Overview
Nestled in the Trans-Himalayan region of Himachal Pradesh, Spiti Valley is a hidden gem for travelers seeking breathtaking landscapes, rich Tibetan culture, and spiritual serenity. Often referred to as “Little Tibet,” this cold desert valley offers a rare blend of dramatic terrains, ancient Buddhist monasteries, and warm-hearted locals who have preserved their traditions for centuries.
A Land of Mesmerizing Landscapes
Spiti Valley is renowned for its surreal landscapes, where towering barren mountains, deep gorges, and sparkling rivers create an otherworldly charm. The valley is dotted with picturesque villages, high-altitude lakes like Chandratal, and the stunning Pin Valley National Park, home to the elusive snow leopard. The Spiti River meanders through the valley, adding to its ethereal beauty, while the high mountain passes, including Kunzum La, offer panoramic views that leave travelers spellbound.
People and Culture: A Glimpse Into Tibetan Heritage
The people of Spiti, primarily of Tibetan descent, are known for their hospitality and resilience. Living in one of the most remote and harshest environments, they have maintained their traditional lifestyle, deeply rooted in Buddhism. Their mud-brick homes, prayer wheels, and fluttering prayer flags add color to the stark landscape. The local cuisine, including dishes like thukpa, momos, and butter tea, provides a delightful experience for visitors looking to immerse themselves in Spitian culture.
The Spiritual Essence: Ancient Buddhist Monasteries
Spiti Valley is home to some of the most revered Buddhist monasteries in India, each a beacon of peace and spirituality. These centuries-old monasteries house ancient murals, thangka paintings, and sacred scriptures, offering travelers a deep spiritual retreat.
Some of the must-visit monasteries in Spiti Valley include:
- Key Monastery: The largest and most iconic monastery in Spiti, known for its stunning hilltop location and vibrant monastic life.
- Dhankar Monastery: Perched precariously on a cliff, this monastery offers breathtaking views of the confluence of the Spiti and Pin Rivers.
- Tabo Monastery: One of the oldest monasteries in India, often referred to as the ‘Ajanta of the Himalayas’ due to its exquisite murals and frescoes.
- Komic Monastery: Located in the world’s highest motorable village, Komic, this monastery is known for its ancient artifacts and serene atmosphere.
Whether you seek adventure, tranquility, or a deep cultural experience, Spiti Valley promises an unforgettable journey into the heart of the Himalayas. Let us take you on a trip where every moment is a discovery and every sight is a masterpiece.
Gallery
Itinerary
Ladakh, or “land of high passes,” is a region in Jammu and Kashmir that extends from the Kunlun mountain range to the main Great Himalayas to the south. Inhabited since Neolithic times, this region is a rich crossroad of people, culture, religions and trade. People of Indo-Aryan and Tibetan descent inhabit the region. Alexander the Great’s wounded troops are reputed to have settled here.
Considered a cold desert, the best months for visiting are from March through November. The region is renowned for its remote mountain beauty and diverse culture. With emerald-green valleys, barren foothills, roaring pale-blue rivers and some of the tallest mountains in the world, the Himalayas and Spiti Valley are a must-visit destination for any adventurer.
Day 1
Arrive at New Delhi Airport (DEL) where you will be met and transferred by our team to our hotel in the Karol Bagh area of Delhi.
Continuously inhabited since the 6th century BC, Delhi has been the capital of a variety of kingdoms and empires — the Pandavas, the Delhi Sultanate and the Mughal Empires. Captured, razed and rebuilt several times over the course of history, Delhi is now a group of sub-cities spread across a large metropolitan region. New Delhi is one of those districts, is the capital of India and seat of all three branches of the Government of India — Executive (Rashtrapati Bhavan), Legislature (Parliament House) and Judiciary (Supreme Court of India). Emperor George V laid the foundation stone of New Delhi during the Delhi Durbar of 1911. Although colloquially Delhi and New Delhi are used interchangeably, these are two distinct entities, with New Delhi forming a small part of the city of Delhi.
Day 2
Today brings an early start as we depart in our private bus for Kalka departing at 7:00am. This connects with Himalayan Queen, the historic narrow-gauge toy train leading up to the hill station of Shimla. The train route claims World Heritage status and takes a slow 5 hours to travel to Shimla. We will only spend 2 hours aboard to enjoy the spectacular views up to Dharampur, before rejoining our bus.
Shimla was the summer capital of the British Indian Empire during colonial times and the entire Indian government migrated there from sweltering Calcutta for almost six months every year. The reason for this will become apparent when you experience the contrast between the intense heat of Delhi and the cool mountain air up in the foothills of the Himalayas.
Day 3
Shimla, also known as Simla, is the capital and largest city of Himachal Pradesh. In 1864, British India established the city as its summer capital. And from 1942 to 1945, Shimla was the capital city of British Burma. After independence from in 1947, the city became the capital of Punjab. The architecture is a beautiful mix of Tudorbethan and neo-Gothic and dates from colonial times.
We will explore the Shimla Mall, the extraordinary colonial edifices, and the maze of bazaars clinging to an alpine ridge.
In the afternoon, we will conduct a full safety and health briefing.
Day 4
This morning we get on the road for our first ride to the hilltop village of Sarahan, and we will spend the night at the unique Kali Temple guesthouse. On the way we will stop for tea and to meet the locals at Narkanda, home of Kamal and a stunning fir (abies pindrow) forest.
Sarahan, at almost 7,000 feet, is a small village known as the gateway to Kinnaur, as it is close to the ancient Indo-Tibetan Road. We will visit the spectacular Bhimakali Temple, originally known as Bhimadevi Temple, which is dedicated to the Hindu mother goddess Bhimakali. This temple is one of 51 Shakti Peethas, significant shrine and pilgrimage destinations for Shaktism, a Hindu sect focused on goddesses.
Day 5
Today we continue up the Satluj Valley. The storied Sutlej river runs through this valley, and eventually connects with the Indus which flows into Pakistan and eventually the Arabian Sea. We will witness enormous hydro projects that depend upon the Sutlej. We will also tour a side road ending at the isolated village of Sangla. This road is dramatically precipitous with heart-stopping drop offs.
We will spend two memorable nights in a unique riverside glampsite next to the Satluj.
Day 6
This morning we will take a short, 20 mile, ride along the Baspa River to Chitikul, the last village before the India / Tibet border. Then we will return for dinner to Sangla.
Fed by perennial glaciers, the Baspa River has carved the Baspa Valley, or Sangla Valley. This landscape includes rushing waters, spectacular forests, and is surrounded by towering snow-capped peaks. This stretch of the highlands is considered to be one of the most scenic in all of the Himalayas.
Day 7
Day 7 brings us further up the Satluj River on a ride to Rekong Peo, or Reckong Peo, named after a group of people who inhabited this village in ancient times. We will apply for tourist permits to enter the border area with Tibet.
Next we ascend to the village of Kalpa, at almost 10,000 feet, where we will spend a night amongst the apple and pear orchards of this peaceful village. Kinnauri residents follow a syncretism, or a blending, of Hinduism and Buddhism. Many temples in this pine-wooded village are dedicated to both Hindu and Buddhist gods and goddesses. Men wear wool churidhar pajamas and tailored wool shirts, such as the chamn kurti, while women wrap themselves in a dohru.
Day 8
Today we split off from the Satluj River to follow one of its tributaries, the equally famous Spiti River. We will ride to the picturesque lakeside village of Tabo at over 10,700 feet above sea level.
“Spiti” translates to, “the middle land,” or the land between India and Tibet. The Spiti Valley is a cold desert mountain valley and its residents follow Vajrayana Buddhism. These Buddhists train in the traditions of Tantra and “Secret Mantra,” which developed in medieval India and spread to Tibet, Bhutan and East Asia.
Day 9
In the morning, we will visit a thousand year old Buddhist monastery. The current Dalai Lama has expressed interest in retiring to this village, because he holds that the Tabo Monastery is one of the holiest in the world.
Next we take the road to Kaza, climbing to almost 12,000 feet. Kaza allows for easy access to many nearby trekking destinations, so it is an ideal base camp for mountaineering and tours, such as ours, directed to other parts within this breathtaking valley.
Along the way, we will tour the famous Dhankar Ghopma at the village of Komic. This Ghopma is structured like a fortified castle on the edge of a deep canyon. It has massive slanted mud walls and battlements with vertical red ochre and white vertical stripes. Komic is the highest village in the world accessible by road.
A ghopma, also known as ling, is a Buddhist ecclesiastical fortification. Here devotees practice learning, lineage and sādhanā, a yogic tradition with the goal of attaining detachment from worldly things. This ghopma was built early in the 14th century when the Sakyapas rose to power under Mongol rule.
Day 10
On Day 10, we take the ride further up the Spiti Valley to the monasteries of Komic and Key.
At almost 14,000 feet, Kye Gompa is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery and is the largest of all of the monasteries in the valley. Key is a religious training center for Lamas. A pupil of the famous teacher, Atisha, Dromtön, supposedly founded this ghopma in the 11th century. Along with the Tabo Monastery and Dhankar Gompa, Kye Gompa is one of three belonging to the Gelugpa sect Spiti.
Next we tour the village of Kiber (sp?) at 14,200 feet! Kiber is also home to a monastery, and the famous Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary. Snow leopards, Tibetan wolves, ibex and medicinal plants can be found in this wild and remote sanctuary.
Finally, we return to Kaza in the afternoon.
Day 11
The Himalayan village of Losar is our destination today. Here we will find basic accommodation as our stopping point.
Day 12
Day 12 brings us a nice ride of 100 miles on hard roads and up to 15,000 feet, as we cross the famous Kunzum La pass and leave the Spiti Valley to enter the Lahaul Valley. Drivers and travelers seek blessings of Kunzum Mata. We will end our day at Sissu, a small town located on the right bank of Chandra River. The view of the dramatic Palden Lhamo dhar waterfall across the river is a must see.
Day 13
Today we ride to Jispa, at 10,500 feet, where we will spend the night alongside the roaring Bhaga River.
And we will stop along the way at Tandi, the last gas station before Leh. And, if time permits, we will take a short exploratory ride up the road to Udaipur. Here we will find a beautiful Śiva temple, a historic site protected by the Archaeological Survey of India. Udaipur’s history dates to the ninth century. The temple is the only remaining monument to the Paramara kings, an Indian dynasty that ruled Malwa and surrounding areas in west and central India between 9th and 14th centuries.
Day 14
We begin a climb up to Baracha La pass, at 16,400 feet. This pass connects the Lahaul district to Leh district. The Bhaga river, a tributary of the Chenab river, has it source at the Surya taal Lake, just a few kilometers from the pass towards Manali.
Baralachala translates to summit. This is truly a crossroads — Spiti, Ladakh, Zanskar and Lahaul all meet here, and in ancient times this was part of an important trade route. Rudyard Kipling’s novel Kim includes reference to this storied pass.
We will then descend to the barren, but spectacular plains of Sarchu where we spend a night under canvas tents. This is part of the Old Silk Road, connecting East and West.
Day 15
Today brings a ride over the stunning Nakila Pass preceded by 22 heart-stopping hairpin turns. This is followed by the Lachang La pass with its fascinating, eroded rock formations.
We will then descend into and traverse the Moray plains, a high altitude desert and home to the nomadic Khampa people. The Khampa were the earliest inhabitants of the Tibetan Plateau.
We will spend another night under canvas near the dazzling Tso Kar salt lake.
Day 16
Today, we leave the Moray plain and ascend the second highest motor-able pass in the world — Tanglang La. This will be our highest destination at almost at 17,400 feet (over half the height of nearby Mount Everest)!
We will then descend into the less rarified atmosphere of the Leh district.
Day 17
Today we will take a well-deserved rest and explore the bazaars and monasteries of Leh city. For centuries, Leh was a vital stopping point along the trade routes connecting the Indus Valley with Tibet to the east, Kashmir to the west and also joining India and China. Traders exchanged salt, grain, pashm or cashmere wool, charas or cannabis resin from the Tarim Basin, indigo dye, Banaras brocades, and, of course, silk.
Leh is the historic, joint capital and largest town in the region. It once served as the capital of the Himalayan kingdom of Ladakh. The Ladakh constructed the magnificent, nine-storey Leh Palace in the 17th century, in the same style and during the same time period as the more famous Potala Palace in Tibet. The Potola Palace was the principal residence of the Dalai Lama until 1959, when the 14th Dalai Lama fled to Dharamshala during the Tibetan uprising.
Today we will say a sad farewell to our trusty bikes.
Day 18
This morning we depart from Leh Airport back to Delhi. Flying time is approximately 1 hour 30 minutes. From the airport we transfer back to our original hotel in Karol Bagh. Re-acclimatize to sea-level air and enjoy the day from the comfort of your room, and feel free to explore Delhi. Karol Bagh is in the middle of the bustling motorcycle bazaars, and there is much to see and do within walking distance.
We will meet up one last time for a farewell dinner this evening.
Depart Delhi airport (DEL) either this same evening or early the next morning.
This itinerary has been prepared in good faith and will be followed as closely as possible. Himalayan Dream Routes cannot be held responsible for delays caused by the air carrier and recommend that your insurance policy should cover costs incurred by delays in your flight schedule. We aim to follow the Indian portion of this itinerary to the letter, but reserve the right to change the details of it should this become necessary due to unforeseen circumstances. Even in summer months, weather conditions can change very rapidly in the mountains and passes, and roads sometimes become quickly impassable. Circumstances do not always proceed according to plan in the Himalayas, and the only way to deal with the unexpected is with patience and a sense of humor. Please bring these qualities with you. In all cases of change to this program, we will endeavor to provide accommodation, meals, transportation and destinations of a similar nature.
Thank you.
Includes / Excludes
- Accommodation
- Travels
- Dinners
- Lunch
- Shopping
- Extra Activities