Rakchham Climbing Festival 2026: Dates, How to Join and Who to Go With

Celebrating the Art of Climbing and Friendship

The Rakchham Climbing Festival is organized by the Rakchham Mountaineering & Adventure Club (RMAC), a local club built around the granite boulders and rock faces scattered across the Kinnaur valley. This 2nd edition brings climbers together in Rakchham village for five days centered on the theme of climbing and friendship.

This year's special guest is Bernd Zangerl, a well-known professional climber recognized internationally for his work in bouldering. His presence brings the festival added visibility for climbers across India looking to visit Kinnaur.

Registration

Registration for the Rakchham Climbing Festival is handled directly by the organizers, RMAC, not through Bhavrah. Check their Instagram for the current registration link, schedule, and any updates closer to the dates.

Planning a trip to Sangla or Kinnaur around the festival? The Jibhi trekking guide and Triund trek guide cover other Himachal bases worth combining with the trip.

Rakchham and Sangla Valley Through Locals

Rakchham sits above the Baspa river and has become a climbing and bouldering village. A local knows which problems are in condition, where cars can be left and where the boulders sit relative to the village paths, which is the knowledge a festival schedule does not print.

Around the festival, Sangla Valley has more to see. Kamru Fort and the village temples carry Kinnauri history that signs do not explain, Batseri's meadows and wooden houses are a short drive from Sangla, and Chitkul is the end of the road for most travellers. Orchard-season apples, local bread and Kinnauri dishes are best in a family kitchen, and a local expert can introduce you to one.

Read the full Sangla Valley with a local page for local experts and how to meet them.

Getting to Rakchham and Finding a Group to Go With

Most travellers reach Sangla Valley via Shimla and the Kinnaur road through Narkanda and Rampur, roughly 225 km from Shimla and a long day of driving. Check road status before leaving, because landslides are possible on the Kinnaur road, especially in monsoon. Mobile coverage is patchy beyond Sangla, so download offline maps and share your route with a contact.

The road in is the easiest place to find company. On Bhavrah you can find other travellers heading to Sangla, Rakchham or Chitkul on the same dates, share the cab and split its cost, then meet local climbers and residents once you arrive.

Every local expert on Bhavrah is verified through DigiLocker, and the Safety Grid check-ins cover the stretch where coverage drops.