Introduction:
Between India and Tibet lies a beautiful land that is the most remote desert in the mountains. The rich Buddhist culture has been a part of the Spiti Valley tradition. Spiti Valley is the ideal place for those who enjoy adventure in the Himalayan regions and are looking to experience the extreme weather. You will have the opportunity to experience small Himalayan villages and monasteries, beautiful lakes, green meadows and snow-capped mountains. The warm, friendly locals will also provide you with a wealth of experiences. Be prepared for the challenging trek in Spiti valley, with its rocky trails and snow-blocked passes.
How do you reach?
From any Indian city, you can travel by train, road or air to Manali and Shimla.
Via Manali – If you’re coming from Manali, Kullu will be your nearest airport. You can either take a bus to Manali or hire a taxi from there. This will take approximately 12 hours. Many Volvo facilities are available from Delhi and Chandigarh, to Manali. There are no direct trains from Delhi to Manali, but you can take the train to Chandigarh then take a cab to Manali. This will take approximately 9 hours.
This is the final route to take if you’re traveling from Manali Rohtang pass-Chatru Kunzum Pass to Kaza Spiti valley.
Via Shimla: Are you planning to fly? Take a flight to Chandigarh, then fly to Spiti Valley. If you want to stop at the Sangla valley along the way, then add two days to your trip. You can travel by train to Chandigarh railway station. From there, you will be able to get a bus or Tempo or you can rent a taxi or cab for Spiti valley.
Finally, this is the route if you are traveling from Shimla-Kinnaur-Reckong Peo/ Kalpa-Nako-Kaza-Spiti valley.
A Short Iternary in Spiti Vale
This is your 10 day itinerary in Spiti valley
Day 1:Departure from Delhi to Shimla
Day 2 – Shimla to Narkanda (100km 3,4 hours drive).
Day 3 – Narkanda and Chitkul
Day 4 – Chitkul To Kalpa
Day 5: Kalpa to Dhankar via Gue, Nako Tabo
Day 6 – Pin Valley through Dhankar to Kaza
Day 7 – Kaza-Kibber- Komik–Hikkim-Langza – Return to Kaza
Day 8 – Kaza to Batal/ Chandratal lake
Day 9 – Batal to Manali/ChandraTal lake
Day 10 – Reach Delhi at the end of your tour
Things to Do in Spiti Valley
Chandratal lake is close to many camping and tourist spots. These are just a few of the many places you’ll find in Spiti Valley.
Passes
Baralacha-La is one of the most difficult passes on the Leh Manali Highway. Here you can see the three ranges Zanskar and Pir Panjal as well as the Great Himalayn Ranges.
Next comes the Kunzum Pass, which links the Spiti Valley to the Lahaul valley. It is at 15,650 feet the highest motorable mountain pass. It is only accessible 3-4 months per year.
Monasteries
The Spiti Valley has a rich Buddhist cultural tradition. Here you will find the most important monasteries of the Kaza region. This monastery also serves as a training centre for Llamas. The monastery is 1000 years old and has been in existence ever since the 11th Century. There are many other monasteries that you can visit, including Tabo, Kungri, Dhankar and Gandola.
Lakes
Next, you will find the beautiful lakes. Named after the half-moon shape of the lake, Chandratal is the beautiful Chandratal lake.’Lake of the Moon’ is another name for it. This lake’s unique feature is its ability to reflect sunlight and change color as it goes. It is also a popular night camping spot that is open from July through September.
This place is charming because of the many lakes such as Dhankar Lake, Sopona Lake, Sopona Lake, and Suraj Tal Lake. It is also home to the 21st highest lake worldwide and the third largest lake in India.
Villages
You will be delighted by the hospitality of the simple people. Nako village, located at 1200 feet close to the Shimla Spiti highway (which is on the Indo Tibetan border), is one example. You can also find comfortable homestays in Lagza and Tashigang as well as Kibber, Losar, Komic, and Kibber.
The Best Time to Visit
Summer is the best season to visit. It has a pleasant temperature of 25° during the day and a nightly low of 3-4 degrees at night. To avoid snowfalls, it is best to travel between May-June & September-November.
Plan your trip to Spity Valley and get that adrenalin rush.