The famous Dhauladhar range of western Himalayas is home to several peaks and treks. And one such famous trek located in the Dhauladhar range of Western Himalayas is Moon Peak trek. Located in Himachal Pradesh, this range divides two districts of Chamba and Kangra (Dharamshala).
A Trek to Moon Peak
The trek starts from the famous Guna devi temple in McLeod Ganj. It is a small town located near Dharamshala. This trek takes you to Triund valley and more. Infact, once you enter this beautiful town, you will be excited to get a look of Moon Peak from here and once you reach Triund valley you will be a step closer to this peak. Triund Valley is a paradise for the tourists and offers amazing views of the Dhauladhar.
From Dharamsala to McLeod Ganj one can take shared taxis or buses for the short distance of 5.5 km which takes around 30 minutes to reach. The distance from the airport to McLeod Ganj can be covered by road in 30 minutes.
The Moon Peak trek is situated at a distance of 45 km starting from Triund top. The first two kilometres are a steep ascent but there is a gradual ascent after Galu Devi Temple. The trek may not be long but is a bit challenging owing to the presence of rocky trails.
The trek is a 5–6 day long trek. These 6 days will take you to the most beautiful sceneries of the mountains and town.
Travel Plan
Day 01- McLeodGanj-Triund
McLeod Ganj is the starting point of this trek. Travel to Triund valley starting from this point. You are most likely to reach Triund by afternoon if you start at 8:00 am in the morning. Take rest in the camp there and enjoy the beautiful sightings of Dhauladhar range. Enjoy the starry night here and start the next day early in the morning at Ilaka Got.
Day 02- Triund-Ilaka Got
Your beautiful morning starts from Triund to Laka Got. On the way, you will pass through Snowline café which is around 2 hours from Triund. Ilaqa Got is at another 1-hour distance from Snowline Café. Reach your destination and take rest. Keep the rest of the day for yourself and explore the place.
Day 03- Ilaqa Got-Lahesh Caves
The day can be started from here if the team insists. And the trekking to the moon peak also depends on the weather conditions. You reach the Lahesh Caves in around 2 hours and after resting for a while, a trek to the peak can be considered in today’s itinerary. Or Lahesh caves can also be made a base for this day and the trek to your final destination can be done the next day.
Day 04- Moon Peak
Start your day early from Lahesh caves to Moon peak. You cross the beautiful Indrahar Pass. From Indrahar Pass, the path subsides and then again after moving for a while it will start to ascend. You then reach your final destination i.e., Moon Peak. And there you are, the exalted beauty of the Moon Peak will leave you spellbound.
You would definitely want to capture those moments and keep them as a memory. Take the clicks between the beautiful mountains and explore the place. After staying there for some time, start back from Moon Peak from the other side downwards to your base at Lahesh caves. stay overnight at your camp and make some unforgettable memories for your lifetime.
Day 05- Ilaqa Got- McLeod Ganj
Start your day with the trek back to McLeod Ganj. You can either follow the same route back as you went through or from a different route while enroute to the large grasslands which will take you down to Bhagsu nag (a town near McLeod Ganj) and finally to McLeod Ganj.
- Trek Duration- 5 Days
- Altitude- 15,200 Ft
- Difficulty- Moderate to Difficult
- Distance- 45 Kms
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Best time to Visit
- The best time to plan a visit to Moon Peak Trek in Dhauladhar range of Himalayas is from May to June and September to November.
- The temperature in Summers: 20°C to 25 °C Day and falls to 5°C to 7 °C at night
- The temperature in Winters: 10°C to 15 °C Day and nearly 0 to -7 °C at night
- The trek to the peak goes over soft in early summer and rocky in monsoons.
- Well, this trek has many reasons why one should go on this trek. Take time out from your busy schedule and plan a visit to this beautiful mountain Moon Peak.