Kareri Lake Trek – Complete Guide

Being located towards the northern part of the country and guarded by the tallest and youngest mountain of the world, the Himalaya Himachal Pradesh is being gifted with many adventurous trekking spots. Being the home to many famous lofty peaks it serves as the ideal trekking destination for all backpackers. Some exciting treks of Himachal include Triund treks, Kasol Kheerganga trek, Hampta Pass trek, Pin Parvati Trek and Prashar Lake Trek, and many more adventurous treks. All these above-mentioned treks vary from easy to challenging in their respective difficulty level where some are easy and on the other hand some call for trekkers with high experience and huge mental and physical stamina. The level of experience of the trekkers depends entirely on which trek they pick.

Here we are going to get a complete guide on one of the most well-known and famous treks of Himachal that is Kareri Lake Trek.

About Kareri Lake

Kareri Lake is a high altitude, freshwater lake of the Dhauladhar range of Dharamshala is best known for its trekking destination in Dhauladhar with a surface elevation of 2934m. The source of the water of this lake is the snow that melts from the Dhauladhar range. As the source of the water of this lake is fresh melting snow and the lake is shallow, water transparency is very high and in most places, lake beds can be seen.

Kareri Lake Trek

Kareri Lake Trek is a high-altitude lake trek that starts from the Base Camp of Snow Monk Camp in Salli valley near Dharamshala.

It is one of the most scenic alpine treks in Himachal Pradesh. It takes trekkers through the lush green forests, all along with a river flowing right next to the trail. One can witness the stunning snow-capped Dhauladhar range. The Chndrela temple up ahead offers a resting place for trekkers to have their lunch. Kareri Lake can be visited by any trekkers throughout the year but for the most delightful experience, it is recommended to visit Kareri Lake during the summer (May to July) and autumn (September to November) seasons. The lake remains frozen during the time from early December to mid-March-April. It is also counted among those few Himalayan treks which can be done during the monsoon season. The rainy season in the region begins in the mid of July and stays till the mid of September. As per the difficulty level, it is graded as easy to moderate. One needs to cover a distance of 29 kilometers from starting their day at an altitude of 11972 ft. This trek is available for every weekend and it is open even for solo travelers.

How to reach Dharamshala

By Air

The nearest airport to Dharamshala is Gaggal, which is approximately 13 km away from it. The Gaggal airport is well connected to Delhi with frequent flights.

By Train

The nearest railway station is Pathankot Cantt(Chakki), 85 kilometers away from Dharamshala and 91 km away from Mcleodganj. One can take a taxi or bus to reach Dharamshala. There is also a small station named Kangra Mandir but none of the important train halts here.

By Road

Dharamshala is easily accessible to the country capital Delhi and other parts of Northern Indian states through the network of state-operated buses as well as private tour operators. The journey is almost 500 kilometers from Delhi. One can take a Volvo bus or can hire a cab directly to Dharamshala.

Things to carry

  • Thrillophilia voucher( can present mobile voucher).
  • Valid ID proof for each member.
  • Personal toiletries and medication(if any)
  • Warm clothes like windproof jackets, full sleeve sweaters, mittens, gloves, socks, and scarf.
  • Comfortable clothes like T-shirts, yoga pants, trousers or tracks.
  • Raincoats
  • Walking sticks or trekking poles.
  • Water bottle, backpack, snacks, etc.
  • Sunscreen lotion.
  • Sunglasses
  • Binoculars.
  • Cap or hats.
  • Flashlight( with spare batteries).
  • Extra food. 
  • Personal medical kit.
  • First aid kit.