This guide is about the Rupin Pass Trek — dates, price, day-by-day itinerary and booking are on the trek page.
Quick answer: The Rupin Pass trek costs ₹15,750 + 5% GST, which is ₹16,537.50 per person for 7 days from Jiskun to Sangla. The shared cab Shimla–Jiskun and Sangla–Shimla is ₹3,500 per person for both ways, paid to the driver, so the trek and cab come to ₹20,037.50. Offloading is an optional ₹3,800 + GST.
This breakdown is for trekkers budgeting a 2027 Rupin Pass crossing with Trekkaro: what the fee pays for, what you pay on top, what you must bring yourself, and how the money works if your dates change. Our 2027 batches start on 8 May.
What will you pay for Rupin Pass, item by item?
| Item | Amount per person | Paid to | Needed? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trek fee, Jiskun to Sangla | ₹15,750 + 5% GST = ₹16,537.50 | Trekkaro, when you book | Yes |
| Shared cab Shimla–Jiskun and Sangla–Shimla | ₹3,500 for both ways | The driver | Optional; we can arrange it |
| Backpack offloading (max 9 kg) | ₹3,800 + GST = ₹3,990 for the trek | Trekkaro | Optional |
| Single tent occupancy | ₹2,000 per tent for the trek | Trekkaro | Optional |
| Microspikes and gaiters | Free, no deposit and no charge | – | Provided |
With the cab, the trek costs ₹20,037.50; with offloading as well, ₹24,027.50. Those totals stop at Shimla. Your travel to Shimla and back, and the costs listed further down, are on top.
The trek page shows EMI from ₹810 a month, if you would rather spread the fee.
What does the ₹15,750 fee cover?
- Two nights in homestays, at Jiskun (Day 1) and Jakha (Day 2), in triple or quad sharing rooms.
- Four nights in 3-person tents, from Saruwas Thatch (Day 3) to Ronti Gad (Day 6). Men and women stay in separate tents, and sleeping bags are rated to −20°C.
- Vegetarian meals from Day 1 dinner to Day 6 dinner, with tea, coffee, soups and snacks, and packed lunches on the trail.
- Trekking permits and forest camping fees.
- Mess tents with tables, a first-aid kit and medical support on the trail.
- Free microspikes and gaiters for the snowfields, plus the ice axes and ropes the team uses on snow; ropes are fixed where the slope needs them.
- A Trekkaro trek leader and local guides, with one leader or guide for each 8 trekkers and a maximum of 20 trekkers in a batch.
Is transport from Shimla included?
No. Transport is not included in the trek fee. We can arrange shared cabs from Shimla to Jiskun on Day 1 and from Sangla back to Shimla on Day 7 at ₹3,500 per person for both ways, paid directly to the driver.
The two drives are long, and they shape your budget. The cab leaves Shimla Old Bus Stand at 6:30 AM on Day 1 for Jiskun, about 198 km and 10 hours away. On Day 7, after 12 km of walking down to Sangla, the cab leaves Sangla at about 3:00 PM and reaches Shimla at about 2:00 AM, after roughly 215 km. Rupin is a crossing, not a loop, so you go in by one road and come out by another.
Which costs are not in any Trekkaro price?
- Getting to Shimla and home again. The trek page lists Chandigarh Airport, Kalka railway station, and buses from Delhi (ISBT Kashmere Gate) and Chandigarh. Fares change by date and class, so we do not quote them.
- A night in Shimla before Day 1. The cab leaves at 6:30 AM, so unless you can reach the Old Bus Stand by then, you need a night in Shimla first. It is not included.
- The night you get back. Day 7 dinner and stay are not included, and the cab reaches Shimla at about 2:00 AM, so plan where you will sleep or book onward travel for the next day.
- Meals during the drives on Day 1 and Day 7.
- Travel insurance, which is mandatory and must cover high-altitude trekking and emergency evacuation.
- A medical certificate signed by a registered doctor, plus an original government photo ID and a photocopy.
- Your own trekking gear: trekking shoes, a warm padded or down jacket and trekking poles, plus thermals, fleece layers and a rain layer.
- Cash for the trail. Rohru, on the drive in, is the last dependable ATM, and cards are not accepted on the trail.
Why does Rupin cost more than our shorter treks?
Here is Rupin next to two of our other treks, using each trek page's current figures. The difference is days, distance, height and how much gear is lent.
| Rupin Pass | Khaliya Top | Kareri Lake | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Days | 7 | 5 | 3 |
| Distance on foot | 40.5 km | 14 km | 26 km |
| Highest point | 4,679 m (Rupin Pass) | 3,500 m | 2,930 m |
| Grade | Moderate–Difficult | Easy | Easy–Moderate |
| Trek fee | ₹15,750 + GST | ₹9,450 + GST | ₹5,300 + GST |
| Gear lent | Microspikes and gaiters only | Full Free Trekking Gear kit | Full Free Trekking Gear kit |
| Backpack offloading | ₹3,800 + GST | ₹1,400 + GST | ₹1,000 + GST |
The honest trade-off: Rupin is one of six treks where we lend only microspikes and gaiters, not the full kit of Decathlon trekking shoes, −10°C jacket and poles. If you don't own those, buying or renting them adds to your budget. We don't quote rental prices; our rent-or-buy guide below sets out what to check.
How much does each day on the trail ask of you?
The price buys a route that climbs from homestays to tents and then over a high pass, so it helps to know what each day holds before you pay.
- Day 1: drive Shimla to Jiskun (2,099 m), about 198 km and 10 hours. Homestay.
- Day 2: Jiskun to Jakha (2,650 m), 4 km, about 4 hours. Jakha is the last chance to buy basic supplies. Homestay.
- Day 3: Jakha to Saruwas Thatch (3,450 m), 7 km, 5–6 hours, about 800 m up. Refill bottles at the streams on the way.
- Day 4: Saruwas Thatch to Dhanderas Thatch (3,550 m), 4 km, 2–3 hours, with stream crossings on wooden bridges and the first close view of the Rupin waterfall.
- Day 5: to Upper Waterfall Camp (4,100 m), 3.5 km, 3–4 hours, a steep climb beside the waterfall over glacial streams, boulders and, depending on the season, snow bridges. On snow bridges, follow the guide's instructions, cross one at a time and do not stop in the middle.
- Day 6: over Rupin Pass (4,679 m) to Ronti Gad (4,000 m), 10 km and 9–10 hours. The day starts before sunrise and climbs the steep Rupin Gully. There is no water source after Upper Waterfall Camp, so carry all your water and snacks for the day. The descent to Ronti Gad is just as demanding, over snow slopes, scree and rocky patches.
- Day 7: Ronti Gad down to Sangla (2,680 m), 12 km, 6–7 hours, about 1,320 m of steep descent, hard on the knees, so bring trekking poles (they are not lent on Rupin), then the cab to Shimla.
Mobile signal is weak at Jiskun (BSNL and Vodafone, on and off), and there is no network beyond it.
Who should not book Rupin Pass yet?
The fee is a bigger commitment than our easy treks, so check the requirements first. The minimum age is 14, and trekkers under 18 come with a parent or guardian. We recommend at least one earlier high-altitude trek above 10,000 ft; a beginner with excellent fitness may attempt it. As a fitness test, you should be able to jog 5 km in 30–35 minutes. There is no upper age limit, but trekkers over 60 should be fit, and an ECG or TMT report is recommended.
If you have never slept above 3,000 m, read an official altitude advisory before you book. Ladakh Tourism's advisory for high-altitude travellers lists the early signs of altitude sickness, such as a persistent headache, mild nausea and difficulty sleeping, and says to stop ascending immediately if symptoms appear. Tell your trek leader at once if you feel any of them on the trail.
What happens to your money if your dates change?
Booking closes at 5 PM (India time) the day before the batch starts. If you cancel 30 or more days before departure, you get a 70% refund; at 15–29 days, 50%; at 8–14 days, no cash refund. At any point up to 8 days before departure you can take a 100% TrekCash voucher (valid one year), one free reschedule or a transfer to another trekker instead of the cash refund. At 7 days or less, or a no-show, there is no refund, voucher, reschedule or transfer. Refunds are processed within 10 working days of approval, and the bank may take another 3–5 business days to credit it.
Batches listed on the trek page for 2027 start on 8, 15, 22 and 29 May, 5, 12, 19 and 26 June, and 18 and 25 September.
See Rupin Pass dates and book | Rent or buy trekking gear? | Kareri Lake trek distance | Preparing for your first Himalayan trek
Frequently asked questions
When can I do the Rupin Pass trek in 2027?
Batches run in May, June and September 2027, from 8 May to a last start on 25 September. Booking closes at 5 PM India time the day before each batch starts.
How many days of leave do I need for the Rupin Pass trek?
The trek itself takes 7 days, Shimla to Shimla. Add a night in Shimla before the 6:30 AM pickup if you cannot arrive that morning, the 2:00 AM return on Day 7, and your own travel days to and from Shimla.
Does the Rupin Pass trek price include GST?
No. Trekkaro prices are shown before 5% GST, so the ₹15,750 fee is billed as ₹16,537.50 and ₹3,800 offloading as ₹3,990. The ₹3,500 cab fare is paid to the driver and does not go through Trekkaro.
Is travel insurance compulsory for the Rupin Pass trek?
Yes. Trekkaro does not include it, so buy a policy that names high-altitude trekking up to 4,679 m and emergency evacuation before you pay for the trek. Carry a copy on the trail with your original photo ID, its photocopy and the doctor-signed medical certificate.
How much does a Rupin Pass trek cost from Delhi in total?
From Delhi, HRTC and Volvo buses run from ISBT Kashmere Gate to Shimla; Chandigarh Airport is about 115–120 km (4–5 hours) from Shimla, and Kalka railway station about 90 km. On top of those fares, the trek, GST and shared cab come to ₹20,037.50 from Shimla and back, plus a Shimla night before Day 1.
