Himalayan Traverse Planning

The Western Indian Himalayas consists of several beautiful regions, each to be visited during the right season. Each region can be explored via a unique traverse that hops across many valleys and mountain passes in that region (different colors above). We can also hike across multiple regions by combining individual traverses as per the right seasons.  Blog post

The Himalayas stretch out across a vast region spanning many countries from Arunachal in the Southeast to Kyrgyzstan in the far Northwest. In this post we present a multi-year trans Himalaya traverse over 9 thousand km across 6 countries. Note that this only covers a logical hiking route, we additionally need to plan for seasons (monsoon, winter snow) and physical access (VISAs, permits). Blog post

Colonel Anand S. is putting a team together to attempt a 9 months / 5350km long Trans Himalayan traverse from Kashmir to Arunachal from Jun 2026 to Feb 2027. Planning a detailed high altitude long-distance route through various seasons took a significant effort in analyzing various topographic maps. Anand completed my Alpine Field Bootcamp in Oct 2025. Blog post

Peter Jost one of my Patrons. I’ve been a bushwalker in Australia for decades and have walked in Sichuan, Qinghai, Nepal, Zanskar over the years. Pete is returning to the Indian Himalayas for the third consecutive year. He did a beautiful traverse across Ladakh / Zanskar (2023), Trans Uttarakhand (2024) and back now for a one month completely new traverse of Ladakh / Zanskar (2025). Blog post

Hi Peter, my name is Mattia, from Italy. I’ve been following you from a very long time now and I have to say that you’ve been a great source of inspiration for me. after many years of hiking and trekking in the alps I got the chance to test my attitude to elevation and long distance trekking in Dolpo region in 2023, with a guided tour, needless to say that it was an amazing experience. I now feel it’s it time to move another step forward, I want to start to experience the greatness of Himalaya by trekking solo. therefore I’m planning to visit Ladakh region in aug-sept-oct 2025. Blog post

Selim Baykara from Berlin, Germany did trekking for about 8 years now, done several lodge treks in Nepal and some longer self-supported camping trips in the Andes. Also many treks in Europe of course. He attended the Alpine Field Bootcamp in May 2025 and is planning a 6 months journey through the Indian and Nepal Himalayas partly following OSM mapped hiking routes and partly exploring new Survey map trails. Blog post

Kosta, one of my Patreons, 23, born in Adelaide, Australia is about to traverse the entire Himalayan range from far West India to East Nepal. Despite achieving external success in life, he felt lost and empty, eventually giving it all up in search of true purpose. He is continuing his inner and outer journey into the unknown, anchored in presence, devotion, and and the purpose to inspire, uplift, and support the growth of all. Blog post

Adam Weifen from South Australia attended the Alpine Field Bootcamp in May 2025 and immediately planned a small 2 week traverse through the Beas and Parvathi river valleys from Manali to Kullu to Malana to Pulga. Blog post.

My name is Johan Solberg, and growing up in Norway, hiking was a natural part of my life. After moving part-time to India in 2020, I wanted to continue exploring nature as I did in Norway—just packing my bag and heading out. However, outside the realm of organized treks, finding information on where to go was challenging. Another mental challenge for me was the perception of solo trekking in India. Unlike in Norway, where people are encouraged to be outdoors by themselves, I was repeatedly warned about its dangers. Blog post.

Peter Jost (Australia) 63 years young, one of my Patrons, is planning a one month mid-range traverse in June through Uttarakhand (East to West) across 15 valleys and mountain passes through 6 districts including some higher altitude North side diversions. He ll be following mostly OSM mapped routes as well as explore some new trails via Survey maps. Blog post

Jeremy Bige French mountain guide and ski instructor. He completed a 3 month 2300km long trans Himalayan journey with 122K meters elevation gain from Kashmir in India to Annapurna in Nepal across 65 high passes. In 2018 he crossed Nepal following the low GHT trail, in 2021 he walked 1500 km across the Balkans ranges and in 2022 I made a big traverse of 2000 km through Tadjikistan and Kirghizstan. Blog post

 Laurent Berthod (Canada) one of my Patreons hiked 95 days from Oct 2023 to Jan 2024 covering 2600km across 75 mountain passes from Leh Ladakh to Everest base camp in Nepal. Starting from the alpine desert of Ladakh he crossed the states of Himachal, Uttarakhand (India) and Sudurpachchim, Karnali, Lumbini, Gandaki, Bagmati and Koshi provinces (Nepal) hopping 107 major river valleys. He climbed a total of 115 thousand meters of elevation gain (13 times height of Mt. Everest). Blog post

Gentaro Tsuzuki (Japan) one of my Patrons completed at 410 km summer traverse from Ladakh to Spiti to Parvathi across across 8 high passes with a total elevation gain of 15 thousand meters through the Markha, Kurna, Toze Chu, Phrise Phu, Tso Moriri, Pare Chu, Spiti, Pin and Parvathi valleys. He did it solo, alpine style, lightweight and food supply on the way.

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Peter Jost (Australia) 63 years young, one of my Patrons completed a two month 470km long traverse with 24 thousand meters of elevation gain across 27 high passes connecting 5 beautiful traverses in Ladakh and Zanskar. A circuit around the Spangting Range, loop around Stok Kangri Range, Markha to Pang, Tsarap Chu valley traverse and Shade to Zangla via the Niru Chu.

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Sant Mote (India) completed my Alpine Field Bootcamp (Apr 2022) planned and executed a beautiful 21 days 300km West-East traverse through Himachal and Uttarakhand through 5 districts: Kullu, Shimla, Kinnaur, Uttarkashi and Tehri Garhwal. He explored and map several new hiking routes in OSM.

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Benjamin Vedrines mountain guide in the French Alps completed a two week 270km trans Zanskar traverse from Kanji to Sarchu across 17 high passes and 14 valleys along the more interior / non-touristic routes via Kanji La, Pingdong La, Orna river, Dibling, Barmai La, Lingshed, Hannuma La, Parfi La, Zanskar valley, Zangla, Ningri La, Lar La, Gautang La, Niru Chu, Shade, Nialog Konste La, Gotunte La, Tsarap river, Sarchu

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Yuvaraj (India) completed my online Alpine Hiking Bootcamp in 2022 and planned a beautiful 10 days 100km circuit through the Pin and Khirganga and Great Himalayan National Parks through 4 districts of Kullu, Shimla, Kinnaur and Spiti through the Parvathi, Jiwa Nala, Sainj, Tirthan, Sutlej, Bhaba, Pin river valleys.

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Leon Perrin (Australia) one of my Alpine Field Bootcamp students (Autumn 2023 batch) is planning a 2 months 600km trans-Himalayan traverse through the states of Ladakh, Himachal and Uttarakhand across 40 high and mid range passes passing through 10 Himalayan districts and touching 30 major river valleys till the border of Nepal.

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Sneha Suresh (India) finished my Online Alpine Bootcamp. She is planning nice a two week 150km circuit across 5 high passes across the Eastern Dhauladar in Autumn 2023. Beas valley > Dhauladar -> Ravi river -> Dhauladar -> Barot valley -> Lug valley -> Beas.

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