Day 1: Kasol to Grahan Village – The trek begins from the riverside town of Kasol which is at an elevation of 1700 m above sea level. Grahan village is at an elevation of 2400 m above sea level so today’s elevation gain is around 700 m. Today you will be trekking for around 8 kms and there are many water refill points on the way. The village is easily accessible from Kasol and the trail is wide, only the last 500 m is a steep ascend. In terms of weather the day will be warm and a full sleeve t-shirt will suffice if it’s a sunny day. 

Considering all the above factors this is the easiest day of the trek.

Day 2 : Grahan to Min Thach –

Min thach is a high altitude camp site at an elevation of around 3300 m above sea level and the elevation gain of 900 m in a day is significant. The trek distance today is around 9 kms and you will be trekking for around 6-7 hours. It’s a long day and packed lunch will be provided. There are only a few water refill points so carry enough water and stay hydrated because hydration is essential today. As it is the first camp site exiting the trek in case of emergency is easier on this day. The terrain is moderate with some steep ascends mostly through oak and pine forest. The last 100 m descent to the camp site requires caution as it is quite narrow. The temperature today will be cool during the day, the night will be cold but bearable.

Considering all these factors this day is rated as easy to moderate.

Day 3 : Min Thach to Nagaru – On Sar pass trek each day brings a new challenge. Today you will be gaining an elevation of around 400 m as Nagaru lies at an elevation of 3800 m above sea level. This is the highest camp site of the trek and is mostly covered in snow. Today the trek distance is around 5 kms and it takes 4-5 hours to reach the camp. There is only one water refill point today so carry at least 1 litre water from Min Thach Camp site. As it is the last camp site before we cross the pass it is quite remote and exiting the trek from here is a bit challenging. Today’s ascent is quite steep and the trail is narrow. In snowy conditions it can become very challenging. This day requires caution. Nagaru is the coldest camp site on this trek. Though a summer trek, Nagaru will give you winter chills. Be prepared for subzero temperatures and adequate clothing layers.

Considering all these factors today is also rated as easy to moderate (more inclined towards the moderate side)

Day 4 : Nagaru to Sar Pass and Down to Biskeri Thach – This is your summit day — the most challenging yet unforgettable part of the journey. You begin before sunrise, trekking over snowfields under icy winds. At first you ascend for about a km which is very challenging. Every step feels heavy before reaching the summit. From the summit you need to descend for another 4 kms and after that again climb up to cross the Sar Pass. Elevation gain for today is about 400 m and the trek distance is 14 kms which is the longest day of the trek. You can expect reaching Biskeri camps by evening. You will have a water refill point at the summit and one after crossing the pass. Exiting the trek at this point becomes more difficult as you will be further away from Nagaru. Expect the trail to be snow covered all the way till Biskeri Camp site. The trail is a mix of ascend and descend. The ascends are very steep and so are the descends. After you cross the pass the descend is as steep as the ascend and you might need to glissade downhill. The rest of the descend till Biskeri is gradual. The temperature will be cold but not as cold as Nagaru so by the time you reach Biskeri temperature will not be a challenge anymore.

Considering this as the most difficult day of the trek it is rated moderate.

Day 5 : Biskeri Thach to Barshaini – The final day may look easy, but long descents can be tough on the knees. You will not be gaining any altitude today. The trek today is around 9 kms but takes much lesser time as it is only descend. You will have a couple of water refill points on the way and a dhaba too. The nearest village is Pulga and exiting the trek is also easier from here. The trail is a steed descent which might be very painful on your knees and toes. Highest chances of getting blisters on your feet is on this day. The trail winds through forests and can get slippery after rain, so steady footing is key.

By noon, you reach Barshaini via Pulga village and from there you drive back to Kasol where the trek officially ends — tired legs, full hearts, and memories to last a lifetime.