A Trail That Keeps Changing
Rupin Pass is famous for serving a new landscape every day: hanging villages and wooden temples (Jakha, Jiskun), snow bridges over the Rupin river, a natural amphitheatre beneath a three-stage waterfall, and finally the steep snow gully to the pass itself.
The Route
Starting near Dhaula (Uttarakhand side), the trail ascends the Rupin gorge through Jiskun and Jakha to the waterfall camps, crosses Rupin Pass (15,250 ft) via the gully, and descends to Ronti Gad and Sangla in Himachal's Baspa valley — a true crossover finish.
Best Time
May–June for big snow on the upper sections (the classic experience) and September–October for firmer, clearer conditions. The pass day is long in either season.
Difficulty
Moderate-to-difficult: sustained ascents, exposure on the gully, and altitude above 15,000 ft. Prior trekking experience recommended; operators fix ropes on the gully in snowbound conditions.