Kang Yatse II Trek Itinerary
- Spectacular Views
- Diverse Landscape
- High Altitude Camping
- Sense of Accomplishment
- Mountaineering Skillsentures.
Mt. Friendship Peak Trek Itinerary
Day 01: Arrive at Manali (Elevation: 2050m)
Arrive at Manali, which is a very popular tourist destination, making it easily accessible. Report at our base, get to know each other, and enjoy the rest of the time exploring the local market and cafes.
Day 02: Manali to Dhundi via Solang Nalla towards Lohalithatch (Elevation: 3150m (Dhundi), 3300m (Lohalithatch) | Drive distance: 21kms | Trek distance: 4.5kms)
The journey begins after breakfast with a scenic car ride through Solang Nalla, a valley with mountain towns and empty stretches. Expect to reach Dhundi village, the starting point of the trek, by 12:30 pm. The drive offers glimpses into mountain life with locals and stone houses.
The 4.5 km trek starts at Dhundi. Porters carry supplies on horses, while you hike with your backpack. The climb is gradual, and after an hour, you’ll be rewarded with views of the Seven Sisters peaks. After a short descent, you’ll encounter boulders and rocky paths before another steep climb.
At the 2-hour mark, there’s a break in a clearing to enjoy the scenery with snacks. From here, the trail ascends through dense forests with ferns, and bird chirps fade as you gain altitude. You’ll appreciate the occasional descent before reaching Lohalithatch meadow, your campsite for the night.
A tent pitching session prepares you for future nights. After setting up camp, you’ll take an acclimatization walk to higher ground before returning for the night to ease your body into the climb ahead.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 03: Lohalithatch to Lady Leg (Elevation: 3840m | Distance: 4kms | Duration: 3-3.5 hrs)
Day 3 starts with an energizing breakfast followed by a warm-up routine to prepare for the steeper climb to Lady Leg camp (named for its shape). This leg will test your endurance more than the previous day, with a constant climb through vast green meadows dotted with yellow wildflowers. Imagine a landscape straight out of a painting!
Expect a 3-hour ascent, motivated by the sight of sheep scaling the slopes. Lunch awaits at the Advanced Base Camp, where you’ll pitch your tent again. Weather permitting, you might even get a taste of technical mountaineering with ice axe training – a crucial skill for summit day.
This scenic camp, teeming with sheep, dogs, and horses, offers panoramic views of the Pir Panjal and Dhauladhar ranges. Here, you’ll also get your first glimpse of Friendship Peak, your ultimate target, standing tall and seemingly achievable over the next two days.
Day 04: Load Ferry to Summit Base (Elevation: 4200m | Distance: 3kms | Duration: 2.5 hrs)
Day 4 brings a tougher challenge: steeper slopes and snow! After a hearty breakfast, we trade meadows for snow-covered terrain, trekking for 2-3 hours in unfamiliar snow boots. The awe-inspiring peaks of Hanuman Tibba and Deo Tibba guide us as we navigate loose rocks and deep snow. We set up camp at a strategic location, acclimatizing and storing some gear for the summit push. Weather permitting, we’ll receive ice axe training, crucial for summit day.
Following the mountaineer’s rule of “climb high, sleep low,” we descend to Lady Leg for the night.
Day 05: Trek Towards Summit Base (Elevation: 4200m | Distance: 3kms | Duration: 2.5 hrs)
To prepare for the summit push tomorrow, we’ll move some tents up to the higher Summit Camp tonight. After a midday lunch, we’ll tackle the familiar trail to Summit Camp again, carrying lighter packs with just summit essentials. This early ascent allows for rest before a potentially sleepless summit night. If the weather turns bad, we’ll attempt the summit push directly from Lady Leg.
Setting up at Summit Camp aims to shave off precious time on the actual summit day.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 06: Summit Day (Elevation: 5289m | Distance: 14-16kms | Duration: 12-14hrs)
Summit day arrives! After a few hours of rest, it’s go time between 1-2 am. Packed with snacks and gear (including a crucial headlamp!), we embark on a grueling 7-8 hour climb. The initial ascent is manageable, but soon it gets tough. We navigate snow, ice boulders, and eventually rocky slopes with crampons. Aiming for a sunrise view, we target the mountain col by 6 am. After a rest, we continue ascending the steep ridges to the summit, expected by 9-10 am.
We savor the victory view before descending, as melting ice makes it tricky. Back at Summit Camp by 1-2 pm, we pack up and quickly descend to Lady Leg for recovery.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 07: Reserved as a Buffer Day
Reserved for a contingency summit push. This extra day is built into the itinerary in case of bad weather or unforeseen difficulties that might prevent a successful summit attempt on Day 6. We’ll only utilize this day if absolutely necessary, ensuring the best chance for everyone to reach the peak safely.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 08: Back to the Start (Distance: 8kms | Drive distance: 21kms | Duration: 4 hours descent + 1 hour drive.)
Descent day! The trek back starts at 9 am from Lady Leg, aiming to reach Manali by early evening (latest 4 pm). Book late-night departures if leaving Manali the same day, and pre-arrange accommodation as there’s no network on the trail. Celebrate your accomplishment this evening!
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
