Himachal’s Pin Valley National Park will cast a spell the moment you see it

The Trans-Himalayan region, which includes Karakoram, Zanskar, Ladakh, and Kailash mountain ranges, is bestowed with rough and rugged terrain. But this has not stopped people to explore the region or test their limit to go after the unknown. And the result of their thrilling yet risky expeditions created avenues and thirst in others to step into the alluring vistas of the great Himalayas.
Such is the beauty of this region that even the unforgiving terrain could not stop us. Just a casual conversation about the beauty of Himalayas, and you are already packing your backpack in your head. This is called the Himalayan affect, which is contagious and unless you soak your eyes with the beauty of those vistas, your adventurous spirit is not going to stop kicking you. If you are in for a lifetime’s adventure, Pin Valley National Park is the place to be.

Pin Valley is the only cold desert national park in Himachal Pradesh, and it derives its name from the Pin River that flows through the valley. Nestled in the unforgivable and vast terrains of north-eastern Himalayas, this valley certainly has all the components to satiate your wanderlust dreams.
To know about Pin Valley a little more, this article has all the details to help create an itinerary for a trip here. Read on!

More about Pin Valley National Park

This protected national park boasts of a location that is set amid the breathtaking and picturesque region of Lahaul and Spiti in Himachal Pradesh. It is home to more than 20 varied species of animals; you can also get a glimpse of some rare species of flora. Not just this, Pin Valley is also home to the ‘grey ghost of Himalayas’, the snow leopard.

This will present you with a virtual picture of the valley―while the wildly furious and vast Pin River flows through it; mighty snow-clad mountains are perched on the background, and the entire valley is carpeted with lush greenery.

There are around 17 villages in Pin Valley, which houses around 1500 - 1600 people. And the only reason that it has been able to retain its beauty till date is because the valley dodged the onslaughts of time.

It was in 1987 that Pin Valley National Park was established, thus, forming a part of the Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area.

Best time to visit Pin Valley National Park

The severe cold weather and snowfall might block or stop you during winter to reach the valley, but that should not stop you from venturing the rough terrain. After all, most adventure seekers plan a winter trek to Spiti, which is actually doable. During winters, the route from Tapri to Kaza, however, remains open and the distance between Kaza and park area is 32 km, along with 10 km on foot. Peak winters are risky, but if you plan a trip during the months of November and early December, you have pretty good chances to spot some rare animals. And if you are lucky, you might even get the opportunity to lay eyes on snow leopards.

However, if you want to avoid the risk factor, summer dates are the best time to hit the roads. In fact, the time and weather between July and October will not create much of a problem for the travellers.

How to reach Pin Valley National Park?

By air ― If you are opting for flight travel, the nearest airport to Spiti is Bhuntar at 245 km distance. Situated at a distance of 522 km, Chandigarh Airport is the nearest international airport. Both airports are well-connected to Spiti by roads. From there, you can hire cabs to reach Spiti.

By road ― Almost on a daily basis, you will find buses plying on the Manali-Spiti route. Direct buses are also available from Delhi to Manali. Once you reach Manali, you can either hire a cab or opt for a bus ride
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There are, in fact, two approachable routes to the valley. The first route is the Manali—Rohtang Pass—Kunzum La route, which remains open from the month of July to October. The second one is Shimla—Tapri—Kaza route that remains open from March to December. You can reach the park only on foot, and the nearest road terminus is at Mikkim.

Other important information

No foreign tourist is allowed inside the park, and Indian tourists also need to get permits to enter the park. You can get these either at Kaza tourist office; get in touch with your tour guide, hotel/homestay manager to arrange these for you for a more hassle free experience.