Thinking of planning for Spiti Valley Road Trip?
While Ladakh has become too popular these days, and many of us are keen to find a place that’s a little less crowded yet holds the similar beauty of the Himalayas – what can be a better choice other than exploring Spiti Valley. A cold desert mountain valley located high in the Himalayas in the north-eastern part of Himachal Pradesh, this gorgeous valley should be there on every traveler’s bucket list. The word “Spiti” means “The Middle Land”, which is the land between Tibet and India. To say the least, this road trip will surely be one of the best experiences you’ve ever had!
We will start our journey from Shimla, a buzzing hill station, and move ahead to Upper Kinnaur, crossing Narkanda and Chitkul, entering the jaw-dropping Spiti Valley. We’ll explore the tiny little villages tucked in the Himalayas, walk through the corridors of the ancient monasteries, soaking in the beauty and tranquility of nature, before we finally arrive in Manali, via Lahaul district. This circuit is very popular, but we have our own way to make it unconventional. Explore the real culture and lifestyle of the community and take a step towards culture and ecology sensitive travel. We’ll be meeting the local people of the valley, binge on their delicacies, experience their way of life and above all, learn how they value the importance of nature.
Kaza, the main town of Spiti, has been marked as a plastic-free town and you won’t really find any store selling products that have plastic covering etc. That means there’s no mineral water bottle available as well, and you need to carry your own bottle during this trip.
Come. Join Us. Let’s Explore Together & Learn To Be Responsible Travelers!
Check out a few highlights of Spiti Valley Road Trip to know why you should surely join us in this adventure!
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Located at an altitude of 2760 mts, Narkanda is a fairly unexplored region. The clouds run through the pine trees and let the apple orchards be. Its virginity intrigued us and hence we have introduced a camping experience amidst apple orchards exclusively for you!
Once you arrive in Narkanda, you will be transferred to your camping site and meet your host for the trip.
After freshening up, depart for a guided tour of Kothgarh Apple Factory, which would be filled with a fresh harvest of the year, ready to be churned into lip-smacking recipes.
The evening will be lit with in-house bonfire and interaction with co-travelers.
Chitkul is the ‘first’ wooded village sloping towards the mystic valley which shares the Himalayan borders with China. A little walk in the village will expose you to the primitive and tough Himalayan life. This self-sustaining village will charm you infinitely. The journey from Narkanda to Chitkul will take about 5 to 6 hours, and you’ll be absolutely charmed on the way!
On arrival, check in to your view rooms of the mystic Chitkul valley, and your trip leader will lead a hike up through the village to the adjoining mountains of the Kinnaur Kailash Range for a sneak peek deeper into the valley after lunch.
Freshen up on your return and laze around the valley in the evening, sharing your experiences with your travel buddies!
After an early breakfast, we head towards upper Kinnaur. On the way, we shall stop by Kalpa for lunch and to witness the magnificent piece of architecture – The Kalpa Buddhist and Hindu Temple complex.
Walk around the breezy terraces overlooking the town and watch the drama in the narrow streets. Drive to Suicide Point and Roghi village. The most fascinating feature around this area is the sudden change of topography from the lofty green Himalayas to sudden steep Himalayan drops. It is indeed jaw-dropping!
After reaching Nako and checking in, put on your walking shoes for a village walk with your Trip Leader. Visit the monastery overlooking the village and further walk to Nako Lake. Autumn is the perfect time to find a crisp mirror image of the rolling deserts in the water.
By evening, this windy desert village will witness the beauty of the fluttering under prayer flags dispersing the blessings all over where you can stand and pray for your loved ones.
On crossing Lingthi Bridge, one enters the unexplored Pin Valley National park, rich with its flora and fauna, the valley remains secluded from the rest of Spiti. Mudh, base of Pin Parvati Trek, is a beautiful settlement right at the T-point of Pin river which makes it the last village of Pin Valley National Park.
After breakfast, we depart for Gue Monastery, 12 km from Nako, known for the Lama mummy of Samgha Tenzin. Its an interesting fact as to how lamas with a great mind already know their date of death and prepare their bodies for the same. You’ll get to know more about this when you’re there.
Your next stop will be Dhankar Gompa, a peaceful complex tucked in the crevasse of these cold deserts. After lunch, we head towards Pin valley and halt straight to Mudh crossing over the Pin River. An interaction session with esteemed locals displaying their authentic dresses and ornaments. Enjoy your evening experiencing the Cultural dance, with locals in their traditional attire to the local beats!
Early morning, gear up with your cameras and walking shoes, for a small hike from Mudh towards the Pin valley. Colorful Himalayan meadows with cattle grazing there will surround you in silence.
After breakfast, we’ll depart for Kaza or ‘Kaja’ as the locals say, is the headquarters of Spiti Valley in the Lahaul and Spiti District. The town is well developed with almost all infrastructures, amidst a dry cold desert. Kaza has a lot to offer in terms of culture and belief, besides the shopping arcades, Cafés and eating joints. You’ll surely keep drooling over the momos and hot chocolate that you’ll find there!
In the evening, get ready for a welcoming cultural dance performance prepared by the local ladies and kids exclusively for you, in the starry chilled night.
After breakfast depart from Kaza into real Spiti. Head to Langza, Hikkim, and Komic in a circuit and have a chance to spot some fossils embedded in the soil. Head to the very iconic Key monastery, which is located at an altitude of 4166 mts, and was founded back in the 11th century. Being the oldest alongside Spiti river, the monastery has an entire complex for lamas to live, study and practice.
Beyond Kaza, the landscape is studded with some small settlements at a God-forbidden altitude. These places still bear a post office, a police station, school, primary health department, and a bus stand, functioning like in your city. This area has been declared as a fossil spotting site, taking us back to the history of medieval time. These clusters are spread along the contours, with dwarfed mud structures made from the context itself. The first sight of these settlements from a distance leaves a person speechless, and then turns him/her into a storyteller!
Early after breakfast, we’ll depart for Chandratal – a turquoise blue lake under the sky in the shape of a crescent. The name ‘Chandra Taal’ means the Moon Lake – and we believe that just explains the celestial beauty of the lake. One has to hike a bit to reach the lake from the parking area, and you’ll be absolutely stunned to see the gorgeousness of the place.
You can sit by the lake and meditate for some time, or walk around, soaking in the beauty.
After breakfast, we’ll head towards Manali, pausing at Rohtang Pass. Manali is a resort town nestled in the mountains near the northern end of the Kullu Valley in the Beas River Valley. The drive from Batal to Manali is adventurous indeed. We’ll be there by afternoon, and the evening would the time to celebrate with the great gang!
Manali has some amazing cafes and pubs, and since it’s the last night – there has to be some fun before we wrap up and bid goodbyes!
The nearest airport and railway station is in Shimla, which is around 60 km away from Narkanda. However, Shimla has narrow gauge railway and only toy train from Kalka comes to Shimla, though the route itself is stunning and also part of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Shimla airport has frequent flights from some major cities in North India. The nearest major railway station is in Kalka which is around 160 km from here. One can take a bus or a cab from Kalka or Shimla to reach here. The nearest major airport is in Chandigarh which is around 190 km. Cabs and buses are also available from Chandigarh to Narkanda.
By Flight
Shimla houses the nearest airport to Narkanda. From there, you can take a bus or cab to Narkanda.
Nearest Airport: Chandigarh Airport (IXC) – 91 km from Narkanda
By Road
There are frequent bus services to Narkanda from all major cities and towns in North India. It lies on the National Highway connecting Shimla to Kinnaur so there is no shortage of buses connecting Narkanda to Shimla. It is just 60 km away and is a two-hour drive.
By Train
The closest broad gauge railway station to Narkanda is located in Kalka, almost 125 km away. You can opt for the famous toy train on the Kalka-Shimla route to reach Narkanda
Gear and Extra:
• A rucksack bag and a day pack.
• 3-litre water bladder or water bottle
Clothes:
• A sun cap and a woollen cap
• UV protected sunglasses
• At least 1 pair of inner thermals
• One cotton long sleeves and 2 short sleeve t-shirt
• 1 flees jacket
• 1 heavy Thick jacket/down jacket
• 1 pair of gloves
• At least 2 long pants (trek pants and cargo pants are favourable)
• 4 sets of undergarments
• 2 pair of socks
• A small towel
• A rain jacket or a poncho
Footwear:
• Above-the-ankle waterproof and breathable hiking boots with good grip
• Flip flops/sandals
