Day Wise Detailed Itinerary of Friendship Peak Trek

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• Altitude: 2,000 m / 6,550 ft
• Stay: Hotel (twin/triple sharing)
• Food: Not included (on your own)
• Activities: Briefing, sightseeing (Hadimba Temple, Vashisht Kund on your own)
• Note: Foreigners require a trek permit ($100)

 Your journey starts with arrival in Manali which is a bustling hill town located in Himachal Pradesh. On this day, just the hotel accommodation is included, the cost of food and other expenses are not included. After lunch, there will be an extensive briefing of the trek and an introduction of the trek leaders, local guides and participants.  

• Drive Distance 21km (1.5 hours)
• Distance to Trek: 5 km (3-4 hours)
• Altitude Gain: 2,850 m – 3,300 m
• Stay: Twin sharing in tents
• Trek Grade: Easy to Moderate
• Trail Information: Forest trail along the Beas River, alpine meadows
• Water Sources: Streams available
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Snacks, Dinner

The trail gradually climbs up to the stunning alpine meadows, which lie within Bakarthach, which is your first camping spot. The trek is pretty straightforward and gives you a glimpse of snow covered peaks as well as lush meadows in which shepherds feed their animals. 

After reaching Bakarthach within about three hours, you will have an excellent meal at the campsite before settling into your tents. After Lunch, a brief acclimatization walk will aid your body to adjust to the altitude increase.

• Trail Distance 3km (3-4 hours)
• Altitude Gain: 3,300 m – 3,900 m
• Stay: Tented Camp
• Trek Grade: Moderate (steep sections)
• Trail Information: Moraine patches, steep slopes
• Water sources: melting snow patch (filter before use)
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Snacks, Dinner

  The trek to Lady Leg, also known as the ABC (Advanced Base Camp), is a short, but difficult 3 km ascent that can take about 3 hours. The trail involves walking across mountains and scree areas with ever increasingly steep slopes.  After lunch, trekkers receive instruction about basic mountaineering skills like the use of ropes, ice axes, and other necessary equipment by certified mountaineer Trek Leaders. The evening is reserved for relaxation and getting acclimatized at Lady Leg Campsite. 

• The Trek Distance is 2 Kms (2-3 hours one way)
• Altitude: 4,750 m (Summit Camp)
• Stay: Tented Camp (Lady Leg)
• Trek Grade: Moderate to Difficult
• Trail Information: Snowfields, rocky terrain
• Water sources: Limited (carry extra)
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Snacks, Dinner

  Today is a day of acclimatization as well as a load ferry. You’ll be able to carry a part of your equipment and materials up to the higher Summit Camp and return to Lady Leg by evening.  On this route, visitors will be able to enjoy their first close-up view of Friendship Peak and other towering summits such as Hanuman Tibba and Priyadarshini, after spending time on Summit Camp and having lunch before heading back down towards Lady Leg for the night.  

• Trail Distance 2.25 km (2-3 hours)
• Altitude: 4,750 m
• Stay: Tented Camp
• Level of Trek: Challenging (technical terrain)
• Trail Information: Glacier walk, steep snow slopes
• Water Sources: No Water Sources (Carry extra water from campsite)
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Snacks, Dinner

  The day today is planned to be acclimatization only. We’ll start our trek toward Summit Camp. Trekkers are required to complete a round of training in technical aspects, which includes instructions on how to rope up, traverse crevassed terrain, and how to use the snow equipment like crampons or Ice axes efficiently. It’s important to take a rest and hydrate well, as well as prepare physically and mentally for the summit climb in the early morning. 

• Distance to Trek: 5 km (8-9 hours round trip)
• Altitude: 5,287 m (Summit)
• Stay: Tents (Lady Leg)
• Level of Trek: Extremely difficult (technical climb)
• Trail Information: Crevasses, ice walls, fixed ropes
• Water sources: Make sure you have enough drinking water (3L+ water)
• Meals: Breakfast, packed lunch, Snacks, Dinner

  The summit day starts at 2 am, which is the most rewarding and challenging portion of the trek. After putting  Snow equipment and gear, the trek begins with an easy ascent through snow fields, before turning into a steep and icy incline. There are glacier covered terrains with crevasses and massive frozen boulders,  require using fixed ropes as well as climbing techniques.  You’ll arrive back at Lady Leg by 11 A.M, where you will enjoy a delicious meal before you get ready  to sleep in tents. 

• Trek Distance: 8 km (4-5 hrs descent)
• Distance to Drive: 21km (1.5 hours)
• Stay: On return, staying at Manali is not included
• Food: Breakfast, Lunch

Following breakfast, you will descend from Lady Leg to Bakarthach and then to the final destination, Dhundi through the same route. The 8 km trek will take between 4 and 5 hours. From Dhundi 21 kilometer drive will bring you back to Manali. It is expected to arrive between 4 to 5:00 pm. 

Lunch will be served at the time of departure. Please note that the stay at Manali is not included on the last day.

• Use Case: Weather delays / extra acclimatization
• Alternate: Manali sightseeing (self funded)
•  This day is designated for contingency plans if the summit attempt is postponed due to the weather or other unavoidable events. The decision to utilize the buffer day must be made jointly by the trek leader and the group, the trek guide and other participants.  

Be aware that the buffer cost is not included in the trek package and will be billed in a separate charge per person on a per-day basis. If it is not used then in that case you can utilize it to explore the area around Manali.

It is the end of the Friendship Peak Expedition with The Mountain Trek, an unforgettable experience at high altitude that challenges your endurance and rewards you with Himalayan splendor.