Shilt hut trek
Shilt hut trek is easy to moderate and one of the shortest trek in the GHNP that offers you a real experience of the Park’s wilderness.
On the first day of the trek you remain by the riverside upto the campsite of Rolla.
On the second day, after Rolla, you have a steep climb to the Shilt hut. During the climb you have great chances of observing the colorful Monal as you are going through dense forests, home to many bird species. You can barely see the mountains around before reaching the hut; it is only from the meadow at Shilt that you can enjoy the view of the surrounding peaks.
Though you can go to Shilt and come back in 3 days we recommend you to do it at least in 4 days so that you can reach Rakhundi top, a very scenic spot over the Tirthan valley. Moreover walking towards Rakhundi will allow you to spot local mammals like the Goral, the Himalayan Tahr, the Blue Sheep or even the Black & Brown Bears. So if you are nature enthusiast and you have enough time, keep 5 days for the trek !
Shilt hut trek features
Duration of your trek
Day-min : The minimum number of days required for the trek
Day-max : The maximum number of days you can spend on this trek. Prolonged itineraries can be discussed with our team.
Average walking time : Average walking time per day (<3 : easy, 3 to 5 : moderate, >5 : strenuous)
Altitudes of your trek
Min : Minimum altitude of your trek.
Max : Maximum altitude of your trek.
Ascent : An estimate of the total climb during your trek.
Descent : An estimate of the total descent during your trek.
Difficulty of your trek
Stamina : The physical effort involved during your trek. Rated from 0 (easiest) to 100 (most strenuous). If you have an average fitness you can consider all the treks up to 50. See here for more details
Technical : Difficulty of your trek in terms of exposure to danger and required experience.
0 to 20 : No difficulties,
20 to 40 : Walk on good mountain trails,
40 to 60 : Some walks on difficult mountain trails (steep slope, rocks, etc.),
60 to 80: You are exposed to some dangers (void, snow, falling rocks, etc.),
80 to 100 : Experience required (please inquire).
Overall : Average between Stamina and Technical rating.
Shilt hut
Duration
Altitudes
Difficulty
Rakhundi top
Duration
Altitudes
Difficulty
Shilt Hut trek and Rakhundi trek map
Trek itinerary in short
The trek starts with an easy and pleasant walk along with the Tirthan river up to Rolla. Then there is a steep but somehow short climb (3 hrs) to Shilt. From Shilt the way to Rakhundi is first easy and then very steep. Be careful in case there is still snow on the trail (early season).
Shilt Hut trek and Rakhundi Top trek elevation profile
Trek ascent and descent
The climb to Shilt is moderate (1420 m in 2 days). You need to be in good shape to reach Rakhundi since after Shilt the path goes down before climbing back up to 3600 m. Hence the total climb to reach Rakhundi is actually about 2500 m.
Shilt Hut trek and Rakhundi Top trek best time to go
Best time to trek to Shilt and Rakhundi is April, May, June, and then October and November.
You may also consider July and September. In case you go only to Shilt, March and December might also be possible.
JAN
Avoid
FEB
Avoid
MAR
You may go
APR
Good to go
MAY
Best time to go
JUN
Best time to go
JUL
You may go
AUG
Avoid
SEP
You may go
OCT
Best time to go
NOV
Best time to go
DEC
You may go
Contact us for Booking the Shilt Hut trek
Trekking in GHNP
The Great Himalayan National Park, Himachal Pradesh, offers the trekker a wide-ranging experience encompassing stunning vistas, varied terrain, and biodiversity.
Himalayan Ecotourism hosts multiple treks in GHNP. Our treks in the Great Himalayan National Park, a World Heritage Site, are for short and long durations and scale from beginner’s to more challenging treks. Whether you are looking for weekend treks in Himachal, treks in Himachal for beginners, or longer and more challenging treks, you will find it on our curated list of treks.
As an alternative to the over crowded Everest Base Camp trek and ABC trek you can choose the Raktisar trek or Tirth trek in the GHNP. At a much lower altitude you will experience diverse flora and fauna, and the culture of Himachalis.
Each trek page has all the information you may need about the trek along with itineraries that are flexible. For more information on trekking holidays in the Himalayas and upcoming treks in Himachal, contact us.
Other treks by Himalayan Ecotourism
From our gallery
Photos of the Shilt hut trek
Itinerary
Day One : Rolla
| Timing | Details |
|---|---|
| Morning | The trek begins at the road-head of Ropa village. From there, you trek through the ecozone of the park and along the valley of the Tirthan river to the reach the park gate where the National Park begins. You will pass through another small village Kauncha. As your trek is in progress the human population starts decreasing and nature turns into natural wilderness. After walking for 3 hours along the Tirthan River you will reach the park entrance gate. Before you enter the park gate you may have your lunch. |
| Afternoon | As you cross the park gate you are in the realm of Nature. On your way to Rolla, you will only come across one wood house where lives the last inhabitant of the Park, an old but very charming lady. The path will get narrower and forest will become denser. After hiking for about 45 minutes from the park gate you will reach Rolla Huts and campsite. Enjoy the company of our staff who prepares you amazing food and spend your first night under tents. |
Day Two : Shilt hut
| Timing | Details |
|---|---|
| The two options | In case your adventure is a 2 day trek you will be heading back to Ropa and then taking the ride to Gushaini. Because the way back is only descent. If you are fit and confident about your knees, you can climb to Shilt after an early breakfast and reach Ropa late evening. In case you have 3 days you can plan to camp at Shilt and return the next day to Ropa. |
| Morning | You will wake up to melodies of the birds the GHNP. Sip your morning chai as the team prepares hot breakfast. While you enjoy your meal the team will start packing to hike further for the next campsite at Shilt Hut. The hike to Shilt is relatively short, but a steep one. As you climb, you will have the opportunity to spot Himalayan monals other birds. The trail is narrow and you will seldom come across flat terrain as you climb. |
| Afternoon | You will traverse the deeper forests of the GHNP as you reach Shilt Hut. Once you reach Shilt Hut, you can have your pack lunch while the team sets up your tents. Until evening you can explore the surroundings to spot birds and ghorals. Shilt Hut is an ideal spot for birding. |
Day Three : Rakhundi top
| Timing | Details |
|---|---|
| The two options | In case your adventure is a 3 day trek you will be going down back to Rolla and then all the way to Ropa village. Because the way back is only descent you can do in one day all the way you climbed in 2 days. End of your trek late afternoon. In case you have 4 or 5 days you can continue your trek towards Rakhundi top |
| Morning | Don’t miss the beautiful sunrise over the GHNP peaks because of sleep! You won’t forget the view. Observe the birds early morning. The changing colors of the sky are another treat you shouldn’t miss. On the way to Rakhundi you cross path with a small colourful waterfall and then a typical high altitude bamboo forest. If you don’t have a walking pole offered by us while trekking under our "Everest plan” you can take a dry bamboo stick to help you on the way to Rakhundi . After the bamboo forest the path goes steeply towards a ridge that leads to Rakhundi. |
| Afternoon | From Rakhundi top you have a 360° view over the Tirthan valley. A stone lies at the top. You will recognize it because of some colourful fabrics that ornate it. The stone shelters the local deity. Take sometime to respectfully greet the deity with your guide. Then feel free to enjoy the stunning feeling of being at the top of a mountain that is a unique panoramic viewpoint. Go down to Shilt via the same way and spend a second night at Shilt. |
Day Four : Gushaini
| Timing | Details |
|---|---|
| Morning | After your breakfast the camp is packed and you go down to Rolla where you have your lunch by the riverside. |
| Afternoon | Walk down to Ropa village after your lunch. The cab will be waiting to transfer you to Gushaini where you spend a cozy night in your homestay/resort |
Shilt trek in 3 days
Day 1 : Rolla
This is the short version in 3 days. You can then reach the Shilt Hut only.
The first day is the same : hiking to Rolla from Ropa village.
Day 2 : Shilt Hut
On day 2, we have the same climb to the Shilt Hut campsite.
Have your night at Shilt or if you prefer you can come back to Rolla for the night. This may be the case if the weather is cold, if the campsite is covered by snow, or if you are not sure about your physical fitness and prefer to remain on the safe side keeping your basecamp at Rolla.
Day 3 : Ropa and drive to Gushaini
Descent from Shilt of from Rolla to Ropa. Your guide will keep us updated on your expected arrival time at Ropa so that we can keep your transfers to Gushaini ready.
End of the trek.
Gallery
Photos of the Shilt hut trek
Share your feedback
Thank you for sharing your experience! Your feedback is invaluable and inspires fellow travelers to choose responsible tourism when they journey with us.
Deepti Pookat
We did the Shilt Hut trek with Himalayan Ecotourism a few weeks ago. The entire team was very accommodating and helpful right from the start. We highly recommend the premium camping tents and sleeping bags they provide. Beautiful location, bonfire, delicious food and a memorable trip
May 14, 2022 at 2:02 pm
Ted Silber
Our trip was a resounding success, filled with amazing experiences and unforgettable moments. The entire trip was so well organized. The hotels and guesthouses were clean and comfortable. Himalayan Ecotourism arranged the perfect Rajasthan trip for us before they hosted us at Tirthan Eagle Nest and then took us to Shilt in the GHNP. Incredibly well planned month long trip for us. Highly recommend them for your India trip.
March 27, 2023 at 11:17 pm
Celine Bussieres
Himalayan Ecotourism has organized for us a 2 weeks customized trip to Himachal Pradesh. It has been a wonderful experience, unforgettable for the entire family. The 4 days trek to the Rakhundi top was amazing with a caring staff, very helpful, trustworthy and always smiling. The equipment is excellent and the food was incredible.
May 4, 2023 at 4:05 pm
Nikhilesh Rao
Did our Shilt Hut trek with Himalayan Ecotourism. Very economical and yet professional arrangement. Did it with a bunch of friends who were all new to wilderness. Will remain a memorable one.
May 15, 2023 at 8:49 pm