Himachal Pradesh Itinerary

The following is an itinerary from a travel company in Himachal Pradesh. Can I please have comments on the schedule and the price of the vehicle etc (see the end of the itinerary). The hotels and food are extra and I can check these out myself. We are a Canadian couple in our sixties and want to take this trip in early November 2010. Is this a good time to do this or will it be too cold? All comments appreciated.


CHANDIGARH--NARKANDA--SARAHAN--SHIMLA--SANGLA--KALPA--TABO--KAZA---KEYLONG--UDEYPUR--TRILOKINATH--MANALI--CHANDIGARH.


Day 1 : Chandigarh For Narkanda via Shimla & Fagu . Do local sight seeing to Hatu Peak and Tanni Jubbar lake heaven on earth. Stay at Hote lin Narkanda
Day 2 : Narkanda to Sarahan, On the way visit ancient Surya Temple in Rampur and via Jeori reach Sarahan. Visit 2000yrs. Old Bhimakali Temple, Monal, Zuzurana Bird Santuary. Also You can see Srikhand Mahadeva Peak
Day 3 : Sarahan For Sangla,115km Via Wangtu, Tapir, Karcham. Reach Sangla,and visit Ancient Kamru Fort. Stay At Sangla
Day 4 : Sangla For Chitkul, the last Indian Village on indo—Tibetan old Road 26km 1.5hrs. Via Batseri, Rakcham, Mastrang village.Enjoy visit to Temple, River side, Valley & Villages. visit Nag Temple,Monasteries, Trout Farm. Stay At Sangla.
Day 5 : Sangla For Kalpa, 51km. Via Karcham, Powari. After reaching Kalpa visit Ancient Chinni Village, . Magistic 20,000ft High Kinnaur Kailash Peak, & Shivalingam
Day 6 Leave Kalpa For Kaza and visit Tabo Monastry and visit Nako Lake on the way. Reach Kaza 47km. 3Hrs. Stay At Kaza.
Day 7 : Do full Day excursion at Kaza, Visit Kibber Village, Komic Village.
Day 8 : Leave Kaza For Keylong, Via Losar, Kunzum Pass, On The Way Visit Losar& Enjoy Fantastic Hill Architecture, & Kunzum Pass Parikrama Visit Chandratal Lake From Batal.7PM Reach Keylong Stay at Hotel.
Day 9 : Keylong For TrilokinathTemple, viaUdeypur. Visit Temple Puja,local sight seeing & Leave For Keylong.
Day 10 : Keylong For Manali, Via Rohtang Pass, Reach Manali, and do local sight seeing Hadimba Temple, Manu Temple Vashist etc. Stay At Hotel.
Day 11 : Do full day excursion to Solang Valley Stay at Manali.
Day12 : 10 AM Leave For Chandigarh via Mandi, Bilaspur.7 PM Chandigarh


Vehicle Type No of PAX Rate
Scorpio/Xylo 6 Rs. 31800 /-

The above cab charges are all inclusive of Petrol charges, Parking Charges, Sight seeing, Toll Taxes, Driver allowances, Sight Seeing

Hi Arbutus,

This is a near perfect itinerary considering you are visiting these places between July to September, the official season of visiting Lahaul/Spiti. People used to do that with some degree of uncertainities in June and October as well. But November according to me would be little too ambitious to cover the mentioned places.

Chandrataal on Day 8 is absolutely ruled out and crossing Kunzum (Day 8) and Rohtang (Day 10) would be quite uncertain.

Same for Day 3 and 4 as Baspa Valley (Sangla/Chitkul) would surely start receiving snow during that time.

Infact you may get stuck in any of the places you are planning to cover between Day 3 to Day 10 due to snow fall. Night Temperature would be quite low and as many hotels would be closing down in Oct end for this season, it might make things more difficult for you.

The all inclusive rate quoted for Scorpio/Xylo is on higher side considering you are going in a lean season and I would start the bargain at a level of 26800 (Rs. 5000 less than that is quoted presently)

Have a nice and safe trip.

Cheers!!

Hi Kshil,

We are planning to go with YHAI for their winter expedition @ dalhousie in december. We still end up with 3-4 days extra
in hand !!! Would like to use them for trekk/rafting/...etc !!!

Please suggest some places for the same. Possible around chamba.

1. 3 day trekk or
2. River rafting etc...

We are a group of not-so-proffessional but still not-so-bad-trekkers
Mani mahesh is open in december ?
please suggest few options

Lahul n spiti would be not accessible ?
kinnaur ?
Mani mahesh ?

Thanks
Hari.

Hi Hari,

December would be quite tricky for any upper reaches of Himachal be in Kinnaur/ Lahaul-Spiti or Mani Mahesh.

I am not sure about Rafting but you should have ample opportunities to trek in Chamba region and I won't suggest you to venture in a complete different region for that. Lahaul-Spiti is ruled out and Kinnaur would be geographically diagnoally opposite to Chamba.

I am not familar with Chamba region, I have some knowledge on Pangi Valley (the remotest part of Chamba and actually remotes of whole Himachal) as I am planning a trip from Chamba to Lahaul via Sach Pass sometimes in future. But won't suggest you to Pangi in December. I hope some IMers knowledgeable enough in the region would respond you appropriately.

Cheers!!

Kshil,

Thanks much for the updates !

So it make more sense to find out a place within chamba !!!

well the path would be like delhi-pathankot-dalhousie- a gap of 3 days - delhi

Hari,

Since Arbutus's query still needs to be answered, it doesnt make sense to hijack the thread. You would rather do well to start your own thread and look for suggestions.

Thanx

[QUOTE=kshil;1049695]Hi Arbutus,

This is a near perfect itinerary QUOTE]

Except it's a bit rushed considering your age,even if you were younger it's too rushed......typical non-stop Indian tour!!! KK

Correctly said by KK considering you are 60+. But if I set aside the age factor, I am sure being a senior member KK noted that this itinerary is being targetted even in 7/8 days, so definitely your plan of 12 days doesn't make it too rushed in Indian or per say any standard unless you plan to stay for couple of months here to explore in details . More over if you plan to relax with a car in a not too rushed itinerary, it would surely burn a hole in your pocket and in such case, using public transport actually makes more sense if you can enjoy the typical Indian public transport

Cheers!!

Hi,

I am new to IndiaMike and am looking for help with my itinerary to my trip to Kinnaur in November. We are only 2 persons - my husband and myself. We shall be leaving 20 Nov. and reaching Ambala 21st morning around 9 am if the train is on time.

We have our return planned from Ambala on 28 Nov around 4 pm.

During this period we want to cover Narkanda, Sarahan, Sangla, Rakcham, Chitkul and Kalpa. Are these places feasible in the limited days we have and at this time of the year? Can we get a taxi from Ambala directly which will take us to all these places and drop us back at Ambala and how much will it cost?

Please advise.

Thanks.

Shachi