This trek combines the green of the Kinnaur region with the stark desolateness of the Spiti valley. The trek begins at Kafnoo in Kinnaur and crosses over the Pin Bhaba pass at 4865 meters, the most frequently used crossing by the locals.
The trail ascends along the left bank of the Wangar River after crossing a footbridge. The path climbs through single crop fields of Mastrang and passes through a mixed forest of conifers and temperate broad-leafed species. The trail climbs through little clearings of potato and buckwheat till it reaches the meadows of Mulling (3350 meters), fringed by birch and birdcherry, leaving the Wangar river far below. From here the trail continues to Pistrang, a sheltered glade with a spring at one end and over a steep ascent to the pass. The descent is more gradual to the Pin valley, over boulder-strewn glaciers, making it a sharp contrast to lush green Kinnaur.
This trek is combined with a drive through Spiti and its many important monasteries and quaint villages to make an experience only the valleys of Kinnaur and Spiti can provide.
Day 01): Upon arrival at Delhi Airport met our representative and then transfer to hotel for overnight stay.
Day 02): Delhi - Shimla. Board morning train `Himalayan Queen' at 0600 hrs for Kalka. Change to toy train for Shimla. Over night at Shimla.
Day 03): Drive Shimla - Sarahan Via Rampur (7-8hrs). Visit Bhi-makali Temple. Camp / Tourist bungalow.
Day 04): Drive Sarahan - Kafnoo (5-6hrs), The Trek starting Point. Camp.
Day 05): Trek Kafnoo - Muling (5-6hrs) Through Mustrang Village and Forest. After a few hours of steep climb the path gradually ascends to the campsite, a lush green meadow on the banks of the River Bhaba. Camp.
Day 07): Trek Muling - Pistrang (5-6hrs) At the base of Bhaba Pass. The walk involves a small river crossing and a gradual ascent. Camp.
Day 08): Trek Pistrang - Boldar. (4-5hrs). The first two hrs is a steep climb to the top of the Bhaba Pass (approx. 4,865mts). The path now leads into Pin Valley of Spiti. Camp.
Day 09): Trek Boldar - Gurguru. (4-5 hrs).
Day 10): Trek Gurguru - Muth (4-5hrs), the first Spiti village. It houses about 30 to 40 families. Camp.
Day 11): Trek Muth - Guling village (4-5hrs), the road head. Camp.
Day 12): Transfer to Tabo (3-4 hrs). Visit Tabo monastery and its many temples. In 1996, the Tabo monastery celebrated its thousand years with a kalachakra ceremony, which was presided by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. We spend the day exploring the numerous temples at the monastery and the old mud caves, which were used by monks to live in ancient times, before continuing to camp at Shego.
Day 13): Drive to Lalung and Dhankar. Dhankar was the erstwhile capital of Spiti and the king's palace has now been converted into a nunnery. Lalung is well known for its "tankhas" and ancient Buddhist artifacts. Return to camp at Shego.
Day 14): Drive Shego - Langza - Rangrik (1-2hrs). Camp. We drive up a dirt road at to reach a large meadow on which Langza is located. This area is known for breeding the famous Spiti horses, which are traded for the valuable Pashmina wool with the "Changpa" nomads of Ladakh. Return to Camp at Rangrik.
Day 15): Drive Rangrik - Ki - Kibber - Gette. Return to Rangrik. Today, we visit the largest monastery of Spiti at Kye, spectacularly located above Kye village. We continue upto Kibber, the roadhead for the trek over the Parang La into Ladakh. We continue on a road at over 13,000 ft to reach the village of Gette. We take a steep hike down to the Kye gompa where the jeeps meet us for the drive back to Camp. Overnight
Day 16): Drive Rangrik - Losar - Takcha (4hrs). We drive on up the Spiti valley to visit the nunnery at Pangmo and proceed to Losar village, the last village in Spiti. The drive is spectacular with mud towers rising hundreds of feet out of the valley floor. We make camp a few kilometers outside the village on a meadow at Takcha.
Day 17): Drive Takcha - Kunzum pass - Chattru (4-5hrs). We climb upto the Kunzum pass, which offers great views of the Chandrabhaga range of mountains. We descend into the Lahaul valley and travel down the Chandra river valley to camp at Chattru.
Day 18: Drive Chattru - Manali. After breakfast, we begin the climb to the Rohtang pass and descend into the green Kullu valley till Manali town. Arrive by lunchtime at our hotel. Explore Manali town, its mall and the Hadimba temple. Overnight Manali.
Day 19): Drive Manali - Nalagarh. Today, we drive down the valley of the Beas river past towns like Kullu, Mandi, Bilaspur to Nalagarh. Check into Hotel Mountview
Day 20): Drive Nalagarh - Delhi (4 hrs). We arrive in Delhi by noon. Check into hotel for the day and spend the day sightseeing (optional). Evening transfer to the airport for flight back home. The road is mad out of the riverbed with lots of mountain streams flowing across the road.
Trip & services ends here.
