Day 1: Chandigarh to Manali (9 hours)
The journey starts from Chandigarh airport at 12pm. We make our way to Manali, en route stopping at a typical Punjabi Dhaba for lunch. We reach Manali by 9pm and settle into our hotel for the night.
Stay: Inn/Guesthouse in Old Manali
Meals: None
Day 2: Manali
This day is kept to explore and enjoy old Manali. Small walks to beautiful view points where you are the only one staring at the gushing Beas, great cafes and eateries and getting a feel of this vibrant town-a favorite of backpackers. Go zip lining over the Beas, or walk around the old town.
Experiences: Local café, Old Manali Market, Manu Temple, Solace Chai with the best view
Stay: Inn/Guesthouse
Meals: Breakfast
Day 3: Manali to Kaza (10-12 hours)
This day head out into the heart of the Spiti Valley to Kaza. Relax at the stay after the long drive at your charming hotel. This beautiful hotel looks like a large Himalayan home, and its uniqueness lies in its location, which is right besides the ‘jewel of Kaza’ – the Sakya Monastery.
The capital of Spiti, Kaza sits on the eroded flood plain of the Spiti River and is the biggest settlement you’ll encounter in this empty corner of the planet. It feels a bit like a small frontier town with an easygoing pace. Jagged mountains rise on either side while the river coils across the valley floor like twisted locks of Medusa’s hair. The colourful Sakya Gompa stands just above the main road in New Kaza (south of the Kaza Nullah), while the ramshackle bazaar and whitewashed buildings of Old Kaza spread out on the north side of the stream.
Stay: A charming hotel in Kaza town
Meals: Breakfast | Dinner
Day 4: Kaza-Dhankar-Tabo (4 hours one way)
Today a unique experience awaits you-spend a day with the nuns at a nunnery. Gain a deep insight into their daily lives while also helping out in the daily tasks carried out in the monastery. You will have the unique opportunity to interact with the nuns, share a meal with them and understand what their everyday life looks life.
Alternatively, you can explore the beautiful ancient monasteries of Dhankar and Tabo. Tabo boasts of the oldest monastery in the Himalayas and in India at 10760 ft. Situated at an elevation of 3890 meters, Dhankar is the erstwhile capital of Spiti Kingdom. Dhankar is popularly known for an ancient monastery (1200 years old) which is built on high cliff overlooking the confluence of Spiti and Pin rivers. Return to Kaza by evening.
Stay: A charming hotel in Kaza town
Meals: Breakfast | Dinner
Experience: A day in the life of a nun with local lunch (Add On)| Visit Tabo and Dhankar
Day 5: Kaza-Kye-Kibber (4 hours); Kaza–Komic (2 hours)
From Kaza, drive up to Kibber , Kee and Komic. Kibber , at an elevation of 14010ft is a remote village in the valley with a population of 341. It has a post office, a polling and a Senior Secondary School too. It also gets military protection. It is said to be the highest village in India which is inhabited throughout the year and has motorable roads.
Kye is located at an elevation of 13700ft and is the largest monastery in the region. It houses 250 monks in the winter months, and these monks spend the summers working in the fields with their respective families.
Komic located at 14800ft is the highest village in Asia. Now it has an (almost) motorable road too. Breathing is a little difficult so any hectic activity is not recommended. However there are the ruins of a gompa to look forward to and the Komic Monastery to visit. We will stay overnight at a homestay in Komic.
Stay: Homestay in Komic
Meals: Breakfast | Dinner
Day 6: Komic-Chandertaal (7-8 hours)
We start early to go to Chandertal, or simply Moon Lake is a barren but beautiful lake located at a height of 14100 feet. Travel to the base camp. You will be staying in camps here and the lake is a good 45 minutes hike from the camp. No thoroughfare is allowed beyond this point. So we set off to spend a day on the banks of the beautiful lake which is the source of the river Chandra. Expect a very cold day here.
Stay: Camps without attached toilets
Meals: Breakfast | Dinner
Day 7: Chandertaal to Manali (8 hours)
Get ready for a long scenic ride back to Manali as your journey comes to a close.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 8: Manali-Chandigarh (9 hours)
Start your journey back home, with a bag full of memories
Meals: Breakfast
Inclusions:
- Meals mentioned
- Internal travel by Innova/tempo traveler (based on group size; ex-Chandigarh)
- Stays on double occupancy basis
- Sightseeing according to itinerary
- A full time local guide (ex-Manali)
Exclusions:
- Flight/ Train charges to Chandigarh and back
- Day in the life of a nun experience
- Meals not mentioned
- Entry charges at museums, monuments, monasteries if any.
- Personal expenses such as beverages, tips, shopping etc.
- Any change of travel plans due to weather conditions, strikes, flight delays etc. will have to be personally borne by the traveler.
- Things not mentioned in "inclusions".
*Please note: Activities are flexible and depend on availability
