Rupin Pass Trek

We will meet early at the pick-up point Shimla Old Bus Stand, verify IDs, load duffels, and start the long, scenic mountain drive to Jiskun. On arrival we check into a homestay/guesthouse, take a short acclimatisation walk, hydrate, do the trek & safety briefing, early dinner, and lights out.

We set off after breakfast, keeping a compact formation on narrow village paths and a couple of exposed, stair-like sections. We walk unhurried, using trekking poles for balance, pausing for water top-ups and photos. We reach Jakha by noon/early afternoon, settle into our stay, hydrate, stretch, charge devices if possible, and prepare day-packs for a longer walk tomorrow.

We move through a fine fir–oak belt, drop to the Rupin’s banks, then wind onto broad meadows. We cross streams carefully, snack in short halts, and maintain a chat-friendly pace to manage the big altitude gain. At Dhanderas Thatch we pitch on firm ground, secure tents against evening winds, refill water, do vitals/AMS checks, warm dinner, and rest.

Post breakfast we take the stepped, sustained climb skirting the Rupin waterfall. If icy, we use microspikes as declared by the trek leader. We crest onto the Upper Waterfall shelf by noon, set camp, hydrate with hot drinks, run the pass-day briefing, early dinner, and strict early lights-out for a pre-dawn start.

We gear up at 3:00 am with headlamps and set a steady, switchbacking climb to the pass, breaking the ascent into timed sections with short fuel-ups. After a quick summit halt (weather permitting), we layer up and begin the long, careful descent to Ronti Gad, keeping spacing tight and poles active. We reach camp by late afternoon/evening, stretch, rehydrate with electrolytes, hot dinner, and recover.

We descend through the high pastures of Sangla Kanda and into pine forests, tightening laces for downhill and keeping strides short to protect knees. We reach Sangla by early afternoon, close the trek formally, and board our pre-booked vehicles for the return to Shimla (non-AC).