This is the first day of your trek to Rani Sui Lake. Manali is accessible from major cities like Delhi and Chandigarh. An overnight journey from any of these cities will get you to Manali. Old Manali is one of the most accessible and comfortable regions to stay in Manali, with amazing views of snowy peaks and snow-clad summits. You can find several animals in this region, the most prominent being the Yak. The trek begins from the Hadimba Devi temple, also known as Dongri Mata Mandir or Dhungari Temple. It is an ancient cave temple in the region. You will witness mesmerizing views of snow-clad Deo-Tibba, Hanuman Tibba, Bara Sigri Glacier peaks, Dhauladhar, Rohtang Pass, and so much more on your way to the lake. As we say this, we suggest you fill up on your essentials and water supply at this point. The temple is the last water source until you reach Lamadugh, so ensure you are well-equipped and hydrated. The steep and narrow climb toward Lamadugh starts from the Dongri Mata Mandir. The journey may be exhausting, but we will cover significant altitudes patiently. Stunning views of snow-capped peaks will welcome us on our way and make the journey more fun. We will resume on the same trail and cross the dense forests of deodar and pine till we reach the ridge. Soon we get our first stop at Lamadugh, a high-altitude alpine meadow with vibrant, colorful flowers, making it perfect for shepherds to graze their cattle. Thick forests surround Lamadugh; if you get lucky, you can spot multiple endangered and exotic birds and animals. You will then be mesmerized by a beautiful view of the picturesque town of Manali. It will be an overall easy trek on the first day, so you will get enough time to soak in the beauty of this vast pastoral land. We will spend the rest of the night in tents.

Distance: 8km

Stay: Tent

Campfire: No

Altitude: 3660 meters

Duration: 5 hours

Difficulty: Easy

We will begin our trek early morning from Lamadugh to the Rani Sui Lake. The trail will get steeper as we cover 1 km below the ridge at Khanpari Tibba. From here, the view of the resort town of Manali and the upper valley of Kullu is visible. We trek further for a few hours till we reach Rani Sui Lake, a pristine and oval-shaped picturesque lake. Located right across the Dhauladhar range in Manali, this trek has a brilliant view of the Dhauladhar and Pir Panjal ranges. The Dhauladhar is one of the ranges located in the Middle Himalayas. They begin near Dalhousie at the northwest end of the region of Himachal Pradesh and pass through the state to the area of the bank of the Beas River in the Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh. They begin to merge with the Pir Panjal ranges near Manali. The Pir Panjal ranges are towards the lesser-Himalayan regions and show gradual elevation at each step. The Pir Panjal Pass, commonly referred to as Peer ki Gali by the area’s locals, connects the Kashmir valley with Rajouri and Poonch via the Mughal Road. You can explore the ranges and soak up nature at this point to your heart’s desire. We will spend some time here and then descend towards Duddu Thatch which is 10,500 ft. Duddu Thatch’s trail includes expansive meadows and dense forests of maple, walnut, pine, and horse chestnut. We will set camp here and spend the entire night in the woods, under the beautiful stars and open sky.

Distance: 11 km

Stay: Tent

Campfire: No

Duration: 7 hours