About the Trek
Friendship Peak at 5,289 metres is considered the most accessible summit above 5,000m in India, making it the perfect first mountaineering expedition. Located in the Pir Panjal range near Manali, it offers a genuine high-altitude climbing experience with technical sections including glacier travel, fixed ropes, and snow climbing.
The expedition follows the Beas Kund trail initially, then branches off towards the peak through increasingly alpine terrain. Summit day involves early morning glacier travel and a final push up snow slopes to the summit ridge, rewarding you with panoramic views of Hanuman Tibba, Shitidhar, Deo Tibba, and the vast Kullu valley far below.
Trishul Adventures provides complete mountaineering training during the expedition, including ice axe technique, crampon walking, rope management, and crevasse rescue basics. This makes it an educational experience as well as a thrilling adventure.
Trek Highlights
- Summit a 5,289m peak — your first taste of mountaineering
- Learn technical skills: ice axe, crampons, rope work
- Glacier travel on the Friendship Peak glacier
- Panoramic summit views of Hanuman Tibba, Deo Tibba and the Kullu valley
- Most accessible 5,000m summit in India
- Complete mountaineering training included
Day-by-Day Itinerary
A 7-day expedition from Manali to summit Friendship Peak at 5,289m with full mountaineering training.
- Drive to Solang Valley, trek to Bakarthach
- Set up camp and gear orientation
- Overnight in tents
- Trek through boulder fields to Beas Kund area
- Set up advanced base camp
- Afternoon mountaineering training session
- Overnight in tents
- Full day of mountaineering training
- Ice axe technique and self-arrest practice
- Crampon walking on snow slopes
- Rope management and knots
- Overnight in tents
- Ascend to summit camp above the glacier
- Practice glacier travel skills
- Early dinner and rest for summit push
- Overnight in tents
- Start at 1-2 AM for the summit push
- Climb snow slopes and traverse the glacier
- Reach the summit of Friendship Peak at 5,289m
- Descend to summit camp, then to base camp
- Overnight in tents
- Descend from base to Bakarthach
- Celebratory camp
- Overnight in tents
- Descend to Solang, drive to Manali
- Expedition concludes — certificates distributed
What's Included
- Meals as mentioned in the itinerary
- Accommodation — Hotel / Homestay / Tents on triple sharing
- All necessary entry fees and permits
- Professional trek leader, guide, cook and support staff
- Camping equipment — sleeping bags, blankets, mats, toilet tents
- Safety equipment — medical kit, oximeter, crampons & gaiters
What's Not Included
- Meals during the road journey
- Any kind of insurance
- Mules or porter to carry personal luggage (can be arranged at extra cost)
- Medical / evacuation expenses (assistance provided in emergencies)
- Any expense of personal nature
- Any expense not specified in inclusions
Things to Carry
Essentials
- Backpack (50-60 L) with rain cover
- Day pack (20 L)
- Trekking shoes with ankle support
- Headlamp / torch with spare batteries
- Water bottles (2 L)
- Personal medication
Clothing & Gear
- Thermal innerwear (top + bottom) x 2
- Heavy down jacket (-20°C rated)
- Waterproof hardshell jacket and pants
- Balaclava, insulated gloves, liner gloves
- Trekking pants x 2 + warm fleece pants
- Quick-dry t-shirts x 3
- Gaiters (high ankle)
- Mountaineering sunglasses (Category 4)
Documents
- Government photo ID (Aadhaar / Passport / DL)
- Two passport-sized photos
- Medical fitness certificate
Optional
- Trekking poles
- Sunglasses (UV protection)
- Sunscreen (SPF 50+)
- Power bank
- Energy bars / dry fruits
How to Prepare
This is a Difficult grade trek or expedition. You will face sustained high altitude (4,500–6,000 m+), technical terrain (glaciers, moraines, scree, fixed ropes), extreme cold, and 8–12 hour walking days. Prior high-altitude trekking experience is mandatory. Begin training at least 8–12 weeks before departure.
Cardio — Start 8–12 Weeks Before
- Run: 8 km in under 40 minutes, 5x per week — build aerobic base
- Long hikes: 15–20 km with 10–12 kg loaded pack on weekends, ideally on trails with elevation gain
- Stair climbs with load: 20+ floors with a full pack, 4x per week
- High-intensity intervals: Hill sprints or stair sprints 2x per week for VO2max
- Mandatory practice trek: Do at least one 2–3 day practice trek at moderate altitude before departure
Strength (5x per week)
- Barbell squats — 4 sets of 12 (progressive overload)
- Deadlifts — 3 sets of 10
- Weighted step-ups — 4 sets of 12 each leg (use a high bench)
- Single-leg Romanian deadlifts — stability is critical on technical terrain
- Core circuit: 90-sec planks, hanging leg raises, windshield wipers, Russian twists
- Grip training: farmer's walks, dead hangs — essential for fixed-rope sections
- Shoulder press + pull-ups — upper body matters when hauling yourself over boulders
Nutrition & Recovery
- 4–5 litres of water daily; maintain this standard on the trek as well
- High-protein, high-iron, high-carb diet — your body will burn 4,000–5,000 calories/day on the trail
- Iron and B12 supplementation (consult your doctor) — oxygen-carrying capacity matters above 5,000 m
- Zero alcohol for 3+ weeks before departure
- Sleep 8+ hours — overtraining is as dangerous as under-training
- Taper training in the final week: light walks only, full rest 2 days before departure
Altitude, Technical & Medical
- These treks operate at 4,500–6,000 m+ — HACE and HAPE are real risks, not theoretical
- Diamox protocol is mandatory (consult your doctor for dosage and start date)
- Learn and practice: crampon walking, ice axe self-arrest, rope ascent/descent, moraine navigation
- Full personal medical kit: Diamox, Dexamethasone (emergency only), Nifedipine, ORS, painkillers, anti-nausea, blister kit, tape
- Get a full medical check-up including ECG, blood oxygen baseline, and lung function if possible
- Personal travel + medical insurance covering high-altitude evacuation is mandatory
- Mental preparation: difficult treks involve discomfort, exhaustion and uncertainty — embrace it
Photo Gallery
Photos from the trail. More coming soon — follow us on Instagram for daily updates.
Gallery photos will be added soon. Binoy is preparing the best shots from the trail.
Frequently Asked Questions
No prior technical experience is needed. We provide complete training during the expedition. However, you should have done at least one high-altitude trek above 4,000m.
All mountaineering equipment is provided: crampons, ice axes, ropes, harnesses, helmets, and carabiners. You need your own trekking gear and warm clothing.
Summit success depends heavily on weather and individual fitness. With good preparation, the success rate is approximately 60-70%.
Temperatures at summit camp can drop to -10 to -15 degrees Celsius. On the summit, wind chill can make it feel much colder.