Spiti Winter Ride

Overview

Winters in the mountains are the most amazing time of the year. As the dust of the summers settle down and the temperature plummets, the incoming snowfall transforms the landscape from golden brown to pristine white. It ends a cycle of life to give way to the new beginnings of New Year. As the roads to Spiti have seen significant improvement in the recent years, visiting Spiti in winters has become much easier. As the Spitians are opening their warm houses for guests the tourism during winters is on the rise. We bring you a great week long itinerary to show you the best of Spiti in winters. Be among the first few who explore the valley in winters with us.

Highlights

1. Journey over the ancient Indo-Tibet Highway

2. Stay at best in region & best in class hotels / homestay with heating

3. Visit ancient monasteries of Tabo, Dhankar, Komic, Kee

4. Send postcards to friends and family from highest post office at Hikkim (4440m)

5. Witness countless number of stars and the Milky Way in the pitch dark nights of Spiti

6. Experience life at extreme in the sub zero temperatures of Spiti

7. Take a short hike to the hidden Dhankar Lake (optional)

8. Join your hands in helping the families at homestays to cook local dishes

Detailed itinerary

Day 1 – Shimla to Kalpa – Overnight at Kalpa

We pick you up bus stand at Shimla and so our trip begins. The drive takes you over the hills of the Shimla district through the towns of Kufri and Narkanda. After the initial dash over the hills, the road descends down to the Sutlej valley as we continue to the town of Rampur on the southern bank. The roads are carved on vertical rock faces at several locations giving itself a distinct identity. This road is popularly known as Indo-Tibet Highway. You’ll be welcomed by several hydroelectric power projects as you enter Kinnaur district, the major one at Karcham where a dam is built at the confluence of Baspa and Sutlej rivers. We continue along Indo-TIbet highway before turning left and climbing the pine forest slopes till we reach Kalpa. A beautiful Himalayan village which offers one the best views of Snow Peaks right across the valley looming large in front of you. Kinner Kailash peak is one of the abodes of Lord Shiva.

Day 2 – Kalpa to Nako to Gue to Tabo – Overnight at Tabo

Today is the day where we enter the Spiti Valley. The road from Kalpa initially descends to the Indo-Tibet Highway and continues on the left bank of Sutlej till Khab, the confluence of Spiti and Sutlej. We leave Sutlej behind and continue upstream of Spiti. Suddenly you can see the landscape has transformed with barren mountains all around. After an hour climb we reach Nako, another little village situated at an altitude of 3800m.

The main attraction of this village is the artificial lake, which in the late spring is a sight to behold with pink flowers bloom all around the lake. After a brief stop at the lake we descend down to the river bed and continue upstream of Spiti crossing several villages – Chango, Shalkar, Sumdo, Hurling; before we enter the town of Tabo. Chos Khor Gompa is a 1020 year monastery located in the quaint village of Tabo. The monastery is one of the most ornately decorated depicting the life of the Buddha Pantheon covering its entire walls. You can spend enough time here talking to the monks trying to understand what a thangka painting is. Spend your day relaxing in the fields of Tabo or hike up to the caves, the monks used to meditate. Overnight stay at Tabo.

Day 3 – Tabo to Dhankar, Lhalung to Kaza – Overnight at Kaza

Today we take the road to Kaza till we reach Sichling village, from here the road winds up to the Dhangkar monastery, which was once the capital of Spiti, under King’s rule. Dhang means cliff and kar means fort, the fort situated on the edge of a cliff. Dhangkar Gompa or monastery is one of the architectural master pieces of the Buddhist yore. Built 800 years ago this is one of the endangered archaeological sites in the world. Experience the old world feeling of the Dhangkar monastery.

An hour and half hike takes you the beautiful Dhankar lake, relax and click as many photos on the shores of this beautiful lake before heading back to the village. From Dhangkar we drive towards one of the little know villages of Spiti, Lhalung. With Snow capped peaks in the background and the cultivation fields built on the slope of the mountain Lhalung is a photographer’s charm. Golden Temple or the Serkhong Gompa is another 1020 year old monastery adorning this little village.

Day 4 – Kaza to Kee, Kibber, Gette to Kaza – Overnight at Kaza

A trip to Spiti is incomplete without a visit to its iconic monastery at Kee. Built on top of a hill the main shrine is surrounded by residential quarters, administrative buildings are built in the shape of a pyramid. This ancient marvel is a photographers delight. You’ll further visit the villages high villages of Kibber, Chicham and Gette which is a great vantage point to see the vast Spiti Valley before returning for overnight stay at Kaza

Day 5 – Kaza to Hikkim, Komic, Langza to Kaza – Overnight at Kaza

High on Himalayas is the theme of the day. We leave Kaza and immediately gain altitude as we head towards the village of Komic – the highest village in the world with a motorable road at a height of 4580m. Tangyud Gompa (Monastery) is the jewel of the place. The old and new monastery shows the devout Buddhist beliefs of the locals. We retrace the path towards Hikkim, situated at 4440m this village boasts the presence of Highest Post Office in the World. Send postcards to your family and friends from here.

The road continuously meanders above 4400m till you reach the village of Langza, with the Snow Capped peaks jutting out in front of you in every corner leaving you breathless with its sheer magnitude. Langza, the most scenic village of Spiti, situated under the shadows of 6303m peak called Mt. Chau Chau Khang Nilda and adorned by the large statue of Buddha.

Day 6 – Kaza to Kalpa – Overnight at Kalpa

After a great Spitian winter experience we start our journey back to the cities but not without a final blast. We retrace the roads back to Kinnaur via Tabo, Nako till Powari. Here we climb up towards Recong Peo-the headquarters of Kinnaur and continue higher to the little village of Kalpa. Kalpa offers magnificent view of Kinner Kailash range from up close and across the valley. Several iconic images have been captured from the main market of the village.

Day 7 – Kalpa to Shimla drop

After the most memorable trip of your life you head back with lot of photos, videos and friends from high Himalayas and we will drop you at Volvo Bus stand to Boarding for Delhi. Overnight Journey by Volvo to Delhi.

The cost for Trip :

Starts from INR 18,999 per person* for 4 Person Travel Together

Starts from INR 16,999 per person* for 6 Person Travel Together

Starts from INR 9,999 per person* for 12 Person Travel Together

Fixed Departure: Oct – 01, 08, 15, 22, 29

                               : Nov – 05, 12, 19, 26

                               : Dec – 03, 10, 17, 24

Cost includes

Transport – Innova / Xylo / Scorpio/ Tempo Traveler – 7 Days –

Driver charges, fuel charges, toll and parking charges

Accommodation – 6 nights – double sharing with breakfast and dinner – MAP

Highly experienced driver who will act as a basic tour guide

Cost excludes

Accommodation at Shimla – Can be arranged at extra cost

Personal expenses. Tips. Inner Line Permit fees

Lunch on all days

*GST 5%

Cost incurred due to change in itinerary because of landslides, roadblocks or factors beyond human control

Anything not mentioned in the inclusions list above

Note 1: The itinerary is subject to favorable weather and road conditions. In case of a bad weather and inaccessibility to certain destinations we will try our best to make alternate plans.

Note 2: The temperatures in Spiti Valley dip up to -25°C in winters. We advise you to buy suitable clothing and gear for winters. People of Spiti live in this place throughout the year without expensive warm wear so there is nothing to be afraid of. The homestay are well insulated with a traditional/electric heater in the rooms. The homestay will have dry compost toilets in winter.