Mandi to Kasol: Prashar, Thachi, Tirthan, Shangarh and Parvati

Day 1: Prashar Lake

1 night · Moderate · A small high-altitude lake with a floating island and a wooden pagoda temple above Mandi.

Day 1: Prashar Lake

• Leave Mandi early by the 8 AM bus or a taxi to Baggi.
• Walk the Baggi to Prashar trek, about 4 to 5 hours, or stay on the bus to the top.
• Visit Prashar Rishi Temple and walk around Prashar Lake and its floating island.
• Watch sunset from the meadow ridge and Dhauladhar viewpoint, then stay in a rest house or camp.

Getting here from Prashar Lake: Road via Mandi, about 3 to 3.5 hours. About 95 km by road.

Days 2 to 3: Thachi Valley

2 nights · Moderate · A quiet apple-growing valley in the Seraj area of Mandi, with forest treks and old temples.

Day 2: Thachi Valley

• Get down at Aut and take the local bus or a taxi to Thachi village.
• Check in and walk through Thachi village and orchards.
• Visit Bithu Narayan Temple in the cedar forest.
• Stop at the Ashu Alli stream if time allows.

Day 3: Thachi Valley

• Start early with a local guide for the Chanjwala Peak trek.
• Visit the temple at the top.
• Return to the village before dark.

Getting here from Thachi Valley: Road via Aut, about 2 hours. About 45 km by road.

Days 4 to 6: Tirthan Valley

3 nights · Easy · A quiet river valley in Kullu that is the walking gateway to the Great Himalayan National Park.

Day 4: Tirthan Valley

• Get off the overnight bus at Aut in the early morning.
• Take a local bus or taxi through Banjar to Gushaini and check in.
• Rest, then visit the Sai Ropa park centre to ask about trail conditions and permits.
• Spend the evening by the river.

Day 5: Tirthan Valley

• Start early from Gushaini on the Great Himalayan National Park trail.
• Walk along the river to the park gate, with a packed lunch.
• Watch for birds on the way back.
• Return to Gushaini before dark.

Day 6: Tirthan Valley

• Leave early by taxi through Banjar and Jibhi to Jalori Pass.
• Walk about 5 km through oak forest to Serolsar Lake and the temple.
• Walk back to the pass; fit walkers can swap this for the 3 km trail to Raghupur Fort.
• Drive back to Gushaini.

Getting here from Tirthan Valley: Road via Aut and Sainj, about 2 hours. About 55 km by road.

Days 7 to 8: Shangarh

2 nights · Easy · A quiet Sainj Valley village with a sacred meadow ringed by deodar forest, beside the Great Himalayan park.

Day 7: Shangarh

• Reach Aut in the morning and take a taxi or bus up to Shangarh before 3 PM.
• Check in to a homestay and have lunch.
• Walk on Shangarh Meadow in the late afternoon.
• Visit Shangchul Mahadev Temple before sunset.

Day 8: Shangarh

• Walk to Barshangarh Waterfall after breakfast.
• Return to the village for lunch.
• Take a cab to Raila to see the twin towers, or do part of the Lapah village walk.
• Spend the evening on the meadow.

Getting here from Shangarh: Road via Aut and Bhuntar, about 3 hours. About 80 km by road.

Days 9 to 11: Kasol and Parvati Valley

2 nights · Moderate · A riverside backpacker village in the Parvati Valley, with hot springs and treks close by.

Day 9: Kasol and Parvati Valley

• Arrive in Kasol and check in.
• Spend time by the Parvati River at Kasol.
• Walk to Chalal village and back.
• Dinner at a riverside cafe.

Day 10: Kasol and Parvati Valley

• Go to Manikaran in the morning.
• Visit Gurudwara Manikaran Sahib and eat at the langar.
• See the Manikaran hot springs and temples.
• Continue up the valley to Tosh village for the afternoon.

Day 11: Kasol and Parvati Valley

• Start early from Barshaini.
• Do the Kheerganga trek.
• Rest at the hot spring and Shiva temple.
• Walk down before dark, or stay the night if allowed.