Pages Under this section
INDIA: Himalaya: Ladakh & Kashmir
Indian Himalayas with Small-Ladakh, Spiti Himachal Pradesh, India
• 19 days from / to Delhi • with optional 2-day trekking & hiking tours • medium difficulty • 4 overnights in hotels • 1 overnight in night train • 12 - 13 nights in guest house or optionally in homestay (as a house guest) • 1 optional night at camp / tent • max. altitude: 4661 m above sea level. •
Introduction
A cultural and adventure journey full of contrasts over the impressive passes and to the most beautiful valleys in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. South of Ladakh and off the usual tourist routes, you will discover with us villages in idyllic locations, Buddhist monasteries and temples in breathtakingly beautiful landscapes and mountain worlds.
Hike with us through green valleys, cross rushing mountain streams and experience, as the altitude increases, constantly changing vegetation. From the orchards of Thanedar to one of the most beautiful forested high mountain valleys of India, until the barren, bizarre mountain scenery of Spiti, and finally into the lush green Sojha not far from the Great Himalayan National Park, you will experience on this journey fantastic contrasting landscapes, and diverse cultures.
While the mountain populations of the dense vegetation of the Himalayas within the monsoon belt mostly belongs to Hinduistic-shamanistic traditions, the Spiti region is outside of the influence of the monsoon. Here you can experience, similar to that of Ladakh, a barren, bizarre and wild landscape with jagged peaks, which stands in contrast to the gentle valleys and the crop fields. Watch here the people going about their daily chores, be inspired by the beautiful colors of the different sediment layers in contrast to the deep blue sky.
And you will meet with the ancient Tibetan Buddhist cultural heritage of the people of Spiti. You visit remote monasteries, ancient mountain villages and finally cross the mountain passes Kunzum (4483 m above sea level) and Rhotan (3849 m above sea level), from where you can enjoy the fantastic views of the Himalaya mountain scenery, before reaching the Kullu Valley in Manali. A varied journey finally takes you across the Jalori mountain pass (3223 m above sea level). Return via Chandighar and by train to Delhi.
Optional Trekking
An optional two-day trek of approx 5 hrs: from the Kunzum mountain pass (4551 m above sea level) you hike down to Lake Chandratal at 4270 m altitude. Here you spend one night at the camp, and enjoy the quietness beside the mountain lake. The next day you continue to hike down the valley to Batal at 3990 m above sea level. Here your jeeps are waiting for you, and the journey continues to Manali.
Travel Itinerary
1 : Arrival Delhi
2 : Delhi – Chandigarh (train) - Shimla
3 : Shimla – Thanedar, 2200 m above sea level
4 : Thanedar
5 : Thanedar – Sangla, 2700 m above sea level
6.-7 : Sangla, 2700 m above sea level – 3450 m above sea level
8 : Sangla – Spiti, Tabo, 3200 m above sea level
9 : Tabo – Dhankar rock monastery, 3870 m above sea level
10 : Dhankar – Lhalung – Demul
11 : Demul – Komic with optional Yak ride
12 : Komic – Key – Kibber, 4205 m above sea level – Kaza
13 : Kaza – Kunzumla, 4480 m above sea level – Lake Chandratal, 4270 m above sea level
14 : Lake Chandratal– Rohtangla, 3850 m above sea level – Nagar Manali castle
15 : Castle Naggar, Manali – Sojha
16 : Sojha
17 : Sojha – Chandigarh – Delhi (train)
18 : Delhi, city tour
19 : Delhi – return flight
Best Travel Period
August 15th to September 15th; also June 15th to August 15th.
For the districts of Kullu, Manali, Shimla, Palampur and Dharamsala: March to September.
For Spiti, Lahaul and Kinnaur: July to October.
The monsoon starts in late June. In July and August the heavy rains cause south of Spiti and Kinnaur erosion and landslides.
The best time for trekking is from May to October.
Please be aware that the state of the roads from Kinnaur to Spiti and from Spiti to Manali has to be sometimes referred to as precarious
Options
- Incorporate a multi-day trekking tour to Spiti or Ladakh.
- Include a detour to Dharamsala, the seat of the Tibetan government in exile, or to the Golden Temple in Amritsar, the capital of the Sikhs.
- If you would like to extend or shorten your trip – kindly contact us - we will advise you on the numerous possibilities
Tags: visit ladakh, himachal pradesh, visit spiti, trekking, hiking, mountain villages, delhi, adventure