Spiti Valley

The Mystics of Spiti

Tour Code: RO_04

Day 1

Manali – Kaza

[su_dropcap]W[/su_dropcap]e’ll start our day early for the long adventurous road trip from Manali to Kaza. We will drive over the Rohtang pass overlooking high snow capped mountains, dry and rugged terrain, some hidden waterfalls, and the rough Chandra river. While driving past Chhattru and Batal, the road leads to Kunzum Pass (15000 ft). We will take a halt at Kunzum pass to visit the Buddhist shrine, and spend time appreciating the breathtaking landscapes. We will reach Kaza in the evening and relax there. Overnight stay in Kaza Guesthouse.

Day 2

Key Monastery and Kibber Village

Start your day with a walk around Kaza village. After breakfast, we’ll visit the 1000-year-old Key Monastery which sits on the top of a mountain, overlooking Spiti Valley and a huge river bed. It’s the oldest training centre for Lamas and houses hundreds of monks. The monastery looks like a fort as it has been damaged multiple times in the past due to war, fire, and earthquakes. Continuous renovations have resulted in a haphazard growth of box-like structures. After this awe-inspiring visit to the monastery, we’ll climb a little further and visit Kibber village. Kibber used to be the world’s highest village with a motorable road. At an altitude of 14, 200 feet, this is guaranteed to give you some awe inspiring views. Overnight stay in Kaza Guesthouse.

Day 3

Tabo Monastery and Dhankar

Head to Tabo to see the monastery also known as the “Ajanta of the Himalayas,” which is a little over a 1,000 years old. According to legend, the murals or Thangkas were made in a single night. Time permitting, we can hike into the meditation caves. Afterwards, we’ll visit Dhankar, which used to be the capital of Spiti. We will spend some time in Dhankar Monastery that sits perched on a cliff overlooking the confluence of Spiti and Pin River. The cliff base of the monastery has become a little unstable due to the erosion caused by wind and rain. Hence, currently it is in urgent need of restoration. The monastery was declared as one of the 100 most endangered sites in the world by ‘The World’s Monument Fund.’ We will also pay a visit to Dhankar Fort which used to be the king of Spiti’s seat. Overnight stay in Dhankar guesthouse.

Day 4

Trekking Dhankar Lake and Visiting Demul

We will have an optional sunrise trek* to Dhankar lake in the morning. The beauty of witnessing sunrise over this clear pristine lake is incredible. Post that, we will drive to Demul, which is becoming the Spiti’s model sustainable village. We will spend our day getting to know the locals, immersing ourselves in community activities by walking along with shepherds or taking part in farming. Here, you will also have the option to choose various paid activities* like Bhuchen dance performance, cooking classes, and meeting a Thangka painter or an Amchi (Tibetan Doctor). Depending on your interest level, you can sign up for these activities. Overnight stay in Demul homestay.

Day 5

Khungri Monastery, Mudh and Langza

Today, we will head to Pin Valley which is home to snow leopards and Siberian ibex and to Buchen Lamas. We shall visit Khungri Monastery on the way to Mudh – the last village in Pin Valley. We will spend some time around Mudh and then head to Langza for a homestay. Before Langza, we will also make a short stop at Hikkim, one of the highest villages in Asia, which has the world’s highest post office. After a visit to the post office, we will stop at Langza which is located at an altitude of 14500 feet. It’s famous for its fossils and a statue of the Buddha overlooking the mountain ranges. Overnight stay in Langza Homestay.

Day 6

Camping at Chandra Tal Lake

Post breakfast, we will start driving towards Chandra Tal with a stop at Komic Monastery, which is the highest monastery in the world with a motorable road. We shall cross Lohsar village and Kunzum Pass on our way, a 20 minute hike from the road to the lake. Chandra Tal, which is shaped like the moon and hence the name, is also the source of the Chandra River. The lake once used to be a temporary place of stay for traders from Tibet and Ladakh, who used to go to Spiti and Kullu. On a bright day, it’s a perfect place to star gaze in the night. If you are lucky, you can also get an uninterrupted view of Milky Way galaxy. Overnight stay in Parasol Camps at lake.

Day 7

Manali

This is going to be the last day of our trip. We will leave from Chandratal in the morning and reach Manali in the evening (later than 6 PM), where the tour will come to an end.

Tour package includes –