Manali, a town towards the top of the Kullu valley, is the jumping off point for tours here. It sits at about 2000m, and the mountains rise to 5500m out of the door. Snowcover is patchy down to 2000m depending on the winter – count on skiing to 2500m in winter and 3000 in spring. Almost everything here is committing – long ascents, difficult access, no maps, deep snow and terrain as big as it comes. But the rewards are big too. Camps at 4000m with first descents all around, 2000 vert m’s of non-stop pow, the challenges of glacier travel etc. Of course, you will be the only ones out, except for the heli operation, which has such a big playground that they won’t bother you – except if you want a lift into some of the deeper mountains, which, if you have the money, is highly recommended. The bottom line is that the Kullu valley is only for very experienced, very fit, tourers, or for those with an experienced guide.
Manali has decent hotels and restaurants and plenty of taxis to get you where you need to go, but don’t expect typical touring supplies or repair equipment – you can get adequate camping food but only kerosene or petrol and no decent touring equipment. It is a wonderful place to relax in the winter, but by late spring the tourists start arriving and its not so tranquil anymore. There are a few small villages nearby which offer simple accommodation and food and make good places to explore on days off. Fortunately, there is a high quality ski touring guide to the Kullu valley, which tells you everything you need to know to make the most of your Himalayan adventure. |
