BEAS KUND TREK

Beas Kund is the small glacial lake that is the source of the River Beas, which runs the length of the Kullu Valley. The bowl it sits in is ringed by Hanuman Tibba, Friendship Peak, Shitidhar and Ladakhi Peak, so it is also the classic acclimatisation and base route for climbers attempting those summits.

It is graded easy to moderate. The gradients are gentle and the daily walking is 4 to 7 hours, but the summit day crosses moraine and loose scree, and the maximum altitude of 3,700m is high enough that pace matters. Reasonable fitness is enough; no technical skill is needed.

Mid-May to October. June and September usually give the clearest views of the peaks. The meadows are greenest just after the monsoon, and heavy snow closes the upper trail through winter and early spring.

The trailhead is Dhundi, about 22km from Manali beyond Solang Valley, roughly an hour by road. We can arrange the pickup and drop from Manali as part of the trek.

Warm layers including a fleece and a windproof jacket, trekking shoes with good grip, woollen socks, gloves, a warm hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, a two-litre water bottle, a headlamp and personal medication. We provide tents, sleeping bags and mattresses.

Yes. Beas Kund is one of the more approachable multi-day treks near Manali and is a common first Himalayan trek. Two to three weeks of walking or light cardio beforehand makes the summit day considerably more comfortable.