Parang La, a high-altitude pass connecting Spiti valley in Himachal to Korzok in Ladakh, is a crown jewel amongst the treks in Himachal Pradesh.

This is an excursion for seasoned trekkers, as the entire trail lies above 4000+ meters ASL, maxing out at 5,580 meters. Parang La is also the elite member of the 100 km+ alpine trail club, with the total distance covered clocking in at 118 kilometers.

This historic trade route leads one through steep gorges, over massive glaciers and ice-fields, along the massive river basin of the 'Pare chu' river, ultimately arriving to the far reaches of India, near the Tibetan border, and the vast high-altitude wetlands that lead up to the stunning 'Tso Moriri', all while traversing the rugged landscape and altitude.

An interesting fact: The majority of this trail, including the pass, is located in Himachal, with just 15% lying in Ladakh.

The other major attraction of this trip is the opportunity to witness the diverse and atypical wildlife that exists in both regions.

In the Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary (Spiti, Himachal), Sightings of Himalayan ibex, blue sheep, snow cock and golden eagle are common. One may also get lucky with glimpses of the Tibetan wolf, red fox and even a snow leopard. In the Ladakh region, one can see kiangs (Tibetan wild asses), yaks, marmots, Tibetan antelopes, and, if lucky, the Eurasian lynx.

The wetlands of Tso Moriri are home to many migratory birds, such as
Black-necked cranes
Bar-headed geese
Great-crested grebe
White-eyed pochard or the Siberian duck
and more.

These many attractions make this trip a once-in-a-lifetime experience, especially since you can enjoy the cold deserts of Spiti and Ladakh at the same time.