Lahaul and Spiti 09 Days
Trip Overview
World-famous author Rudyard Kipling described Lahaul and Spiti as “a world within a world”. Fringed by the stately Himalayas and boasting of landscapes that awe and inspire with their unbelievable beauty, a self-drive road trip through this region is something that will be hard to describe in words. You will drive on treacherous roads, marvel at stunning valleys of Kinnaur and Sangla; explore the picture-perfect hamlets of Tabo and Chitkul amidst others; enjoy a spiritual retreat at Tabo, Dhankar and key monasteries and even visit a post office at Hikkim – highest post office in the world! A drive through Lahaul & Spiti Valley will ensure that you come back home feeling enriched and refreshed. Roads will be as unpredictable, inspiring and challenging as life itself, but let’s face it, great things have never come out of comfort zones! So, buckle up and get ready for the most amazing Lahaul and Spiti road trip ever!
About the trip
Duration
8 Nights / 9 Days
Trip Cost
INR 85000 Per Person (EMI Option available)
Excluding 5% GST Per Person (EMI Option Available)
Trip style
Solo / Family / Couple / Friends
Landscapes
Mountains
Activities
Architecture, Road Trip, Star Gazing
Upcoming Dates
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Brochure
Itinerary
Chandigarh – Narkanda
Welcome to the ‘City Beautiful’, Chandigarh, a rare epitome of modernization co-existing with nature’s preservation. Today, the drive starts towards Narkanda, a town sprawled over with apple orchards and undulating forests of oaks and cedar. En route, you can make a stop at Timber Trail for breakfast. After breakfast, continue driving towards Narkanda. We have planned a lunch stop along the way at a scenic spot. Post lunch, continue driving and reach Narkanda by evening. You will get to stay amidst apple orchards and get a chance to explore the area. Narkanda is mostly famous for skiing and winter sports and is among the India’s oldest ski destinations with undulating beauty of nature. Tomorrow will be an interesting drive, one of the highlights of our Lahaul and Spiti Customized Holiday Package, as you will head into the Kinnaur valley and stay by the Baspa River. Dinner at the hotel.
Narkanda – Sarahan – Sangla
Today, you will start driving towards Sangla, a pretty hamlet in the gorgeous Kinnaur Valley; put on your seatbelt and get ready to enjoy this amazing part of our Lahaul and Spiti custom tour drive. En route, we will drive under the iconic rocks protruding out of the mountains and covering the highway like a rooftop. Chances are that you have seen these rocks in movies but to witness them, in reality, is a stimulating experience. After taking enough pictures at the rocks, we will set out towards Banjara Camps, a luxurious glamping experience, our not-so-humble [and we say it with utmost delight!] abode for the next two nights. At the height of 2700 m, it is surrounded by towering forest-clad mountains on all sides and is set in an apple orchard on the banks of Baspa River that surges through the valley.
Explore The Sangla/Chitkul/Raksham Region
Our Lahaul and Spiti Custom Tour Package is designed in a way that you will enjoy the beauty and adventures of Sangla Valley to the fullest on this day. Around noon, drive to Chitkul which enjoys the distinction of being India’s last village on the ancient Hindustan – Tibet route. And if this is not heavenly enough, a picnic lunch beside a rippling stream will make sure even the most unyielding amongst us will be charmed by the grace of unspoilt nature. Those looking for soft adventure can join the Raksham walk that takes you along rivers, through meadows and forests and over glaciers. And for the hardier lot, there is the challenging meadows walk that will have you seek a masseuse at the end of the day. Also, visit the pretty villages around and enjoy sitting along the Baspa River.
Sangla – Nako – Tabo
We start pre-dawn to catch the early morning serenity of Kalpa, an important destination in your personalized itinerary of Lahaul and Spiti. Kalpa is the only place in India where pine nuts (chilkozas) grow! And you cannot but feel awestruck by the Kinnaur Kailash peak looking upon you! Get ready for a drive that you will remember for the rest of your life! With the guidance of our trip planner, you are going to drive on the World’s Most Treacherous Road today as you proceed towards Tabo, a small town on the banks of Spiti River, reaching in the evening for a much-deserved rest. This seemingly quaint village of mud huts holds beautiful attractions. It is situated in a bowl-shaped flat valley with the Tabo Monastery lying at the bottom of the valley, unlike other monasteries which are usually perched atop hills.
Tabo – Kaza Via Dhankar Monastery
Check out Tabo with its impressive mud monastery dating back to 996 A.D., the oldest in the country and also the largest monastic complex in Spiti Valley. It boasts of nine temples, twenty-three chortens, and chambers for monks and nuns and is second to Tibet’s Tholing Monastery in terms of its religious sanctity. Next stop will be at Dhankar Monastery. Strategically built at the highest point in Spiti Valley at an elevation of 3700 m above sea level, the Monastery is perched atop a 1000 ft-high spur overlooking the point where the Spiti and Pin Rivers converge. After visiting the Monastery, we continue driving towards Kaza, but before reaching our beautiful hotel, we make a quick stop for refuelling at the highest petrol pump in the world!
Exploring Kaza – Visit, High Altitude Villages Of Langza, Hikkim & Komic
Time to explore Kaza, a curated travel experience to make you feel the beauty and thrill of Himachal. The villages around Kaza are believed to be the highest in the world, mostly caught in their time warp. Amongst other main attractions, you will also pay a visit to the Key Monastery, prettily sitting atop a cliff overlooking the spectacular valley below. Another highlight of today will be visiting the Buddha statue at Langza, which is a relatively new addition to the landscape. It feels as if the Buddha has been made to sit there to keep an eye on the pristine valley. Make sure to send postcards back home to your family & friends from Hikkim, the highest post office in the world before visiting Komic, the highest village in the world connected by a motorable road.
Kaza – Manali
The seventh day will prove to be another one to clock for the driving aficionados. You will leave very early this morning for Manali with 190 km of momentous terrain to conquer. The route from Kaza to Manali will have you crossing the famed mountain pass of Kunzum. Situated at a height of 4590 m, Kunzum Pass rests on the eastern Kunzum Range of the Himalayas. After crossing the Kunzum pass, head towards the world-famous Atal Tunnel, at a length of 9.02 km, it is the longest tunnel above 10,000 feet in the world. It is a highway tunnel built under the Rohtang Pass in the eastern Pir Panjal range of the Himalayas on the Leh-Manali Highway. The changing hues of the landscape will make for a captivating backdrop to our adventure.
Manali
Still sleeping? No problem. You deserve it! The penultimate day of your journey will offer a much needed break. Call it a “Duvet Day”, “Sightseeing Day”, “Shopping Day” or anything else; it’s certainly not a driving day. The final stopover on this road trip is the beautiful Himachal township of Manali. With its quaint cafes, the lively Mall Road, several antique temples and Buddhist Gompas, along with gushing waterfalls and lakes, Manali’s laidback yet invigorating vibe makes it a favourite amongst travellers. If feeling energetic, you can even visit the beautiful Jogni waterfalls. In the evening, enjoy the local restaurants and walking on the mall road.
Departure
Spiti – Are you Serene or Sanguine? At once, you are massive, brown, intimidating, silent, sombre, still and serene. Lost in myself, I turn around and see – You are green, vibrant and dynamic. Streams gushing, rocks rolling, rivers flowing, flowers blooming – blue, red, and yellow, and all other hues? I take a little of you, leave a little of me, realize, we are a bit of both. Stupefying and splendid!” These lines encapsulate, in the most lyrical way possible, the absolutely thrilling and otherworldly quality of this experience. Challenging, unpredictable and intensely stimulating, this is one journey that will have you manoeuvring through the complexities of life itself. It’s time to head back to your chosen destination. If you plan on extending your stay, we’ll be happy to assist you.
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Useful information
Trip Inclusions
Accommodation on twin sharing basis with breakfast Chauffeur driven vehicle including fuel and parking fees Activities & Sightseeing as per itinerary Meal – Breakfast, Lunch, Tea And Dinner Local Guide tour monument visitor Entry Fee All Inner Line Permits For Restricted Areas Private Airport Transfers
Trip Exclusions
Any Flight Ticket Lunch on Last Day Meals And Drinks Not Mentioned Alcoholic Beverages Insurance And Documentation Cost Such As Travel Insurance, Visa Applications Etc. Any Cost Arising Out Of Unforeseen Circumstances Like Ill-health, Vehicle Breakdown Or Repairs Damage Accruing From Land Blocks, Bad Weather. Additional Accommodation Charges Due To Unforeseen Delays In The Journey Any Charges For Carrying Video Camera Or Still Camera Any Hotel, Subsistence Or Other Cost Incurred Prior To The Official Start Date Of The trip And After The Official End Date Of The trip 5% GST
Frequent Asked Questions (FAQs)
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