Sar Pass Trek
Kullu, Himachal Pradesh
Opens without signal on this phone, with the map file and checklist. Saved for offline →
- Max altitude
- 4,206 m
- Days
- 5 days
- Distance
- 38 km
- Difficulty
- Moderate
Operators grade it easy-moderate to moderate and sell it to beginners, but Grahan to Min Thach gains about 1,000 m in one day, the snowy ridge to Nagaru is steep and slippery, and crossing day starts before dawn and runs 12 km or more over snow.
Photos
On the trail
The route
Day by day
Day 1
Kasol → Grahan
1,580 m → 2,350 m
Day 2
Grahan → Min Thach
2,350 m → 3,400 m
Day 3
Min Thach → Nagaru
3,400 m → 3,800 m
Day 4 · highest point
Nagaru → Biskeri Thach (via Sar Pass)
3,800 m → 4,206 m → 3,350 m
Day 5
Biskeri Thach → Barshaini (drive to Kasol)
3,350 m → 2,210 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 · Kasol
at 1,580 mLoading forecast…
High point · Sar Pass
at 4,206 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
- Kasol
- Nearest railway
- Joginder Nagar (about 144 km from Kasol); Pathankot is the nearest major station
- Nearest airport
- Bhuntar Airport (Kullu), about 31 km from Kasol
- By road
- Delhi (about 520 km): bus towards Manali, change at Bhuntar, then local bus or taxi for the last 30 km to Kasol; Bhuntar (about 30 km by local bus or taxi)
- Drive
- About 12 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
₹4,000–8,000
With an operator
₹6,000–12,000
Per person, ex-Kasol. Guided prices published October 2026: Himalayan Hikers ₹5,800 + 5% GST + ₹200 insurance; Trek Up India ₹6,000 + 5% GST; Bikat Adventures ₹9,950 + 5% GST; Trek The Himalayas ₹11,300 + 5% GST. YHAI runs an 8-day member programme for ₹9,000 ex-Kullu. Self-guided is an estimate: a Grahan homestay night, a local guide and porter, tent and stove hire, food and forest fees, and the Barshaini–Kasol bus or taxi.
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 35
Snow on the trail in Apr–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
- Good network in Kasol; often none in Grahan (some guesthouses have Wi-Fi); patchy Jio and Airtel in a few spots such as Nagaru camp. Do not rely on it.
- Last ATM
- Kasol
- Nearest hospital
- Bhuntar–Kullu area, about 30–40 km from Kasol; we could not confirm a hospital closer to the trail.
- Water
- Streams on the Kasol–Grahan trail; no water on the climb from Grahan to Min Thach (carry 2 litres); a tap near Min Thach; water at Nagaru is unreliable and is carried up from Min Thach. Treat all water.
Highlights
- Crossing the snowfield of Sar Pass at about 4,200 m, named after the small seasonal lake (sar) near the top
- Long natural snow slides on the descent from the pass towards Biskeri Thach
- A night at Nagaru, the highest camp, with views across the Parvati valley to the snow peaks above Manikaran
- Dense oak, pine and rhododendron forest, Grahan village and the Min Thach meadow
Risks
- The ridge from Min Thach to Nagaru is steep and drops sharply to the valley; in snow it is the trickiest part of the trek and the trail may not be visible. Go with a guide and use poles and microspikes.
- Crossing day starts around 3 am in the dark, climbs over snow to the pass and then has a steep climb to Biskeri Top before a long descent; it can take 9-10 hours.
- Grahan to Min Thach gains about 1,000 m in one day, so altitude sickness is a real risk; go slowly and turn back if symptoms worsen.
- Monsoon (July-September) brings slippery paths, landslides and risky stream crossings; in winter heavy snow can block parts of the route.
- The forest descent from Biskeri has many paths and a tricky stream crossing in places; a local guide is strongly advised.
- Strong winds and sub-zero nights at Nagaru camp.
Know before you go
Questions
Is Sar Pass suitable for beginners?
Operators sell it as a beginner-friendly trek with no technical skills needed, but it is physically demanding. Bikat suggests you should be able to jog 3 km in 25-30 minutes; Indiahikes suggests 4 km in 30 minutes.
When is the best time to do Sar Pass?
Mid-April to June, when snow still covers the pass and the snow slides are possible. Some operators also run September-October for clear, mostly snow-free views. July-September monsoon brings landslide and slippery-trail risk.
How long is the Sar Pass trek and where does it start and end?
Most operators run it in 5 days, starting at Kasol and ending at Barshaini or Pulga, from where you drive back to Kasol. Published distances range from 28 to 49 km depending on whether the Kasol–Grahan road stretch and the walk to Barshaini are counted; the stage distances most operators give add up to about 38 km.
Do I need a permit for Sar Pass?
Operators say forest permits and camping charges apply and include them in the package; Himalayan Hikers asks for photo ID copies for the forest office and says foreign nationals pay ₹1,600 extra. We could not find a current official fee, so self-guided trekkers should check at the forest office in Kasol.
Is there mobile network on the Sar Pass trek?
Kasol has good network. Grahan often has none, though some guesthouses offer Wi-Fi, and Jio or Airtel work only in a few patches such as Nagaru. The last ATM is in Kasol.
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
- Bhuntar–Kullu area, about 30–40 km from Kasol; we could not confirm a hospital closer to the trail.
- Last ATM
- Kasol
- Phone network
- Good network in Kasol; often none in Grahan (some guesthouses have Wi-Fi); patchy Jio and Airtel in a few spots such as Nagaru camp. Do not rely on it.
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 Sar Pass
No questions yet. Ask something and trekkers who have done it can answer.
Share your trek photo with #TreksAndTrails
I trekked this
Did Sar Pass look different from this page? Tell us what changed and we will check it.
Where this comes from
Sources
Last reviewed:
- Sar Pass Trek — Bikat Adventures
- Sar Pass Trek — Himalayan Hikers
- Sar Pass Trek 2026 - How to Reach, Trek Itinerary & Package — Trek The Himalayas
- Sar Pass Trek — Trek Up India
- Sar Pass Trek - An ideal Himalayan trek for beginners — Indiahikes
- SAR PASS TREKKING 2026 — Youth Hostels Association of India
Photos: Sair18791, CC BY-SA 4.0; J.M.Garg, CC BY-SA 3.0; Sagargadkari1611, CC BY-SA 4.0; Sair18791, CC BY-SA 4.0
