Traverse Planning – Trans Himalaya, Jun-Nov 2025

Summary

Selim Baykara from Germany 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:

Part 1: June – Trans Uttarakhand (blue)
Part 2: June – Trans Uttarakhand Option B (pink)
Part 3: July-mid Aug (monsoon) – Ladakh & Zanskar (orange)
Part 4: mid Aug-Sep – Lahaul & Chamba (light blue)
Part 5: Sep – Kullu, Spiti, Kinnaur (yellow)
Part 6: Oct-Nov – Nepal

Download GPX here and load in nakarte.me for an interactive map.

Introduction

Hey guys, glad to join you! I’m Selim from Berlin, Germany, going to spend the summer in the Indian Himalayas this year and looking forward to hit the trails:)

I do 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. So some experience but I’m by no means a pro. I just love hiking and the outdoors😄 And I really look forward to learn some new skills/perspectives. Also, I want to get a feel for the local culture/ the environment /do’s, dont’s etc. because I plan to do some independent treks after the boot camp. So I think this might be a great introduction. Anyway, see you soon!

Selim’s Experience

After finishing Alpine Bootcamp in May I embarked on a Trans-Himalayan traverse from July to August 2025. My original plan was to walk from Leh in Ladakh to Manali all the way while crossing the Great Himalayan Range on a roughly 1.000 km long walking route.

Check out the photos for some impressions of the trip:)

Due to several unforeseen factors, mostly bad weather and a nasty blister on my foot I could only finish the part in Ladakh. In the end I covered:

~ 470 km on foot
22 passes
10 of these above 5.000 mtrs
Highest pass: Yalung Nyau La, 5.432 mtrs
Most difficult pass: Gotunta La, 5.136 mtrs
Longest food carry: 6 days, Pang – Phugtal Gompa via Tsarap Chu
Most beautiful part: Tsarap Chu traverse, Zanskar

While crossing Kang La from Zanskar to Lahoul end of August unfortunately winter struck early. As I didn’t want to risk being stuck in heavy snowfall I had to abandon the attempt. One week later unusually severe late-monsoon caused further havoc in Himachal, essentially paralysing the whole state for weeks. I was stuck for almost 2 weeks first in Padum, then in Keylong. Again I had to abandon all further plans, in the end I only completed about half of what I planned.

The whole traverse was self-supported with the exception of Kang La for which I hired a guide. Not that it helped me much😅

It’s quite sad that I had to skip the Himachal section. I was really looking forward to explore the valleys of Chamba. At least I was lucky enough that I had a couple of nice days in mid-september which I used to cross the famous Hamta pass. But even without that I will return with countless memories for a lifetime. India has been very good to me🙂 And I will surely come back in the future – this was just a small teaser.

Big thanks to @Peter Van Geit for helping me plan this trip and for providing assistance while on the go. Also another huge thumbs-up to this group for all the great information and tips regarding hiking in India. This is a fantastic reference that I will certainly use for future trips🙏

I also will provide a detailed write-up of the trip later this year on my website https://der-eskapist.de/

Link to photos

Part 1 – Trans Uttarakhand

Baspa valley – Sangla (food) – Rupin Ghati
Rupin valley – Jiskon (food) – Dhakimar Dhar
Manji Gad – Masri – Pass
Supin Nadi – Rekcha (food) – Kuparkhai
Barasu Gad – Gangar (food) – Taluka (food) – Phachikandi pass – Samay ka Tibba

Yamuna river – Hanuman Chatti (food) – Darwa Pass – Dodi Tal
Binsi Gad – Dandalka (food) – Dyara
Bhagirathi river – Bhatwari (food) – Kailapir Pass – Kyarki Khal

Bal Ganga – Gainwali (food) – Muneri pass
Bilangana river – Gangi (food) – Kinkola Khal
Mandakini – Sonprayag (food) – Pass – Pass – Dwarak Khal
Madhyamaheshwar Ganga – Ransi (food) – Bisuri Tal – Tungnath – Chopta (food)

Balkhila Nadi – Gaundi (food) – Naola pass – Rudranath – Toli Tal
Maina Gad – Dumak (food) – Bansi Narayan – Urgam (food)
Alaknanda river – Joshimath (food) – Valley of Flowers – Hemkund

Part 2 – Trans Uttarakhand Option B

A slightly higher altitude alternative traverse (pink below)

Rupin Gad – Jiskon – Galai Thach – Bharur Sar – South Ridge
Supin Nadi – Lewari
Barasu Gad – Gangar – Kandrola Thach – Rasi – Pass

Rishi Ganga – Kharsali – Digdara – Mala Gad – Kana Tal – Jana Tal – Pass
Multhata – Uchalara – Gorginda – Maulapani Dhar
Bhagirathi – Huri – Bhukki – Tela – Dina Gad – Khera Tal

Kakodya – Pagariya – Puana
Pilanga Gad – Gangada – Jaurab – Moli – Kyarki Khal – Shastru Tal
Bilangana – Kaliani

Bhalkhila Nadi – Gaundi – Ansuya Devi – Okhla Dhar – Rudranath
Rikhni Gad – Binaik Dhar – Maina Gad – Dumak
Mandungarha Dhar – Saldwani Khal –

Part 3 – Ladakh & Zanskar

During the monsoon in July-Aug when the foothills are flooded we hop over the Great Himalayan Range to the alpine deserts of Ladakh & Zanskar

Indus valley Leh (food) – Gira – Mangyu La – Hibti La – Tar – Tar La
Wanla Tokpo – Panjila (food) – Hinju (homestay) – Konke La
Chemno Tokpo – Sumdahchenmo – Dungdungchan La
Zanskar – Chilling (food)
Markha – Skyu (food) – Gande La
Rumbak Tokpo – Rumbak (homestay) – Stok La
Stok Tokpo – Matho La – Shang La – Shang

Chushkurma Tokpo – Shang Sumdo (food) – Chogdo – Kichen La – Pass
Ruyul Nala – Miru (food) – Ghochang La
Mundar Tokpo – Rumtse (food) – Kyamar La – Mandalchan La – Shinbuk La

Tso Kar – Thukje (food) – Horlam la – Kayur La – Koste La – Lamlung La

Tso Moriri – Karzok (food) – Phirse Phu – Manechan La – Thelakung La
Toze Lungpa – Pang (food)

Zara Chu – Lun – Marang La
Tsarap Chu – Laol La – Umlung La – Umlung La – Chhohama La – Satak (deserted)
Zara Chu (bridge) – Yurshun (deserted) – Gotunta La – Nialo Konste La
Tsarap Chu – Phuktal gompa (food)
Niru Chu – Shade (homestay) – Gautang La – Lar La – Ningri (deserted) – Ningri La