Kareri lake trek is a glacial, shallow fresh water lake amidst the beautiful Dhauladhar range situated at an altitude of 10,500 feet. For people who want to experience high altitude in a span of 3 days and 2 nights, this is the trek for them. Graded as a moderate levelled trek, this trek hikes through alpine forests of Fir and Oaks. Rhododenrdron (also known as Burans) flowers are also spotted well on this trek. We camp next to the lake and sleep under billions of stars.
NEW DELHI
3 Hours Before Flight Time
Reach Dharamshala by 8am and have breakfast. Meet team Wanderers by 10am in Dharamshala and we drive towards Kareri village. We cover this drive of 27kms in about an hour and 30mins. We reach the Kareri village and get into our homestay.
After getting into our stay we have lunch and head out for a stroll in the evening. Views of Indrahar pass and Mun peak could be available on a clear day. If possible we do a short trek to Harnala – a beautiful spot. This is a 2kms trek and we take a call on the basis of time in hand and weather conditions.
We return and have some tea and snacks followed by dinner. While having snacks we have a briefing that covers the route, do’s and don’ts for the next few days. After which we spend some time listening to music and can enjoy over a bonfire. Call if off for the night and assemble next morning.
After a good and a healthy breakfast, we start for the trek. We carry our packed lunch for the day. We start the trek over a straight route followed by a steep ascend right next to the flowing Nyung river. This river is the source of drinking water for us all throughout the trek. We cross this river over a metal bridge and continue our trek. We trek through forests of sliver Oakwood, pine, Fir and Rhododendrons. If we’re lucky we can spot the Cobra lily (a plant in the shape of a lilly with dark colours) today on a few patches. Many waterfalls can be spotted on either side that are an affect of the monsoons/ melting glaciers.
Kareri lake is a beautiful trek with wonderful views around. This location is still not commercialized which means only a handful of people are seen on this trek. Trekking 20mins towards the right of the lake is a beautiful patch of land termed as – Gajj. We can explore the area later in the evening. There is a small Shiva temple close to the lake which can also be done the same evening or next early morning before heading back down to the Kareri village.
Kareri lake is also a base camp for other treks to Baleni pass and Minkiani pass. Temperatures her in the night go down till -5 degrees in the winters freezing the lake. Other seasons 5 to 10 degrees in the nights is the normal range.
We can start our day early visiting the Shiva temple and return for breakfast at our campsite. Post breakfast we wind up our tents and trek back down to Kareri village and have lunch. Post lunch we have a closing ceremony and drive you back to Dharamshala, until next time.
