Rani Sui Lake Trek
Kullu, Himachal Pradesh
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- Max altitude
- 3,790 m
- Days
- 3 days
- Distance
- 22 km
- Difficulty
- Moderate
A climb of about 1,700 m from Manali (about 2,050 m) to the lake at about 3,790 m in two days, then a long, steep descent of the same height on the last day. Operators grade it easy-moderate to moderate; a trip report mentions snow patches, boulder fields and knee-straining descents in late May.
Photos
On the trail
The route
Day by day
Day 1
Manali (Hadimba Devi temple, Dhungri) → Lamadugh meadow
2,050 m → 3,050 m
Day 2 · highest point
Lamadugh meadow → Rani Sui Lake (below Khanpari Tibba)
3,050 m → 3,790 m
Day 3
Rani Sui Lake → Manali (via Duddu Thach and Khaniyal)
3,790 m → 2,050 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 · Manali
at 2,050 mLoading forecast…
High point · Rani Sui Lake
at 3,790 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
- Manali
- Nearest railway
- Joginder Nagar (narrow gauge); Chandigarh or Ambala for broad gauge
- Nearest airport
- Bhuntar Airport (Kullu), about 50 km from Manali
- By road
- Delhi to Manali (about 540 km, overnight bus); Chandigarh to Manali (about 305 km); The trail starts on foot from Manali (Dhungri / Hadimba Devi temple area); no jeep is needed
- Drive
- About 13 h from Delhi
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
₹3,000–10,000
With an operator
₹6,000–6,300
Per person, ex-Manali (Manali to Manali). Only one operator publishes a current price: Himtrek ₹6,000 + 5% GST (October 2026, no fixed 2026 departures listed; includes camping, meals, guide and 'all required permits'). Western Himalayan Outdoor and RupinValley Travels list packages on TourTravelWorld but quote on request, so treat the guided range as indicative. Self-guided is an estimate only: a local guide from Manali for 3 days, tent hire and food; costs fall when a group shares them.
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 32
Nights near 3,790 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
- Good network in Manali; we could not confirm coverage at Lamadugh or the lake, so expect it to be patchy or absent.
- Last ATM
- Manali (no ATMs on the trail)
- Nearest hospital
- Manali (civil hospital and Mission Hospital); Kullu for more serious cases. Evacuation from the lake is on foot down to Manali.
- Water
- Small streams on the forest sections (a trip report found some fresh and some unpalatable); carry water from Manali and boil or treat all stream water.
Highlights
- A small high mountain lake at about 3,790 m above Manali, held in reverence by local people, with views of the Pir Panjal and Dhauladhar ranges
- Views of Deo Tibba and Indrasan from the viewpoint above the lake (Tripoto trip report)
- Lamadugh, a wide meadow camp in maple, spruce and oak forest above Manali
- Deodar, oak and pine forest along the Manalsu valley on the walk up from Hadimba Devi temple
- Optional side climb of Khanpari Tibba (about 4,025 m) from the ridge between Lamadugh and the lake
Risks
- Steep climbs and an even steeper, long descent: about 1,700 m up over two days and 1,700 m down on the last day, hard on the knees.
- Altitude sickness is possible above 3,500 m after a fast ascent from Manali; one member of a 2017 group felt light-headed near 3,000 m.
- In May and June snow patches lie on the upper slopes and boulder fields have deep gaps; a 2017 trip report met a hailstorm at camp.
- July-August monsoon rain makes the forest trail muddy and slippery, with low cloud hiding the views.
- Nights near the lake drop to about -5 °C even in the season (Himtrek); carry warm layers and hot drinks.
- Kullu forest officials have said permission is needed to pitch tents in forest areas; go with an operator who holds permission, or ask the forest office in Manali first.
Know before you go
Questions
How high is Rani Sui Lake?
About 3,790 m (12,430 ft). Most sources give 3,700-3,810 m, and satellite terrain at the OpenStreetMap viewpoint reads about 3,809 m. Himtrek's 11,150 ft (about 3,400 m) is lower than the terrain shows.
How many days does the Rani Sui Lake trek take?
Usually 3 days from Manali (Himtrek, RupinValley Travels), or 4 days on routes that descend to Shegli and Pangan (Western Himalayan Outdoor). A longer 6-day variant approaches from Prini via Klount, Dudu Dhog and Laanga Thach.
Where does the trek start?
In Manali. The common route walks up from the Hadimba Devi temple area through the forest to Lamadugh, then over the ridge below Khanpari Tibba to the lake. Some operators drive to Niyalag village and climb via Mahili Thach instead.
When is the best time to go?
Himtrek runs it from May to October. May-June brings snow patches and flowers, July-August is monsoon (slippery trail, cloud), and September-October usually gives the clearest views.
Do I need a permit?
Operators such as Himtrek say they include the required permits. We found no current official fee; self-guided trekkers should ask the forest office in Manali, especially about camping in forest areas.
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: KulluHimachal Pradesh
- Nearest hospital
- Manali (civil hospital and Mission Hospital); Kullu for more serious cases. Evacuation from the lake is on foot down to Manali.
- Last ATM
- Manali (no ATMs on the trail)
- Phone network
- Good network in Manali; we could not confirm coverage at Lamadugh or the lake, so expect it to be patchy or absent.
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 Rani Sui Lake
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Where this comes from
Sources
Last reviewed:
- Rani Sui Lake Trek, Manali — Himtrek
- Rani Sui Lake Trek Tour (4 Days Manali) — Western Himalayan Outdoor
- Ranisui Lake Trek Tour (3 Days) — RupinValley Travels
- Route: Twin Lakes - Bhrigu & Rani Sui Lake — Fastest Known Time
- Rani Sui Lake Trek | Sour Tal Trek — Vargis Khan (trip report)
- Rani Sui Lake — Tripoto (Rock Yadav)
- Illegal trekking camps removed from Hamta Pass — The Tribune
Photos: Kiran Jonnalagadda from Bangalore, India, CC BY-SA 2.0; Hippiefromhills, CC BY-SA 4.0
