lahaul spiti – Soul Mountain Expeditions

Himachal Pradesh, Himachal Tours, lahaul spiti, tours

Lahaul Spiti For Couples

Honeymoon travel package in mountains This travel itinerary of Lahaul Spiti is best for couples or small group of friends who want to enjoy their time away from all the noise of modern life. If you want to enjoy some time vacationing in mountains with awesome views, relaxed traveling, adventurous drives and just enjoy the trip without any distraction, it’s a perfect choice for you. It’s also a good choice for a romantic yet adventurous honeymoon trip.

BEST FOR: Couples and small groups on a leisurely holiday.

Trip Summary:

Day 1: Shimla – Sarahan
Day 2: Sarahan – Reckong Peo – Kalpa
Day 3: Kalpa – Puh – Nako – Sumdo – Tabo
Day 4: Tabo
Day 5: Tabo – Dhankar – Lalung
Day 6: Lalung – Kaza – Langcha
Day 7: Langcha – Kaza – Ki Monastry – Kibber
Day 8: Kibber – Losar – Kunzum La – Chandrataal Lake
Day 9: Chandrataal – Chatru – Rohtang Pass – Manali

DURATION: 9 days, 8 nights
BEST SEASON: June to October. Possible rest of year on request.
DIFFICULTY LEVEL: Low
MAXIMUM ELEVATION: 4884 m.
WEATHER: Afternoons can be a bit warm during summer. Cold otherwise with strong winds.
EQUIPMENT: None necessary.

DETAILED ITINERARY

Day 1: Shimla – Sarahan
We will start the drive from Shimla early morning and reach Sarhan by early evening. After check in to the hotel, the guests can feel free to rest or explore the Sarhan town on their own. There is one old Bhima Kali temple wich is an important place of worship in the region. Hotel room in Shimla or pickup from Channdigarh or Delhi can be provided if needed.

Day 2: Sarahan – Reckong Peo – Kalpa
First stop for this day will be at Reckong Peo, a small town for some refreshments and local sightseeing. Night stay will be in Kalpa, a small village famous for it’s fruit orchards and scenic beauty.

Day 3: Kalpa – Puh – Nako – Sumdo – Tabo
From this point onward, as we gain altitude, the terrain will start turning from lush green to that of high altitude desert. The drive will take you through Puh, Nako and Sumdo villages (depending upon route taken) till Tabo where you will stay for the night. The contrast in terrain, vegetation and related features from day 2 to day 3 will be quite stark and remarkable. Tibet border is just one mountain away from this region.

Day 4: Tabo
Tabo village is famous for it’s 1000 years old monastery which is home to extremely precious Thanka paintings and an interesting PIllar of Thousand Budddhas. It’s listed as a world heritage sight by UNESCO. The day will include a visit to the monastery and nearby caves which are used by the local monks to meditate in peace. Rest of the day will be spent esting, relaxing or walking around in the village taking in the sights.

Day 5: Tabo – Dhankar – Lalung
Dhankar is the seat of ancient local Kings and was capital of the region in era gone by. Dhankar castle and monastery are perched precariously on ragged peaks overlooking a steep valley. Due to erosion, it’s quite likely that these will tumble down in near future. A new monastery has been constructed, but the old one has it’s own irreplaceable charm. After the visit, visitors can also hike to Dhankar lake atop a mountain nearby. Night stay will be in Lalung, largest and a very sceninc village in Lingti valley. The village monastery is associated with numerous folk tales and legends. The most interesting features are the Three Cornered Buddha and an ancient gnarled willow tree planted by Rinchen Znagpo, founder of many monasteries in Spiti.

Day 6: Lalung – Kaza – Langcha
We will pass through Kaza , the regions adminsitrative capital to reach Langcha (4250 m). The roads on this route are among the highest in the world. The journey is particularly rewarding for it’s view of Spiti river valley. Shilla valley is on the way which is one of few good grazing grounds for domesticated and wild animals of the region.

Day 7: Langcha – Kaza – Ki Monastry – Kibber
This day will take you to the world’s highest Buddhist monastery at Komik as well the world’s highest post office at Hikkim ( 4440 m). You can send a postcard from here to whoever you like although delivery is not alaways gauranteed. These are very small villages with population less than 100 each and are completely cut off from rest of world during winters. Nightstay will be in Kibber, one of the larger towns in area with somewhat modern style accommodations. The region is famous for it’s wildlife including ibex, blue deer and snow leopard in addition to a number of birds. The guests will reach Gette to see the world famous Ki monastery from hundreds of meters above with river flowing on nearby. Makes for an amazing sight.

Day 8: Kibber – Losar – Kunzum La – Chandrataal Lake
From Kibber, we will drive on to our campsite at Chandrataal lake. Losar is comparitively big village will be stop for some tea and snacks. Kunzum La is named after Goddess Kunzum and is an important site for locals for religious as well as logisitical reasons. From there, we will drive to Chandrataal Lake, a must visit attraction of the region. Nightstay will be in a campsite under the stars.

Day 9: Chandrataal – Chatru – Rohtang Pass – Manali
This will be last day of the trip as the car will take you back to Manali via Chatru and Rohtang pass. The climb up will start from Chatru and the terrain will change back to lush green type as you reach near Rohtang pass. Drop at Manali early evening to end the tour.
Accommodation in Manali and drop at Delhi or Chandigarh can be provided on request.

PACKING LIST

Small backpack to hold the day walk necessities.
Luggage in rucksack/soft bags suitable to be carried by self or porters.
Warm clothes, wind-cheater, scarf, hat, sun-glasses, sunscreen.
Comfortable hiking shoes with thick socks.
Personal medical kit, water bottle, snacks, water filer or tablets. Tablets for altitude sickness.
Toilet paper, wet wipes.
A bag to collect own trash.

GENERAL NOTIFICATIONS:

Travel programs in the Himalayas not necessarily would always run exactly as scheduled. Allow for unplanned long days or early camps due to weather disruptions or similar causes.
There are places with limited communication possibility and/or medical facilities nearby on this route.
Participants should be prepared for cold conditions with strong winds and high wind chill factor.
Any additional expenses which might occur due to delays, weather disruptions, medical evacuation etc. would need to be borne by the participants. All overstay due to weather disruption, road blocks and similar which are not under our control would be charged as per tour cost for planned days.
All participants are recommended to have a travel insurance that covers trekking and wilderness travel.

INCLUSIONS

Pickup from Shimla and drop at Manali in a private or shared taxi.
Accommodation guesthouse, campsite, hotel and homestay according to availability and preferences.
Meals on all days unless mentioned otherwise.
Tents, sleeping bag, ground mats while camping.

BySoul Mountain Expeditions

Himachal Pradesh, Himachal Tours, lahaul spiti, tours

Spiritual Journey of Lahaul Spiti

Lahaul Spiti is a great place for people looking for solitude, amazing scenery, peace and some personal time away from noise and distractions of big cities. The remoteness and ruggedness of this region keeps this place quiet and suitable for a personal time away for contemplation and meditation. The simple and friendly people of the region are also quiet religious and appreciate the importance of spirituality in their daily lives. A special spiritual journey through Lahaul Spiti will hep you energise your batteries and spend some time meditating, interacting with Buddhist monks in extremely beautiful backdrops.
This journey is not something like a yoga or meditation retreat. It is more like a journey to different monasteries, scared places and spiritually important points of great natural beauty. In this trip, you can visit a few monasteries, interact with monks, benefit from their wisdom acquired over the course of thousands of years, meditate there or on mountain tops and just spend some time with yourselves or your companions. The driving distances per day per day are kept deliberately small to ensure the body and mind of the visitor remain fresh.
BEST FOR: Individuals or small groups looking for a quiet time to discover their spirituality.

Trip Summary:

Day 01: Shimla – Sarahan
Day 02: Sarahan – Reckong Peo – Kalpa
Day 03: Kalpa – Puh – Nako – Sumdo – Tabo
Day 04: Tabo
Day 05: Tabo – Dhankar
Day 06: Dhankar – Komic
Day 07: Komic
Day 08: Komic – Kibber
Day 09: Kibber – Ki moastery – Kaza
Day 10: Kaza – Losar – Kunzum La – Chandrataal Lake
Day 11: Chandrataal – Chatru – Rohtang Pass – Manali

DURATION: 11 days, 10 nights
BEST SEASON: June to October. Possible rest of year on request.
DIFFICULTY LEVEL: Low
MAXIMUM ELEVATION: 4590 m.
WEATHER: Afternoons can be a bit warm during summer. Cold otherwise with strong winds.
EQUIPMENT: None necessary.

DETAILED ITINERARY

Day 01: Shimla – Sarahan
First day will begin with drive from Shimla to Sarahan (2313 m) over amazing Himalayan roads, dense forests and deep gorges. Upon reaching Sarhan, sepnd rest of day in hotel or walking around in Town. The ancient Bhimkali temple is one of 51 Shaktipeeths in Hindu religion and a pretty important place of worship for the locals.
Pickup from Delhi or CHandigarh available on request.

Day 02: Sarahan – Reckong Peo – Kalpa
The destination for this day will be Kalpa(2960 m), with a short stop at Reckong Peo. Kalpa is a small village and a big producer of fruits like apple and chilgoza. You can visit Kothi, an ancient Hindu temple with a gold idol of goddess Chanadika Devi. View of Kinner Kailash mountain from the village at sunrise or sunset is a sight to remember.

Day 03: Kalpa – Puh – Nako – Sumdo – Tabo
After leaving Kalpa, we will make stops at Puh, Nako and Sumdo (depending upon available time and route) and stop at Tabo (3280 m) for nightstay. Tabo monastery is more than 1000 years old and is considered to one of the holiest and Dalai Lama has expressed his desire to live there after retirement. It is also famous for it’s extremely detailed wall paintings. This monastery was the site of Kalachakra initiation ceremony in 1996 by Dalai Lama, which was also the date of completeion of 1000 years of existence of monastery.

Day 04: Tabo
This day will be spent in Tabo.

Day 05: Tabo – Dhankar
Next stop will be at Dhankar (3894 m), ancient capital of Spitian Kings who made their fort very near the village monastery on sharp, precarious cliffs overlooking the river valley below. Due to erosion, both structures are expected to survive for only a few years more. A new and bigger monastery has been constructed and artifacts transferred. Guests can spend some time there or climbing up the mountain nearby to see Dhankar lake. It is also a nice place to sit quietly and meditate. The monastery is home to about 150 who belong to the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism.

Day 06: Dhankar – Komic
From Dhankar, we will drive to Komic (4250 m), which is famous for Tangyud Monastery famous for it’s location at such a high altitude. It belongs to the Sakya sect, a rare occurence in the region. The visitors can either stay in monastery’s guest house or one of other small villages nearby.

Day 07: Komic
This day will be spent in Komic, Hikkim (4440 m) and Langcha villages. Langcha’s monastery is a small one and has a beautiful Buddha statue overlooking the small village. Hikkim’s post office is the highest functioning one in entire world.

Day 08: Komic – Kibber
From Komic, we will move towards Kibber (4270 m) and spend a day in village which sits right on boundary of the wildlife sanctuary. Kibber Monastery was founded by Serkang Rimpochhe and is also an important place of worship for locals. This ay we can also drive till Gette and enjoy the sight of Spiti river valley and Ki monastery hundreds of meters below the cliff.

Day 09: Kibber – Ki monastery – Kaza
Our nightstay will be in Kaza, the administrative capital of Spiti regon and has a Hindu temple and a Buddhist monastery side by side. This day will be used for rest, stocking up on supplies, fuel and walking around in the town.

Day 10: Kaza – Losar – Kunzum La – Chandrataal Lake
From Kaza, we will drive further towards Chandrataal (4300 m) Lake with rest stop at Lohsar (4079 m). We will have to pass Kunzum La (4590 m) which is one of the highest motorable passes and site of a temple dedicated to Goddess Kunzum, a local diety. We can either drive to Chandrataal Lake from Kunzum La or hike for around 8 km. Nightstay will be in a campsite, 2 km from the lake, under the stars and close to nature.

Day 11: Chandrataal – Chatru – Rohtang Pass – Manali
On this last day of the trip, the car will take you to Manali (2050 m) while passing through Chatru and Rohtang Pass (3979 m). Drop there to end the Spiritual Journey of Lahaul Spiti.

Accommodation in Manali and drop at Delhi or Chandigarh can be provided on request.

BySoul Mountain Expeditions

Camping, hiking, Himachal Pradesh, lahaul spiti, tours

Chandrataal lake day hike

INTRODUCTION

Chandrataal Lake is a popular hiking and camping destination in Spiti region It’s altitude is 4300 meters and is one of the highest wetlands anywhere in the world. The lake is within a day or 2 days trek (depending upon the route) from Samudri Tapu, source of Chandra river which flows through Spiti Valley and is a major tributary of Chenab river.The lake itself is an important site for locals and is source of many myths and folktales of the region. The crystal clear waters of the lake attract people as well as some rare birds and animals at different seasons. The expansive grasslands near Chandrataal lake are home to numerous types of wild flowers as well as source of food for many wild animals as well as flocks of local Gaddi shepherds.

While camping in the authorised campsite, guests have two options of seeing the lake. They can either drive towards lake via the rough road or hike via a more scenic route through the mountains. This hiking route passes through numerous interesting sights such as imposing view of Chandra river, Samudri Tapu in distance, small meadows, temporary ponds and numerous other little interesting sights which most people never see.

BEST FOR: Seeing Chandra Taal lake and surrounding area in detail.

Chandrataal lake Trip Summary:
Day 1: Walk to lake on a hiking trail. Walk around lake and grassland nearby. Lunch.
DURATION: 1 day
BEST SEASON: May to October. Possible rest of year on request.
DIFFICULTY LEVEL: Low
MAXIMUM ELEVATION: 4300 m.
WEATHER: Afternoons can be a bit warm during summer. Cold otherwise with strong winds.
EQUIPMENT: None necessary.

ITINERARY

We will start walking towards the lake early morning from a hiking trail which starts near the camp site. We will climb up the route and walk through an area with some streams, grass, wild flowers and numerous other little things which add stars to beauty of the region. On the way, we will come across some temporary ponds formed by snow melt and rains. Some points on the way offer stunning views of mountains, Samudri Tapu glacier and Chandra river.

After reaching lake, we will rest for a few minutes before embarking on a walk around the lake. There is a plain area on other side of lake which is a favurite grazing ground for many flocks as well as wild animals. After spending some time there, we will walk back to campsite for a meal and rest.

GENERAL NOTIFICATIONS:

Travel itineraries in the mountains don not necessarily run exactly as scheduled. Keep a buffer for delays due to weather, road conditions etc.
Any additional expenses caused by delays, medical condition, road blocks and other causes will be borne by the guests.
We recommend a comprehensive travel insurance and a medical checkup before the visit.
This tour covers some remote destinations in Spiti which have very limited phone coverage, unpredictable weather and high altitude.

INCLUSIONS

Accommodation in Chandrataal campsite.
Meals, tea and non-bottled water in campsite,

EXCLUSIONS

Transport to campsite.
Personal expenses, refreshments during road journey, alcohol.
Anything not mentioned explicitly in the above program.

BySoul Mountain Expeditions

Himachal Pradesh, lahaul spiti, medium trek, trek, trekking

Pin Parvati Trek

Himalaya trekking expeditions Pin Parvati is a popular yet one of more difficult treks of the Trans Himalayan region. The trek route passes through dense forests of Great Himalayan National Park, some remote temporary human settlements and ever across rivers in full flow with ice cold water fresh from glaciers. In recent history, this pass was used as a route to enter Spiti valley from Kullu and is still used by hardy shepherds of the region. It was opened for trekkers only in 1993. Locals associate this area with numerous legends related to Lord Shiva and Pandavs. This trek requires complete physical fitness, mental concentration and reqards with the sights and experiences which have a few equals anywhere in the world.
Best For: Trekkers with moderate or good experience. Good fitness is must.

TREK SUMMARY:

Day 1, Day 2: Reaching Kaza, acclimitisation(3650 m)
Day 3: Kaza – Mudh village drive; Mudh to Tiya trek. (3900 m)
Day 4: Tiya – Pin valley campsite (4470 m)
Day 5: Pin valley campsite – Upper Pin Base Camp (4810 m)
Day 6: Pin Base camp – Pin Parvati pass – Parvati base camp (5310 m)
Day 7: Pin Parvati base camp – Mantalai Lake (4100 m)
Day 8: Mantalai Lake to Odi Thach campsite (3820 m)
Day 9: Odi Thach to Tunda Bhuj (3200 m)
Day 10: Tunda Bhuj – Kheerganga (2780 m)
Day 11: Kheerganga – Bursheni – Kullu
Duration: 11 Days, 10 Nights
Best Season: Mid June till July. September till October.
Difficulty Level: Medium
Maximum Elevation: Kunzum La at 4650 m
Weather: Cold.
Getting From/To: Kaza is approachable by road from Shimla or Manali. Delhi and nearby towns. Closest airport Kullu.

Cost: USD 1700 for solo guest. USD 1200 per person on twin sharing.

TREK ITINERARY :

Day 1, Day 2: Reaching Kaza (3650 m)
Take a bus or taxi from Manali to reach Kaza. You will need to spend a minimum of 2 days in the region for acclimitisation. You can spend this time in the town resting or sghtseeing. Sightseeing for nearby places like Kibber, Chicham, Key monastery, Dhankar and a few other places can be arranged on request
Day 3: Kaza – Mudh village drive; Mudh to Tiya trek. (3900 m)
We will first drive 50 km to Mudh village and rest there for a while before starting the trek towards village Tiya. Mudh has a few shops and guest houses and has limited bus service.

Day 4: Tiya – Pin valley campsite (4470 m)
We will wake up early and keep walking alongside Pink river till we cross it using a rope way or a temporary bridge. The trail starts to ascends gradually and tree line is left behind. We will walk for about 10 km to reach our campsite for the night.
Day 5: Pin valley campsite – Upper Pin Base Camp (4810 m)
This day we will not gain much altitude, but it will be tough walking on the ridges and ground covered with stones and rubble. Our campsite for night will be very near the glacier/snow line. This location is just at the base of Pin Parvati pass.

Day 6: Pin Base camp – Pin Parvati pass – Parvati base camp (5310 m)
This day we will cross the landmark of 5000 m altitude to reach Pin parvati pass. First 2-3 hours of trek will be a tough incline while the rest will be a descent till Parvati base camp below snow line.

Day 7: Pin Parvati base camp – Mantalai Lake (4100 m)
A full day of a downhill hike, it will be compartively easier compared to the uphill hikes in high altitudes of previous days. We will cover a distance of nearly 12 km to reach Mantalai lake and set up camp for night.

Day 8: Mantalai Lake – Odi Thach campsite (3820 m)
We will keep hiking downhill for 9 km to reach Odi Thach campsite. It is situated between extremely scenic meadows full of wild flowers and small mountain streams.

Day 9: Odi Thach – Tunda Bhuj (3200 m)
Another long but beautiful walk to reach Pandav Pul (bridge) to cross the river and reach Thakur Kuan campsite for the night.

Day 10: Tunda Bhuj – Kheerganga (2780 m)
A similar downhill trek like the last day’s to reach campsite at kheerganga. Lots of trees.
Day 11: Kheerganga – Bursheni – Kullu
We will hike for 7 kms to reach Bursheni, a small village with motorable road. A car will then transport you to Kullu where you can stay or take a bus or fligh back to Delhi.

PACKING LIST :

Small backpack to hold the day walk supplies.
Luggage in rucksack (60-70 ltr) suitable to be carried by self or porters.
Warm clothes, wind-cheater, scarf, hat, sun-glasses, sunscreen, comfortable hiking shoes, thick socks, rain coat or poncho.
Personal medical kit, water bottle (with filter), snacks.
Toilet paper, wet wipes, soap.
Torch, multi-tool, trekking pole, basic cutlery, plastic bag
A bag to collect own trash.

GENERAL INFORMATION :

Travel itineraries in the mountains may not necessarily run exactly as scheduled. Keep a buffer for delays due to weather, road conditions etc.
Any additional expenses caused by delays, medical condition, road blocks and other causes will be borne by the guests.
We recommend a comprehensive travel insurance and a medical checkup before the visit.
This tour covers some remote destinations in Himachal Pradesh which have very limited phone coverage, unpredictable weather and high altitude.

INCLUSIONS :

Pickup drop from Manali.
Accommodation in campsites and hotels wherever mentioned.
Meals, tea and non-bottled water in campsite. Bottled water not available during trek and not recommended for ecological reasons.
Camping equipment.
You can ask to rent or buy some personal trekking equipment like trekking pole, water filter etc.
Services of guides, mules, porters, cooks.

EXCLUSIONS :

Meals in Kaza.
Personal expenses, refreshments during road journey, alcohol.
Anything not mentioned explicitly in the above program.
Porters or mules to carry your personal luggage.

BySoul Mountain Expeditions

hiking, Himachal Pradesh, Himachal Tours, lahaul spiti, Spiti, tours

5 Days Shimla To Manali Road Trip With Camping at Chandra Taal

INTRODUCTION

Chandra Taal Lake is a popular destination in Spiti region for tourists interested in trekking, camping, hiking and other adventure activities. It’s situated at an altitude of 4300 meters and is among the highest wetlands anywhere in the world. The lake is within a day or 2 days trek River Chandra which later on becomes Chenab has it’s origin in Samudri Tapu just a day or two days hike from the lake depending upon the route taken. Chandra Taal is a holy place for people of Lahaul Spiti region and is believed to be a place where many myths and folktales of the region were born. A variety of rare birds and animals live in vicinity or stay nearby at different seasons.
There are also some large grasslands near the lake which are are an important feeding grounds for herds of local Gaddi shepherds as well as some wild animals like yaks, ibex and a few other rare animals. Camping or any other human activity like construction is not allowed within 3 kms of the lake to protect the sensitive ecology. For the last stretch, our guests can either trek to the campsite via a trekking route starting from Kunzum La or stay in car.
BEST FOR: This trip is best for enjoying the beauty of major attractions of Spiti region in 5-7 days.

TRIP SUMMARY:

Day 1: Shimla to Sarhan (6 hours)
Day 2: Sarhan To Kalpa ( 3 hours)
Day 3: Kalpa to Kaza (4+ hours)
Day 4: Kaza to Chandra Taal lake via Kunzum La (5 hours)
Day 5: Chandra Taal to Manali via Rohtang Pass. ( 8 hours)
DURATION: 5 days, 4 nights.
BEST SEASON: May to October
DIFFICULTY LEVEL: Low
MAXIMUM ELEVATION: 4590 m at Kunzum La.
WEATHER: Afternoons can be a bit warm during summer. Cold otherwise with strong winds.
EQUIPMENT: Hiking shoes and stick if hiking option chosen