Two seas from one ridge
The Rupin side drains to the Yamuna and the Bay of Bengal; the Sangla side to the Sutlej and the Arabian Sea.
After the trail · the almanac
The trek in four numbers
Rupin Pass changes every day: villages, forest, meadows, a waterfall, snow, and a pass between two states.
4,650m
Rupin Pass
58km
Dhaula to Sangla
3tiers
Of the Rupin waterfall
2states
Uttarakhand to Himachal
💪 Moderate–difficult🌸 May–Jun🍂 Sep–Oct🌊 River crossings
Day by day
Eight days, step by step
Days 1–4 follow Treks and Trails and a 2015 Bikat trek blog; days 5–8 follow Bikat's current plan, which starts at Jiskun.
How high you are on each kilometre
- Day 1Dehradun → DhaulaThe last roadhead210 km · about 8 h🛏️ Camp · 1,554 m
- Day 2Dhaula → SewaAlong the river9 km🛏️ Camp · 1,920 m
- Day 3Sewa → JhakaVia Gosangu and Jiskun10 km🛏️ Homestay · 2,750 m
- Day 4Jhaka → Saruwas ThatchInto the forest7 km🛏️ Tents · 3,280 m
- Day 5Saruwas → Dhanderas ThatchBelow the waterfall6 km · 3–4 h🛏️ Tents · 3,566 m
- Day 6Dhanderas → Upper WaterfallBeside the falls4 km · about 3 h🛏️ Tents · 4,080 m
- Day 7Upper Waterfall → Rupin Pass → Ronti GadStart at 5 a.m.8 km · 8–10 h🛏️ Tents · 4,005 m
- Day 8Ronti Gad → SanglaDown into Kinnaur13 km · 5–6 h🚙 On to Shimla
Stories and nature
One river, two seas
One idol, many temples
Sewa's temple stays shut most of the time because its one idol is shared among 15–17 temples.
The Sarasvati
Some sources cited by Wikipedia say the Sarasvati glacier near the pass is the origin of the ancient Sarasvati river.
When to go
Two windows
Snow bridges and snowfields stay on the upper trail; the pass can be knee-deep in snow.
May–June
Days 15–25 °C, nights 5–10 °C.
Sep–Oct
Days 10–15 °C, nights below zero.
Late September
In 2026 police rescued shepherds and about 1,700 sheep and goats caught by heavy snow near the pass.
Monsoon
Rivers run high. Operators do not list July–August.
Plan your trip
Getting to Dhaula
Dhaula is a long day by road from Dehradun. You finish in Sangla, on the Shimla side.
- Dehradun🚌 210 km, about 8 h
- Dhaula
Exit: Sangla to Shimla is about 225 km and 7 hours. Bikat's current trek starts at Jiskun instead, 198 km from Shimla.
Cost
Bikat Adventures charges ₹16,650 + 5% GST for its 7-day Jiskun–Sangla version. Shimla transport is ₹4,000 extra.
Check access
In 2022 Kinnaur's administration banned treks linking Uttarkashi and Kinnaur after fatal accidents. We could not confirm whether it still applies. Ask your operator.
Hardest part
The 200 m snow gully below the pass, prone to falling stones, plus snow bridges and river crossings.
Altitude sickness
Tell your leader about any symptoms. A trekker fell ill in a whiteout below the pass in 2019.
Good to know
The small things
Cash, signal, water, permits and help on the way. Checked October 2026; confirm with your operator.
Bring cash
On the Dehradun route, the last ATM is in Purola, on the way to Dhaula. Thrillophilia
Starting from Shimla
Groups starting at Jiskun meet at Shimla Old Bus Stand at 6:30 a.m. Shared cabs both ways cost ₹3,500 a person. Rohru is the last dependable ATM. Trekkaro
Phone signal
Jiskun is the last place with any signal. BSNL and Vodafone work there now and then. Nothing reliable after that. Trekkaro
No electricity
The camps have no electricity. Bring a power bank. Bikat Adventures
Food and plates
Three vegetarian meals a day, with eggs on some days. Bikat gives no plates or spoons: bring your own. Bikat Adventures
Toilets
Toilets are dry pits in a toilet tent. No water inside. Bring your own toilet paper. Bikat Adventures
Nearest hospital
Rohru, about 40 km from Jiskun. Himalaya Shelter
Rescue
A sick trekker is carried down to the roadhead and driven to hospital. The trekker pays for the rescue, so take insurance. Bikat Adventures
Offloading
A mule can carry one soft bag under 12 kg for ₹2,800 for the whole trek. Treks and Trails
Papers
ID proof and a medical certificate are mandatory. Send copies first and carry the originals. Bikat Adventures
What to pack
Your checklist
Tick items as you pack. Your ticks stay saved on this device. Items with a red price can be rented.
Clothing
Shoes
Gear
Papers and money
Health
List from Treks and Trails: Rupin Pass things to carry.
Rent or buy
Where to get gear
Many operators lend tents, sleeping bags and spikes. Ask yours before you rent.
Dehradun before the drive to Dhaula
DecathlonBuy · sports and trekking gearPlot 1591, Haridwar Bypass Road · Website
Himalayan Dream TreksRent · shoes, jackets, bags, poles, torches; cheaper after 2 days10 B Mothorowala Road, Dharampur · +91 80896 93825 · Website
Solan on the road up to Shimla, for groups starting at Jiskun
DecathlonBuy · sports and trekking gear; Himachal's only DecathlonG Square Mall, Ward Number 7, Solan · Website
Shop details are from each shop's own page. Phone to confirm prices and stock.
Who runs it
Choose an operator
We found 7 operators with a Rupin Pass price in October 2026. Bikat, Trekkaro, Trekup and Himalaya Shelter now start from Shimla; Treks and Trails, Thrillophilia and BMC still list Dhaula from Dehradun. Ask about the 2022 Kinnaur trek ban before you book.
Prices are base prices from each operator's own page (October 2026); most add 5% GST. Ratings are what each operator shows, not an independent audit. Names marked † show last season's price or one seen only in a search snippet.