Chandratal Lake Trek

Chandratal Trek takes you to witness the beauty of the lovely Chandratal lake that reflects the mightiest mountains and the blue skies. This trek is a popular beginner-friendly trek that lets you travel through the green mountains and reaches the source of the Chandra River and Chenab River. Staying true to its name, Chandratal translates to ‘Moon Lake’ as it is an eye-catching secluded lake amidst the hills of Himachal Pradesh. Starting from Manali, you will trek to an altitude of 4551 meters to discover this enchanting lake, which lies on the path once considered a highway for traders from Tibet and Ladakh.

This serene lake is accessible by three trekking locations- Spiti Valley, Hampta Pass, and Rohtang Pass. You will trek to Chandratal through Hampta Pass, the prettiest valley of flowers on the greenest fields. As you reach the lake and its blissful atmosphere, you will notice its blue color change multiple times a day. The lake portrays a mirror image of the Chandra Bagga Mountain range and its lush greenery. Trekkers place their tents adjacent to this 2.5-kilometer-long crescent lake encircled by green grasslands. You will witness the large meadows near the lake get decorated with hundreds of wildflowers, showcasing the floral beauty of the entire lake.

• Day 1 - First day of your trek starts as you transfer from Manali to Jobra base camp and trek to reach Chika at an altitude of 10,400 ft.

• Day 2 - On the next day of the trek, you ascend to Balu ka Ghera at 11,900 ft after trekking for 5 hours.

• Day 3 - This day marks your arrival at Hampta Pass at 14,100 ft and witness its lush greenery and descend to Siagoru at 12,900 ft.

• Day 4 - You will descend to Chatru and transfer to the enchanting Chandratal alpine lake.

• Day 5 - The final day of the trek takes you to Manali via Atal Tunnel.

You must choose the Chandratal trek as this journey takes you through many such attractions of the Himalayas like Hampta Pass, Spiti Valley, and lastly to the beautiful Chandratal lake. The terrain is easy to moderate as you climb through the cold barren deserts on the trek. The journey is a combination of ascends and descends as you witness White Range, and Spiti Valley while trekking up the mountains and Hampta Pass and chandratal as you come down. Throughout the trek, you will witness a few steep climbs but move most through lush meadows and cold deserts. The endpoint of the trek lets you witness the beauty of Chandratal alpine lake encircled by green grasslands and blooming wildflowers.