Overview :-
Spiti is a remote Himalayan valley in the northeastern part of Himachal Pradesh. Spiti means “the middle land”, owing to its location between Tibet and India. The place is situated at a very high altitude and is popular for its scenic beauty. The region of Spiti is famous for its Buddhist culture and monasteries.
About the Spiti Valley road trip:-
There are two routes to the stunning Spiti Valley. One, via Manali and the other via Shimla – which is also called the Hindustan – Tibet Highway.
In the months of April and May, before the Manali – Kaza Highway opens Spiti Valley to a busy, bustling world, there is a fantastic opportunity to explore Spiti Valley at its tranquil and peaceful best through the Hindustan – Tibet Highway starting from Shimla. While the rest of the country is baking in the smoldering summers, the high altitude mountains of the Spiti Valley are usually still trenched in snow. This Spiti Valley tour for seven days is perfect for you if you want a break from the heat, and only have time in months of April and May.
Drive through one of the most beautiful picture-perfect roads in the world while halting along in dreamy mountain villages. This Spiti Valley tour from Shimla goes through Kalpa of the Kinnaur Valley and finally enters Spiti through the village of Nako. Explore ancient thousand-year-old monasteries, ride a Yak, live in authentic homestays and spend time in some of the highest villages in Asia. Dubbed as “The world's most adventurous road”, this Hindustan-Tibet highway is a visual masterpiece. Don’t let that misnomer frighten you because despite its hairpin curves and steep drops, this road has been safely ferrying travellers since the 1850s.
Watch time stand still as you gaze into crystal-clear blue skies, pristine, turquoise rivers nestled between snow-capped peaks and a never-ending expanse of barren mountains. Sounds enticing, doesn’t it?
Itinerary :-
Day 01 :- MANALI – ROHTANG PASS – KUNZUM LA PASS – KAZA.
Meals:- BREAKFAST & DINNER.
After breakfast check out from hotel as it is the longest day’s journey driving to Kaza (9-10 hrs). Today we will first cross the Rohtang pass (3,980 metres / 13058 feet) and enter Lahaul Spiti valley. We will stop for various photo stops to the rohtaang pass and will stop for lunch break at Chatru. Later we continue our drive to kaza over Kunzum pass, 4,558 metres / 14,950 feet). We will visit the temple on the Kunzum Pass where travellers say prayers before heading down the pass. The Kunzum Pass provides beautiful views of CB ranges and Glaciers. Today you will experience the ever-changing landscapes after, every couple of kilometers. We will arrive Kaza – the administrative headquarters of Spiti valley by evening. Overnight stay in hotel in Kaza.
Day 02:- KAZA – DHANKAR – PIN VALLEY – KAZA.
Meals:- BREAKFAST & DINNER.
Join the morning prayers at the Tabo Monastery which was constructed in 996 AD. It is a complex that consists of 9 Temples, 23 Chortens, a monk’s chamber and an extension that houses the nun’s chamber. Above the enclave is a series of caves which are used by the monks. The monastery contains large number of scriptures and pieces of art including wall paintings and stucco. There is also a modern Gompa and a painting school founded by the Dalai Lama. Check out of the hotel in Tabo and head to Kaza (3870 metres above sea level). On your way to Kaza (the capital of Spiti Valley), visit Dhankar Gompa, the traditional capital of Spiti. This hilltop fort that overlooks the Spiti Valley used to be a jail earlier. Today, more than 160 lamas reside here. Notable sights at Dhankar Gompa include a statue of Vairochana (Dhayan Buddha) consisting of 4 figures seated back to back in addition to various crumbling Thangkas. Also enjoy to visit Pin Valley on the way. Enjoy to see the beautiful valley gifted by God to Himachal Pradesh. Evening time reached at Kaza. Overnight stay & Dinner at the Kaza.
Day 03 :- KAZA CITY TOUR
Meals:- BREAKFAST & DINNER
Early in the morning after breakfast get ready for visit local sight-seeing. Visit to Ki Monastery, Kibber Village, Comick Village & nature of beautiful Kaza. Full day sight-seeing and back to hotel. Dinner & O/N stay into hotel at Kaza. KIBBER VILLAGE Kibber also Kyibar is a village high in the Spiti Valley in the Himalayas at 4270 metres or 14,200 ft in Himachal Pradesh in northern India. It contains a monastery and the Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary. Kibber lies in a narrow valley on the summit of a limestone rock. It is located 16 kilometers from Kaza and a bus service connects them in the milder summer months. Agriculture forms the backbone of the local economy and lush green fields are abundant. Villagers count on the 3 day traditional trade route over Parang La to Ladakh to barter their horses for yaks or to sell for cash. The village has around 80 houses, unique, given that they are made of stone instead of mud or adobe brick used extensively elsewhere in the Spiti valley. Kibber has a civil dispensary, a high school, a post office, a telegraph office and a community TV set in the village. Kibber Monastery was founded by Serkang Rimpochhe of Tabo. Ki Monestry Kye Gompa (also spelled Ki, Key or Kee - pronounced like English key) is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery located on top of a hill at an altitude of 4,166 metres (13,668 ft) above sea level, close to the Spiti River, in the Spiti Valley of Himachal Pradesh, Lahaul and Spiti district, India. It is the biggest monastery of Spiti Valley and a religious training centre for Lamas. It reportedly had 100 monks in 1855. Arrive Kaza in Evening and check into the Hotel. Dinner and O/N stay into Snow Lion hotel at Kaza.
Day 04:- KAZA – KUNZUM PASS – CHANDERTAL
Meals:- BREAKFAST & DINNER
After breakfast start early from Kaza, travel to ChanderTal Lake via Kunzum la pass.Today we will trek 18 kms from Batal to reach Chandratal and it will take us about 5-6 hrs, while on this trek we will get a nice view of the Lahaul range, peaks like Minar(6172 M), Talagiri(6279 M), Tara Pahar(6227 M) and Mulkila (6517 M). Dinner and overnight stay in tents..Overnight stay at the chandertal camps.
Day 05:- CHANDERTAL – ATAL TUNNEL – SISSU - MANALI
Meals :- BREAKFAST & DINNER
After breakfast Chander Tal –Manali by road and way back via Atal tunnel situated on eastern Pir Panjal range of the Himalyas, Enjoy the scenic view of snow covered peaks at Rohtang, Atal Tunnel, Sissu, Solang Valley . Leave back to Manali Overnight Stay at Manali.