Day 1: Chandigarh to Janjehli
On the first day of our Trans Himalayan Drive road trip, we’ll drive from Chandigarh to Janjehli, a group of hamlets in the pristine and thickly forested Seraj Valley of Himachal Pradesh. The road distance is about 250 km and to reach Janjehli, the drive on the Chandigarh — Sundernagar — Thunag route will take about 6 to 7 hours.
Day 2: Discovering Janjehli valley
Driving on the winding roads through the Deodar forested valley of Janjehli is the standout experience of our Live Your Dream Drive (LYDD) expedition. We’ll get to witness dense treeline in the background, triggering a sense of elation and wonder for the natural wonder of the dense forests of Janjehli.
Day 2 of the Trans Himalayan Drive is dedicated to exploring the prominent places in and around Janjehli.
After breakfast, we’ll visit a small water stream flowing near Janjehli. One can relax and connect with nature by taking a dip in the crystal-clear waters of the river pools or simply reclining on the banks of the stream and absorbing the soothing sounds of the flowing stream.
Post lunch, we’ll the hit the road again and head towards, Shikari Devi, a temple dedicated to goddess Shikari and the highest peak (at 3359 meters) in Mandi district.
Another place worth visiting is Bulah Meadows, an emerald green carpet of Himalayan meadows surrounded by Deodar forest. This place is located en route to Shikari Devi.
Day 3: Drive to Kullu
Today, we’ll be covering about 131 kilometers distance. The drive will take about 5 hours via an 80-kilometer connecting road leading to National Highway 3 at Pandoh Dam. From here, it’ll take us just 70–80 minutes to reach Kullu town. En route, we’ll halt at a village theme park built by the government of Himachal Pradesh to see 3D shows showcasing the cultural heritage of the state. In Kullu, we can explore the market and visit ancient temples of the town.
Day 4: Jispa, Lahaul
On Day 4, we’ll finally be able to experience the revelation of the majestic sweep of the Trans-Himalayan ranges. For this 130+ kilometers long drive, we’ll be taking the Kullu-Manali-Atal Tunnel route. The north portal of the tunnel will lead us to several stops along the gorgeous Bhaga River to take in the beauty of the Chandrabhaga valley.
Day 5: Jispa – Darcha – Shinku-La – Udaipur
Day 5 will be the most unforgettable leg of our Trans-Himalayan Drive expedition. The drive from Jispa to Shinku-La Pass involves significant altitude gain, starting at 3,200 meters and reaching an impressive height of 5,091 meters at Shinku-La Pass (also called written as Shingo La).
While the distance from Jispa to Shinku La is less than 50 kilometers, be prepared for driving on challenging road conditions. Due to the high-altitude terrain, the thin air at high altitudes can be tiring to you if you have not driven through high-altitude regions of the Himalayas before. If we’re lucky, we can find good snow conditions near the pass.
Once we conquer the summit of the pass, we’ll head back to Jispa and then Udaipur. This round trip on Day 4 will cover approximately 170 kilometers and take an estimated 6–7 hours to complete.
Day 6: Exploring Udaipur
After driving through difficult terrain and high-altitude climes of Shinku-La Pass, you just need a rest day. So day 5 is going to be easy, and we’ll rejuvenate and unwind ourselves by taking short walks by the calm waters of Chandrabhaga River.
We will explore Udaipur and visit the much-revered Trilokinath Temple. Next, we’ll drive to Miyar Valley and return to our campsite by the river Chenab.
Day 7: Udaipur – Sural Bhatori
Sural Bhatori is a secluded village in the Pangi Valley of Chamba. The fifth day features a tiring, long drive that’s only for those who love adventure, as we’ll traverse challenging terrains with rough roads.
After breakfast, we will leave for Chenab Valley to venture into the remoteness of Killar village. Soak in some breathtaking views that can’t be described in words, but only be cherished.
After spending some time at Killar, we continue to drive towards Sural Bhatori waterfall. Pangi is a subdivision of district Chamba, and Killar is the headquarters. We will reach Sural Bhatori by evening and will stay at a lovely campsite by “Hospitality on the Move by Tethys Himalaya”.
After this nerve-wracking drive, Day 6 definitely calls for rest.
Day 8: Sural Bhatori Waterfall
After this nerve-wracking drive, the next day certainly calls for rest. So the next day we’ll cover some unexplored locations around Sural Bhatori. This beautiful valley offers numerous possibilities for day hikes. We will spend some quality time by a stunning Chabi waterfall, which has a height of approximately 100 feet, and it takes about 1 hour to hike from the nearest road head. We reach the campsite by evening and stay the night.
Day 9. Dalhousie/Manali
After soaking in the stunning views of lush greenery and pristine streams of Sural Bhatori, we’ll be adequately rested and refreshed for 200+ km of gruelling drive from Sural Bhatori to Dalhousie.
Post breakfast, we drive to Sach Pass, aptly named the ‘big daddy of all mountain passes’. The journey to Sach Pass is something that cannot be put into words, something unforgettable, something that will go down as the most cherished experience of our lifetime, something that we can barely realize having made it through.
Sach Pass is one of the most difficult passes to drive through in North India. At an altitude of 4500 meters, it runs over the Pir Panjal Mountain ranges. The pass connects Dalhousie with Chamba and Pangi Valley.
This mountain pass is famous among travelers and adventure seekers. The pass is also a famous trekking point from Dalhousie. The panoramic views of the valley and snow-clad mountains from the Pass are a never-seen-before experience.
After Sach Pass, the road conditions are almost the same till Tissa. From Tissa, the journey resumes on a familiar roadway to Dalhousie.
When you get to Dalhousie, you can either choose to relax and call it a day, or continue the road trip by driving back to Manali.
Day 9. Departure
Our home cities would be our destination after 9 days of driving through the most remote parts of Himachal Pradesh. After breakfast, we’ll hit the road.
