Most people have heard of Manali or Shimla. But Kinnaur? Not many talk about it. That is exactly why treks in Kinnaur feel different from anything else in Himachal Pradesh. There are no crowds. No Instagram queues at viewpoints. Just mountains, old villages, apple trees, and trails that feel like they were made for the few who bother to look further.
Kinnaur sits in the eastern part of Himachal Pradesh, right where India meets the Tibetan plateau. The culture here is a mix of Hindu and Buddhist. You will walk past temples and monasteries on the same trail. The landscape changes fast too. One hour you are in a forest. The next you are on open rocky terrain with nothing around you for miles.
The Treks Worth Knowing About
Kinnaur Kailash Parikrama
The Kinnaur Kailash Parikrama is the most well-known among treks in Kinnaur. It circles the sacred Kinner Kailash Shivling at around 4,800 metres. The trail crosses Charang La Pass and ends at Chitkul. It takes about six days. The section after Tangling village involves eight to nine hours of continuous climbing. Not easy. But worth it.
Buran Ghati Pass Trek
This one starts in Sangla valley and ends at Janglik. Seven days, six nights. A good option for those who want a proper high-altitude experience without it being too technical.
Borasu Pass Trek
The Borasu Pass connects Sangla to Harsil. Again, seven days. It takes you into areas where you will barely see another trekking group.
The Hardest Trail in the Region
If you want the toughest of all treks in Kinnaur, the Lamkhaga Pass is it. Many experienced trekkers call it the hardest in the Kinnaur-Garhwal Himalayas. It goes from Chitkul to Gangotri through the Baspa Glacier zone and Jalandhari valley. The route was first crossed by Marco Pallis in 1933.
Raacho Trekkers did the first recce on this route from the Kinnaur side in June 2014. They have been running it ever since. Their team knows this trail better than most.
What Comes After Kinnaur
Raacho Trekkers is based on NH-05 in Ralli, Kinnaur. They have been organising expeditions here since 2007. Their packages cover certified guides, camping gear, permits, and all meals.
They also run the auden col trek package, a 3-pass expedition crossing Patangini Dhar, Auden’s Col, and Mayali Pass in Uttarakhand. If you finish treks in Kinnaur and want something harder next, the auden col trek package is the natural step up. It sits at 5,490 metres and crosses two major glacier systems. The auden col trek package is built for those who have already handled high-altitude terrain and want a real technical challenge.
The Bottom Line
Kinnaur does not show off. That is the thing about it. You have to come here to understand why people keep coming back. If you are planning your next Himalayan trip, check what Raacho Trekkers has on offer. The right team makes every trail safer and every camp more memorable. The auden col trek package is built for those who have already handled high-altitude terrain and want a real technical challenge.