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| Season: June to September 15 |
12 Day Overland Lahaul and Spiti valley
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| Grade: |
Breathtaking! |
| Average altitude: |
3500 msl |
| Cost of the trip: |
Rs 19500 per person, includes travel, guide, accommodation, food, Jeep transfers, travel. All of the above ex-Leh (Rates mentioned is for a minimum group of 4 pax)
Rs 26500/- per person for a 2 person group with dedicated vehicles
Local guide for monastery or any culture tours will cost Rs 800/- extra per day |
| Accommodation: |
Guest houses and hotels on twin sharing basis. Homestays when on trek – Camping can be organised at an extra cost. |
| Food: |
Will be a mix of traditional Ladakhi, Indian, continental and Chinese cuisine. |
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Day 1
Arrive Delhi
You will be assisted on arrival and transferred to your hotel. Morning is at leisure. In the afternoon, drive to visit Humayun’s Tomb built in the Indo Persian style and a predecessor to The Taj Mahal in Agra; India Gate - A War Memorial Arch. Also drive past the President's House called Rashtrapati Bhavan, Parliament House, Government Secretariat buildings and Connaught Place - the heart of New Delhi and a busy shopping center. Overnight in a hotel
Day 2
Delhi - Kalka - By Train / Himalayan Queen / Dep at 0600 hrs / Arr at 1120 hrs - Shimla - By Toy Train / Dep at 1210 hrs / Arr at 1720 hrs
You will be transferred in time to board the Himalayan Queen to Kalka, from where you will have a delightful journey in a Toy Train to Shimla. The train passes through 104 tunnels and zigzags its way up the beautiful mountain scenery. You will be arriving Shimla in the evening and you can spend some time walking on The Mall to get an insight into the bustling life and crowd there. Overnight stay in your hotel.
Day 3
Shimla – Sarahan (2165 M) – By surface / 184 km / approx 7 hrs
You commence your Jeep Safari by departing from Shimla early in the morning and arrive Sarahan by the evening. En route visit Buddha Temple at Rampur, which is 130 km from Shimla. After the visit continue your drive to Sarahan, the ancient capital of the mighty Bushahr. Here, the Bhimakali Temple is built in Indo-Tibetan architectural style and is one of the finest examples of Himachali architecture. This temple is the main attraction of the region and is decorated with silver. Apart from the main deities, this temple has images of various Hindu and Buddhist Gods. It is also one of the last few surviving temples made entirely of timber. Once in Sarahan, one beholds a range of the snow-capped Himalayan peaks and one of them is the Shrikhand Peak. The rather peculiar thing about this peak is that it is the only one whose tip remains uncovered with snow. In the evening, sunrays adorn the surrounding peaks and the sight is simply breathtaking.
Day 4
Sarahan – Sangla (2680 M) – By surface / 92 km / approx 3 - 4 hrs
From Sarahan your journey takes you to Sangla (Kinnaur) through the Baspa Valley, offering breathtaking views of gorges of the Greater Himalayas. You will be stopping en route at Karchham, where the Baspa River joins the Sutlej River from the south. 18 km from here brings you to Sangla, where you check in to your camp.
In the evening you get to move around Sangla for bird watching and as well as to explore the beautiful surroundings around this place. Overnight stay in your camp.
Day 5
Sangla – Kalpa (2960 M) – By surface / 51 KM / approx 2 ˝ hrs
In the morning you will enjoy a trip to Rakcham & Chitkul. Rakchham is situated on the banks of Baspa River, at an altitude of 2900 M, and is famous for its scenic beauty. It is about 13 km from Sangla on the way to Chitkul (3450 M). The last and the highest village in the Baspa Valley, Chitkul, 28 km from Sangla, is noted for its alpine meadows and views of the snows capped peaks. Looming above the village is the impressive Mt. Kinner Kailash (6050 MYou have an early morning start and first stop at Kamru Fort on your way to Kalpa. This castle is situated at an altitude of about 2500 M in the heart of scenic Baspa Valley. The castle has a distinctive type of temple architecture with a tower that served as the residence for the Thakur and also housed the clan deity of the ruling house. Also stop at Recong Peo , the current capital and the headquarters of Kinnaur District. Visit the recently built Gompa here where His Holiness the Dalai Lama conducted a ‘Kalchakra’ ceremony in 1992.
Later drice to Kalpa an old and delightful village. Dinner and your overnight stay is at Kalpa.
Day 6
Kalpa – Nako (2950 M)– By surface / 122 km / approx 4-5 hrs
As you continue on your Jeep Safari towards Spiti Valley, you experience Timberline -- a line beyond which forests do not grow. The barren and rugged brown mountains start from Jangi, which get more rugged and barren after Puh (2837 M). Your drive continues along the Sutlej River until you reach Khab (2831 M), the confluence of Rivers Sutlej and Spiti where you halt for a picnic lunch amidst picturesque surroundings. A direct climb up takes you to Nako. Here there are four Buddhist temples with stucco images and murals and a rock has imprints of Guru Padmasambhava. Also visit Nako Lake where you will see many ancient chortens. Overnight stay is in a camp.
Day 7
Nako – Tabo (3050 M) – By surface / 59 KM / approx 59 KM / 2 ˝ hrs
After breakfast your drive takes you to Tabo, the largest monastic complex in Spiti. En route you cross the highest altitude of the day’s drive at Chango (3658 M). Tabo Gompa is a world heritage site of UNESCO. The mountains here are devoid of any vegetation due to erosion by wind, sun and snow over thousands of years.
After lunch climb up to Tabo village. Built around the year 996 A.D., the Chos Khor Monastery at Tabo is the largest monastery in Spiti and one of the few remaining examples of the ‘Golden Period of Buddhist Culture in the Himalayan Region’. The wall frescos of the monastery are comparable in their antiquity and quality to those of the Ajanta caves; hence they are called the ‘Ajanta of the Himalayas’. It houses more than 100 lamas (monks), a large number of scriptures and pieces of art, wall paintings, tankhas and stucco.
Day 8
Tabo – Kaza (3600 M) – By surface / 48 KM / approx 2 hrs
The drive from Tabo to Kaza is along the Spiti River; en route you will be visiting Dhankar Gompa. This Gompa rests high over the valley and is a stupendous example of local architecture. It is said to have been a fort and was also the residence of the ruler of Spiti – the Nano.
You will arrive Kaza in the afternoon and check in at your hotel. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 9
In Kaza – visit to Kye Monastery (3969 M) and Kibber (4205 M)
In the morning you visit the Kye Monastery located 12 km from Kaza. This ancient monastery is believed to have been built on a crater of an extinct Volcano. The monastery boasts of ancient brass instruments consisting of trumpets, cymbals and drums. This centuries old gompa is a labyrinth of rooms and corridors, and at one time also acted as a fort. It houses valuable thangkas and offers a panoramic view of the surrounding area.
11 km further ahead is a small gompa at Kibber, which has the distinction of being the highest permanently inhabited village here. It is considered to be one of the highest villages in the world. The gompa situated above the village is one of the best preserved in the region. On the return journey to Kaza you are rewarded with some excellent views of the Damul Village.
Day 10
Kaza - Keylong - By Surface / 203 KM / approx 8 - 9 hrs
Today you would be crossing over the highest altitude on your entire safari as you travel from Kaza to Batal by jeep over the Kunzam Pass (4551 M). Drive to Khokhsar which takes you to Keylong. Visit the town. Overnight stay at the hotel/tents.
Day 11
Keylong – Manali (3978M) - By Surface / 115 KM / approx 3- 4 hrs
Drive on Manali route where the road winds through extensive fields and long river of Bhaga. Keep moving towards Rotang la pass. Finally reach Manali. Stay overnight at Manali.
Day 12
Manali to delhi – By surface / 570 KM / approx 12- 13 hrs
Drive to Delhi.
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