Chandratal Lake
Three days with the moon lake in Lahaul's high desert
Why this trek is special
- ✦Camp two nights beside the crescent 'lake of the moon'
- ✦Milky Way skies in one of India's darkest dark-sky zones
- ✦The wild Batal road over the Chandra river gorges
- ✦High-altitude desert walking without a multi-day slog
Difficulty: Moderate
Rated 3/5 on the TrekNova Adventures scale — based on altitude gain, trail length, terrain and exit options.
Altitude profile
Day-wise itinerary
Tap a day to expand. Distances and timings are for an average fit trekker.
Through the Atal tunnel into Lahaul's brown-gold desert, up the Chandra valley past Batal's famous dhaba, and a short walk down to the lake as it turns from turquoise to ink. Camp under a bonfire of stars.
What's included
✓ Inclusions
- ✓ All meals from Day 1 lunch to Day 3 breakfast
- ✓ Alpine tents, -10°C sleeping bags & mats
- ✓ Trek leader + local guide
- ✓ Lahaul-Spiti permits & camping charges
- ✓ Transport Manali ↔ Chandratal
- ✓ Oximeter checks — this is real altitude
✗ Exclusions
- ✗ Personal expenses & tips
- ✗ Costs due to road closure (alternate Chatru camp provided)
Permits & paperwork
Lahaul-Spiti district permits and Chandratal camping approvals are arranged by us and included. The lake sits at 14,100 ft — hydrate well from the day before.
Backpack offloading
Don't want to carry your rucksack? Our mules and porters will carry it camp-to-camp while you walk with a light daypack. Bags must be under 9 kg, soft-sided, without wheels.
Cancellation policy
When to do Chandratal Lake? Month-by-month guides
Weather, temperatures and packing for every month — green months are in season.