Sar Pass trek

 The Sar Pass trek has a height/altitude of 13,800 feet (4,200 meters), which makes this trek a high-altitude one, giving an amazing experience to hikers.

The Sar Pass Trek is a moderate-to-difficult-level trek, appropriate for fit individuals having good physical endurance and good mental well-being.

Around 48 kilometres of distance are covered during the trek with a blend of rocky terrain, steep slopes and challenging ascents, giving a rewarding experience.

The Sar Pass trek has a 4-night, 5-day duration. Trekkers must enjoy every bit of the visual treat and challenging trails.

Being a moderate-to-difficult-level trek, participants should begin preparing their bodies to match the level of fitness the Sar Pass trek requires. Jogging for at least 20-30 minutes and brisk walking for about an hour is mandatory to develop the required level of fitness for the Sar Pass trek.

In winter, the weather is quite cold as the temperature drops significantly to minus freezing, which requires good thermal bodywear to enjoy the chilly weather and the snowy surroundings. The snow tends to melt during summer, so the weather in summer makes the trek suitable for trekking. 

Kasol in the Parvati Valley is the point from which the Sar Pass Trek begins.

If you’re planning for the Sar Pass trek, May to June and September to October are the best times to go on this trek. It is advisable to avoid trekking during the monsoon season, as the trekking path gets risky with high chances of heavy rainfall.

The route to Sar Pass begins from Delhi. You can travel to Sar Pass by bus, car or flight. Firstly, you need to reach Bhuntar, covering a distance of around 460 kilometres in a duration of about 9-12 hours.

By Car: 

• Drive to Ambala via NH44, reach Ambala and cover a distance of around one and a half hours to reach Chandigarh.
• Take NH205 from Chandigarh and arrive at Bilaspur. Proceed on NH 3 through Mandi after Bilaspur to Bhuntar, travelling along a picturesque mountain road.
• From Bhuntar, hire a taxi or take a bus to reach Kasol, covering a distance of 29.5 kilometres.
• From Kasol, you need to reach the base camp of the Sar Pass trek through trekking, which is in Garhwal Village. The Sar Pass trek is 4-5 hours long with a distance of 9 km.

By Bus: Board any of the private or government buses from ISBT Kashmiri Gate that run from Delhi to Bhuntar, such as HRTC, etc. 

By Flight: Take a flight from Delhi to Kullu-Manali Airport, which is located in Bhuntar, though flights are limited. Pre-book your tickets as the flights are quite limited.

This trek is not a recommended option in the winter due to heavy snowfall, road blockages, and extremely low temperatures. 

Apart from the winter months, between late March and mid-June, one gets to witness the winter charm of this place with magical snowfall. The Sar Pass trek is blanketed in snow, giving an awe-inspiring sight to the visitors.

Joginder Nagar railway station is the closest railway station to the Sar Pass Trek, which is around 143 kilometres from Kasol. 

Kullu Manali Airport, located in Bhuntar, is the closest airport to the Sar Pass Trek.

Age: The minimum age limit suggested for the Sar Pass Trek is 14 (must be accompanied by their guardians or parents), and the maximum age limit is 55. If you’re over 55, it is advisable to consult a doctor.

Fitness Endurance: 

• If a person can run 4 kilometres in around 30 minutes, they’re considered a decent fit for this trek.
• To improve your fitness level, start with stretching (to avoid any muscle pain or strain) and move on to exercising vigorously daily for about an hour.
• Climbing stairs, jogging, lunges, squats, cycling, and push-ups are some of the suggested fitness regimes that you should follow to boost your stamina and experience the lifetime experience without struggling physically or mentally.

If you’re planning to go on an adventurous trek, be it moderate or difficult, you’re expected to carry some of the essential items. For the Sar Pass Trek, you’re expected to carry the items listed below:

• Identity cards: Any of the mentioned government identity cards (such as an Aadhar card, driver’s license, passport, or voter ID for identification purposes).
• Hiking essentials: Carry a rain cover, a waterproof bag, and a backpack with you.
• Clothing: a good quality warmer, a full-sleeve T-shirt with a lower; a waterproof and warm jacket; a raincoat; a pair of warm gloves and warm socks; shades; and a hat.
• Shoes: Good-branded trekking shoes will do wonders and will provide a great grip on uneven surfaces, which regular shoes lack. Trekking shoes will help you get away with strains or bruises. For trekking, Quechua is one of the good brands one can go for.
• Toiletries: One must carry a small pack of toothpaste, toothbrush, napkins, paper soap, hand sanitisers, sunscreen with good SPF, moisturisers, and lip balms (to avoid any cracks or dryness).
• Instant Energy: For instant energy while on the Sar Pass trek, kindly carry energy bars, dry fruits, and snacks to get instantly energised.
• Medication: Carry medicines for a specific ailment, if any. Also, carry any pain relief sprays to get immediate relief from spasms, sprains, joint pain, etc. Bandages, anti-allergic tablets, and pain relief tablets—antiseptic solutions to heal a wound—need to be carried.
• Miscellaneous: a map, a torchlight, a mobile phone, a power bank, and a camera to capture nature’s captivating beauty. Also, you may keep checking the weather forecast to prepare yourself with all the required stuff accordingly.