Kareri Lake Trek
Kareri is a beautiful glacial Lake just below Manikani peak in the Dhauladhar Mountains. The Trek is moderate to strenuous and leads you through lush sub-tropical pine, deodar forests, and rocky grasslands. The terrain is steep and gradually shelving at the top. Once at the Lake, you can see the outcrops and the snow line, quickly making a clear transition of vegetation zones with altitude. Kareri Lake trek is a lovely weekend adventure for people looking for options away from the more beaten Himachal trails like Kheerganga, Prashar lake, Triund, etc. There are no staying options at Kareri except camps for trekkers and hikers. If you are planning for this Trek, it is always advisable to accompany a guide as you can get lost in dense forest, and even if you are at Lake, you don’t find yourself alone. Kareri Lake freezes from late November to March; barring that and heavy monsoons, you can hit the Kareri Lake trek at any time of the year.
Start Point
The nearest point to this Trek is Kareri Village, about 27 Km from Dharamshala, and taxis are readily available from Dharamshala, Bir, Palampur, and other leading centers. You can hire a cab from Dharamshala to Kareri Village; it usually takes 1.5 hours to be there. There is a forest rest house in Kareri village where you can stay overnight if you are late for starting your Trek, or you can stay in lodges or camps available in Kareri Village.
Delhi to Dharamshala by Bus
The best way to reach Delhi is to take an overnight bus to Mcleodganj. Buses going to Dharamshala will drop you at the main square of Mcleodganj. There are two options for buses from Delhi. There are buses from either Majnu ka Tila (officially called New Aruna Nagar Colony) in the North District of Delhi or ISBT Kashmiri Gate to Dharamshala. There are private buses directly to Dharamshala leaving during the late evening, starting from 6 pm. It takes about 10 to 11 hours to reach Mcleodganj. The second option is to take the bus from ISBT Kashmere Gate.
Delhi to Dharamshala by Air
On average, three flights operate from Delhi to Kangra Airport from morning to afternoon. There is a taxi union outside Kangra Airport, and you can hire a cab directly to Dharamshala or Kareri Village. You can book a hotel in Dharamshala if you are late and intend to rest overnight.
Things to Carry
Carry a Light backpack, wear good quality hiking shoes and wear comfortable clothing. If you are trekking in winter, do carry warm clothing with you as Triund weather can turn nasty cold in hours. Do not carry Alcohol on the Trek. Do not throw plastic bottles, as this can pile up plastic water on the natural landscape. Alcohol is not allowed on the Trek.
 Permits and Safety
The Tour organizer will take care of the safety permits for this Trek. Always go with a local guide or an organizer as the Trek is tricky between some stretches, and experience will be your savior here. Start early on both days to get a head start and keep the option of returning to one of the villages open.
Staying Options in Kareri Lake
You can rent a tent at Kareri Lake. You can also carry your tent and pitch it. It is advisable to do the Process pre-planned with Tour Operator for your comfortable stay overnight at Kareri Lake.
Food
There are some cafes en route to the Trek. Tea and snacks are available in these cafes. Taking dry fruits, energy bars, or any biscuits is always wise. It’s better to carry some food in your tiffin box for an emergency.
Day 1: kareri Village to Rioti Village
Briefing on the do and don’ts of the Trek, safety procedures, and life-saving instructions at Kareri Village is conducted by the guide. If you are moderately fit, it takes around 7 hours to trek the distance. There are no stay options at Kareri Lake; you can either stay overnight at Rioti or take appropriate gear along and pitch a tent by the lakeside. Once at the LakeLake, you can hike up to Gajj, another 30 minutes from the Lake. You will have Nyund River for the company here; this stretch is mostly a lot of steps local people have made to go uphill with their cattle.
Day 2: Return to Kareri Village and end of Trek
GPS Coordinates Kareri Village: 32°16’47.5″N 76°16’50.7″E
GPS Coordinates of Kareri Lake: 32°19’29.7″N 76°16’24.0″E
Notes and Warnings
Ensure you are trekking with the responsibility of keeping things clean in the mountains and do not throw any waste in the mountains. Bring back any litter with you to the cities. Personnel with health problems should avoid adventure activities.
Tour Features
Wear Suitable comfortable Clothing for treks. Full-length trousers and good-quality grip hiking shoes are recommended. A backpack is also suitable to carry a camera or water bottle during Trek. Safety Equipment, Sticks, and a guide are provided. Any person with High BP, Heart Disease, Fractures, or any ill Health Condition should avoid Trek and disclose his health condition to the guide.
Terms and Conditions
“Hill Ventures” reserves the right to change expedition dates, people, or itineraries as conditions warrant. Itineraries are based on information available during the planning and are subject to change. Suppose a trip must be delayed or the itinerary changed subject to bad weather. In that case, road conditions, transportation delays, government intervention, airline schedules, sickness, or other contingency for which Hill Ventures or its agents cannot make provision, the cost of delays, and/or other changes are the participant’s responsibility. Hill Ventures reserves the right to decline or accept any individual as a trip member for any reason whatsoever.
