Plan The Unplanned presents to you a one of a kind Himachal Backpacking Trip to Mcleodganj, Bir and Barot filled with loads of adventure and scenic beauty. Bestowed upon with a splendid ambiance of the lofty snow-clad mountains, deep gorges, thickly forested valleys, large pristine lakes, cascading streams, and falls along with a lot of orchards, Himachal Pradesh is undoubtedly a gateway to heaven. It also boasts a myriad of religious places, shimmering lakes, ancient monasteries, and historical heritage sites. Himachal Pradesh is a flocking destination for many adventure sports and mountain biking for riders as the mountain roads are a joy to ride on. Himachal Pradesh has a strong Tibetan culture deeply rooted as it provided refugee to the Tibetan refugees.
It would take more than a month to thoroughly backpack through Himachal, but we bring you a backpacking trip to experience and live Himachal for 7 days. The Mcleodganj, Bir, Barot Valley backpacking will take you through curvy roads and vibrant sceneries.
Mcleodganj is a suburb of Dharamshala and is known for the world-famous Dalai Lama Temple. It has a large population of Tibetans which has a great influence on the culture of this place. Famous for its lakes, waterfalls, museums, and waterfalls along with some good treks like Triund, Mcleodganj is a perfect place to start the backpacking. Paragliding in Bir is one of the most famous adventure sports in the world, with the view of the snow-capped mountains and the lush greenery of the thick forests, it’s a birds-eye view of the world below. Let’s finally head over to a place that is less explored and exploited by the tourists and trek through the beautiful Barot Valley.
Day 1: Overnight Travel from Delhi to Mcleodganj
Day 2: Reach Mcleodganj. Sightseeing and Night Stay
Day 3: Day Hike to Triund. Night stay in Mcleodganj
Day 4: Mcleodganj to Bir. Night stay in Bir
Day 5: Bir to Barot. Night stay in Barot Valley
Day 6: Barot to Mcleodganj. Drop at Mcleodganj. Overnight journey to Delhi
Day 7: Reach Delhi early in the morning
Majnu Ka Tila/RK Ashram Metro Station by 6 PM, Delhi
To and fro Transport in a Tempo Traveller(AC – Pushback)/Volvo Bus(AC – Semi Sleeper) from Delhi
Gather around at the specified pickup points to start the backpacking journey. We will be traveling overnight on a bus from Delhi to Mcleodganj.
Wake up to the beautiful roads and the gorgeous sight of the mountains in the small town of Mcleodganj. You will arrive at around 10 AM.
Check-in to the hotel and enjoy your morning tea and breakfast with a view. Laze around for a while and post-lunch put on your shoes to explore Mcleodganj. We will visit the Namgyal Monastery, The Dalai Lama Temple, and the Bhagsu Waterfall
Namgyal Monastery which is in Dharamshala was founded by the second Dalai Lama Gendun Gyatso and is a personal monastery of the 14th Dalai Lama. This beautiful monastery will enrapture you even though you are not familiar with the religion. There is a special aura that can be felt in the serene ambiance and the figures of Buddha.
The majestic and cascading Bhagsu Waterfalls is situated near the Bhagsu village at a height of 7000ft above sea level. The prime importance of this place is due to the Bhagsu Nag temple which is devoted to Lord Shiva. A 1km walk away from the temple into the lush green, the falls present itself in extreme grandeur.
Have dinner and get some sleep to start the trek the next day.
Wake up, have breakfast and put on your trekking boots as we will be trekking to Triund peak today. We will start the trek from the Mcleodganj main chowk. The trek is a simple trek with a few tricky stretches, but hey! We are there to pull you up through those. The total trek distance is 9kms and you will be trekking through a trail between dense forests of pine and stunning views of the Valley. In about 5-6 hours you will reach the top where you can set up a camp and enjoy the beauty of the Kangra Valley.
We will start trekking down after lunch and make it back to Mcleodganj by evening. Spend the rest of the evening street shopping. There are many small street vendors as well as shops where you can buy Tibetan jewelry, clothes, Himachali sweaters, and many more artifacts.
Enjoy your dinner and sleep off the tiredness if any!
Post breakfast we will be doing a road trip from Mcleodganj to Bir which would be 80 km stupa. Billing which is further located 18 km upwards from Bir is the takeoff site for the paragliders while Bir is the landing site. Spend the day exploring the monasteries like Sherabling, Chokling, Nyingyang, and Tsering. Experience the zen vibes of the monasteries and the cafes. Watch the gliders glide down and relax for the day.
Have a light breakfast as you will be paragliding from Billing to Bir. Let the adrenaline flow through as you start to Billing in a jeep and take the plunge from atop a mountain with a pilot behind you. The view of the thick forests, the monasteries, and the small villages combined with the crisp cold air on your face is something off a bucket list. You will be in the air for around 15-20 mins and will land in Bir. Carry the adrenaline rush and the excitement ahead as we will be road-tripping to Barot next!
Barot is a small village in the Mandi district. With dense cedar forests and terraced fields, it is a mesmerizing place located on the banks of the river Uhl. It is famous for its trout fish farm, treks, and the home for many animals like the Monal, Wildcat, monkeys, and the black bear. After 3 hours and 80kms, we reach Barot Valley.
Spend the remaining of the day by the riverside doing anything you’d love to. You will be served dinner at the homestay you are staying at in Barot.
Show more enthusiasm as it’s the last day in the Himachal! We will take to explore the Barot Valley. We start with the Barot temple and then the Nargu Wildlife Sanctuary. We will be leaving for Mcleodganj post-lunch.
We will reach Mcleodganj by evening and take an overnight Volvo back to Delhi.
Reach Delhi early in the morning. Carry back the smiles, memories, and new friends as you head back home.
Sounds like an exciting itinerary right? Well, what more are you looking for, join Plan the Unplanned on this amazing backpacking journey to create memories you will cherish forever.
