This forms one of the most strenuous routes for trekking which lies at an altitude of 5320 m above sea level. Lying in the Kullu – Spiti region of Himachal Pradesh, this pass is conspicuous by its rocky terrains and prayer flags. Once on this pass, you cannot miss the aerial view of the snow capped mountains that acts as a contrast to the barren mountain declivities. You will be baffled to see the cultivated villages that denotes the cultural life of the people. The most delightful exploration will definitely be the small monasteries that lies in the secluded areas of the passes.
Adventurers have a great time at the Pin Parbati pass. Take the 17 day tour that begins from Manikaran and passes through Pulga, Khirganga and Mantalai, before reaching this pass. See the confluence point of the the two rivers of Spiti and Sutlej.Spiti region, due to it's strategic location was for long closed to tourists except the odd intrepid traveller armed with an 'inner line' permit. Recently, it has been thrown open for tourism and hitherto insulated cultures are coming into contact with jeep safaris and video toting tourists. The numbers are still mercifully small though and Spiti offers a fast vanishing look at 'museum' cultures, especially in the off-route Pin valley.
At the head of the Pin valley lies the Pin-Parbati pass leading into the Parvati valley. Desolate, remote and uninhabited the Pin river National Park lies at the head of the most important tributary of the Spiti. With large parts under permanent snow cover, the park is home to many of the larger mammals including the Snow Leopard and the Ibex. The Ibex, Capra ibex sibirica, is well adapted for the extreme environment making it a fascinating, if extremely difficult to get at, study. A thick winter coat helps against the intense cold whereas the summer coat is a thinner dark brown. Ibex seem to cultivate danger frolicking on the most hazardous of slopes with gay abandon, and to all indications, spend their winter on steep cliffs that are highly prone to avalanches. In fact unlike other Himalayan animals the Ibex does not descend in the winter and remain at the sub-arctic regions above the summer snow line. No wonder then, that it has been estimated that winter avalanches account for as much as 10% of the population over an average winter.Spiti is totally Buddhist and is the location of some of Himalayan Buddhism's most important monasteries. Tabo, known as the "Ajanta of the Himalayas', celebrated it's thousandth birthday last year.