What is the maximum group size on the Rupin Pass trek?

Alpine Ace caps all Rupin Pass departures at 12 trekkers. This is a fixed policy, not a marketing claim.

Is the Rupin Pass trek suitable for first-time high-altitude trekkers?

Yes, with the right fitness base. You should be comfortable trekking 6–8 hours with a 7–8 kg pack on consecutive days. No technical climbing is required. The snowfield descent on Day 5 is the most demanding section.

What is the best time to do the Rupin Pass trek?

May to June is the primary season. The snowfield is at its most dramatic and trail conditions are optimal. September batches are also available on request.

What is included in the Rupin Pass trek price?

All meals on trek, camping equipment, guide and support staff, forest and state permits. Not included: travel to/from Dhaula village, personal gear, and travel insurance.

Rupin Pass Trek (2025) — Small Group, Expert Guides

Day by Day

Through oak and pine, following the Rupin river upstream. The valley is narrow here and the sound of water is constant. Villages are small, roads are well behind you, and the mountains announce themselves gradually — without spectacle.

Valley Walk Forest Trail

A descent before the real climb begins. The pace slows here in a way that feels right — village rhythm rather than trail rhythm. Local tea at the right moment. The kind of morning that makes everything that follows feel earned.

Gentle Descent Village Pace

The first big reveal. The waterfall appears without warning — a full cascade down sheer rock, louder than expected. The terrain steepens sharply, the air begins to shift, and you make camp in the waterfall's shadow as the light goes gold on the cliff face.

Steep Climb Waterfall Camp

Steeper terrain. Snowfields begin appearing where there was only grass and rock the day before. The valley opens wide and the air thins noticeably. For the first time the pass feels within reach — visible on a clear day, still distant but no longer abstract.

High Altitude Snowfields Begin

Summit at 4,650 m. The snowfield before the top catches the first light of the morning. Then the long, snaking descent into Uttarakhand — a different landscape, a different state, a different feeling in the legs by the time you reach camp.

Summit Day Long Descent

The final morning. A gentle walk out to the road head, mostly downhill and mostly quiet. Most people don't say much on this day. The week behind them makes the conversation unnecessary — and unnecessary, here, is not a bad thing.

Easy Walk River Trail

What to know

Physical prep

Comfortable trekking 6 to 8 hours with a 7 to 8 kg pack. No technical climbing. The snowfield descent on day five is the most demanding section.

What to bring

Layers, a waterproof shell, and trekking poles for the snowfield sections. We send a full kit list after your first conversation with us.

Who you'll walk with

Maximum twelve. Our average is eight. We don't mix groups without asking first. Your guide has led this specific pass for years.

Permits and paperwork

All forest and state permits handled by us. No paperwork on your end. We'll confirm everything in writing before departure.