800 m
- Days
- 8 days
- Distance
- 37 km
- Difficulty
- Challenging
A rarely crossed 4,800 m pass next to Buran Ghati: operators describe a near-vertical snow climb to the pass that needs fixed ropes and prior use of technical gear, knee-deep snow before the monsoon and a long, steep descent to Sangla, so it is for experienced trekkers only.
Photos
On the trail
The route
Day by day
Day 1
Shimla → Janglik (drive, about 150 km via Rohru and Chirgaon)
2,200 m → 2,805 m
Day 2
Janglik → Dayara Thach
2,805 m → 3,353 m
Day 3
Dayara Thach → Litham
3,353 m → 3,597 m
Day 4
Litham → Litham (via Chandranahan Lake)
3,597 m → 4,237 m → 3,597 m
Day 5
Litham → Dunda Thach
3,597 m → 4,115 m
Day 6
Dunda Thach → Rankhona (Gunas Pass base)
4,115 m → 4,300 m
Day 7 · highest point
Rankhona → Soraden Lake (or Ronti Gad) via Gunas Pass
4,300 m → 4,800 m → 4,206 m
Day 8
Soraden Lake / Ronti Gad → Sangla (then drive to Shimla, about 230 km)
4,206 m → 2,682 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 · Janglik (Janglikh)
at 2,805 mLoading forecast…
High point · Gunas Pass (Gunas Ghati)
at 4,800 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
- Janglik (Janglikh) (nearest town: Chirgaon)
- Nearest railway
- Shimla (narrow gauge from Kalka); Kalka is the nearest broad-gauge station
- Nearest airport
- Shimla (Jubbarhatti) Airport; Chandigarh has more flights
- By road
- Shimla to Janglik (about 150 km, 8-9 hours via Theog, Rohru and Chirgaon; the road is rough after Chirgaon); Return from Sangla to Shimla (about 230 km via Karcham and Rampur)
- Drive
- About 8.5 h from Shimla
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
₹13,500–24,000
Per person, ex-Shimla (Bikat's fee covers Janglik to Sangla only). Guided prices published: Bikat Adventures ₹22,500 + 5% GST (Janglik to Sangla, includes forest permits, rope and harness); Your Mountain Friend (via TourTravelWorld) ₹13,500 including tax for a 7-day version. Self-guided is an estimate for a small group hiring a local guide who knows the pass, porters or mules, tents and fixed-rope gear, plus buses or taxis Shimla-Janglik and Sangla-Shimla; going without a guide and rope is not advisable.
Gear
Top picks for this trek
The gear that matters most on this route, chosen from its altitude, season and risks.
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Packing checklist
Matched to this trek: altitude, season, days and the risks on the route.
Packed 0 of 37
Snow on the trail in May–Jun: microspikes, gaiters and a warm layer are not optional.
Tick each item as it goes in the bag.
Know before you go
Good to know
- Mobile network
- Patchy beyond Chirgaon; expect no signal from Janglik until you near Sangla.
- Last ATM
- Rohru, on the drive from Shimla to Janglik
- Nearest hospital
- Civil hospital at Rohru (start side); community health centre at Sangla and the district hospital at Reckong Peo (finish side); IGMC Shimla for serious cases
- Water
- Streams at Dayara, Litham and Dunda, the Chandranahan stream and Pabbar headwaters, snowmelt near the pass and Soraden Lake on the Kinnaur side. Treat all water.
Highlights
- A little-crossed 4,800 m pass beside the better-known Buran Ghati, linking the Pabbar valley to the Sangla valley
- The Dayara and Litham meadows and birch forest of the upper Pabbar valley
- An acclimatisation walk to Chandranahan Lake, the glacial source of the Pabbar
- Descending to Sangla with views of the Kinner Kailash range
Risks
- Technical pass: operators say the final climb to Gunas Pass is near-vertical snow that needs fixed ropes, harnesses and people who know how to use them. Do not attempt it without an experienced guide and rope.
- Seasonal restriction: Himachal Pradesh advises treks above 15,000 ft only from 1 May to 15 September and asked districts to restrict them after that date, so late-September and October crossings may be refused even though some operators list October.
- Ban check: the Kinnaur DC's 7 Sep 2022 ban covers treks linking Uttarkashi (Uttarakhand) and Kinnaur. Gunas Pass runs from Shimla district into Kinnaur, so it is not one of those routes, but Kinnaur has restricted passes after accidents before; confirm current permission with the Kinnaur district administration before booking.
- Knee-deep snow covers much of the trail in May-June; July-August monsoon rain brings slippery trails and landslides on the Janglik and Sangla roads.
- Altitude: the pass day is about 8 hours above 4,300 m. Keep the Chandranahan acclimatisation day and turn back at the first signs of altitude sickness.
- Few parties cross this pass, so the route above Dunda is not well trodden and rescue is slow.
Know before you go
Questions
How high is Gunas Pass and where does it lead?
Operators give about 4,800 m (15,800 ft). The pass sits next to Buran Ghati at the head of the Pabbar valley in Shimla district and crosses into the Sangla (Baspa) valley in Kinnaur, so the trek starts at Janglik and ends at Sangla.
How is Gunas Pass different from Buran Ghati?
The first days to Dayara, Litham and Chandranahan Lake are the same as Buran Ghati. After Dunda the route turns to Gunas Pass, which operators describe as tougher and technical: a steep snow climb with fixed ropes, ending at Sangla instead of Barua.
What is the best time for the Gunas Pass trek?
Operators run it in May-June and September-October. Himachal Pradesh advises high-altitude treks above 15,000 ft only until 15 September, so September is the safer post-monsoon window; expect deep snow in May and June.
Is the Gunas Pass trek banned like the Uttarkashi-Kinnaur passes?
The Kinnaur ban of September 2022 covers treks linking Uttarkashi and Kinnaur, such as the routes from Harsil or Har Ki Dun to Chitkul. Gunas Pass starts in Shimla district, not Uttarkashi, so it is not one of those routes. Check current permission with the Kinnaur district office before going.
Can beginners do the Gunas Pass trek?
No. Bikat Adventures says it is meant only for experienced trekkers with good fitness and prior knowledge of technical equipment, because the pass needs rope fixing.
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: Shimla (Pabbar valley) and Kinnaur (Sangla/Baspa valley)Himachal Pradesh
- Nearest hospital
- Civil hospital at Rohru (start side); community health centre at Sangla and the district hospital at Reckong Peo (finish side); IGMC Shimla for serious cases
- Last ATM
- Rohru, on the drive from Shimla to Janglik
- Phone network
- Patchy beyond Chirgaon; expect no signal from Janglik until you near Sangla.
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 Gunas Pass
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Where this comes from
Sources
Last reviewed:
- Gunas Pass Trek - Pabbar Valley Himachal — Bikat Adventures
- Trek - Gunas Pass Tour — Your Mountain Friend
- Himachal government restricts trekking in high-altitude tracks from September 15 — The Tribune
- Kinnaur administration bans trekking on Uttarkashi-Kinnaur route (7 Sep 2022) — Amar Ujala
Photos: Sunil Sharma, CC BY-SA 4.0; Bharatkaistha, CC BY-SA 4.0; Bharatkaistha, CC BY-SA 4.0
