The Bali Pass Trek connects the Har Ki Dun Valley to Yamunotri in the Uttarkashi region of Uttarakhand. The trek takes you to a high altitude of 16,000+ feet and is a fairly difficult trek.
The trek starts from a village called Sankri located in Uttarakhand and ends at Janki Chatti. Bali Pass Trek is great for those adventure seekers who want to push their limits and want to experience nature at its best.
Starting from Dehradun, the trek takes about 8 days to complete and the best time to visit Bali Pass are the months of May - June & September - October. The challenging terrain, pass crossings, steep ascents & descents and narrow trails test the trekkers physical as well as mental endurance.
The Trek will take you through thick forests, high altitudes, meadows & snowy pathways as you gain altitude. Bali Pass Trek is a great opportunity for you to level up their trekking skills and experience.
The first day of the Bali Pass Trek begins with a drive to a small village called Sankri from Dehradun. Sankri is located 196 Km away from Dehradun in the Govind Wildlife Sanctuary of Uttarkashi district in Uttarakhand. The drive will take you through the Garhwal Himalayas and Queen of Hills - Mussoorie. It will take around 7 hours to reach Sankri. Overnight stay will be in a guest house/homestay.
After having breakfast, we will drive 12 Km towards Taluka from where the actual trek starts. Upon reaching Taluka we will start walking towards Seema. The trail is mostly a gradual ascent along the Supin river & through the forests of Deodar, Bamboo, Chestnut and wild roses. From Taluka to Seema, you will be climbing up from an altitude of 6,700 ft. to 8,500ft. We will cover a total distance of 12 Km and it will take 7 - 8 hours of time. Overnight stay will be in tents.
Upon reaching Taluka we will start walking towards Seema. The trail is mostly a gradual ascent along the Supin river & through the forests of Deodar, Bamboo, Chestnut and wild roses. From Taluka to Seema, you will be climbing up from an altitude of 6,700 ft. to 8,500ft. We will cover a total distance of 12 Km and it will take 7 - 8 hours of time. Overnight stay will be in tents.
We will start walking along the Supin river in the morning towards our first destination, the Debashu Bugyal. The trek is an ascending trail that gets steeper as you reach closer to the
Debashu Bugyal. From the bugyal, you will be able to catch glimpses of Black Peak & Kala Nag Parvat. From Debashu, the trail will descend down to the Supin river bed. Today we will be trekking for 6-7 hours and cover a distance of 10 km which will take you to an altitude of 10,200 ft. Overnight stay will be at camps.
Today is one of the most exciting days of the Bali Pass Trek as we will be trekking to the famous Ruinsara Tal. The 7 Km trek will take 4-5 hours to complete. The trail is a moderate ascent and a mix of walking over boulders and meadows. Ruinsara Tal is located at an altitude of 11,800 ft. above sea level and this will be our camping spot for tonight.
After having our breakfast in the beautiful setting of the Ruinsara lake, we will start walking towards our next destination at 13,100 ft. - Odari. It is located about 4 Km away from the Ruinsara Tal and hiking 3-4 will take us to our destination. On the way we will pass through forests, meadows and a river crossing and you will notice vegetation getting sparser as we keep climbing up. From the camping site at Odari, you will get clear views of Swargarohini I & II. Overnight stay will be at camps.
Today&rsquo's trek will take us further up the altitude about 15,100 feet above sea level. The hike is a short 5 Km trek but it will take 5-6 hours to complete. Although you won’t have to cover a large distance today, you will find yourself walking on a steep trail covered with rocks which makes climbing a bit technical. The temperature here easily drops to sub-zero levels so make sure you are wearing proper layering of clothes. Overnight stay will be at camps.
Today we will be crossing Bali Pass to reach Lower Dhamini. We will be touching the maximum altitude of the trek at 16,200 ft. We will start off with a steep ascent on an ice-covered trail. We will be covering 14 km today in about 11 - 10 hours so be prepared for the long day ahead. After climbing up to Bali Pass the trail is mostly a technical descent. From the highest point, you will be able to view Bandarpoonch, Swargarohini, Black Peak & other Garwhal peaks.
Climbing down from Bali Pass is much more difficult than climbing up. Follow your guide’s recommendations and take small steps. The trail from this point is very confusing so make sure you stay with your group. At the end of the trail, as we reach closer to Lower Dhamini, the trail will be a flat walk through a forest for about 3 Km. The night stay will be in tents.
Today is the last day of Bali Pass Trek and we will be heading to Jan Ki Chatti. The trail for today is the easiest as compared to other days with mostly descending paths and slight ascent up to Yamunotri. The drive from Jan Ki Chatti to Dehradun will take about 6 hours.
Bali Pass is a high altitude trek which receives heavy snowfall during winter season and therefore it remains closed for the winter season. The Summer months of May - August are the best to visit this trek although the trek remains open until mid September.
Bali pass is a difficult trek and is best for those trekkers who want to level up their trekking skills and experience. The total trek distance is about 60 Km and the trek will take you to a height of 16,000 ft above sea level which increases the chances of AMS and therefore proper time to acclimatize to the weather is needed.
Along with this, the trail is an ascending climb at most places up to Bali pass which remains covered with snow and rocks which can make it difficult to walk upon. The trail is not clearly marked at some places so it's vital that you follow your trek leader at all times.
Network & Connectivity
There is only limited connectivity available up till Mori & Sankri and no connectivity at all during the Bali Pass Trek. So, make sure to call your loved ones from Sankri before you start the trek.
ATMs
The last ATM before Sankri is an SBI ATM located in Mori but it remains void of cash a lot of times, in such situations, you can swipe your card and get cash from the authorized SBI Cash Withdrawal Center located Nearby.
However, it is recommended that you withdraw your cash at Dehradun, Mussoorie or Purola to avoid any last-minute hassle.
This is a brief list of things that you should carry on the trek to make the experience more memorable and much more comfortable -
Q. How long is the Bali Pass Trek?
Q. Where is Bali Pass situated?
Q. How do I get to Sankri?