Himachal Pradesh is the hub of adventure activities as its pleasant and clear weather, snow-clad mountains, and lush greenery give ample opportunities to indulge in such fun and frolic. Be it Shimla – the capital of Himachal Pradesh or the hill station Manali or the Kullu Valley, each and every region of this state has an abundance of adventure activities. In fact, travellers who seek adventure love to visit Himachal Pradesh throughout the year to explore their fun side.
Himachal Pradesh also offers adventure activities that are particular to the seasons. For example, in winter, you can do snowmobiling as there is snow all around, while in the summer, you can indulge in water rafting as the streams and water bodies will be overflowing with water. But these sports are now available most seasons to meet the tourists’ demands. So, what are the adventure activities you can do in Himachal Pradesh?
River rafting
River rafting will give you the thrills and adventure that will make you keep asking for more. Hence, it should be part of your Himachal Pradesh tour packages. There are some places in Himachal Pradesh where river rafting is more famous thanks to the water current, location, and the scenic view. In Shimla, river rafting in River Sutlej is the most challenging, and requires previous experience of the sport before you can hop on to the boat. Here, the rafting can stretch up to 20 km and hence, you must have the required fitness to row the whole distance.
River rafting in Kullu and Manali is also a much-loved sport here as these are popular tourist spots. River rafting across the Beas River in Kullu provides a great sense of thrill among adventure-seekers as the sharp water current will challenge even the most experienced rafters. River rafting in Auli across the Alaknanda river and in McLeod Ganj across the Chambal River are two other popular river rafting destinations. October to May is the best time to do river rafting in Himachal Pradesh.
Camping
Camping in Himachal Pradesh will help you get away from the hustle and bustle of city life, and enjoy nature at its best. With snow-covered mountains as the backdrop, pleasant weather, and rich flora and fauna, Himachal Pradesh is a great destination for camping. You can camp anywhere you please, but there are few places in Himachal Pradesh that give you an unforgettable camping experience.
You can camp at Beas Kund in Manali and soak in the beautiful scenery and breathe the fresh air, while sight-seeing some of the highest peaks around. Few other important camping sites in Himachal Pradesh include the hill station Triund at the foothills of Dhauladhar ranges; Tosh near Kasol; Raison, Solang Nullah and Shoja in Kullu; and Kheerganga. You can also engage in adventurous activities such as trekking, skiing, and paragliding in these camping sites. It can cost you anywhere between Rs 500 to Rs 6000 depending on the camp sites. You must include camping in yourHimachal Pradesh tour packages.
Trekking
Himachal Pradesh will spoil you for trekking spots. In fact, it is difficult to choose among the various trekking spots available in this north Indian state. Trekking in Himachal is one of the most-loved adventure activities here as people of all age groups can participate as there are trekking spots from easy to moderate to difficult to suit everyone’s needs.
Among the easy ones include the Triund trek – a total trail distance of 9 kms – which gives you a mesmerising view of Dhauladhar range and Kangra Valley. Kheerganga trek is another popular easy to moderate trek whose trail gives you a view of a serpent-shaped waterfall, snow-clad mountains, and an ancient temple dedicated to Lord Shiva at the top. But if you wish to challenge yourself for a difficult trek, you can try Pin Parvati trek, which covers a distance of 110 kms and connects Spiti Valley with Kullu Valley, and is covered with snow all the year round.
Mountaineering
Mountaineering in Himachal Pradesh is for serious adventure seekers as you need to be at your best fitness, and cope with the challenges of scaling mountains. However, there are few easy mountaineering spots that beginners could also give a shot. Rangrik Rang, located south of Kinnaur, is one of the popular mountaineering spots.
The climb of 6553-metre tall Rangrik Rang could give you unforgettable memories to last a lifetime. Shilla (6132 metre) in Spiti Valley is a tough climb and is called the ‘range of peak death’ and hence, travel groups prefer experienced climbers. Manimahesh Kailash (5653 metre) is low altitude but the terrain is challenging, and hence, it would need you to be at your best fitness level. The best time for mountaineering is the summer months from March to September. You must add mountaineering in your Himachal Pradesh tour packages.
Also Read: Difference between a tourist and a traveler
Rock climbing
Rock climbing in Himachal Pradesh is another adventure activity that travellers love to indulge at. However, this activity would require you to be at your top fitness, both physically and mentally, and have a good stamina to push your weight up the mountain.
You can even avail a short-term course to learn rock climbing. Some of the popular rock-climbing spots include Friendship Peak in the Pir Panjal (5289 m), Seven Sisters in Manali (4500 m), Mount Ladakhi in Manali (5345 m), Mount Hanuman Tibba (5932 m) and Mount Deo Tibba (6001 m). Kasol, which is located along the banks of River Parvati, provides a few rock-climbing spots as well. The best time to visit Himachal Pradesh for rock climbing is the summer or autumn months from May to November. Avoid the winter months and monsoon seasons as weather could be harsh for rock climbing during these times.
