Ski Level
Freeride Level
Touring Level
Physical Effort
Accommodation
A wild Indian mountain touring adventure
Season runs from 15.01 to 30.03
In Himachal Pradesh
for 10 or 13 days
2 guides – Max. 6 persons per group
Max alti: 4500m/ base hut 3500m
from 3 800 chf p/p
Manikaran
hotel Manikaran
climbing above Manikaran
can see the moutains
cricket at 2000m
nice view
rest on the way up
village life
women on the rock
village view
village view 2
village main street
reached the snow
made it to Grotta
well earned rest and fire
early bird
breakfast
baking bread
getting some wood ready
lets hike
getting higher
feel small
along the ridge
a few more steps
made it
where to drop in
todays spot
views from the top
the summit of the day
there is Grotta
skiing the himalayas
protective rock
peak at the play ground
skiing in paradise
nice sunset on the mountains
no peaks without valleys
ready to drop in
On top of the world
outside under the stars
new snow
leaving the tree line
Grotta terrain
Grotta palace
hike with a view
Himalayan magic
Grotta in the trees
Grotta 3500
fire time
down in the valley
enjoying the afternoon sun
contrast
fresh snow
goodnight dream
Grotta under the rock
like the view
Main bowl
main ridge
making the track
morning delight
new day
moon hike
Deep Pow
Deep Pow
yes at the top
meal preparation
Click on picture to navigate the gallery
This is a ski touring/ splitboarding package, a wild travel adventure in the Himalayas.
The Himalayas is known for its himalayan salt…..but we are a lot more interested by its curry powder snow, which it gets in abundance, with plenty of bluebird days too.
Your adventure really starts with us in Manikaran in the Kullu district, a small mountain village with the Manikaran hot water spring baths, it’s temples
and it’s unique Himachali culture.
You are in the indian valley of Parvati, Parvati is a deity and wife of Shiva the lord of creation.
You will hike up part of this valley to the base hut, with the help from our porters.
Residing at our base hut at 3500m, rising above are the Manikaran towers culminating at 5400m.
Here there are no lifts, there are no resorts, there are no roads, no electricity, no signal.
A wild mountainous area that you can connect to, where nature is powerful and beautiful with bears, monkeys, snow leopards
and huge vultures soaring in the sky.
You will be residing a basic comfort mountain hut, from where you can reach endless freeride lines with a wide variety of terrain.
As it is situated just under the top of the tree line so on sunny days you can easily access open terrain, to a max of 1000 positive meters and
on snowy overcast days you can ride the spacious forest under Grotta, with around 500 negative meters, hike back up and do it again but different.
One of the amazing features of your stay here is that at night, you can enjoy a view on the stars from 3500m with absolutely no light pollution.
Please here are some guidelines to take into account for this package:
This is India, anything can happen.
Please be patient and understanding, have strong resources within you to adapt to any situation that might arise and that is different from your original plan.
You will be evolving in untamed nature you need to respect the weather, the wildlife, the snow conditions, the guides…..
and yourselves by adapting your riding and attitude to an area that is wild and situated at high altitude.
Prior to our meeting
Arrival in New Delhi – Flights from Europe usually arrive around 1am.
Departure from Delhi airport at 7.10am/8.30am
1h20 flight with Air India.
Day 1 Arrival day
We will meet you at your exit of Kullu airport.
Transfer you from the airport to your hotel in Manikaran by private taxi, 1h30/2h drive.
You arrive in Manikaran early afternoon, check in at your hotel.
Here we will take some time together to do a gear check with you, before you can go and stroll around Manikaran
to immerse yourself in the Himachali culture. The Shiv Mandir manikaran temple is a must, it’s the place to enjoy
the best hot water pools from the Manikaran hot water spring.
Evening meal and a short briefing.
Night at the hotel.
Day 2
We meet outside the hotel at 6am, with a Tchai.
6.30am, we start hiking (a headlight is needed for the beginning of the walk)
Walking from Manikaran at 1760m to the base hut at 3500m +1740m, with a distance of 7 kms.
This will take us about 8 hours, part of the walk is on the famous Chalal Trek Trail a renowned route in the himalaya trekking world.
Porters will carry all the food needed for your stay and all your gear to the Grotta base.
You will be walking with strict minimum weight, a light bag with some water.
This is a whole day hike, arrival around 4pm.
Settle in the hut, bathe, eat and rest.
Dream about the days to come.
Day 3
Breakfast: 8 am
Meet outside Grotta at 10am. This being the first day, WSA will conduct a mountain awareness lesson and some avalanche rescue training.
You then have the possibility to hike, positive meters will depend on group wishes.
Days 4,5.6,7,8 for 10 days tour /+ 9,10,11 for 13 days tour
Breakfast: usually around 7am and start 8.30am, as snow conditions are best in the morning.
Touring from the base hut.
These can be between +1000m/-500meters with a max altitude of 4500m.
This will depend daily on the group’s wishes. Different lines are possible everyday.
Day 9/12
Breakfast: 6.30am
Meet outside the hut at 7.30am
Start descent from to Manikaran, with the help of our porters.
Arrive in Manikaran around 4pm .Check in at hotel.
Enjoy hot springs.
Evening meal. Good bye drink and rest.
Day 10/13 – Departure day
Breakfast.Check out hotel. Transfer to Kullu airport by private taxi.
Includes
- 2 Swiss Pro ski/snowboard, freeride and mountain touring guides with avalanche safety training and mountain first aid
- Max 6 pers in the group with 2 guides ( only one group at a time possible for this package )
- Transfers from Kullu airport to the hotel in Manikaran and back, by private taxi
- 2 nights in 2/3 star Hotel at Manikaran
- All nights at the base hut
- One cook
- Porters from Manikaran to Grotta and return to carry all the food required for your stay and all of your equipment
- All food and beverages
- Snow shoes for the hike to base hut
- Rescue call in case of an emergency, via satelitte phone with GPS location
Does not include
- Visas
- International flights to India and domestic flight from Delhi to Kullu
- Ski/snowboard, touring gear
- Safety gear
- Sleeping bag
- Insurances
- Anything that is not in the includes section.
Package options
- Communications (extra cost)
as there is no signal for phones at Grotta, we have a satellite phone, mainly for emergency reasons to call heli rescue
but you can make use of the connection for the following fees.
- Internet: 1,50chf/min
- Pack of 20 SMS: 20chf (max. 160 characters/message)
- One day at Kheer Ganga hot spring pools (extra cost/extra day)
Here there is a hot water spring with open air pools at 3 500 meters.
A magical place on earth with some impressive summits around and awesome views.
- WSA can help you plan to include these options into your trip, just let us know when you book.
Accommodation at The Grotta – Roots style
- Stone and wood building sheltered by a big rock
- Dormitory sleeping style, mattresses provided, sleeping bag not included and required up to -10c
- Sleeping area for guests is upstairs
- Rustic toilet and shower area with rationed hot water
- Wood fire heating
- Solar panel to charge electronic devices
- Spring water
After every day shredding, you return to the comfort and warmth of Grotta, a heaven in the wilderness of high himalayan mountains.
Bathe, rest, eat amazing meals prepared daily by our cook, chat, sit by the fire, play board games and sleep in a peaceful quiet cocoon in the middle of wild high altitude mountains.
Accomodation in Hotel at Manikaran – Standard/comfort
Access
The nearest international airport is Delhi airport.
From there you have a domestic flight to Kullu Manali (Bhuntar) airport which lasts around 1h30.
We will meet you on your arrival at Kullu airport.
We will transfer you to your hotel in Manikaran by private taxi.
From Manikaran, you have a day hike to reach the Grotta Hut. This is the difficult part.
Visas
Most countries need a visa to enter India.
India has simplified there visa applications with on line procedures.
Insurances
- leisure and sports activities
- worldwide repatriation with no geographical limits
- mountain rescue by helicopter with no altitude limits
- accidents / illness
- cancellations
- and whatever you feel necessary
Guides
You will be evolving in the mountains with two ski/snowboard guides. Nicolas and Bruce.
Both are professional and fully certified Swiss ski/snowboard guides, freeride and mountain touring guides with avalanche safety training and mountain first aid.
Nicolas also has extensive knowledge of this terrain, as he has been riding these slopes for over 20 years.
Safety tips/health
This is a mountain Touring package
You need to be able to ski/snowboard powder and unprepared snow comfortably.
A good physical health is needed as you will be active at high altitudes,
Grotta is at 3500m and you may be hiking up to altitudes as high as 4500 meters.
No need to worry about Altitude sickness, you have plenty of time to adapt
with your first day/night at Manikaran and as you are moving only by foot,
the body can adapt easily to the slow variations of altitude.
Please mention any health conditions, any allergies or serious medication you may be taking when you book with us.
Avalanche Risks and safety
Avalanche danger in mountains is always present.
WSA has years of experience at recognizing areas and snow conditions that are a high avalanche hazard to avoid them.
We will make sure that everyone has the adequate gear in Manikaran and on the first day at Grotta WSA will check that everyone knows how to use it.
We will provide you with a tutorial on this topic.
Thought you must accept all the risks that come with skiing remote and uncontrolled areas. The correct mountain attitude is of essence.
Rescue Evacuation Procedure
We do our very best to not encounter such a situation.
Mainly by having very small groups for this package, a ratio of max.6 pers. to 2 guides, allowing our guest to ski safely in there comfort zone.
In the event of an accident, we will contact mountain rescue to evacuate the victim by helicopter to the local hospital in Manali,
60 mins maximum from any of our position. (This is weather dependent)
We have GPS positioning with us at all times.
There are two hospitals in Manali, a Mission hospital and a government one. The Mission hospital is run by a very efficient staff. If further medical assistance is needed, we will contact the East West Medical Centre in New Delhi, who operate medically assisted evacuations
and would transfer you to the Apollo Hospital in Delhi or to the airport for medical repatriation to your country of origin.
Manali-Delhi by helicopter is a 3 hour flight.
Manikaran links for pictures
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manikaran
https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=manikaran&qpvt=manikaran&FORM=IGRE https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parvati_Valley
Kheer Ganga link for pictures
https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=kheer+ganga&qpvt=kheer+ganga&FORM=IGRE
Mountain touring bag 40lts
First aid box (with: Compeed plasters for rubbing, sports tape etc) safety blanket
Thin gloves and thicker ones
Two hats (one thin and thick one)
Thermo underwear and socks
Helmet and goggles
Sunglasses and high factor sunscreen
Thin fleece jacket
Thin down jacket for cold days and rest breaks on the summits
Shell pants and jacket (wind and waterproof)
Small thermos, a water bottle
Avalanche safety gear
- The compulsory trio : shovel, probe and transceiver
- ABS bag, not compulsory but advised
- Extra batteries for your tranceiver
Ski/Snowboard touring gear
We advise you to use suitable gear :
- Skis : wide powder skis minimum 100mm width, mounted with touring bindings, adjustable poles, skins and snow knives.
- Snowboard : split board with compatible bindings, telescopic poles, skins and snow knivesor a normal board with snow shoes.
Pack your ski/snow gear in a large ski bag where you also have room for boots, helmets, skis, etc…..
We can help you prepare your complete gear list, just contact WSA.
Mountain and travel gear
What to pack for the tour
Pack in a large waterproof bag (140lts) to keep your clothes and equipment dry for the hike.
Some casual clothes for dinner and travel.
Thick down jacket for cold mornings and evenings while you gaze at the stars
Thick winter boots.
Trainers or low Gore-Tex shoes that you wear in Grotta.
Sleeping bag at least -10c
