Spiti

Pick up from Chandigarh airport / destination on route in the morning and drive to Manali. En-route visit historic town of Mandi built on the River Beas It is famous for its 81 stone temples and often called the ‘Varanasi of the hills’. Evening at leisure to exploring Manali. Overnight at Manali.

Free day for acclimatization walks and local sightseeing in Manali. Overnight at Manali.

Sissu is a beautiful village in Lahaul & Spiti district. In the morning after breakfast at hotel you drive to Sissu over Rohtang Pass (3980 m). En-route you will be crossing Rahala water Fall, Marhi and Khoksar. Truly so nestled between the Palden Lhamo Dhar (a waterfall cascading over the cliff) and a most propitiated Gyephang Peak, by banks of River Chandra the camping is an experience in itself. On arrival check in at Camp. Afternoon visit to Lavrang monastery & village. Evening free to enjoy the campsite and the view. Overnight at Sissu.

Set off early morning for the long drive to Kaza via Chandar taal. Have your lunch at Batal, cross Kunzum Pass (4550m / 15000 ft) 6 km away and enter Spiti known for its stark beauty, narrow valleys and high mountains. Spiti’s lunar like landscape is dotted with Buddhist monasteries, small villages and highaltitude lakes and is often called ‘little Tibet’ We should reach Kaza, (3600m / 12000 ft) Spiti’s administrative capital by evening. Overnight at Kaza.

Morning visit the Ki (Key, Kye) Gompa 12 km away (4116m). This old Gompa is a labyrinth of rooms and corridors and at one time even acted as a fort. Presumed to be built around the 15th century, it has some rare thangka paintings and several ancient musical instruments and old manuscripts. 8 km from here we drive to the highest permanently inhabited village, Kibber at 4205 m. Overnight at Kaza.

We drive to Dhankar (3350 m which is actually a fort perched high up over the valley and a superb example of Spiti’s traditional architectural skills. This was at one time the castle of the ruler of Spiti and today Dhankar is a repository of Buddhist scriptures in the Bhoti script. We will also drive through the Pin valley home to the snow leopard, the Ibex, the Bharal, and the Tahr. Overnight at Kaza.

48 km from Kaza is Tabo often called the ‘Ajanta of the Himalayas’ and is famous for its monastery with its fantastic murals and stucco images. We proceed to Nako which is a charming village in Upper Kinnaur with the magnificent Reo- Purgyal peak towering over it. Nako (3662 m) lies high over the Spiti river and is an important centre of Buddhism. Nako has some interesting temples and a monastery with murals dating back to the 11th C. Nako also boasts of the footprints of Guru Padmasambhava and a beautiful lake around which the village is built. Overnight at Nako.

On the drive to Kalpa, we enjoy the confluence of the Sutlej and Spiti rivers at Khab. Situated at a height of 2758 / 9710 ft, Kalpa is a picturesque hamlet, on the list to be declared a World Heritage site. Kalpa has spectacular views of the Kinnaur –Kailash range and is famous for its apple and chilgoza plantations. From the stark barren area of Spiti, here you can feast your eyes on thick forests of deodar, birch, spruce and alder. Overnight at Kalpa.

Early morning enjoy the spectacular morning sunrise as it touches the Kinnaur- Kailash range with crimson and gold light. Drive from Kalpa to Sangla after breakfast and en-route visit Kamru fort and village. An exotic image of Lord Buddha at the Fort’s main gate and an image of Kamkhya Devi are the unique features of this fort. An optional visit to the trout farm where one can see golden trout. Sangla at 8900 ft, on the R. Baspa is considered to be the most beautiful valley in the Himalayas with views of snow peaks, meandering river, apple and apricot orchards, quaint village houses with exquisitely carved wooden door and sloping slate roofs. Overnight at Sangla.

Drive to the fairy tale village of Chitkul (3450m or 11315 ft) the last village on the Indo –Tibetan trade route. Optional trek of 6 km to Nagasthi the last Indian outpost. Trek back to Chitkul and then drive back to Sangla. Overnight at Sangla.

Leave in the morning for the drive to Sarahan known for its Bhimakali Temple and its sixsilver coated door. Overnight at Sarahan.

Drive from Sarahan to Sangla visiting the hill stations of Narkhanda and Kufri en-route. Overnight at Shimla.

Checkout of hotel at Shimla after breakfast and drive to Chandigarh airport or en-route.