Going on the Sar Pass trek is like extending an already good vacation. Starting from Kasol, a tourist town which sees backpackers from across the globe, Sar Pass trek goes up to a height of 4,223M across the pass and brings you back to Kasol. And just like that, in a short span of 5-days it takes you across all that is beautiful about the Parvati Valley.
Even though it doesn’t fall too high on the difficulty scale because of its short duration, marked trails, and an overall manageable terrain, do not allow these to fool you into believing that it is a walk in the park! Although much shorter than its list of highlights, the trek does pose some challenges which are listed in this article. Even though the trek takes you to only a little over 4,000M in altitude, knowing the few difficulties you can encounter while on this journey may be helpful.
Read on to know more about the challenges, the gear and the skills required for this trek.
Difficulty Level of the Trek:
Sar Pass is a level 4 trek on the Bikat Rating Scale.
About the BRS: The Bikat Rating Scale rates the difficulty level of all treks and expeditions in our portfolio after taking into account their geographical and climatic conditions.
According to this scale, if you are a beginner who is unsure of your fitness level and don’t know what to expect on a trek, a trek rated one will be a good place to start.
If you liked your very first trekking experience and are looking to test your limits next, the treks rated 2 or 3 will do the job for you.
A beginner who is sure of their fitness level on the other hand is welcome to skip the first two levels and directly start with one of the treks rated 3.
From 4 onwards, the rules change a little. It is mandatory to have trekking experience of the previous level to participate in the next level.
The Trails of Sar Pass Trek
The trek takes you from remote villages in the Parvati Valley to thick forests of pine and to eventually get to the endless fields of snow with the most prominent peaks of the region forming the backdrop of this magnificent landscape. The trails are mostly marked; there’s no chance you could lose your way. Used by shepherds very frequently, the route is stippled with dome-shaped shepherd huts made of stone. As gorgeous in green as in white, the trail of Sar Pass is thrilling through and through; the beauty of the campsites only a cherry on the mountain-top. It serves well to go with the knowledge that the mountain makes you work up a sweat in exchange for the magnificence it has to offer.
Allow us to acquaint you to some exciting challenges which make the trek demanding as well as fun!
Challenge 1: Getting to Kasol is a Time-Consuming Affair
If you live away from the North of India, you’d know that the proximity of the Himalayas is not best friends with the concept of limited time. While the trail heads of some of the treks are easily accessible locations, Sar Pass demands a little more of your time in travel. The trek begins at a charming little mountain village called Kasol which is a name almost everyone who likes the mountains would be familiar with. This charming little backpacking hotspot which rests at an elevation of 1,580M, however, is close to 500kms from Delhi with roads being the best way to get here. Given that Himachal Pradesh is not on the railway grid yet and the closest airport, i.e. the Kullu Manali Airport does not receive frequent flights, increases the travel time by a considerable amount.
