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If one has come to the Himlayas to hike across high passes
and vast sree-covered mountainsides, one will be spoiled for choice in
Lahaul and Spiti region of
Himachal Pradesh .
The old trade route to Ladakh
and Tibet may have been tarmacked, but most of this remote and spectacular
region is still only accessible on foot. Its trails, though well
frequented in high season, are long, hard and high, punctuated by few
settlements, so be ready for this unending exploration journey!
Day
1: Arrive Delhi ,
on arrival meet and transfer in a hotel for overnight stay.
Day 2: Express Train to Chandigarh and drive down to
Manali
Day 3: Day at Leisure. Stay overnight at a hotel.
Day 4: Travel by jeep over 3,978 Rohtang pass, gateway to Lahaul,
then continue by jeep over 4.358 metre Kunzam la to Losar, the first
village in the Spiti valley.
Day 5: Continue by jeep to Kaza, the modern capitol of Spiti.
Day 6: Travel by jeep to Dhankar fort, the former capitol of
Spiti, high above the confluence of the Pin and Spiti rivers. Then
continue towards Tabo Gompa, one of the greatest artistic treasures in the
Himalayan region, to view its paintings and sculptures, some of which are
over 1,000 years old.
Day 7: Travel by jeep to Kyi Gompa, the largest in Spiti, and
Kibber, famed as the world's highest village with electricity and daily
bus service. Overnight stay at Kibber.
Day 8: Local walk around Kibber: to Gete and Tashigang, two
villages among the highest permanent settlements on earth. Return to
Kibber for the night.
Day 9: Begin trekking with a short but steep climb to the grazing
pastures above Kibber.
Day 10: Trek to Pangrochen, the last camp before Parang la. Only
a small spring sustains life at this high, rocky campsite.
Day 11: Trek over 5,577 metre Parang la and descend the dazzling
Parang glacier to the lovely oasis of Kharsa Gongma.
Day 12: Trek down the valley of the Pare Chu (river) to Tarang
Yogma.
Day 13: Continue down the Pare Chu, cross the river and camp at
the broad oasis of Norbu Sumdo.
Day 14: Trek to Kiangdam, on the southern shore of Tso Moriri,
the "Mountain Lake".
Day 15: Rest day in the incredible setting of Kiangdam.
Day 16: Trek to Korzok, the village and Gompa at the northern
shore of the lake.
Day 17: Trek past many large nomadic encampments over Gyamsharma
La to Gyama.
Day 18: Cross the Kyamamuri La to Rajung Karu.
Day 19: Trek over the low ridge of Harlam Konka to the small
village and Gompa of Nuruchan.
Day 20: Trek to Tso Kar, another of the remarkable lakes of the
Changtang plains.
Day 21: Travel by jeep to over the 5,328-metre Taglang la to Leh.
Day 22: Exploration of
Leh .
Day 23: Morning flight to Delhi from Leh. Check into a hotel for
an overnight stay.
Day 24: Depart- Delhi and transfer to airport for catching a
flight to onward journey.