Things to Do in Shoja: Jalori, Serolsar & Café Stops
Most people do Shoja as a day trip from Jibhi, and that's the best way to do it. Here's how to fill the day: Jalori Pass, Serolsar Lake, forest walks and a warm café stop.
By The Rustic Team · Published · Updated
The pass, the lake, and quieter options nearby
Shoja sits at around 2,700 m on the road that keeps climbing another 5 km or so to Jalori Pass, at roughly 3,100 m. On a clear morning it's a short drive to the top, where the ridge opens out and you can see why this pass has long been the route between Kullu and Shimla districts. The Jalori Pass and Serolsar Lake trek guide has the trail details.
From the pass, Serolsar Lake is about 5 km one way through oak forest. It's an easy to moderate walk that takes most people around 1.5 to 2 hours each way. Start early and carry water. The lake has the Budhi Nagin temple beside it, a working shrine rather than a photo stop, so keep the drone packed and the volume down.
If your legs are tired, the Raghupur Fort trail and a few shorter forest walks start from the Jalori side of the road, a good half-day option when you want tree cover and quiet rather than a summit. Ask locally which trail is in good shape that week.
For something cultural, Shringa Rishi Temple and the old stone-and-timber village of Bahu are both a short drive from Jibhi and pair well with a slower day after Jalori.
A café stop before heading back
On the way down from Jalori or Serolsar, stop at The Rustic Café Shoja on the Jalori road. It's our café up here (a café only, with no rooms), and it's a warm place to sit with coffee, chai and a hot meal while you look out over the forest. If you want to compare options, our guide to cafés in Shoja lists the other places we know about. Hours change with the season, so check locally.
Shoja is also a good spot for an unhurried afternoon even without a trek: a short forest walk, a long lunch, a book, and the valley view. Plan to head back down to Jibhi before dark, since the road is far easier in daylight and the village goes quiet early.
Evenings: back in Jibhi
All of The Rustic's rooms are in Jibhi, so that's where your evening happens. At The Rustic Jibhi the rooms are downstairs and the café is upstairs, right above them. There's live music or a movie on most evenings, depending on the season and who's staying, and a bonfire when the weather allows. Dinner isn't included in the room rate, but the café serves food into the evening, and whether you're dining alone or open to company, there's a space for you.
For more on how evenings work down in the valley, read our guide to nights in Jibhi.
Should you sleep in Shoja or Jibhi?
Jibhi sits several hundred metres lower in the valley, with more cafés, easier transport and a busier traveller scene. Shoja is colder and quieter, and closer to Jalori. Most people find a Jibhi base with a day trip up to Shoja gives them both without moving their bags.
If you do want to wake up in Shoja, there are other guesthouses and homestays in the village that you can book separately; we don't have rooms there. The Jibhi or Shoja comparison goes into the trade-offs.
The practical bits
A taxi from Jibhi to Shoja usually takes 30 to 40 minutes and has generally cost around ₹800 to ₹1,000 one way. The team at Jibhi can help you form a trek group and share a taxi with other guests. Taxi fares and timings last checked in October 2026; they change with season and fuel prices, so confirm with the driver before you set off.
Weather and road conditions change quickly at this altitude, especially on the stretch up to Jalori Pass, which is often closed by snow for part of the winter. Check current conditions with us or locally before you go. Mobile signal up here is patchy and varies by network, so plan important calls around the fibre Wi-Fi back at The Rustic Jibhi.
To book a bed or a suite in Jibhi, message us on WhatsApp at +91 83685 59027; booking there gets a flat 5% off the online rates. Thinking of staying much longer? Volunteering with The Rustic has a 45-day minimum, long enough to properly settle into the valley.
Questions people ask
How do I get from Jibhi to Shoja?
By taxi, usually 30 to 40 minutes up the road toward Jalori Pass, generally around ₹800 to ₹1,000 one way (last checked October 2026). Most guests do it as a day trip from The Rustic Jibhi.
Can I do the Jalori Pass to Serolsar Lake trek in a day?
Comfortably, from a Jibhi base. Shoja is about 5 km below the pass, and the Serolsar trail is about 5 km one way from the top, taking most people 1.5 to 2 hours each direction. Start early, since afternoons can turn misty.
Does The Rustic have rooms or evening events in Shoja?
No. The Rustic Café Shoja is a café only. Our rooms, and the live music or movie on most evenings, are at The Rustic Jibhi.
Should I base myself in Shoja or Jibhi?
Jibhi, for most people: more food options, easier logistics, and our rooms are there. Visit Shoja for the day for Jalori, the forest walks and a café stop.
Written by The Rustic Team
The people who run The Rustic Jibhi and The Rustic Café Shoja. Between us we’ve lived in Tirthan Valley for years: we sort out taxis from Aut, plan treks to Jalori and Serolsar most weeks, and check these guides against what we see on the ground. Read our story.