Spiti Valley and Kibber in late May?

Mickey S · Apr 26th, 2007, 02:43

In mid-May I'm heading to Himachal Pradesh for a while. My main interest is photography and I'd really like to visit Kibber and Ki Gompa but, reading other posts in this forum, it looks like the Lahaul/Spiti Valley road from Kaza to Manali will almost certainly still be closed when I'm there. If so, I'm going to have to retrace my steps all the way back alomg the Kinnaur Valley to see the rest of Himachal Pradesh. Does anyone have any recent experience of this route? Is Kibber worth the long journey from Rekong Peo and back? What is the road like? Is the landslide at Malling a major inconvenience? And does anyone have any up-to-date information about when this road might be open this year?

All information, suggestions and help very gratefully received.

voyager61 · Apr 26th, 2007, 04:10

Hi! It seems the BRO will open the Manali-Leh on May 20,no word from them about the road to Kaza,but it might open not long after that. If it is only to "see" Kibber the long and tiring trip from Peo is not worth.The Malling block can always be passed on foot.

Yogesh Sarkar · Apr 26th, 2007, 08:43

Malling is not a problem any more, there is an alternative route in existence and is easily motorable.

My advice, just go for it, if the Kunzum and Rohtang open than come back via Manali route else just retrace your steps. I am also planning to do the Spiti circuit, albeit in first or second week of June.

capt_mahajan · Apr 26th, 2007, 08:59

YS, I asked this of the forum elsewhere, but no reply, so asking again...

How crowded is the circuit in May/June? I remember going at a time when you would see nobody from outside HP.

Yogesh Sarkar · Apr 26th, 2007, 12:49

Captain no idea, will ask my friend who was there last year in June.

ks_bluechip · Apr 26th, 2007, 13:43

Hi MickeyS:
As already answered the road to Kaza from Manali will not be open until July. The only way is from around south via Kinnaur, RekongPeo route. Malling is not a big problem. I walked acroos the 1km landslide stretch and got another connecting Bus, when I visited Ki, Khibber, Kaza, Tabo... in April-2005. You might want to see my blog of april-2005 with below links:

Kinnaur-Sangla-Chitkul:
http://kothanda.srinivasan.googlepag...ysi nhimachal

Kaza-Khibber- Route:
http://kothanda.srinivasan.googlepag...ekazatokhibber

Ki & Khibber Gompas:
http://kothanda.srinivasan.googlepage s.com/khibber-ki

dhananjay · Apr 28th, 2007, 17:49

The Kinnaur-Spiti - Manali circuit this year would definitely open by May 15th. Its worth doing it and there are plenty of photography options. For some help visit the Spiti Ecotourism's society website www.spitiecosphere.com which has some good suggestions ... The route is not ususally crowded in May- June however July and August till late september are the best months to visit so do expect meet quite a good number of fellow travelers .. lots to do and more to ponder .. this is truly a soul searching experience ... enjoy your trip

Cheers

Mickey S · Apr 28th, 2007, 18:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by dhananjay

The Kinnaur-Spiti - Manali circuit this year would definitely open by May 15th. Its worth doing it and there are plenty of photography options.

Thank you so much! On the basis of the posts above I had made up my mind not to do the Kinnaur Valley route, as back-tracking would have taken up so much of my time, but now you've given me hope again. I guess I'll have to check locally, though, when I get to Rekong Peo.

rishabh6296 · Apr 28th, 2007, 21:09

As far as the BRO is concerned all the passes would be open by may end.they have started working on all the passes simultaneously.

voyager61 · May 2nd, 2007, 20:34

Hi! Last summer even the bypass road above the malling block was closed for few days after heavy rains,in that case you walk.

himadventures · May 4th, 2007, 18:45

yes- Rohtang is opening next week....but circuit is fine in MAY last..Go ahead..this is going to be cool ride !

tsering · May 9th, 2007, 03:47

kaza-manali road will be motorable in the first week of june im sure for that anyways if u make ur trip via kinnaur i know u wont regret.

Apr 26th, 2007, 02:43	#1
Mickey S Maha Guru Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Cymru Posts: 1,132	Spiti Valley and Kibber in late May? In mid-May I'm heading to Himachal Pradesh for a while. My main interest is photography and I'd really like to visit Kibber and Ki Gompa but, reading other posts in this forum, it looks like the Lahaul/Spiti Valley road from Kaza to Manali will almost certainly still be closed when I'm there. If so, I'm going to have to retrace my steps all the way back alomg the Kinnaur Valley to see the rest of Himachal Pradesh. Does anyone have any recent experience of this route? Is Kibber worth the long journey from Rekong Peo and back? What is the road like? Is the landslide at Malling a major inconvenience? And does anyone have any up-to-date information about when this road might be open this year? All information, suggestions and help very gratefully received.

Apr 26th, 2007, 08:43	#3
Yogesh Sarkar Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: New Delhi (India) Posts: 1,045	Malling is not a problem any more, there is an alternative route in existence and is easily motorable. My advice, just go for it, if the Kunzum and Rohtang open than come back via Manali route else just retrace your steps. I am also planning to do the Spiti circuit, albeit in first or second week of June. __________________ My Travelogues \| My Blog \| Ladakh Travel Guide

Apr 26th, 2007, 13:43	#6
ks_bluechip Maha Guru Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Mumbai, India Posts: 986	Hi MickeyS: As already answered the road to Kaza from Manali will not be open until July. The only way is from around south via Kinnaur, RekongPeo route. Malling is not a big problem. I walked acroos the 1km landslide stretch and got another connecting Bus, when I visited Ki, Khibber, Kaza, Tabo... in April-2005. You might want to see my blog of april-2005 with below links: Kinnaur-Sangla-Chitkul: http://kothanda.srinivasan.googlepag...ysi nhimachal Kaza-Khibber- Route: http://kothanda.srinivasan.googlepag...ekazatokhibber Ki & Khibber Gompas: http://kothanda.srinivasan.googlepage s.com/khibber-ki __________________ ks_bluechip [My Travel Blog] [My Flickr Photo Sets]

Apr 28th, 2007, 17:49	#7
dhananjay Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Park Cafe, Shimla Posts: 305	Hi The Kinnaur-Spiti - Manali circuit this year would definitely open by May 15th. Its worth doing it and there are plenty of photography options. For some help visit the Spiti Ecotourism's society website www.spitiecosphere.com which has some good suggestions ... The route is not ususally crowded in May- June however July and August till late september are the best months to visit so do expect meet quite a good number of fellow travelers .. lots to do and more to ponder .. this is truly a soul searching experience ... enjoy your trip Cheers

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Apr 26th, 2007, 04:10	#2
voyager61 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: ivrea Posts: 267	Hi! It seems the BRO will open the Manali-Leh on May 20,no word from them about the road to Kaza,but it might open not long after that. If it is only to "see" Kibber the long and tiring trip from Peo is not worth.The Malling block can always be passed on foot.

Apr 26th, 2007, 08:59	#4
capt_mahajan (in charge of navel affairs) Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 9,741	YS, I asked this of the forum elsewhere, but no reply, so asking again... How crowded is the circuit in May/June? I remember going at a time when you would see nobody from outside HP.

Apr 26th, 2007, 12:49	#5
Yogesh Sarkar Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: New Delhi (India) Posts: 1,045	Captain no idea, will ask my friend who was there last year in June.

Apr 28th, 2007, 21:09	#9
rishabh6296 Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: new delhi Posts: 744	As far as the BRO is concerned all the passes would be open by may end.they have started working on all the passes simultaneously.

May 2nd, 2007, 20:34	#10
voyager61 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: ivrea Posts: 267	Hi! Last summer even the bypass road above the malling block was closed for few days after heavy rains,in that case you walk.

May 4th, 2007, 18:45	#11
himadventures Maha Guru Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: India Posts: 1,070	yes- Rohtang is opening next week....but circuit is fine in MAY last..Go ahead..this is going to be cool ride !

May 9th, 2007, 03:47	#12
tsering Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: kaza Posts: 1	kaza-manali road will be motorable in the first week of june im sure for that anyways if u make ur trip via kinnaur i know u wont regret.

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