Spiti Valley Adventure — The Lost Buddhist Kingdom
Himachal Pradesh
Overview.
A ten-day high-altitude expedition into Spiti — the cold desert valley sometimes called 'Little Tibet'. Trace ancient monasteries at Tabo, Dhankar and Key, sleep at India's highest motorable village, camp by the otherworldly Chandratal Lake, and take an extra day in Kaza to ease into the altitude and explore the Pin Valley.
Highlights.
Your journey, day by day.
10 days of carefully crafted experiences
Day 1 of 10
Chandigarh Arrival
Arrive in Chandigarh and rest up. Briefing in the evening on altitude, packing and pace of travel — Spiti is one of India's highest road trips and acclimatisation matters.
Drive Chandigarh to Shimla
Climb into the lower Himalayas and reach Shimla by afternoon. Walk the Mall and Ridge to start gentle altitude acclimatisation before pushing higher tomorrow.
Drive Shimla to Sangla — Kinnaur Valley
A long, scenic drive deep into Kinnaur along the Sutlej river, with apple orchards and wood-and-slate villages. Reach Sangla by evening for a riverside dinner and an early night.
Drive Sangla to Kalpa to Tabo
Morning visit to Chitkul, India's last village on the Indo-Tibetan border, then up to Kalpa for views of the Kinner Kailash range. Continue on through Khab and Nako into Spiti, arriving at Tabo for the night.
Tabo to Dhankar Monastery to Kaza
Visit Tabo Monastery, often called the Ajanta of the Himalayas for its 1,000-year-old murals. Continue to dramatically perched Dhankar Monastery before reaching Kaza, the regional headquarters of Spiti.
Kaza Local — Key, Kibber, Langza, Hikkim
A signature Spiti day. Drive up to Key Monastery for sunrise views, on to Kibber (one of the highest motorable villages in the world), then across to Langza's giant Buddha statue, Komik (Asia's highest village with a motorable road) and Hikkim's famous post office.
Pin Valley Excursion — Mud Village & National Park
A full day in the green Pin Valley — the rare softer side of Spiti's cold desert, where the Pin river curves through poplar groves and traditional Bhoti villages. Drive to Mud, the last village in Pin, walk into the Pin Valley National Park looking for snow-leopard tracks, and visit Kungri — Spiti's second-oldest monastery.
Drive Kaza to Chandratal — Camp at the Moon Lake
A long, rugged drive west across the Spiti river and up to Chandratal Lake at over 4,300m. Camp tonight at the lake — one of the most remote and beautiful overnights anywhere in the Indian Himalaya.
Drive Battal to Manali via Kunzum Pass
Cross the high Kunzum Pass, drop into the Lahaul valley and continue down to Manali. Arrive in the warmth of the lower Himalayas for a hot shower and a long-awaited bed.
Drive Manali to Chandigarh — Departure
Final drive down to Chandigarh through the Beas valley with stops as time permits. Drop at the airport / railway station for your onward journey, with a Spiti circuit completed in the books.
Inclusions
- Pickup and drop at Chandigarh
- 9 nights accommodation (mix of hotels, homestays, camp)
- Daily breakfast and dinner
- All transfers by 4x4 SUV (mandatory in upper Spiti)
- Inner-line and protected-area permits
- Experienced Spiti driver-guide
- Oxygen support kit in vehicle
Exclusions
- Airfare / train fare to Chandigarh
- Lunches and personal expenses
- Helicopter / medical evacuation insurance
- Adventure add-ons (yak safari, river crossings)
- Travel insurance
- Tips and gratuities
Gallery.
₹47,000
per person