Sethan Village, In Hamta Valley, Himachal Pradesh

Fact: From Manali Mall Road, taxis charge around 1500 to 2000 Rupees to Sethan village. And this fare can go up to 6000 Rupees during the peak winter season. Additionally, you need to get an online permit to enter Hamta Valley (where Sethan is located) costing 100-250 Rupees per vehicle.

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Located approximately a 45-minute drive from Manali, Sethan is a place for slow travellers – particularly during winter, when snow claims its ground and any movement beyond this tiny Buddhist town, becomes impossible!

But it is not the fact that Sethan becomes inaccessible during snowfall that makes it charming, it is, the view of the Kullu Valley…

In February, the valley was draped in white. The weather was cold. And the temperature was falling (and staying) below zero degrees Celcius for weeks. Little flakes of happiness had covered the entire valley with a sheet of white.

From Sethan village, one can see the towering Dhauladhar ranges. River Beas flowing right next to it divides Dhauladhar and Pir Panjal where Hamta Valley is located.

The inhabitants of Sethan are the original migrants from Tibet and Spiti Valley. They are all Buddhist people and used to come to Hamta Valley as horse herders, to do trade. They were given land in Hamta Valley by the then Government of India when Himachal Pradesh was still a part of Punjab.

During winter, most of them move to the lower altitude towns in Kullu Valley, leaving Sethan a beautifully deserted town, before moving back in summer again, and resuming their usual farming business. But with less than 20 houses it remains a beautiful offbeat place meant to relax and unwind.

Where To Stay In Sethan

Since it is a small town housing no more than 20 properties (out of which many are homes for local people only) the accommodation is fairly limited. There are very limited hotels and camping sites. Don’t look for hotels there because that will be a very Manali-like boring experience.

So speaking of where to stay, you can either choose to stay in an Igloo. An igloo experience is only available in winter. To some, Sethan is also known as Igloo Village Manali.

Please note that Igloos are only available between January and March. Starting in April, the igloos start melting.

If not Igloo, I suggest to you my luxury glamping domes and A-Frame luxury cabins promoted under my brand name FootlooseCamps & Resort.

Located in an apple orchard, it offers a true mountain experience with peace guaranteed. You can also visit our Instagram page for more photos.

So yeah, if you’re wondering where to stay in Sethan, I suggest you look for something quirky and adventurous over a boring guesthouse.

We are not located inside the village but a few km before it, in the same valley called Hamta Valley. The reason why it’s not located inside of the village is that there is no phone network and no valley view (something we are very proud of).

All guesthouses and resorts (belonging to people outside of native villagers) are located outside (and before) the village for the same reason. Even BSNL has no network in Sethan. Around half a kilometre before you enter the village phone networks disappear. Additionally, the valley view, which most people visit Hamta for, isn’t available from any guesthouse located inside of the village.

And I am talking about this valley view…

Other places to stay in Hamta Valley, around Sethan, are Glamping Club, Mystic Heist, Dream Hamta Cafe, Nirvana Hamta Retreat, and more.

How To Reach Sethan from Manali & Other Places

You will first need to reach Manali (by bus taxi or self-drive). If you are wondering about Delhi to Manali, read this blog here. From Manali, Sethan is approximately 15km away and easily accessible by taxi.

From Manali Mall Road, taxis charge around 2000 Rupees for Manali to Sethan, and this fare can go to 6000 Rupees during the peak winter season (when only 4×4 cars are allowed).

If you’re driving, I suggest you take the old Kullu Manali highway (from Kullu) that passes through Naggar and reach Prini. Prini is located 3 km from Manali and can be navigated on Google Maps. From Prini, you will find a road going uphill on your right, towards Hamta Valley. Just take that road for the next 15 km (and 35 hairpin bends) and you reach Sethan village.

For easy navigation, search for ‘Footloose Camps’ on Google Maps. Or contact me on Instagram: instagram.com/footloosecamps, and I will be happy to help!

Useful Travel Tips

• I have seen a lot of people searching for Sethan Valley on Google. Please note that there is no valley called Sethan Valley. The valley where it is located is called Hamta Valley.
• To give you a better idea, Hamta Valley rises perpendicularly to Kullu Valley. Think of it as a high mountain pass that connects Manali in Kullu Valley to Kaza in Spiti Valley.
• Unlike in Manali, here you won’t find much to see and do. There are no popular temples or waterfalls. It is a small village meant for those who appreciate the idea of slow travel. If you’re one of those people who visit mountains to relax and unwind, this is your kind of place. If, however, you’re looking for things to see and do, you may be disappointed.
• There are no cafes in the village but just a couple of dhabas where you can find things like Maggi and Parantha.
• The entire ambience is very village-like — no fancy shops, no cafes, no vibrant crowd. Kalzang Dhaba, located at curver 33.
• It is also possible to do a day trip to Hamta Valley. Just catch a taxi from Manali, spend a day lazying around, and return.
• Taxis from Manali to Sethan take between 2000 to 6000 Rupees, depending upon the kind of taxi (Sumo or an Alto) and the season. If it’s peak season and most taxis are booked, they may charge extra.

You Need An Online Permit To Get Here

Sethan and the entire Hamta Valley is a protected areas. You need to obtain an online permit to access Hamta Road. As soon as you start on Hamta Road, you will be stopped at the ADHP (Adhani Hydro Project) barricade for an online permit that requires you to fill out a short form and pay 250 Rupees for cars and 100 Rupees for motorcycles.

I made this video in 2017, during my first visit to the village and Hamta Valley. As I said above, many things have changed, but you will still get a good idea of what to expect. The video includes my Manali to Sethan journey, my first snowboarding and snow-hiking experience, and more…

What To See & Do In Sethan

The town sits at an altitude of over 2700m above sea level (almost 700m higher than Manali). It offers a combination of winter and summer adventure activities. One can compare it with the likes of Solang Valley minus the crowd.

Between December and March, Hamta Valley receives heavy snowfall making its grassy land ideal for skiing, snowboarding, and snow-hiking. And thanks to its offbeat location and no chair lift, the chances of bumping into a fellow skier are always very low.

Though you may bump into a bear if you’re that unlucky (just kidding!) rest assured, you will enjoy the exclusivity of the place. During the summer, the place is ideal for camping and trekking.

[Also Read: My First Snowboarding Experience]

I was told that the land around Sethan is of high religious significance too.

Around 2 kilometres from the village lies Pandu Ropa – a place where Pandavas (before the time of Mahabharata) stayed and meditated. They also used a part of the land to grow crops, making it no less auspicious for the believers.

If you move further and trek towards the east, you will end up at Indrasana Peak (6200m) which is believed to be the throne of Indra (or the Rain God).

So yea, if you are visiting Sethan during winter months (December, January, February and March) you can try…

• Skiing
• Snowboarding
• Ziplining over the snow
• Tube Slide
• Igloo visit/stay
• Snow trekking
• 4*4 Gypsy ride
• Stargazing

If you visit during Summer or Autumn (April, May, June, September, October and November) you can try…

• Trekking/Hiking
• Camping
• Rock Climbing
• Bouldering
• Birdwatching
• Stargazing

From Sethan, if you continue for 3 more km on the same Hamta Road you reach the starting point of the popular Hamta Pass Trek. It’s a 3-day trek that takes you to Chandratal in Lahaul-Spiti. Hamta Pass trek is one of the most popular treks in Himachal Pradesh.

One can visit Chikka (day 1 basecamp for Hamta Pass trekkers) in less than 4 hours from Sethan and camp there. With a beautiful river stream flowing next to the campsite, it will certainly make for a memorable experience. If not, one can put a tent (or choose from one of the many campsites in the village) anywhere near the village. Check this video below…

It is also possible to visit Brighu Lake, but the best route for Brighu is via Vashishth (or Bashisht).

There are many popular hotels (located not in Sethan but outside of the village, in the same valley) that can also be visited to enjoy their food and amenities. Other than the local delicacies that can be tasted in the popular Kalzang Dhaba; I suggest you visit GlampEco for their coffee (just a little expensive though!), Dream Hamta Cafe for Pizza; FootlooseCamps for Buddhist dishes like Momos, Timok and Thukpa; White Musk Resort for Italian Pasta; and Awe Glamping for traditional Indian Thali.

Weather In Sethan

Since it is located at 2700m above sea level (Manali is 2050 metres) it remains comparatively cold throughout the year. During winter, expect the town to be covered under snow for at least 3 months.

Winter in Sethan can be harsh, so prepare accordingly. I have experienced freezing water pipes and the entire town (including all guesthouses) having no water supply for a week. During winter, expect the temperature to fall to -15 degrees Celsius.

During summer, we get a maximum of 15 degrees Celsius and not above. Since it’s quite high in altitude from sea level, expect intense sunlight. Wear sunscreen and sunglasses on a sunny day.

The Best Time To Visit?

Throughout the year honestly, except for monsoon. Of late, the town has started getting popular and I won’t call it offbeat anymore, no matter what the season is.

During winter though, Sethan witnesses peak season. This is when the town hosts temporary igloo stays and activities like Snowboarding and Skiing.

During summer, people visit to enjoy trekking and hiking in the valley. It is ideal to go camping during May, June, September and October.

If you are interested, visit during the harvest season of late September and enjoy fresh apples, apricots, pears and other seasonal fruits.

That’s all in this blog, if you have more to add to this guide, leave a comment below!

Also Read: Offbeat Destinations Near Manali