From Forests to Deserts: The Epic Landscape Shift on the Hampta Pass Trek

Some treks test your endurance. Others feed your soul. But the Hampta Pass Trek? It does both — and something more. It takes you across a landscape so dramatically diverse, it feels like two treks rolled into one. You begin in the lush green forests of Jobra, where tall pine trees stand like silent guardians. The air is fresh, the sound of the river is soothing, and the path ahead seems almost gentle. For the first few hours, it feels like a walk in a fairy tale. But the story soon changes. As you climb higher, the meadows open up into valleys, filled with wildflowers, grazing sheep, and streams you’ll have to cross barefoot. The beauty is surreal — like walking through a dream you don’t want to wake up from. And then, just when you think you’ve seen it all, you reach Hampta Pass at 14,100 ft. You stand there, breathless — partly from the altitude, and partly from the view that hits you like magic. On one side, green valleys stretch endlessly. On the other, the barren, raw landscape of Spiti unfolds — cold, stark, and stunning in its silence. This is where the epic shift happens — from forest to desert, from soft to rugged, from soothing greens to shades of brown, grey, and white. You’ve crossed not just a pass, but a portal. And if you’re lucky, the journey ends at Chandratal Lake, a crystal-blue alpine lake that mirrors the sky and everything you’ve just become.