Spiti A Winter Wonderland
- Ex Shimla
5N/6D
Duration
November to April
Best time to visit
Dinner and Breakfast
Meals provided
Hotels or Homestays or Camps
Stay provided
Local experienced driver
Transport
Embark on a journey to Kinnaur and Spiti, where the landscapes are cloaked in snow, the monasteries stand as serene sanctuaries, and the spirit of adventure thrives amid the chilly wilderness.
As this is a short trip, meant for those strapped for time, it is bound to be a bit hectic with long travel days.
Places Covered
- Narkanda
- Rampur
- Sangla
- Rakcham
- Chitkul
- Kalpa
- Khab
- Nako
- Gue
- Tabo
- Pin Valley (Mudh)
- Dhankar
- Kye
- Khibber
- Chicham
- Langza
- Hikkim
- Komic
The remote, tribal regions of Kinnaur and Spiti, often overshadowed by their more accessible summer counterparts, reveal a different kind of charm in the colder months.
You’ll experience:
- The apple belt of Himachal – Famous for Hatu Peak and Temple (2708 m)
- The Uninterrupted view of the Kinner Kailash peaks in Kalpa. (2960 m)
- Picturesque Nako Lake (3600 m)
- The perfectly well-preserved 593-year-old mummy at Gue (3200 m)
- Ancient monasteries with intricate murals at Tabo and Dhankar
- Highest motorable villages like Komic (4,587 m)
- Highest post office in the world at Hikkim (4,400 m)
- World’s highest bridge from sea level at Chicham (4,037 m)
- A fossil village at Langza (4,420 m)
- A breathtaking hike to Dhankar Lake (4,140 m)
- Local scenic beauty including wooden architecture, ancient temples & lovely meadows in Sangla
- Chitkul – Most famous as the last village on the old handstand – tibet route (3450 m)
| Day | Day Plan | Travel Time |
| Day 1 | Shimla to Kalpa via Narkanda, Hatu Peak,Temple, Rampur | 7-8 hrs |
| Day 2 | Kalpa to Tabo via Khab, Nako & Gue | 6-7 hrs |
| Day 3 | Tabo to Kaza via Dhankar & Pin Valley (Mudh, Khungri) | 4-5 hrs |
| Day 4 | Kaza to Kye, Khibber, Chicham, Langza, Hikkim Post Office, Komic & Back | 5-6 hrs |
| Day 5 | Kaza to Sangla via Nako | 7-8 hrs |
| Day 6 | Sangla to Shimla via Rakcham, Chitkul. Trip ends | 8-9 hrs |
| Add 1 day to break Day 4 into 2 excursions |
- It gets very cold in winter i.e. December through February with temperatures hitting – 30C. You will need to be mentally and physically fit and must have done some high altitude travel in order to be able to handle traveling through this high altitude terrain.
- All hotels and guest houses will be shut at the time and you will only get homestays which have dry eco friendly squatting toilets. You will need to be okay with this as wet toilets are not available due to water lines freezing.
- Because of the water lines freezing, the locals need to carry the water all the way in the freezing cold from a nearby water source and hence having a bath while you are in Spiti will not be possible.
- In peak winter i.e. January and early February all the places might not be open due to adverse weather conditions. We will keep you updated on the same in case any last minute changes need to be made to your plan.
- Winter time is off season in Spiti, and you will not have many options in terms of activities, and because of the cold, you won’t be able to move around as much and will end up spending time in the homestay. We recommend travelers make the most of the situation, and turn their time at the homestay to getting to know more about Spitian life, food and culture from the locals.
- Because of winter, there will not be many options in terms of food and in a homestay you will need to be understanding and eat the hearty but basic food that your hosts provide.
- Be prepared to be understanding and flexible, as we can make last minute plan changes due to bad weather for your safety and wellbeing.
Your trip includes:
- Breakfast and Dinner as per the plan
- Transport and experienced local driver as per the plan
- Stay at the list of hotels shared as per the plan
- Driver to act as a basic guide
- All expenses for the driver are paid for, including all tolls, fuel, meals and accommodation
- Local coordinator in Kaza to handle your trip
Your trip excludes:
- 5% GST
- Lunch, snacks and beverages (except the ones with meals)
- Any kind of insurance/ emergency and evacuation cost
- Local Guide
- Bus ticket cost/Monument Entry fee/Cost of permits
As this is a cold desert, the weather varies throughout the day.
Here is the ultimate packing list for your Spiti trip.
- Shirt/t-shirt – 3-4
- Jeans/trekking pants – 2
- Windproof jacket of decent quality
- Thermals (upper and lower)
- Warm fleece/thick pullover – 2
- Woolen cap
- Woolen gloves
- Woolen socks
- Regular socks – 3-4 pair
- Scarf/muffler (optional)
- Comfortable hiking/training shoes
- Floaters/sandals/chappals
- Water bottle
- Cap/hat
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Lip balm
- Moisturizer
- Torch/flashlight
- Daypack/small backpack to carry it with you every day
- Camera with extra batteries
- Battery bank
- Hot water bag
- Prescription medicines (if any)
- Basic medicines (for headache, motion sickness, stomach issues etc)
- Trekking pole (optional)
The remote, tribal regions of Kinnaur and Spiti, often overshadowed by their more accessible summer counterparts, reveal a different kind of charm in the colder months.
You’ll experience:
- The apple belt of Himachal – Famous for Hatu Peak and Temple (2708 m)
- The Uninterrupted view of the Kinner Kailash peaks in Kalpa. (2960 m)
- Picturesque Nako Lake (3600 m)
- The perfectly well-preserved 593-year-old mummy at Gue (3200 m)
- Ancient monasteries with intricate murals at Tabo and Dhankar
- Highest motorable villages like Komic (4,587 m)
- Highest post office in the world at Hikkim (4,400 m)
- World’s highest bridge from sea level at Chicham (4,037 m)
- A fossil village at Langza (4,420 m)
- A breathtaking hike to Dhankar Lake (4,140 m)
- Local scenic beauty including wooden architecture, ancient temples & lovely meadows in Sangla
- Chitkul – Most famous as the last village on the old handstand – tibet route (3450 m)
| Day | Day Plan | Travel Time |
| Day 1 | Shimla to Kalpa via Narkanda, Hatu Peak,Temple, Rampur | 7-8 hrs |
| Day 2 | Kalpa to Tabo via Khab, Nako & Gue | 6-7 hrs |
| Day 3 | Tabo to Kaza via Dhankar & Pin Valley (Mudh, Khungri) | 4-5 hrs |
| Day 4 | Kaza to Kye, Khibber, Chicham, Langza, Hikkim Post Office, Komic & Back | 5-6 hrs |
| Day 5 | Kaza to Sangla via Nako | 7-8 hrs |
| Day 6 | Sangla to Shimla via Rakcham, Chitkul. Trip ends | 8-9 hrs |
| Add 1 day to break Day 4 into 2 excursions |
- It gets very cold in winter i.e. December through February with temperatures hitting – 30C. You will need to be mentally and physically fit and must have done some high altitude travel in order to be able to handle traveling through this high altitude terrain.
- All hotels and guest houses will be shut at the time and you will only get homestays which have dry eco friendly squatting toilets. You will need to be okay with this as wet toilets are not available due to water lines freezing.
- Because of the water lines freezing, the locals need to carry the water all the way in the freezing cold from a nearby water source and hence having a bath while you are in Spiti will not be possible.
- In peak winter i.e. January and early February all the places might not be open due to adverse weather conditions. We will keep you updated on the same in case any last minute changes need to be made to your plan.
- Winter time is off season in Spiti, and you will not have many options in terms of activities, and because of the cold, you won’t be able to move around as much and will end up spending time in the homestay. We recommend travelers make the most of the situation, and turn their time at the homestay to getting to know more about Spitian life, food and culture from the locals.
- Because of winter, there will not be many options in terms of food and in a homestay you will need to be understanding and eat the hearty but basic food that your hosts provide.
- Be prepared to be understanding and flexible, as we can make last minute plan changes due to bad weather for your safety and wellbeing.
Your trip includes:
- Breakfast and Dinner as per the plan
- Transport and experienced local driver as per the plan
- Stay at the list of hotels shared as per the plan
- Driver to act as a basic guide
- All expenses for the driver are paid for, including all tolls, fuel, meals and accommodation
- Local coordinator in Kaza to handle your trip
Your trip excludes:
- 5% GST
- Lunch, snacks and beverages (except the ones with meals)
- Any kind of insurance/ emergency and evacuation cost
- Local Guide
- Bus ticket cost/Monument Entry fee/Cost of permits
As this is a cold desert, the weather varies throughout the day.
Here is the ultimate packing list for your Spiti trip.
- Shirt/t-shirt – 3-4
- Jeans/trekking pants – 2
- Windproof jacket of decent quality
- Thermals (upper and lower)
- Warm fleece/thick pullover – 2
- Woolen cap
- Woolen gloves
- Woolen socks
- Regular socks – 3-4 pair
- Scarf/muffler (optional)
- Comfortable hiking/training shoes
- Floaters/sandals/chappals
- Water bottle
- Cap/hat
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Lip balm
- Moisturizer
- Torch/flashlight
- Daypack/small backpack to carry it with you every day
- Camera with extra batteries
- Battery bank
- Hot water bag
- Prescription medicines (if any)
- Basic medicines (for headache, motion sickness, stomach issues etc)
- Trekking pole (optional)
Detailed itinerary
We will pick you up from your hotel/ bus stand in Shimla bright and early. Head towards Narkanda. Take appropriate breaks on the way and enjoy the beauty as you leave the city crowd behind. View the lush green valleys and apple orchards on both side of the road. Visit the famous Hatu Temple and Hatu Peak. You can see 180º views of the surroundings from Hatu Peak. Stop for lunch at Tapri at the famous Himachali Dhaba. You shall meet the Sutlej river at Sainj and from there on it will be with you till Kalpa. Stop in Reckong Peo, the headquarters of Kinnaur district. It is a buzzing town full of shops and a market for you to pick up souvenirs before heading to your hotel. Relax with a view of the Kinner Kailash peaks.
Go for a walk to the Old Shiva temple and Buddhist monastery in Kalpa, in the morning. Have an early breakfast and head to Tabo this day. The terrain will change after Pooh and you will see the end of tree line. See the confluence of Spiti and Sutlej river at Khab. Lunch at a beautiful village called Nako and visit the Nako lake. Visit the 550 yr old mummy of a monk in meditating pose at Gue. Reach Tabo and rest.
Get an early morning start today. Visit the “Ajanta of the Himalayas' '- The Tabo Monastery which is currently close to 1000 years old. The murals, thangkas and paintings are believed to have been made in a single night by the Gods themselves. You can also hike to the nearby meditation caves, if time permits. Next, we visit Dhankar Monastery – Seat of the King in ancient times – the most beautiful setting for a monument which hangs on a cliff and overlooks the confluence of Spiti and Pin River. You can hike to Dhankar lake, if your lungs permit it is a steep hike and not for everyone, but the views from the top are worth it. Have lunch in Dhankar before heading to Pin Valley. Final stop for the day is Pin Valley- home to Snow Leopards, Siberian Ibex and a stronghold of Buchen Lamas. We shall visit Khungri Monastery on the way to Mudh (last village in Pin Valley). Spend some time around Mudh before heading to Kaza.
Take the morning easy and walk through Kaza village if you are feeling up to it. After breakfast we shall head to Kye Monastery and Khibber Village. Kye monastery is on top of a mountain overlooking the Spiti valley and a huge river bed. It is also the main learning centre for Lamas following the Geluk sect of Buddhism. Kye houses approximately 100 odd monks. We shall climb a little further and visit Khibber Village- which was once the world’s highest village. A short hike or car ride from Khibber is Chicham bridge which is known to be the highest bridge above sea level in Asia.
Next stop for the day is Langza, Langza at 4300 meters is famous for its fossils and the statue of Buddha overlooking the mountain ranges. Have lunch in Langza before heading to your next stop, Hikkim. Hikkim has the highest post office in the world. Visit the post office and revive the art of writing again by sending out some postcards to your loved ones. Your last stop for the day is Komic village, one of the highest motorable villages in the world. The village is also home to the Sakya Tangyud monastery. If you are visiting Komic, this monastery is worth the visit. Head back to Kaza for an evening with your host family. Help them in making dinner and get to know more about life in the winters.
Say good bye to Spiti Valley as we head to Sangla today. Sangla is one of the most beautiful valleys in India. On your way stop in Nako for lunch and admire the changing landscapes. We recommend a walk to Baspa river from your hotel in the evening.
Go for an early morning walk to Basteri village from your hotel if you are up for it. Batseri is a beautiful, rustic village with traditional local architecture worth exploring. You can visit the Badri Narayan Temple in Batseri and the Tibetan wood carving centre. En-route to Chitkul, we take a stop in Rakcham, a picturesque village in Sangla valley known for its pink fields of buckwheat. Spend some time taking photographs before we head to Chitkul- the last village on the Indo-Tibet border. Reach and relax, you can explore the village and spend some time with the locals before heading back to Shimla.
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