Parang La Trek

Parang La Trek is a mesmerizing and thrilling trek. This is a very challenging trans-Himalayan. You start your trek from the cold desert of Spiti and walk to the beautiful land of Ladakh. The Parang La is a high-altitude pass that connects Spiti to Ladakh. The trek is very difficult but has some of the most beautiful landscapes. This journey is a pure adventure and an experience of raw nature. You will walk on the rugged terrain in a very remote area. Your Parang La Trek will start from Kibber. This is a beautiful high-altitude inhabitant village. You will start ascending the rugged mountains alongside the Pare Chu River.

The landscapes in the trek are unmatched. You will start from rugged mountains and then walk through meadows and glacial fields. The most challenging part of the trek is crossing Parang La. You will walk on the moraines and icy stretches. But the views from Parang La are outstanding. The sunrise and sunset on the big snow-capped mountains are majestic. You will be surprised with the beauty everyday. The most beautiful landscape of the trek is the Tso Moriri Lake. This beautiful lake is located at 15075 feet. The turquoise water surrounded by big mountains feels majestic. The Parang La trek gives you a true sense of achievement.

History Of Parang La Trek

Parang La has been a crucial Pass of Ladakh for centuries. This has deep connections to ancient trade and cultural exchange. The Parang La is a vital trade route between the Spiti Valley and Ladakh. This also has trade connections with Tibet. This trail has always been famous among traders, nomads, and pilgrims. They used to follow this trail for exchanging goods and cultural traditions. In the past, the Spiti region was like a cut-off from the mainland. The terrain was difficult, and routes usually remain closed in the winter. But Spiti was always connected to Ladakh and other Tibetan regions via Parang La. These regions have similar cultural routes.

Today, Parang La has become a famous trekking route. People from around the world trek to Parang La to feel the determination and raw beauty. Walking beside the Pare Chu river is also a great feeling. This river originates from Himachal and flows to Tibet and then re-enters Himachal. Trekkers do the Parang La Trek for passion. But it has always been a survival route for the locals of Spiti. This same route has been walked by many traders, nomads, and monks for centuries.

Highlights Of Parang La Trek

• Crossing Parang La: Parang La is a divine beauty of nature. You walk for 3-4 days and then reach Parang La. One side is Spiti and another side is Ladakh. The Parang La lies between the two beautiful locations. All the snow-capped mountains look breathtaking from this pass. Crossing Parang La is difficult but is always pleasurable.
• Tso Moriri Lake: The Tso Moriri Lake in Ladakh is located at an altitude of 15075 m. This lake fills the color in the brown landscape. Everywhere you look is brown, and the lake between the big mountains is turquoise. Trekkers spend hours and hours just sitting and captivating the beauty of the lake.
• Challenging Terrain: The Parang La Trek is a very difficult trek. The trail is very challenging and has big, rugged mountains. The altitude is already very high from where you start, and then ascending to the pass is very challenging. The trail is very tough yet rewarding.
• Cultural Experience: There are very few villages on the trek. You start the trek from Kibber. This village is in a remote location and the culture is very different. You can see centuries-old monasteries and stone houses. The locals are very heartwarming and easy-going. You may also witness the nomadic lifestyle of the high-altitude Himalayan region.

Difficulty Level Of Parang La Trek

The Parang La is probably one of the most difficult treks in India. The altitude is very high and the terrain is very rough. You should have a good high-altitude trekking experience for the Parang La Trek. This trek is exquisite yet challenging.

• High-Altitude Trek

You will start your Parang La Trek from Kibber. This is a high-altitude village. The altitude of this village is over 4000 m. This height means risk of AMS. Now, from here, you ascend to Parang La, which is over 5000 m. The oxygen level reduces, and you can have AMS problems.

• Difficult Terrian

The trail to Parang La is very challenging. The trail has rocky ridges and moraines. You will cross rivers and walk on rocky ridges. After crossing Parang La, you will walk on the glacier. These sections are very difficult and need good trekking expertise.

• Long Trekking Hours

The Parang La Trek is about 130 km long. You will cover this distance in 9-10 days. The terrain is already difficult, and you have to walk for about 8-10 hours daily. This much walking needs good physical stamina and endurance. The rest days are rare, and the trek is very long.

• Weather Conditions

Parang La is located in a rain shadow area. Unlike other Himalayan treks, rain is not a big problem here. The main difficulty is the cold. It is a cold desert where the temperature can drop to sub-zero temperatures. The temperature can drop to -15℃ at higher camps. The daytime can be harsh, as it can be very sunny. You might get sudden snow or a windstorm on the trek.

Best Time To Visit The Parang La Trek

Parang La is located in a high-altitude cold desert zone. It remains low all around the year. You can trek to Parang La in only a few months of the year. The trails and roads remain closed in winter due to heavy snowfall.

• Parang La Trek In May And June

This is not a good time to plan your Parang La trek. The Parang La is buried under the snow. The trails remain blocked, and you might miss the correct route sometimes. The snow starts melting and the water level increases in the river. Crossing the river can be very dangerous.

• Parang La Trek From Mid-July To Early September

This is the best and safest time to plan the Parang La trek is from mid-July to early-September. The trails are open, and you will see snow only in the very high areas. The temperature also remains good. Nights can be very chilly, but the days feel warm. Clear skies with beautiful views. The Tso Moriri lake looks majestic, and you can also witness rare birds.

• Parang La Trek From Late-September To October

This time window can be very risky. Snowfall starts, and the temperature can drop to -15℃. Camping at this temperature can be very difficult. Strong icy winds can make the trek more challenging.

• Parang La Trek From November To April

You cannot trek to Parang La in winter. The roads are fully blocked. You can’t enter from any side, neither Spirit nor Ladakh. The temperature can drop to -30℃ at night. This area is very remote and also prone to avalanches.

How To Reach Parang La Trek?

You will start your Parang La Trek from Kibber. This is a very remote village in Spiti. This village is very far from all major cities. Reaching Kibber also takes too much time. Reach Kibber and spend 1-2 days there for acclimatization.

• Kibber By Road

You can start your journey to Kibber from Manali. Many direct bus services are available from Delhi and Chandigarh. Take an overnight bus to reach Manali. Now look for a bus or shared taxi to Kaza. The distance is 200 km and will take about 10 hours. Now, from Kaza, take a local taxi to Kibber.

• Kibber By Train

You can take a train to Chandigarh or Pathankot. These cities have good railway connections to all major cities. Now, from there, take a bus to Manali. You can find both government and private bus services. Some AC and Volvo bus services are also available. Reach Manali and take a bus to Kaza. Now take a shared taxi or jeep to Kibber.

• Kibber By Air

Look for direct flights to Bhuntar Airport (Kull-Manali Airport). This airport is about 50 km from Manali. The direct flights to Manali are limited. You can look for flights to Chandigarh or Delhi. Now, from there, take an overnight bus to Manali. Reach Manali and cover the remaining journey by road.