Overview
Lahaul Spiti – a true Heaven on Earth !!! Bordering China and Tibet, Spiti is a must visit – a place where you truly become one with nature, experience the sacred inner peace like never before, and find yourself. This is the place where the shutterbugs can never shut and every moment will offer something unique – from deserts to cold mountains to oldest Monasteries to free flowing rivers cutting through mountains and occasional greenery. The warmth and hospitality of Spitians compensate for the cold weather …. 
Dates: 13th July to 21st July
Highlights
- Exploring Kumaon’s rustic environment
- Visiting some of the Oldest Monasteries
- Assistance of a Local Buddhist Guide throughout the tour for that extra insight into the region
- Visiting an Old Age Mummy at Giu Village
- Staying in Monasteries
- Visiting Key, Komic, Kibber Monasteries – some of the oldest Monasteries in the World
- Driving through the Highest Motorable Road in the World
- Trying your hand at Milking Cows, learning how to make Yak Milk’s Ghee, Butter and Cheese
- Learning how to cook local food with the locals
- Experiencing Kinnauri Nati – the mesmerizing local dance of Kinnaur and Spiti
Itinerary
On arrival in Chandigarh, we embark on the journey to Spiti with our stop being Manali.
Manali: Manali at the northern end of the Kullu Valley in Himachal Pradesh, is a hill station situated at a height of 2050 m (6398 ft.) in the Himalayas. It is a popular tourist spot for Indians in summer and a magical, snow-covered place in winter. Visit the local market in the evening.
Evening check in at the hotel. Overnight at Manali
Meals: Dinner
We’ll leave early next morning and drive up to Chandratal Lake. Enjoy your afternoon at camp viewing half moon lake – Chandra Taal (meaning the Lake of the Moon), situated in the Spiti part of the Lahaul and Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh (India). The name of the lake originates from its crescent shape. It is situated at an altitude of about 4,300metres (14,100ft) in the Himalayas. This evening spend sometime bonding with each other over a fun Bonfire. Overnight at Camp.
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
After breakfast in the camp, we will move forward towards Kibber village which is among the biggest villages in Lahaul-Spiti region and situated at an altitude of 4250 meters and holds the distinction of being the highest motorable road in the World!! As you move further into Spiti, you will witness the drastic change in the scenery – from greenery to deserts. The surroundings offer a good spot for wildlife sighting. Overnight stay at Kibber at Monastery.
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
After breakfast at Kibber Monastery drive to Komic Monastary and also visit the world famous Key Monastery located at an altitude of 4120 meters. We’ll walk around it and see the vast collection of ancient paintings and manuscripts contained in the large complex. Key monastery belongs to Gelugpa Sect of Tibetan Buddhist and is the biggest monastery of Spiti Valley and a religious training centre for Lamas. later proceed to Demul village for the night halt.
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
After breakfast, we drive to Dhankar. Here we visit Dhankar monastery. Dhankar is also the ancient capital of Spiti and seat of Spitian Kings. There are ruins of an ancient castle and a monastery constructed in 16th century. It’s situated on top of a steep mountain ridge overlooking the valley.
From here we proceed to Lahlung village which is a small picturesque village inhabited by friendly and helpful villagers. Lahlung monastery is famous for its statue of Three Cornered Buddha symbolising Buddha looking in every direction. It is believed that Rinchen Zangpo, founder of major monasteries in Spiti planted a willow tree and instructed the locals to construct a monastery if the tree survives. Today, an ancient willow tree stands in front of the monastery constructed in 10th century.
In the evening we reach Tabo monastery and retire for a peaceful night stay at the Monastery.
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
After breakfast proceed to Giu village.
Giu: Giu is a small village, comprising barely of about 50 to 75 houses, situated at a height of approx 10,000 feet above the sea level, between the towns of Sumdo and Tabo, located around 40 kilometers away from Tabo Monastery. A yellow colored large cemented gate marks the deviation towards the village on NH-22, from where it is a steep 8 kms climb on a “somewhere good-somewhere bad” road to the hilltop where Giu is located. It is the Mummy that puts the small village of Giu on the globe.
In the evening reach Sumdo village. Overnight stay at the homestay.
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
After breakfast we proceed to Kaza monastery.
In the afternoon upon reaching Kaza monastery, you’ll be having the cooking class along with the locals. This evening enjoy the local food and Kinnauri Nati (an intriguing local dance performance indigenous to the Kinnaur – Spiti region) by the local artists. Rest of the evening is free for leisure – you can explore the nearby destination on your own – this being our last night in the region
Overnight stay at the homestay.
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
After breakfast we proceed to Kaza monastery.
In the afternoon upon reaching Kaza monastery, you’ll be having the cooking class along with the locals. This evening enjoy the local food and Kinnauri Nati (an intriguing local dance performance indigenous to the Kinnaur – Spiti region) by the local artists. Rest of the evening is free for leisure – you can explore the nearby destination on your own – this being our last night in the region
Overnight stay at the homestay.
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Today morning, start at 3:00 am for Chandigarh to catch your afternoon flight.
Meals: Packed Breakfast
Inclusions/Exclusions
- 01 Night stay at Manali
- 01 Night stay at Chandratal Camp
- 01 Night stay at Kibber
- 01 Night stay at Demul
- 01 Night stay at Tabo
- 01 Night stay at Sumdo
- 01 Night stay at Kaza
- 01 Night stay at Manali
- Breakfast & dinner at the Hotel
- All tours & Sightseeing in 12 seated tempo traveler from Chandigarh to Chandigarh
- 01 Buddhist Guide throughout the Tour
- 01 Tour Manager throughout the Tour
- Flight Charges till and from Chandigarh
- Entrance fee at local monuments, museums which are not part of the Itinerary
- Activity fees which are not part of the Itinerary
- Cost for any Optional Activity
- Meals not mentioned in the Itinerary
- Local transport beyond what is mentioned in the itinerary
- Personal expenses such as beverages, tips, room service etc.
- Any costs arising from flight delays, change in weather conditions, strikes etc. which are beyond our control
- Travel insurance
- Anything not mentioned in “Inclusions”
Hotels
Manali – Hotel snow peak retreat
Chandratal – Camps
Kibber – Stay at Monastery Guest House
Demul – Local Homestay
Tabo – Tabo Monastery stay
Sumdo Village – Local Homestay
Kaza – Skya Abode Homestay
Manali – Hotel Snow peak retreat
