Tour Description
TOUR ROUTE
Delhi – Shimla – Kalpa – Nako – Tabo – Kaza – Manali – Chandigarh – Delhi
The Spiti Valley is a remote location with limited tourist infrastructure, making this part of the world a little visited but rewarding destination. Voted as one of the top 10 of Lonely Planet’s ‘Best in Travel Regions for 2018’ this tour is a must for adventurers who want to see and experience the extreme beauty, remoteness and never to be repeated landscapes of the Spiti Valley.
This is how Lonely Planet writer John Noble described the Spiti Valley:
“Imagine an arid land set high in the Indian Himalaya, a high-altitude desert punctuated by small patches of green and miniature villages of white, flat-roofed houses perched below stark rocky hillsides and jagged snow-covered peaks. Picture high passes blocked by snow and ice for half the year, and scattered stabs of colour from fluttering prayer flags and precariously perched Buddhist monasteries.”
Don’t just take Lonely Planet’s word for it, come and experience the wonder of the Spiti Valley with us today!
USD2299 per person on twin-share basis
USD2999 per person Single Room
Tour Highlights
- Wonders of Delhi
- Shimla – the queen of hill stations
- Beautiful Kinnaur Valley
- Ancient Buddhist monasteries at Nako and Tabo
- Key Buddhist monastery at Kaza
- Manali Hill station
Welcome to India! Upon your arrival at the airport in Delhi, our representative will greet you and escort you to the hotel. After checking into your hotel, spend the rest of your day at your leisure exploring the local area and relaxing in the hotel. Our friendly guide and hotel staff will be on hand should you need restaurant recommendations or general provisions.
Head to the iconic and bustling area of Old Delhi after breakfast. We’ll admire the magnificent Jama Masjid (India’s largest mosque) and enjoy a rickshaw tour through the ancient alleyways of Chandni Chowk bazaar. Before heading back to New Delhi we’ll pass by the fantastic Red Fort, constructed in 1638; as well as Raj Ghat, the cremation site of Mahatma Gandhi. As we continue to weave our way to New Delhi, we will pass majestic British era landmarks such as the India Gate, the President’s House, Parliament House & the Government Secretariat Buildings. Our final stop of the day is the Laxmi Narayan Hindu Temple.
Today we will leave our hotel in the early hours of the morning and set off for a day of exciting rail travel on the world famous Indian Railways. We will take a train from North Delhi to Kalka before transferring onto the narrow gauge ‘toy train’ Kalka-Shimla Railway. This route travels along a mountainous track known for its dramatic views of the hills and surrounding villages. This railway was built in 1898 to connect Shimla, the summer capital of India during the British Raj, with the rest of the Indian rail system. At the time of construction 107 tunnels and 864 bridges were built throughout the course of the track.
After breakfast we will set off on a sightseeing tour of Shimla.
This morning we will leave Shimla and make our way to Kalpa as we head into the beautiful Kinnaur Valley.
The morning is at your leisure to explore Kalpa, before we head towards Rekong Peo. We will stop for lunch and get our inner line permit for the Spiti Valley and head towards Nako, which is located just 60kms from the Tibetan border.
Today we will take a morning drive to Tabo. Tabo is famous for its monastery, which dates back to 966AD and is a World Heritage Site. The Dalai Lama maintains that the Tabo Monastery is one of the holiest sites in the world. Due to its height at 3280 metres, Tabo has short summers and very cold winters.
We leave after breakfast for the drive to Kaza, stopping off on the way at Dhankar Monastery.
We will spend the day around Kaza, exploring the local Sakya monastery and the world famous Ky Monastery. This Tibetan Buddhist monastery is located on top of a hill at an altitude of 4166 metres above sea level and is 11kms from Kaza. The monastery has the distinction of being the oldest and the biggest in the Lahaul and Spiti district as well as being a religious training centre for monks. It is home to around 300 novice monks who receive their religious education here.
We will leave Kaza very early in the morning for the drive to Manali. You will pass along the valley floor before gradually rising and crossing the spectacular Rothang Pass (3980m) which offers some of the most spectacular mountain views in the world. We will stop at the pass to admire the stunning view, before continuing on to Manali and arriving by early afternoon.
We will leave Manali after breakfast and begin our descent to the Indian plains, and to the modern metropolis of Chandigarh. The drive will take 7 hours by car. We follow the Beas River from to Manali to Mandi, passing through one of the most beautiful gorges that Himachal Pradesh has to offer. Sit back and admire the stunning views as well travel in comfort through what is known as ‘the Valley of the Gods’.
After breakfast we will take a morning flight to Delhi.
Transfer to the Indira Gandhi International Airport for your return flight home.
Package Includes