Mountain Magic - Tirthan and Lahaul

We pick you up from Chandigarh and head to Tirthan Valley - the gateway to the Great Himalayan National Park and a popular destination for trekkers and nature enthusiasts. The valley has some fascinating traditional architecture to explore and trout angling locations. Reach and rest for the evening. You can explore the local village around the hotel and chat with the locals over a cup of chai.

After breakfast we head to Jalori Pass. A high mountain pass at 3200 mtrs, Jalori Pass is one of the favourite places for trekkers, mountain lovers and riding enthusiasts. Jalori Pass is the starting points for 2 treks (Serolsar lake and Raghupur fort) and you can easily do one of these – the hike to Serolsar Lake is without a guide. A 5 km trek from the top of Jalori pass brings you to Sareolsar Lake, a lake with unpolluted crystal clear water. This lake is tranquil and known for being the seat of local goddess Budhi Nagin. As Jalori Pass receives a heavy amount of snowfall during the winter, it is only accessible between April and November. Get back and got for a short (1 km hike from Jhibi market ) to the beautiful Jhibi waterfall.

Today will be adventurous as you will be trekking in this beautiful region. You can chose one of two treks today. Trekking to the majestic Chaini Fort or towards the Great Himalayan National Park. Please note that you will need a guide for your trek to Chaini fort which your host can arrange for you upon request. Chaini Fort is a 3-4 hr trek from Jhibi village. Chaini village is known for its ancient structures inspired by Chinese art and archaeology. Sharingi Bagi temple is another major attraction which lies mid way and you can take this detour to the temple if you are upto it. The other trek you can opt for today is the 8 km long trek towards the Great Himalayan National Park from a spot in Gushani. Just reaching the gate of the Great Himalayan National Park can be considered a trek in itself. If you wish to enter the GHNP you need to take a permit. Only people who wish to go on multi day treks to explore the national park take permission. You can relax in the evening and go for a stroll to Jhibi waterfall nearby. The final excursion option to choose from is to visit beautiful Sainj valley situated at the base of the Great Himalayan National Park. A scenic off beat location is perfect if you do not want anything too touristy. Sainj Valley is more famous for the Shahangarh meadows, the Pundhrik Rishi Lake (which is a hike from Deori village) and Raila village to see the twin towers of Raila.

Leave for Jispa early in the morning stopping at Solang Valley and Atal Tunnel along the way. Solang is a favourite as a ski resort in the winter and and adventure sports destination in the the summer like parachuting, paragliding, skating and zorbing. In the winters you can try your hand at Skiing as there are ski instructors to teach you the basics. Stop at Atal Tunnel, the highest single-tube tunnel above 10,000 feet (3,048 m) in the world for some pictures. Take a break in Sissu for lunch before heading to Jispa.

Start your journey today with a visit to Deepak Taal just 20 kms ahead of Jispa. At an altitude of 3750 mtrs, this lake is known for its tranquility and is often less crowded than the other high altitude lakes in the region Next, we visit Suraj Taal - named after the sun or ‘Suraj’ this high altitude lake is known for its serene beauty. At an altitude of 4883 mtrs Suraj Taal offers stunning panoramic views of the surrounding mountains. If accessible, your journey will take you to the iconic Baralacha Pass at an altitude of 4890 mtrs. The pass is known for its challenging terrain and unpredictable weather conditions. If the pass is open you will be treated to some breathtaking views of the Himalayan landscape.

A day of exploring Lahual Valley, the monasteries and temples and what makes this place so special. We start off with a visit to Keylong which is the district headquarters. Keylong is known for its monastery and market and acts as a base to exploring the surrounding valleys. Continue your journey to Trilokinath, an ancient temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is a sacred pilgrimage sight for both hindus and buddhists. Proceed towards Tandi which is the confluence of the the Chandra and Bhaga rivers merging to form the Chenab. From Tandi we head towards Shashur gompa - belonging to the Drugpa sect of Buddhism, Sha-shur means "blue pines" in the local dialect, as patches of blue pine can be seen around the monastery. Gondla monastery - Also known as Tupchilling monastery. The monastery has rare wooden idols of Guru Padma Sambhava Brijeshwari Devi and other lamas. The last stop for the day is Sissu village where you can visit the Sissu Lake which is just a few hundred mtrs from the main road. If you wish to visit the Sissu waterfall, you will need to trek. The waterfall can be seen from the highway as well. But the trek to the base of the waterfall is the experience you don’t want to miss. The mesmerizing beauty of this place with dense green vegetation makes it one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the Himalayan region. Reach Manali and rest.

Say your goodbyes to enchanting Lahaul and head back to Chandigarh today.