Beas Kund from Manali — a five-day trek plan
Beas Kund is the classic short trek from Manali: a walk up a single valley from the meadow at Solang to the small lake under the glaciers where the Beas begins, with one or two nights under canvas and no pass to cross. This plan wraps the three-day trek in a five-day trip — a settling day in the town, an acclimatisation day at the meadow with the shrine walk, the trek itself, and the hot springs at the end.
The trek days are in outline here. The Beas Kund trek page has the route, the road head and the season in detail; the trekking outfits in Old Manali and on the Mall run it as a fixed departure with tents, food and a guide, priced by the day.
Photos: Gaurav Dhingra (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Gxyd (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Gxyd (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Madhumita Das (CC BY-SA 4.0) · In Transit (CC BY 4.0) — via Wikimedia Commons, resized.
Who this is for
First-time trekkers who want a real night above the treeline without a hard pass; fit walkers with a long weekend; groups of friends. Not for anyone who wants a day walk — that is the day-hikes plan — and not in July and August, when the meadows are cloud and the river is loud.
Day by day
Day 1Arrive, walk, sleep low
3 stops · 15 min on the road
Arrive, walk, sleep low
A gentle first day in the town to settle; nothing above the valley floor.
- 09:00Hadimba Devi TempleThe cedar grove; a first walk in the deodars.
- ↓ 6 min by road · 2 km11:00Old ManaliLunch in the lane; the trekking outfits are here if the trek is not yet booked.
- ↓ 9 min by road · 5 km16:00Vashisht TempleThe hot baths across the river; an early night.
Day 2Up to Solang, the shrine walk
3 stops · 14 min on the road
Up to Solang, the shrine walk
An acclimatisation day at the meadow with one climb; sleep at Solang or Palchan.
- 08:30Nehru KundTen minutes at the spring on the way up; the valley opens.
- ↓ 14 min by road · 6 km09:15SolangThe meadow at 2,560 m; a slow morning, the ropeway if it runs.
- 13:05Anjani MahadevThe walk to the shrine under the rock, about 46 min up; legs and lungs for tomorrow.
Day 3Dhundi to the meadows
1 stop
Dhundi to the meadows
The trek proper begins. Drive to Dhundi above Solang, walk to the camp at Bakarthach with the outfit — most of the height for the lake is gained today.
- 07:00Beas KundFrom Dhundi, about 34 min from Manali by road, the route follows the river up the valley: four to five hours of walking to the lake at a steady pace, camping at the meadows on the way. Down takes just under three hours.
Day 4The lake and back to camp
1 stop
The lake and back to camp
The morning to the lake through the boulder field, the afternoon at the meadows. A second night under canvas.
- 16:00SolangFor those who compress the trek to two days, the walk out reaches the meadow by late afternoon; the taxi waits.
Day 5Out, and the hot water
2 stops · 6 min on the road
Out, and the hot water
Walk out to Dhundi, drive down, and the baths at Vashisht are the reward.
- 15:00Vashisht TempleHot water on trek legs; the village lane after.
- ↓ 6 min by road · 3 km18:00Mall RoadThe evening walk, a shawl, dinner.
Getting there
The overnight bus from Delhi, 513 km, arrives in time for the first day's gentle walking. From Chandigarh, 264 km and about 289 min. The road head at Dhundi is about 34 min above Manali on the tunnel road; the outfit usually includes the drive.
Where to stay
Old Manali for the first night, near the outfits; Solang or Palchan for the second, twenty minutes from the road head; the outfit's tents at the meadows for the trek; and Vashisht or Old Manali for the last. Our stays page shows each, and the treks page lists the outfits we know.
Know before you go
- Book the trek before you arrive in June and September; fixed departures fill. Ask what is included — tents, food, guide, porterage, the drive to Dhundi.
- Warm layers for the nights, rain gear in September, a head torch, sun protection always; the meadows have no shade.
- Camp at the meadows rather than pushing to the lake and back from the road — the evening light in the valley is the trek.
- Ice at the lake's edge into June; the water is glacial and not for swimming.
- Leave the meadows as you found them; carry out everything, including the outfit's rubbish if they do not.
- The Vashisht baths are free and separate for men and women; they are exactly what trek legs want.
If plans change
If you want the higher lake: the Bhrigu Lake plan is the other classic, from Gulaba on the Rohtang road.
If you want the crossing: Hampta Pass is four to five days over the pass into Lahaul, a July-to-September trek with a guide for everyone.
If the weather closes in: the day-hikes plan keeps you walking below the cloud.
Places on this route
Going together
No one has started a group going on this plan yet. Start one and other travellers can ask to come along.
Other ways to do it
All Manali itineraries →
More places nearby
All of Manali →
Nearby destinations
All destinations →
Questions people ask
How difficult is the Beas Kund trek?
Easy to moderate as Himalayan treks go: no pass, a clear route up one valley, and a high point at the lake reached in four to five hours of walking from the road head at Dhundi. The boulder field before the lake asks for steady feet, the altitude for a sensible pace. Anyone who walks regularly can do it.
How many days do you need for Beas Kund?
Three for the trek itself in the usual shape: the road head to the meadows, the lake and back to camp, and out. Five for the trip if you add a settling day in Manali and a night at Solang first, which this plan does. Strong walkers compress the trek to two days; the altitude is kinder with three.
When is the Beas Kund trek open?
Late May to mid-October. Early June has snow above the meadows and ice at the lake; July and August are green, wet and cloudy and best avoided; September and early October are clear and cold and the best of it. Outside that window the valley above Dhundi is snowbound and it is a different outing.
Do I need a guide for Beas Kund?
Most people go with a trekking outfit from Manali that provides guide, tents, food and porterage as a fixed departure priced by the day; experienced walkers with their own gear do it alone in good weather. Ask what is included and compare two or three outfits. Our treks page lists the ones we know.