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Spiti – The Midland Cold Desert

Trip Overview
Trip Summary
Why you will love this trip?
Is this trip right for you?
Itinerary
Inclusions
Essential Trip Information

Trip Overview

Start –  Shimla

Finish – Manali

Destination – Spiti Valley

Theme – Adventure  

Duration – 8 Nights 9 days

Category – #adventure #culture #spiritual #roadtrip #leisure #slowtravel #trekking  

Style –  #comfort #backpacking #diy #fixed departure

Trip Summary

“Start your journey where the road ends! Glory lies beyond the ends!” –  Mehmet Murat ildan

The name “Spiti” means “The middle land”, i.e. the land between Tibet and India. Spiti, just like Ladakh, is also a cold desert. Spiti is still untouched as it has just recently opened its arms to tourists. Surrounded by a pristine and scenic view, there are ample opportunities to go on treks and visit the monasteries, some of which are 1000 years old. Not only this, the difficult, offroads and sometimes no roads are meant for adrenaline junkies who could  ride all the way to Spiti which is a thrilling experience in itself.

Why you will love this trip?

  • How to reach a place when the nearest airport (Kullu) is around 250 km, nearest railhead (Kalka) is around 500 km and a road stretch from one side  (Manali – Kunzum pass – Kaza) is open only for four and half months. That’s the beauty of Spiti valley. It offers one of the best adventurous and treacherous road trips both at the same time.
  • Roads of Spiti – off roads, dangerous roads, and at all no roads.
  • Less crowded – due to difficulty of access. Best suited for adventure travelers, motorcycle journeys.
  • Buddhist monasteries and the Buddhist culture.
  • Chance to see the most shy predator ie Snow Leopard.

Is this trip right for you?

  • Spiti valley is situated at 3000m above sea level. It could get difficult for those suffering from breathing problems or asthma to take this trip.
  • Old age people and women suffering with arthritis should avoid staying in camp as it requires a lot of walking.
  • Families having infants and children up to 6 years of age should avoid travelling to Spiti
  • This trip requires a lot of road travel which is very hard for people suffering from back aches.
  • Spiti is known for its unpredictable and harsh weather conditions . So,be prepared accordingly.  
  • Don’t travel to high passes if you feel something is not correct with your body.

Itinerary

Congratulations you have just begun the most adventurous trip of your life.

After arriving in Shimla you can opt for some café hopping as Shimla has some of the best cafes and go for some sightseeing . Make sure you get acclimated to the weather. Cross check your checklist for Spiti so that you don’t miss out on anything or else buy from the market.

Today, we  start our trip to Spiti by enjoying the mountainous terrain. On the way, enjoy the beauty of popular places like Kufri, Narkanda & Rampur. Enjoy the evening stay in Kalpa.

Wake up to another beautiful day in Kinnaur full of natural beauty. After breakfast at the homestay/hotel and proceed towards Tabo. Enroute Tabo you’ll visit Nako village and the famous Nako Lake. The Nako lake is usually frozen in winters and  this makes it a spectacular sight to see. After visiting Nako, proceed further towards Tabo. Overnight stay at Tabo.

Enjoy the beautiful morning in Tabo exploring the Tabo Monastery and Tabo Caves. The Tabo Monastery is one of the oldest monasteries in Spiti Valley. There are meditation caves above the Tabo village which are carved out of the mountains and were used for meditation by the monks. 

Leave Tabo and head towards Dhankar village. Visit the Dhankar monastery and make sure to enjoy the view of the Spiti river from the top of the Dhankar Castle. After Dhankar head towards Pin valley for sightseeing. The group will reach Kaza in the evening for overnight stay and dinner.

After breakfast at the homestay, visit the famous Kee monastery. Kee monastery is one of the oldest monasteries in this region.  It is also one of the oldest and most revered monasteries in the area. After kee Monastery proceed towards Kibber. Kibber village is most popular during winters as during this period a variety of Himalayan wildlife comes down from the higher mountains.

Just 5 kms ahead of Kibber is the iconic Chicham Bridge, which is one the highest bridges in Asia.

We return back to Kaza for a night stay.

Today we will visit the highest village in Asia, Komic. We will visit the highest post office in Asia i.e. Hikkim. One can send photos and postcards from Hikkim to their loved ones. Langza village is also known as the Fossil village for its richness in fossils. Evening, we get back to Kaza. Night stay in Kaza.

The most astounding and adventurous day of our journey. We start our day to reach Chandratal by crossing Kunjom pass. We start early and after driving on off roads and at some places with no roads at all, we reach the spot of the day! Chandratal, also known as Moon’s  lake, is known for its picturesque beauty. What makes it unique is that it is a land-locked lake. After enjoying our time at the lake, we hike up to the campsite and night stay in camps. One can see clear milky way in open sky.

We start our journey to Manali as early in the morning as possible. There are various river streams on the way which can be dangerous to cross around noon. We almost ride on the river bed for the most part of our journey. We reach Manali by evening. We enjoy our dinner remembering the adventurous trip.

Inclusions

Meals

7 Breakfast
6 dinner

Transport - 6 seater SUV / 10 seater tempo traveller

Shimla - Narkanda - Rampur - Reckongpeo - Pooh - Khab - Nako - Chango - Sumdo - Hoorling - Tabo - Attargo - Kaza - Rangrik - Hanse - Losar - Kunjum Pass - Chandra taal - Batal - Chota Darra - Chatru - Gramphoo - Rohtang pass - Manali

Accomodation

7 nights in hotels/ guest houses/ homestay
1 night in camp.

Add on activities (Chargeable)

1. Adventure activities - rafting/ rock climbing / trekking.
2. Entry permits.
3. Bike/scooter/ mountain bicycle on rent.

Exclusions

  1. Meals not mentioned in inclusions.
  2. Transport that is not mentioned in inclusions.
  3. Any porter charges
  4. Any entry fees to monuments/ wildlife region/trek
  5. Any expense of personal nature packaged drinking water/ phone calls/ laundry/camera,etc
  6. Any kind of travel insurance.
  7. Costs arising due to force majeure
  8. Anything which is not mentioned in the inclusions.

Essential Trip Information

Things to do in this trip? What weather you can expect during the trip? What are the best months to visit? What to pack and what not to?

READ Essential Trip Information

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Things to do in Spiti –

  1. Road trip to reach Spiti valley.
  2. Monasteries and experiencing Tibetan culture.
  3. Photography of cold desert barren mountains, the landscapes they form.
  4. Astrophotography. Due to being remotely located and less pollution, the whole Spiti valley offers a great night sky to experience the milky way by naked eyes, shooting stars, etc.
  5. Visit the world’s highest village – Komic and world highest post office at Hikkim.
  6. Trekking in the trans- Himalayan region.
  7. Visit a few of the most remotely located lakes – Chandratal and Dhankar lake.

Best time to go –

  • August and September – All the roads, passes are open from both the sides i.e. Manali as well as Shimla. Most of the snow melts away by August and September. The danger of landslides due to over flow of few rivers is less likely in this period. Day temperatures are pleasant while nights are colder.
  • Mid June – Mid October – The Kunjum pass opens around early or mid June and it’s the shortest way to reach Spiti valley via Manali. The starting of the season offers travellers picturesque sights of snow in and around the passes area. 
  • October to June – During this period, Spiti valley is accessible only via Shimla – Kinnaur highway. The stretch via Manali remains closed due to the heavy snowfall around Kunjum pass. It is difficult to reach Spiti in winters due to snowfall in various regions in Spiti, Kinnaur, Shimla – Narkanda. Due to snowfall on the roads, driving your own vehicle or motorcycle is usually not advised. Many local cab drivers of the Spiti region make this work easy for travellers wanting to experience Spiti in winters. 

Weather – 

  • June to September – Days are pleasant, nights are cooler. At some places for example, Chandra taal, temperature sometimes goes between 0 to 5 degree centigrade.
  • October – March – Days are cool, nights are colder. Average temperature is always under 10 degree centigrade while lowest temperature goes sub zero as well.
  • April and May – Both days are pleasant, nights are cooler.

How to reach Spiti –

Kaza is an administrative town of Spiti valley. It is only reachable via road. There are two entry points to reach kaza vis  – a – vis Manali and Shimla. 

  • Nearest Airport – Manali stretch – Kullu (250 km from Kaza)
  • Shimla stretch – Shimla (410 km from kaza)
  • Nearest Railhead – Shimla stretch – Kalka railway station (470 km from Kaza)

By road –

Shimla stretch – 

  • This route is a longer route to reach Kaza but is suitable for acclimatisation. Some road stretches on this route are the world’s most treacherous roads.
  • This route also covers some parts of  Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh, which is another USP of this route. 
  • The optimum number of days to travel Spiti valley via this stretch is 9 to 10 days.
  • The entry point of this route is Shimla and the exit point is Manali. This route has following Himalayan towns from entry to exit – Shimla – Narkanda – Rampur – Reckongpeo – Pooh – Khab – Nako – Chango – Sumdo – Hoorling – Tabo – Attargo – Kaza – Rangrik – Hanse – Losar – Kunjum Pass – Chandra taal – Batal – Chota Darra – Chatru – Gramphoo – Rohtang pass – Manali

Manali Stretch – 

  • The entry and exit point of this stretch is Manali. The optimum number of days to travel Spiti valley via this stretch is one week.
  • Manali – Rohtang pass – Gramphoo – Chatru – Chota Darra – Batal – Chandra Taal – Kunjum pass – Losar – Hanse – Rangrik – Kaza – Tabo – Kaza – Losar – Kunjum pass – Batal – Gramphoo – Rohtang pass – Manali   
  • These are the various detours one can take to visit monasteries and other beautiful and small villages –
  1. Nako Monastery – 1 km detour between Khab and Chango.
  2. Dhankar Monastery – 10-12 km detour between Attargo and Kaza.
  3. Kee and Kibber Monastery – around 35 km detour between Kaza and Rangrik.
  4. Komic, Langza and Hikkim villages – around 30 km detour from Kaza.

Where to stay – 

If starting from Shimla, following places can be opted for night stay –

  1. Reckong Peo (230 km from Shimla)
  2. Nako (around 100 km from reckong Peo)
  3. Dhankar (around 130 km from Nako)
  4. Langza / Hikkim village (around 60 km from Dhankar)
  5. Kaza ( around 35 km from Langza)
  6. Kaza
  7. Chandra taal (around 80 km from Kaza)
  8. Manali (around 130 km from Chandra taal)

Packing

What you need to bring will vary according to the trip style you have chosen, the places you are visiting and when you are traveling. Generally speaking, we recommend you pack as lightly as possible and make sure that you are able to carry and lift your own luggage, and walk with it for short distances or up or down a flight of stairs. Our travelers usually find the smaller their luggage is, the more they enjoy the trip without having to worry about carrying heavy bags! Aim to keep your main luggage under 15kg.

You’ll also need a day pack/bag to carry water, camera, swimming suit, hiking shoes and jacket etc. when you’re exploring during the day.

Below we have listed the essentials for this trip:

INDICAFILA ULTIMATE PACKING LIST

Due to the diversity and breadth of our trips, our ultimate packing list should be used as a guide only and is not intended to be a complete packing list to suit every trip.

What you bring will vary according to the trip style you’ve chosen, the places you’re visiting and the time of year and the weather when you’re traveling. Please check the Essential Trip Information of your chosen trip, which will detail any specific requirements for your trip and is tailored to suit your needs. It will also cover the type and size of luggage that can be taken, as for some trips there may be certain weight (ie. for trips with included flights) or size (ie. for trips using safari vehicles) restrictions for your luggage. Some packing guides for some of our most popular destinations are also listed at the bottom of this page.

If you have any questions about what to pack, please get in touch with our customer service team.

Travel documents

  • Passport/ country specific id card
  • Visas if required
  • Travel insurance policy if taken
  • 24 hr emergency travel insurance contact and policy number
  • Flight/ train/bus  e-tickets 
  • Your travel itinerary
  • Photocopies of important documents
  • A print out of your trip’s Essential Trip Information
  • Spare passport photos
  • Youth/student/seniors cards for travel discounts
  • International driving licence if needed
  • Diving licence if needed
  • Cash/credit cards
  • 2500 INR contingency fund in cash
  • Money belt or pouch

Luggage

On the vast majority of our trips you are expected to carry your own luggage. Most travellers use a small, wheeled suitcase although the type of luggage most suitable will vary depending on your trip and destination. Please refer to the packing section of your Essential Trip Information for any specific luggage requirements. You will also need a daypack/bag to use during the day.

  • Main luggage
  • Daypack
  • Padlocks & keys

Personal items

  • First aid kit
  • Personal medication/prescriptions
  • Glasses & sunglasses
  • Contact lenses and solution
  • Sunscreen
  • Lip balm
  • Insect repellent
  • Antihistamine/insect bite cream
  • Antibacterial gel/wipes
  • Motion sickness tablets
  • Travel vaccination certificates
  • Aspirin and/or paracetamol
  • Rehydration powder
  • Anti-diarrhoea pills
  • Toiletries
  • sanitary pads
  • Travel hair dryer
  • Shaving equipment
  • Small travel towel
  • Small sewing kit and safety pins
  • Consult your doctor for detailed advice on any medications

Travel accessories

  • Electrical adapter 
  • Camera and equipment
  • Spare batteries/charger
  • Phone
  • Portable games/playing cards
  • Something to read
  • Water bottle
  • Pen/paper/diary
  • Travel pillow
  • Cloth/reusable shopping bags
  • Torch/flashlight
  • Water purification method
  • Photos or postcards of your home country/family/pets to share with locals
  • Binoculars
  • DVT socks

Clothing

Please check your Essential Trip Information for details on appropriate clothing for your itinerary and destination. On some trips access to laundries may be limited so you may need to plan to hand wash your own clothes while on trip. For longer trips we recommend you choose clothing that is easy to wash and fast drying.

  • Sun hat
  • Windproof jacket
  • Long-/short-sleeved shirts
  • Jeans/trousers/shorts/skirts
  • Socks/underwear
  • Flip-flops
  • Sleepwear

Cold weather

  • Thermal underwear or base layers
  • Warm hat
  • Gloves
  • Hand warmers  
  • Waterproof boots
  • Warm socks
  • Scarf

Swimming

  • Swimwear
  • Beach towel
  • Reef shoes
  • Reef-safe sunscreen

Wet weather

  • Raincoat/waterproof jacket
  • Umbrella
  • Waterproof bags for rain protection
  • Waterproof trousers

Walking or hiking

  • Walking/trekking shoes
  • Trekking/leech socks
  • Hiking poles/walking sticks

Camping

  • Inner sleep sheet
  • Travel pillow
  • Camping mattress
  • Sleeping bag
  • Head torch/lamp