Chandra Bhaga Glaciers Trek

Know the trail before you step on it - difficulty, permits, weather, guide need and route clarity in one place.

Trek safety, weather & access status

Generally safe to travel Off-season - likely closed Jul–Sep

Advisory

No active alerts. Carry layers, keep emergency contacts handy and check local conditions before you set out.

Live weather

25°C Clear sky
  • Feels 25°C
  • 7 km/h wind
  • 46% humidity

Mountain weather changes quickly. Treat this as a planning signal, not a final safety clearance - confirm locally before you set out.

Emergency & official

112 National emergency 1363 Tourist helpline
Max altitude 4,500 m
Distance 30 km
Duration 5 days
Best time July to September
Fitness High - remote glacier moraine walking
Start point Chhatru
End point Chhatru
No permit needed

DIY Trek Readiness: can you go self-planned?

Beginners Some experience helps
Guide Recommended
Permit Not needed
Fitness High - remote glacier moraine walking
Trail clarity Faint
Network on trail None
Max altitude 4,500 m
Best season Jul–Sep
Languages Lahauli, Hindi

Readiness verdict

  • Best forExperienced, fit trekkers comfortable at altitude
  • Not ideal forFirst-time trekkers going without any support
  • Go DIY only ifYou can manage long walking days, low or no network, basic navigation and changing mountain weather.
Guide: Recommended Permit: Not needed Network: None on trail
Plan it yourself

The DIY deep-dive

DIY route options

The classic route Start from Chhatru and follow the standard 5-day line - the most reliable, well-trodden way to do it.
Self-guided or with a guide Do it solo with the offline Gaia GPS trail file, or hire a local guide at Chhatru for the navigation and logistics.

What most travellers miss

  • Download offline maps and share your plan first - the mobile network here is patchy to none.
  • Do not rush past Chhota Dara - most people treat it as a quick stop, but it is worth a slower evening.
  • Time it for July to September. Outside that window, snow, weather or road closures can cut access.
  • Use the acclimatisation day in full - fast itineraries are what catch people out at altitude here.

Where to base yourself

Chhatru Trailhead base - last shops, network and gear before you set off.
Chhota Dara A key stop on the route - where the trek halts for the night.
CB Base A key stop on the route - where the trek halts for the night.

DIY is the main way - this is the upgrade

Need expert help planning this trek?

Prefer not to manage permits, guide coordination, stays and route pacing yourself? We can help you turn this trek into a private, supported experience for your dates, group size and comfort level.

  • Permit and guide coordination
  • Private group support
  • Route pacing and halt planning
  • Stay, meals and local logistics
Enquire for pricing Enquire on WhatsApp

About this trek

The Chandra Bhaga (CB) range walls the Chandra valley in Lahaul. This trek follows the Chandra river past Chhatru and Chhota Dara to the moraines and base camps below the CB glaciers – a stark, high cold-desert route best done after the Spiti/Lahaul roads open in summer.

Essential packing list

  • Trekking shoes
  • Warm layers
  • Rain shell
  • Headlamp
  • Water bottle
  • Trekking shoes with grip
  • Warm base layers and fleece
  • Down jacket
  • Rain shell / poncho
  • Headlamp with extra batteries
  • Water bottle or hydration bladder
  • Sunglasses, cap and sunscreen
  • Personal medicines
  • Power bank
  • Offline maps
  • Cash and ID copies
  • Permit documents

Map

Nearby route landmarks & places to know

Tap “Get directions” to open any spot straight in Google Maps.

Jama Mosque, Dharamshala

0.3 km from Chhatru, Himachal Pradesh centre

The Jama Mosque is a Friday mosque, located in Kotwali Bazar, Dharamshala, in the state of Himachal Pradesh, India.

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Kotwali Bazar

0.4 km from Chhatru, Himachal Pradesh centre

Kotwali Bazar is a suburb of Dharamshala, situated at the foothills of Dhauladhar mountains, a southern branch of the main Outer Himalayan chain of mountains, in Kangra district in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh.

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Library of Tibetan Works and Archives

0.6 km from Chhatru, Himachal Pradesh centre

The Library of Tibetan Works and Archives (LTWA) is a Tibetan library in Dharamshala, India. The library was founded by Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama on 11 June 1970, and is considered one of the most important l…

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Dharamshala

0.7 km from Chhatru, Himachal Pradesh centre

Dharamshala is a town in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. It serves as the winter capital of the state and the administrative headquarters of the Kangra district since 1855. The town also hosts the 14th Dalai Lam…

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Namgyal Monastery

1.3 km from Chhatru, Himachal Pradesh centre

Namgyal Monastery is located in Mcleod Ganj, Dharamsala, India. It is the personal monastery of the 14th Dalai Lama. Another name for this temple-complex is Namgyal Tantric College.

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Tibet Museum (Dharamshala)

1.3 km from Chhatru, Himachal Pradesh centre

The Tibet Museum is the official museum of the Central Tibetan Administration's Department of Information and International Relations and is located IN CTA complex in T building, in the Dharamshala suburb of McLeod Ga…

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Mant Khas

1.3 km from Chhatru, Himachal Pradesh centre

Mant Khas is a census town in Kangra district in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh.

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Gaden Choeling Nunnery

1.7 km from Chhatru, Himachal Pradesh centre

Ganden Choeling Nunnery or Geden Chöling is a Tibetan Buddhist vihara for Buddhist nuns in Dharamshala, India. It is near the monastery in which the 14th Dalai Lama resides.

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McLeod Ganj

1.9 km from Chhatru, Himachal Pradesh centre

McLeod Ganj or McLeodganj is a suburb of Dharamshala town, in the Kangra district, Himachal Pradesh, India. It is known as "Little Lhasa" as the Tibetan government-in-exile is headquartered there, and the region has a…

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Dharamkot, Himachal Pradesh

1.9 km from Chhatru, Himachal Pradesh centre

Dharamkot is a small hill station in Kangra district in the state of Himachal Pradesh, India.

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Kangda Police Stadium

2 km from Chhatru, Himachal Pradesh centre

The Kangra Police Stadium is a cricket ground in Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh, India. The ground first held a first-class match in 1990 when Himachal Pradesh played Haryana in the 1990/91 Ranji Trophy. The following …

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Narghota

2.5 km from Chhatru, Himachal Pradesh centre

Narghota is a small village under Kajlot panchayat situated 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) southwest of Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh, India.

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Stay & food planning around the trailhead

Base and stock up at the trailhead before you start; on the trail expect basic halts and simple meals - tea stops and packed snacks, with no cafe-style reliability once you set off.

Stay

Asian Plaza

Asian Plaza, Potala Marg (Khada Danda Road), Kotwali Bazaar, Dharamshala - 176200, Himachal Pradesh, India

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Hotel Paradise

Hotel Paradise, Dharamshala Cantt McLeoadganj Road, Kotwali Bazaar, Dharamshala - 176200, Himachal Pradesh, India

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Stay

Hotel Gagan

Hotel Gagan, Gurudwara Road, Kotwali Bazaar, Dharamshala - 176200, Himachal Pradesh, India

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Sunrise Tourist Home

Sunrise Tourist Home, Near MC Office, Brij Lal Road, Kotwali Bazaar, Dharamshala - 176215, Himachal Pradesh, India

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Stay

Padmini

Padmini, Dharamshala Road, Kotwali Bazaar, Dharamshala - 176200, Himachal Pradesh, India

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Stay

Shyam Nagar Road

Shyam Nagar Road, Kotwali Bazaar, Dharamshala - 176200, Himachal Pradesh, India

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Sita Palace

Sita Palace, Dharamshala Road, Kotwali Bazaar, Dharamshala - 176200, Himachal Pradesh, India

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Stay

Shyam Nagar Road

Shyam Nagar Road, Shyam Nagar, Dharamshala - 176200, Himachal Pradesh, India

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