Lamkhaga Pass Trek
Kinnaur (Himachal Pradesh) and Uttarkashi (Uttarakhand), Uttarakhand & Himachal Pradesh
Opens without signal on this phone, with the map file and checklist. Saved for offline →
- Max altitude
- 5,282 m
- Days
- 9 days
- Distance
- 85 km
- Difficulty
- Difficult
A remote 5,282 m border-area pass for experienced trekkers only: long 9-16 km days above 4,000 m on moraine and snow slopes, a glacier crossing where ropes may be needed on the 8-9 hour pass day, no villages for six days and no mobile network.
Photos
On the trail
The route
Day by day
Day 1
Shimla → Chitkul (drive)
2,200 m → 3,435 m
Day 2
Chitkul → Rani Kanda
3,435 m → 3,680 m
Day 3
Rani Kanda → Dumti
3,680 m → 4,035 m
Day 4
Dumti → Gundar
4,035 m → 4,415 m
Day 5
Gundar → Lamkhaga base camp (Kinnaur side)
4,415 m → 4,800 m
Day 6 · highest point
Lamkhaga base camp (Kinnaur side) → Lamkhaga base camp (Harsil side) via Lamkhaga Pass
4,800 m → 5,282 m → 4,420 m
Day 7
Lamkhaga base camp (Harsil side) → Kyarkoti
4,420 m → 3,840 m
Day 8
Kyarkoti → Harsil
3,840 m → 2,620 m
Day 9
Harsil → Dehradun (drive)
2,620 m → 640 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 · Chitkul
at 3,435 mLoading forecast…
High point · Lamkhaga Pass
at 5,282 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
- Chitkul (nearest town: Sangla)
- Nearest railway
- Shimla or Kalka (start); Dehradun (end)
- Nearest airport
- Chandigarh International Airport (start); Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun (end)
- By road
- Shimla to Chitkul (about 250 km, 8-9 hours via Narkanda, Rampur, Karcham and Sangla); Dehradun to Harsil (about 230 km, 8-9 hours via Uttarkashi), if starting from the Harsil side
- Drive
- About 8 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
₹25,000–40,000
With an operator
₹30,000–55,000
Per person, ex-Shimla/Chitkul (or ex-Harsil when done in reverse). Guided prices published for 2026: Raacho Trekkers from ₹30,000 (Chitkul to Harsil, price varies with group size and pickup); Bikat Adventures ₹52,000 + 5% GST ex-Harsil, excluding Dehradun and Shimla transport. Self-guided is an estimate for a small group hiring a local guide, cook and porters or mules for 7 trekking days, plus tents, food, permits and the two long road journeys; going without local support is not advisable on this route.
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 36
Snow on the trail in May: 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
- No mobile network once you leave Chitkul until you reach Harsil; ITBP and army posts (for example at Dumti) are the only outside contact on the trail.
- Last ATM
- Sangla, on the road to Chitkul
- Nearest hospital
- Community health care at Sangla and the district hospital at Reckong Peo (Kinnaur side); Uttarkashi district hospital on the Harsil side
- Water
- The Baspa river and side streams on the Kinnaur side, glacier melt near the pass, and the Jalandhari Gad and Kyarkoti lake on the Harsil side. Treat all water.
Highlights
- Crossing a 5,282 m pass on the Uttarakhand-Himachal watershed close to the Tibet border
- Walking up the Baspa valley from Chitkul, India's last village on the old Hindustan-Tibet road
- Camping by Kyarkoti lake below the glaciers of the Jalandhari Gad valley
- Six days with no villages, between ITBP posts, in one of the least-visited corners of Garhwal and Kinnaur
Risks
- TREKKING BAN: In late October 2021 the Kinnaur Deputy Commissioner banned trekking and mountaineering on all treks in Kinnaur district 'till further orders' under Section 34 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, warning of legal action against violators (Himachal Watcher, 26 October 2021), and on 7 September 2022 the Kinnaur administration also barred, with immediate effect, the treks that link Uttarkashi and Kinnaur (Amar Ujala), after deaths on these routes. We found no order lifting either ban, although operators list 2026 departures. This trek links Kinnaur and Uttarkashi: do not attempt it while the ban is in force, and confirm with the Kinnaur district administration at Reckong Peo and the Uttarkashi district office before booking.
- Weather turns fast: in October 2021 a storm on the pass killed at least 12 trekkers, some in an avalanche. Watch forecasts and keep a reserve day.
- Glacier and snow slopes near the pass can have crevasses and ice; ropes, crampons and a guide who knows the route are needed.
- Himachal Pradesh has advised high-altitude treks above 15,000 ft only from 1 May to 15 September and asked districts to restrict such passes after that date, so October crossings may be refused.
- Rapid altitude gain from about 3,400 m to 5,282 m; build in an acclimatisation day and turn back at the first signs of altitude sickness.
Know before you go
Questions
Is the Lamkhaga Pass trek allowed right now?
Not as far as we can find. In late October 2021 the Kinnaur Deputy Commissioner banned trekking and mountaineering on all treks in Kinnaur district 'till further orders' under Section 34 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, warning of legal action against violators (Himachal Watcher, 26 October 2021), and on 7 September 2022 the Kinnaur administration also barred, with immediate effect, the treks that link Uttarkashi and Kinnaur (Amar Ujala). We found no order lifting either ban. Do not attempt this trek while the ban is in force; check with the Kinnaur district administration at Reckong Peo before booking. Uttarkashi's administration said in 2022 that it has no ban of its own but would let trekkers go only if Kinnaur gives permission.
How high is Lamkhaga Pass and how long is the trek?
The pass is about 5,282 m (17,320 ft). The Chitkul-Harsil traverse is about 75-90 km on foot, with 7 trekking days; with drive days from Shimla and to Dehradun most operators run it as 9-10 days.
Do I need a permit for Lamkhaga Pass?
Yes. The route runs close to the Tibet border and passes ITBP and army posts, so you need an Inner Line Permit from the Kinnaur district administration as well as forest permission. Operators arrange these; self-guided trekkers should check the current rules at the Kinnaur and Uttarkashi district offices.
What is the best time for Lamkhaga Pass?
Late May to June and September. The pass is snowbound in winter, the upper Baspa and Kyarkoti valleys hold deep snow into early May, and July-August monsoon makes the trail risky. Some operators also run early October, but Himachal advises high-altitude treks only until 15 September.
Is Lamkhaga Pass suitable for beginners?
No. Operators grade it difficult and ask for previous high-altitude trekking, ideally with glacier or snow experience. Summit day is 8-9 hours over a glacier and the pass at over 5,000 m.
Should I start from Chitkul or Harsil?
Both work. Most groups start from Chitkul, which lets you acclimatise slowly up the Baspa valley; starting from Harsil means a steeper climb from about 2,600 m to the pass in fewer days.
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: Kinnaur (Himachal Pradesh) and Uttarkashi (Uttarakhand)Uttarakhand · Himachal Pradesh
- Nearest hospital
- Community health care at Sangla and the district hospital at Reckong Peo (Kinnaur side); Uttarkashi district hospital on the Harsil side
- Last ATM
- Sangla, on the road to Chitkul
- Phone network
- No mobile network once you leave Chitkul until you reach Harsil; ITBP and army posts (for example at Dumti) are the only outside contact on the trail.
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 Lamkhaga Pass
No questions yet. Ask something and trekkers who have done it can answer.
Share your trek photo with #TreksAndTrails
I trekked this
Did Lamkhaga Pass look different from this page? Tell us what changed and we will check it.
Where this comes from
Sources
Last reviewed:
- Lamkhaga Pass Trek — Bikat Adventures
- Lamkhaga Pass Trek- A high altitude pass between Uttarakhand & Himachal — Himalaya Shelter
- Lamkhaga Pass 2026 - Chitkul To Gangotri Trek — Raacho Trekkers
- Lamkhaga Pass — Wikipedia
- Kinnaur administration bans trekking on Uttarkashi-Kinnaur route (7 Sep 2022) — Amar Ujala
- Himachal government restricts trekking in high-altitude tracks from September 15 — The Tribune
- Trekking in Kinnaur banned after two tragedies — Himachal Watcher
Photos: Sukanya Ray, CC BY-SA 4.0; Shivendujha, CC BY-SA 4.0; Harshit SR, CC BY-SA 4.0
