KC04: 10N/11D Kinnaur-Spiti In Summer
DAY 1: CHANDIGARH TO NARKANDA
We start our journey to explore the beautiful Sangla Valley with Kinner Camps. After pick-up from Chandigarh, drive to Narkanda. Check-in and overnight at a hotel in Narkanda.
Day 2: ARRIVE AT KINNER CAMPS
Depart from Narkanda after breakfast. Arrive at Kinner Camps, Sangla. Relax with a welcome drink and lunch. Later, go for a small walk to explore the camp surroundings. Evening campfire, followed by dinner. Overnight at Kinner Camps.
Day 3: CHITKUL - NAGASTI - RAKCHHAM
Early morning, sip morning tea while enjoying the flora and fauna. After breakfast, drive to Chitkul (23 km), the last Indian village on the Indo-Tibet border. Later, walk/drive to Nagasti, the last civilian point (2.5 km) at the Indo-Tibetan border.
Drive to Rakchham village. Trek and explore the Rakchham valley. Carry a packed lunch and have a picnic by the river. Rest of the evening is free for activities and leisure.
DAY 4: BATSERI VILLAGE - GLACIER WALK - KAMROO
Wake up early morning to witness the gorgeous sunrise. After breakfast, get ready for the glacier walk. Leave camp by 10 a.m. On the way, visit Batseri village & Lord Badrinarayan temple, then experience a walk on the glacier (glacier walk is doable only during summer months, before the ice melts).
Return to camp for lunch. Post lunch, go to Kamroo village, visit the fort, and Kamakhya devi temple, the deity of which was originally brought from Assam. Come back to camp for tea. Rest of the evening is free for leisure.
DAY 5: TABO
After breakfast, leave for Tabo, situated on the left bank of the river Spiti. It is the seat of one of the most famous Buddhist monasteries, regarded next to the Tholong Gompa in Tibet. It is also known as ‘Ajanta of Himalayas’. Evening is free to explore the quaint town. Time permitting, you could probably take a short hike to visit the caves (they close by 5 pm).
Day 6: TO KAZA via DHANKAR MONASTERY
After breakfast, visit Tabo monastery. This monastery was constructed in 996 A.D. – not just in Spiti but in the whole of the Tibetan Buddhist world is called Chogs – Khor [‘Doctrinal Circle’ or ‘Doctrinal Enclave’]. It is a complex that holds 9 temples, 23 Chortens, a monk’s chamber & an extension that houses the nun’s chamber. On the sheer cliff-face above the enclave are a series of caves, used as dwellings by the monks, & includes an assembly hall. The monastery contains a large number of scriptures & pieces of art, wall paintings & stucco. There is also a modern gompa & painting school founded by the Dalai Lama.
After an early lunch, depart for Kaza. Stop at Dhankar Gompa, the traditional capital of Spiti, which sits pretty on a hilltop. The hill-top fort that overlooks the Spiti Valley also used to serve as a jail in olden days. Today, more than 160 lamas reside here. A statue of the Dhyan Buddha, where four complete figures of the Buddha sit back-to-back, is the main attraction of this more than 7th century old monastery. Continue to drive to Kaza – the capital of Spiti Valley. Arrive at Kaza and check-in to your hotel. Dinner and overnight stay.
DAY 7: EXPLORE KAZA
After an early breakfast, leave for an excursion to the Ki Monastery. Situated at the foot of steep ridges and on the left bank of the river Spiti is the Ki Monastery, the biggest Gelupa sect monastery in Spiti. Its hilltop position points to a post 13th century construction. The three storied structure consists largely of storage rooms at the bottom level, while the middle floor houses the Dukhang (the Assembly Hall), and the uppermost floor has another temple & the head lama’s quarters on one side of an open terrace. The greatest wealth of the Ki Gompa lies in its collection of ‘Thangkas’, and is also famous for its ancient murals & books. Hundreds of lamas receive their religious training at this monastery.
From here, a scenic drive takes you into the pasture country of Kibber. From Kibber, the pastures are spread over hundreds of square kilometers. If time and weather permit, visit Chicham Bridge. Break for lunch at any local place.
Next, proceed to visit Hikkim, Komic & Langza. Komik is highest motorable village in Asia at 15,027 feet. The village is about 500 yrs old. Next, brace yourself to send a postcard to your friends and family from the highest post office in the world - Hikkim at 14,400 feet. Last but not the least, Langza is yet another beautiful village nestled in the picturesque landscape of Spiti. The village is dominated by the majestic Buddha statue right in the lap of the Himalayas.
Post excursion, return for dinner and overnight stay at Kaza.
DAY 8: TO NAKO via GUE
Today, you start your return journey. After breakfast, depart for Nako. On the way, take a short detour to the Gue mummy lama temple. Nako has a beautiful lake which freezes in the winter and villagers play ice hockey during this period. Here, you can visit the temple of Padamsambhava, the second incarnation of Lord Buddha, who made Buddhism popular in the trans Himalayas. Also, visit the 1000 yr old Nako monastery. Overnight at Kinner Camps, Nako, which is situated close to the village.
DAY 9: KALPA
Leave for Kalpa after breakfast. Explore Kalpa and Rogi villages. Kalpa is one of the oldest villages, approximately 500 years old and there are documents to prove the same. The whole village has a stunning view of the Kinner Kailash and Jorkanden peaks. Kinner Kailash is said to be the winter home of the great Lord Shiva. By its side is a 79-foot single rock resembling the Shivlinga that changes color as the day passes. Kalpa is famous for its apples and chilgoza plantations, and the Narayan Nagini Temple Complex, which has shrines of Hindu and Buddhist deities. Overnight at Kalpa.
DAY 10: TO SHIMLA
Wake up early and enjoy a stunning sunrise bathing the Kinner Kailash peaks. After an early, check out from the hotel and leave for Shimla.
DAY 11: TO CHANDIGARH & HOME
After breakfast, leave for your onward journey home, with wonderful memories of the Kinner Camps hospitality.
