The verdant Kullu Valley is bedecked with a number of high alpine lakes, most of them forming "the head waters of Beas River". One of the most spectacular of these is the Bhrighu Lake (94270m) situated high up on a ridge above the tourist resort of Manali. The trail goes first to Beas Kund (3540m), the source of the Beas River and popular base used by climbers attempting to ascend the nearby peaks. It heads them towards Brighu, eventually ending with a steep descent to Manali.
Day 1: Drive Manali (1926m Palchan - Dhundi Trek - 4/5 hours). Drive up straight from Manali for 10 Kms along the Beas to reach the village of Palchan. From here follow a dusty road rising gradually to Solang, a popular skiing area in winter.
Day 2: Dhundi/Beas Kund (3540m)/Dhundi - 5/6 hours. Leave the camp at Dhundi and climb gradually, sometimes steeply to the lake. The view of the nearby peaks is excellent and the lake itself is a popular base camp to climb the peaks, which surround this semi-circular lake. The walk can sometimes be rough, as one has to go over glacial scree to reach the lake. Descend back to camp at Dhundi. The slopes above the camp are covered with pine forests and meadows and are worth exploring in the afternoon.
Day 3: Dhundi/Kothi (2985m) - 4 hours. Go back on the trail and via Palchan climb up to the village of Kothi, which is popular with tourists in the summer due to its mild climate and good view of the Kullu Valley looking south. The road up to the Rohtang Pass leading to Ladakh climbs up from here. The pine forest here provide good bird watching.
Day 4: Kothi/Maridugh (3500m) - 4/5 hours. From Kothi the trail climbs steeply and steadily through large meadows and forests of pine, holly and oak to the campsite at Maridugh. As one climbs up breathtaking scenery opens out. To the north view the serpentine road leading up to the Rohtang Pass as well as the Geyphan group of peaks in Lahaul Valley. To the east Mt Hanuman Tibba (5925m), stands out prominently while to northeast are the peaks above the Solang Valley - Maker Beh, Manali, Ladakhi, and Shetti Dhar.
Day 5: Maridugh/Panduropa (3780m) Via Brighu Lake (4780m) - 6 hours.
A further climb from Maridugh leads to the Brighu Lake just below the ridge. The meadow here is a popular grazing ground and throughout
spring/summer is thickly carpeted with a profusion of wild alpine flowers, anemones, edelweiss, columbines - to name just a few. The lake itself is a beautiful spot standing out amongst the rocky ridges surrounding it with its waters a shining emerald green. A half hour climb up to the ridge above the lake leads to spectacular sights besides the views to the north, east and south. You can also see the dome of Deo Tibba Peak and the sharp razor edge of Inderkilla. A two-hour easy descent from the lake on open meadows leads to the campsite at Panduropa.
Day 6: Panduropa/Vashisht (1956m) - 5/6 hours
The last day's walk is very steep descend to the village of Vashisht. Leaving the high meadows the path winds down 1800m in a seemingly never-ending series of switchbacks through thick pine forests to finally arrive at Vashisht above the banks of Beas. The hot sulphur springs in Vashisht and its proximity to Manali, a 10-minute drive, has made it popular with the tourists.