April 2008 - Need help planning Kinnaur, Spiti tour

nayan

We are planning a tour to kinnaur and spiti in april 2008. the below schedule has been decided as of now
5-Apr Saturday flight HYD-DEL. OverNight bus to shimla
6-Apr Sunday reach shimla. Rest, sightseeing in shimla
7-Apr Monday start for kalpa
8-Apr Tuesday
9-Apr Wednesday
10-Apr Thursday
11-Apr Friday
12-Apr Saturday
13-Apr Sunday
14-Apr Monday reach delhi. After noon flight DEL-HYD

I have browsed through the various threads about the same topic in the forum.
1. I was planning to visit kalpa, chitkul, kaza, kibber..... Please help me with the iteniary
2. Is the route from kaza to manali open at this time?

Please help

vinayverma

I don't think Rohtang would be open in April. BRO has been trying to open the pass earlier than every previous year but April seems very difficult. June/July/Aug would be safer bet.

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puchoo

I dont think it would be open either... you can possibly trek across it but then that's different alltogether...June i believe might be the earliest really.

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arunchs

ditto about Kaza-Manali road opening. And the time in your hands doesn't seem long enough to go all the way to Kibber and come back unless you want to spend lot of your time travelling. But it is possible to go to Kibber and retrace the same road to Shimla.

Better thing to do would be to spend more time around Kinnaur and explore places like Sangla valley etc.

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nayan

ok.... so we have to retrace our route after Kaza ?..... thats ok with us..... we are not too keen on manali anyway....
or is there a alternate route from kaza to shimla?
assuming Shimla-kalpa-kaza- shimla, can you list down the places to see?
we are thinking of hiring a vehicle from shimla for 7 days.

A lot of time spent travelling is not an issue with us. In fact, during our trip to ladakh last year, we enjoyed the long road journeys the most. we are hoping the drives will be through some beautiful scenery.

vistet

Last year Rothang opened around May 10th - you´ll find the other years openings here

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nayan

Thanks for the inputs.
Please have a look at the iteniery.... I know its going to be hectic but cant help ....
5-Apr Saturday flight HYD-DEL. Night bus to shimla
6-Apr Sunday reach shimla. Rest, sightseeing in shimla
7-Apr Monday early morning start from shimla. Nightstay-kalpa
8-Apr Tuesday sightseeing aroung kalpa (sangla, chitkul….)
9-Apr Wednesday early morning start for Kaza. Nightstay-kaza
10-Apr Thursday sightseeing around kaza (kibber, Ki monastery,dhankar ….??)
11-Apr Friday start from kaza. Nightstay at tabo(any better idea?)
12-Apr Saturday night stay at recong peo/kalpa
13-Apr Sunday start for shimla. Reach shimla and overnite bus to delhi
14-Apr Monday reach delhi. After noon flight DEL-HYD

Dr.Barai

I think its a better idea to skip one day stay at shimla, the day thus saved may be better utilized either in sangla valley or pin valley which certainly deserve a visit.
U can travel beyond Kaza upto kunzum pass(pass will be closed in April) and I tell u the road from kaza to kunzum was just mesmerizing and don’t forget to visit the Komic village and gompha.

AvidTrekker

I second Dr Barai. Skip Shimla.

On the other hand, if you have NEVER seen Shimla, you may see it for whatever duration.. it has its beauties...
.
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nayan

Dr barai/Avid
we have no particular wish to linger in shimla..... that day is meant mainly for rest(after the overnight bus journey)and arranging the car hire etc......

1. how long does the volvo take from delhi to shimla? we are starting from ISBT at 10pm
2. how long does it take to travel between shimla and kalpa?
Will it be possible to reach Shimla in the morning.... arrange the car hire and reach kalpa by evening?

nayan

I have modified my iteniery thanks to all your inputs.
please have a look.

5-Apr Saturday flight HYD-DEL. Night bus to shimla(10pm)
6-Apr Sunday reach shimla. freshen up-car hire and leave for sarahan. Night stay in sarahan
7-Apr Monday travel from sarahan to kalpa. Rest, sight seeing arounf kalpa. Night stay at kalpa
8-Apr Tuesday sightseeing aroung kalpa (sangla, chitkul….)
9-Apr Wednesday early morning start for Kaza. Night stay at kaza
10-Apr Thursday sightseeing around kaza (kibber, Ki monastery,kunjum la, chandratal….) is all this possible in a day?
11-Apr Friday start from kaza. See dankar etc…. Nightstay at tabo/chango(any better idea?)
12-Apr Saturday start from tabo/chango. See Nako etc…...night stay at kalpa
13-Apr Sunday start from kalpa for shimla. Reach shimla and overnite bus to delhi (10.15pm)
14-Apr Monday reach delhi. After noon flight DEL-HYD

what do you think of this iteniary.....
1. I guess we will reach shimla at around 7am on 6th. Dont want to waste the day in shimla.... but it may be difficult to reach Kalpa that day itself after a very late start.... so planning to stay in sarahan for the night.
2. please have a careful look at 10th and 11th april. would it be better to do just kunjum la and chandratal on 10th.... and the see kibber, ki, dhankar etc next day on the way to tabo?
3. please suggest a nice place for the night stay of 12th april.... I have randomly thought of tabo....

counting on all your expert inputs

Dr.Barai

Just a few suggestions!!

10-Apr Thursday: sightseeing around kaza (kibber, Ki monastery,kunjum la, chandratal….) Possible in a day provided u can start 7 am in the morning and ready to travel till 9PM(sunset in spiti is around 7:45 PM, very long days). The link road to chandratal is on the other side of the kunzum pass, so I don’t think u will be able to reach Chandratal Lake. Add Komic if possible!



11-Apr Friday: See dhankar. You can and should add pin valley. Night stay at Tabo. Apart from the monastery guesthouse u have private hotels there. Moreover Tabo monastery is a must visit.

12-Apr Saturday: You can add a visit to the Mummy Of giue village. Its 12 km from the main road.

nayan

Thanks Dr Barai.....
will modify iteniery with your suggestions.
Little sad to think we will not be able to see chandratal.....

we are planning on hiring a qualis or innova from shimla..... what do you think will be the approximate total cost ?

jyotirmoy

I would suggest Sangla. This is what we did:
Delhi-Narkanda-Sarahan-Sangla-Recongpeo-Chitkool

Dr.Barai

TO REACH CHITKOOL U NEED TO CROSS SANGLA !!