Parang La Trek

Day 1: Kaza to Ki | Ki to Dumla (18 km approx./ 4 hours)
Day 2: Dumla to Thaltak Meadow (14990 feet approx./ 3-4 hours)
Day 3: Thaltak Meadow to Jagtha | Jagtha to Bongrojen (16780 feet approx./ 7 hours)
Day 4: Bongrojen to Parang La (18290 feet) | Parang La to Dak Karzong (16200 feet approx./ 5 hours)
Day 5: Dak Karzong to Datang Yongma (15500 feet approx./ 5 hours)
Day 6: Datang Yongma to Chumik Shilde (14869 feet approx./ 5-6 hours)
Day 7: Chumik Shilde to Tso Moriri (15075 feet approx./ 5 hours)
Day 8: Tso Moriri to Korzok (14850 feet/ 6-7 hours)
Day 9: Korzok to Leh (211 km approx./ 5 hours)

Parang La Trek is not a journey but an odyssey to adventure and beauty. Plan your Parang La Trek with us and make it a lifetime moment. The landscapes are something that you can’t find on other Himalayan Treks. Parang La Trek is beautiful yet challenging. There is a lot to prepare for this trek. Book your trek with us and forget all the worries. Our company will plan out everything for you. We are a team of experts who are there for you on every step. Our guides are very experienced and will take care of you throughout the trek.

Himalaya Shelter (HS) offers customized trekking services for Parang La. You can plan your trek on your dates and we will make all the arrangements. We can customize your stays, campsites, meals, and everything. We are open for small groups to provide a better trekking experience. Book your Parang La Trek with Himalaya Shelter and create memories that will last forever with you.

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.

• 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.

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.

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.

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.

Clothing and Backpack

Get a good backpack (50 L) with a rain cover. Look for a bag that can provide you good back support. Pack 4 quick-dry t-shirts and 2 trekking pants. Get a pair of thermals (upper and lower) for night. Pack a fleece jacket or woolen sweater as a mid-layer. Get a waterproof wind breaker for sudden rain and chilly winds. For winter trekking, get a good down jacket. Now pack a woolen beanie and a balaclava. Get two pairs of gloves (woolen and waterproof). You should also pack a suncap for the daytime.

Footwear

You should look for good quality trekking shoes. Your shoes must be waterproof and provide good ankle support. Do not wear a new pair of shoes on the trek. Your feet must be familiar with the shoes. Now pack 4 pairs of trekking socks and 2 pairs of woolen socks. Pack a pair of comfortable slippers or sandals for the campsite.

Personal Care

For personal care items, start packing with your toiletries. Get a small zipper pouch and pack all the toiletries. Now look for a quick-dry towel and a toilet roll. You should also pack hand sanitizer and moisturizer. Pack a sunscreen that can protect your face from sunburn. You can also pack some snacks for the trek.

Physical Fitness Preparation for Trek:

To overcome the difficulty level of  trekking, it requires strong cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength, and overall physical fitness. Incorporate these exercises into your routine to increase strength, stability, and stamina, which will help you tackle difficult terrain sections of the trail at high altitudes.