Trek and Yak Safari in Spiti Valley (Land of Monks)

Duration: 9 nights/10 Days
Best Season: July to September
Region: Spiti

If one has come to Himalaya to hike across high Himalayan habitations, one will choose a trek in Spiti. On that trek we will visit two of the highest, by road connected, villages in Asia: Kibber and Hikkim. Most of this remote and spectacular region is still only accessible by feet. While trekking through this high altitude cold dessert, we will have a blend of Spiti’s rich culture and natural splendors. This trail provides a unique insight into the Spitians way of life (their homes, cuisine, agriculture and irrigation system). We also might get the opportunity to get a glimpse of some of the world’s rarest species of wildlife, such as snow leopard, Tibetan wolf and blue sheep. Spiti is out of a land of fairy tales and fantasies. Stark ranges that seemed to be painted in shades of russets, purple and pink; erodes mountain-sides strewn with boulders; deep gorges fed by streams…all that are a part of its surrealistic landscape. Small villages of box-like houses along the river valleys, which stand amid lush fields and groves of juniper, poplar and willow, provide splashes of green during the brief summer months. For the rest of the year Spiti is blanketed with snow and temperatures remain well under zero. Spiti with a strong Buddhist tradition has nearly 30 monasteries. As Spiti lies in the rain shadow of rugged mountain ranges, it has very little rain and is therefore perfect to be visited in the monsoon time.

Day 1 Manali to Kaza (3810m), by transportation 9hrs
Today we will start to gain altitude while crossing Rohtang Pass and later the Kunzum Pass, the gateway to the Spiti Valley. On the route we will enter the first village of Spiti, Lossar, then we go further to Kaza. Kaza is the head quarter of the Spiti region. Spiti is part of the District of Lahoul & Spiti in Himachal Pradesh.

Day 2 Kaza to Kibber (4200m) via Kye Monastery 5hrs
Kye monastery is the largest gompa in this part of the country. Now over 200 monks reside here. It was built in the 14th century at an altitude of 4160 m.

Day 3 Kibber to Langza (4635m) 5hrs

Day 4 Langza to Hikkim (4500m) 4hrs
The trail slowly winds up to pastures and yaks and sheep are visible during the trek

Day 5 Hikkim to Dhimul (4357m) 4hrs

Day 6 Dhimul to Lalung (3758m) 5hrs
We will see panoramic views of the valley and have an insight in the customs and cultures of the habitants. In Lalung is the oldest temple and probably one of the oldest trees (dating back to more than 1000 years) in Spiti

Day 7 Lalung to Dhankar Lake (3890m) 5hrs
On this day we have to cross a stream and enter into the valley of monks. There is a small but very enchanting lake. There is an old and famous monastery of the region. Dhankar was the capital of Spiti in oldern days.

Day 8 Dhankar to Tabo (3050m) 4hrs
This day we will trek towards the historical and the oldest monastery of the region: Tabo Monastery .

Day 9 Tabo to Rangrik by transportation
We will visit some old monasteries of the region. We will camp in Rangrik, a beautiful camping ground on the shore of the Spiti River.

Day 10 Rangrik to Manali
Today we have a 9 hours drive back to Manali.