Kinnaur & Spiti Explorer is an introduction into the landscape, cultures and traditions of the Spitian and Kinnauri people.Located in the western part of Himachal Pardesh, Kinnaur and Lahaul – Spiti districts have borders with China. While Kinnaur is lower in elevation and comprised of Hindus and Buddhists, Spiti Valley is predominantly Buddhist and was a part of present day Tibet in earlier times.
On our way from Shimla we pass through the Kinnaur valley and its meadows, farms and pastures and later high altitude dry mountain desert landscape of Spiti Valley. These less explored lands takes you back in time with the simple yet joyful lives of the people living in these harsh terrains and climate.
During the tour we visit temples and monasteries, stay at the highest inhabited villages in the world, camp around Chandratal Lake, drive across and savor the views of the stunning Himalayas, visit high altitude lakes and pass through the high passes of Rohtang La & Kunzum La. This is an offbeat journey through regions that have less exposed to commercial tourism.
Essential Info
Cost: Rs 29500
Country: India
Start: New Delhi
End: New Delhi
Start Date: 22nd June’ 2019
End Date: 30th June’ 2019
Duration: 9 Days
Group Size : Min 5 / Max 15
Theme: Culture, Adventure, Experience
Highlights
– Camp at Chandratal Lake
– Beautiful high altitude drives
– Village Homestay at the highest inhabited village of Komic
– Visit the highest post office at Hikkim
– Monastic tours
– Visit Nako, Chandratal and Dhankar lakes
– Visit the meadows and Baspa river at Chitkul
– Experience Kinnauri and Spitian culture and lifestyle
ITINERARY
Day 1: June 22nd: Delhi to Shimla
Delhi to Shimla by overnight volvo bus.
Day 2: June 23rd: Shimla to Sangla
Arrive in Shimla early in the morning and after breakfast leave for Kinnaur. Kinnaur district is a mountainous district, ranging in altitude from 2,320 to 6,816 meters. It is also one of the smallest districts in India by population. By late afternoon/evening we reach Sangla, located on the banks of the Baspa river. Overnight at Sangla.
Day 3: June 24th: Sangla – Chitkul – Kalpa
After breakfast, we leave for Chitkul the last village close to the Tibet border on the Hindustan – Tibet Road. Both Chitkul and Sangla is set in a beautiful valley with rolling hills, meadows and farms made more breathtaking with the Baspa river meandering through these pristine settings. Later we drive to Kalpa and reach by late afternoon. Kalpa, Sangla, and Chitkul are inhabited by the Kinnauri people and is famous for its apple orchards. The local inhabitants follow a syncretism of Hinduism and Buddhism, and many temples in Kalpa are dedicated to both Hindu and Buddhist gods and goddesses. In the evening we explore Kalpa and see the majestic views of the Kinnaur – Kailash mountains, visit the temples and monasteries and experience the life style of the Kinnauries. Overnight at Kalpa.
Day 4: June 25th: Kalpa to Tabo
After breakfast leave for Tabo. On the way we stop at Nako and explore Nako village and the beautiful Nako lake. Nako Lake ( 12,014 ft above sea level ) is a high altitude lake in Kinnaur. It forms part of the boundary of Nako village and seems that the village is half buried in the lake’s border. The lake is surrounded by willow and poplar trees. Nearby are Buddhist temples, a foot like impression ascribed to the saint Padmasambhava and several caves where it is believed that Guru Padmasambhava meditated and gave discourse to followers.Leave for Tabo and explore Tabo in the evening. Overnight at Tabo.
Day 5: June 26th: Tabo – Kaza – Komic
Leave for Kaza early morning and on the way visit Dhankar lake, fort and monastery. The Dhankar monastery is one of the most beautiful monuments of Spiti valley. Dhankar monastery complex comprises a number of multi-storeyed buildings perched together. Perched high on a cliff over the valley, this is a superb example of Spiti’s traditional architectural skills. This was once the castle of the ruler of Spiti, the Nano – and today, dhankar is a repository of Buddhist scriptures in the Bhoti script.The high altitude Dhankar lake can be reached by a 1 hour walk from the monastery. Explore Kaza and leave for Komic Village, the highest inhabited village in Asia. We stay at a village homestay in Komic and experience the Spitian village life. Overnight at Komic village Homestay.
Day 6: June 27th: Kaza – Ki – Chandratal Lake
After breakfast visit Ki Monastery in the morning. Ki Monastery is one oif the most important monasteries in Lahaul – Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh. It is the biggest monastery of Spiti Valley and a religious training center for Lamas. In the architectural definitions given to various monasteries, Ki falls in the ‘Pasada’ style which is characterized by more stories than one and often plays the role of a fort-monastery. Situated on a hilltop it enjoys splendid views of the mountains all around and the Spiti river flowing down in the valley. By afternoon we reach Komic village. Later we leave for Chandratal Lake. After crossing the beautiful and majestic Kunzum Pass at 15060 feet above sea level we reach the beautiful high altitude Chandratal Lake by evening. Overnight camp at Chandratal Lake.
Day 7: June 28th: Chandratal Lake – Manali
After breakfast explore Chandratal Lake and later leave for Manali. Reach by late afternoon. Overnight at Manali.
Day 8: June 29th: Manali
Explore Manali in the morning and by evening take overnight volvo to Delhi.
Day 9: June 30th: Delhi
Arrive in Delhi in the morning and end of tour.
Chitkul
Sangla
Kalpa
Tabo
Kaza
Nako
Langza
Komic
Dhankar
Chandratal Lake
Manali
STAY, FOOD & TRANSPORT
The timings are tentative and the exact timings will be sent to you by the org once you book tickets
INCLUSIONS
– 1 Nights stay at Sangla, 1 Night stay at Kalpa, 1 Night stay at Tabo, 1 Night stay at Komic, 1 Night stay at Chandratal Lake, 1 Night stay at Manali
– Breakfast on all days
– Two dinners
– SUV for all tours and transfers
– Taxes and Service charges
– Bus tickets from Delhi to Shimla & Manali to Delhi
EXCLUSIONS
– Flight Charges ( Your city to Delhi and back )
– Any extra excursions and tours other than mentioned
– Entry tickets & Camera charges at sightseeing points ( wherever applicable )
– Dinner & Lunch ( two dinners included )
– Other than mentioned
For this trip
An offbeat tour ( road trip ) to less explored places of Kinnaur and Spiti region of Himachal Pradesh. Experience the Kinnauri and Spitian culture and explore the beauty of the Himalayas.
For all our trips
Our small group tours also allow enough time for yourself ( mostly in the evenings ) and the group leaders will assist you too if you need to do your own thing.
Stay and food is a big part of the travel and we make sure you are made comfortable and therefore we choose some of the best-reviewed places to stay and eat.
We try to incorporate more local experiences on our tours with the help of our experienced tour leader and local guides to make your experience even more memorable.
Our tours are not standard sightseeing package tours, it’s more experience-oriented so as to give a real travel value to the guests.
Who are we?
Exotic Expeditions is an experiential based travel company founded in 2010. We are based out of Bangalore and Mumbai and we create uniquely designed tours that have high travel value. We include activities, local interactions, and offbeat destinations so that the guests go back with experiences to remember for a long time.
What are all included in our tours?
A comprehensive list of inclusions and exclusions is mentioned on the respective trip page, but across all our trips, we have these in common: exclusive private transfers, breakfast on most days, good accommodation, unique experiences,expert guides and an experienced trip leader who’s there to assist you around the clock.
Are flights & visas included in your costs?
No.We don’t include flights and visa costs in our prices unless specified. We, however, will help you with booking flights and getting the visa done.
What is the typical group size?
We believe that a small group is can enjoy the journey better and have closer interactions with the group members, therefore, we restrict our group size to a maximum of 15. Group size typically between 5 and 15. Our travelers arefriendly, open-minded, well traveled and we have a good gender mix on our tours.
Who can join this trip?
Anyone above 18 years of age can join our trips. Participants below the age of 18 must be accompanied by an elder.
Which cities do travelers come from?
Our travelers come from all over India. Bangalore, Mumbai, Delhi, Pune, Chennai, Hyderabad and Calcutta are represented the most.
What are the payment options?
You can make payments through credit and debit cards, net-banking, cash or cheque. Installment options are also available.
Can solo travelers join one of the tours?
Yes. On most of our tours, we have a high turnout of solo travelers seeking a different travel experience. Many of them even end up becoming friends after the tour.
How safe is it to travel with you?
Your safety is our number one priority and we design our travel journeys keeping this in mind.