Spiti Valley in August 2012 : Got queries, could you try answering :-)

thank you for creating this thread and the other posters for replying. am too planning a solo trek and need all the information I can get.
Is it possible to take a bus from Manali to Kaza ? I can't afford a taxi on my budget.

Hi jjamwal,
Buses to Spiti, I am not sure have heard much on it.
Still check this thread, Spiti in August 2012

Summs and others were looking for cab shares etc.. :-)

There is only one bus, at 5 am. See this: http://blogs.gonomad.com/traveltales...i-to-kaza.html

From Recong peo (other end), there is another at 7:30 am daily.

Dear Mr. Menon,
5.] I have been advised to carry acetazolamide for Altitude sickness. I will be staying in Kulu for a full day to acclimatize. so would tablets be necessary ?
I went through your query. I had been to this place in 2011 and my daughter was quite sick because of altitude sickness, making her feel nauseated all the time and this decreased only after we came down from Nako area. Being a photographer, you would certainly like to visit the areas around Kaza, whose altitude is more than that of Leh and the places like Kibber & Langza are at even higher altitudes. I would advise you to carry the recommended medication.
Photos - http://travel.webshots.com/album/582169724qnimpH
Blog - http://ghummakar-biswas.blogspot.in/...za-around.html
Have a pleasant journey,

Regards,

S. Roy Biswas

Hi,

we are also planning a trip at the same time to spiti... but we have just 5 days in hand.. SO if we reach delhi say by 14th evening ... and want to reach back to Chennai by sunday 19th night... Is this time enough for the trip...?? pls advise

Also wat places are like must see..

We want to explore the place.. we will be carrying Nikon 300D.. would like to do wild life, adventure type of holiday

pls help us plan

Dear Neha,
You have only 4 days, you can only visit Shimla & Narkanda and back to Delhi in this short duration.

Hi Neha,
We are planning the trip from 10th to 19th August,
where we plan to spend 10th morning at Delhi and target to reach Kulu same night. So we have 12-17 ie 5 days to visit Spiti Valley.
I am myself not sure the days would suffice :-)

Guys,
One more doubt regarding the Luggage container/backpack..
I am confused how much liter capacity is usually enough for a weeks travel in the spiti valley.
We are not much into camping or trekking but more of travelers.
However, I would be carrying DSLR + 3 Lenses and maybe tripod also.. :-)

I have been advised to carry 60/65L backpack like Wildcraft Gangotri 65L..
What would you prefer ?

If you're not camping, carry the smallest backpack that would suffice for clothing. 60L filled up is a very heavy backpack. Carry the bare minimum clothing (Dressing in layers, etc).

I'm assuming that the camera gear would go in a separate specialized equipment bag.

Hi Prashant,

I recently went on an 8 day trek in the Uttarkashi region with a Foreclawz 60l backpack. (This is very light weight pack - just 1.7kg). My fully loaded kit weighed about 12kg and that included a sleeping bag, water and some dry food items.

I also plan to travel in Spiti later this month or in early Aug and will be carrying the same backpack minus the sleeping bag.In my view, 60l is comfortable for a weeks travel. As Anubhav pointed out, you will need a separate bag for the camera.

Hi writersblock,
Thanks for the input.
Yes I have been advised 60-70 L from local trekkers and also have found a shop in Borivali, Mumbai itself. They are quoting price around 3.5k INR.

Will update more once i check the bag.

Meanwhile guys,
We added Tso Moriri visit also to the plan since its closer to the Keylong before we knew Inner Line Permit would be needed.

Since we wont be visiting Leh , would it be possible to acquire ILP to visit Tso Moriri (Lake) from say Kulu/Manali/Delhi etc ?
I had heard there are agents in Manali who can help in it.. ?

Has anybody obtained ILP from Manali instead of Leh ?

Cheers!
Prashant Menon

Prashant, we (7) also are doing Spiti (Kaza-Komic-Demul-Lhalung-Dhankar) from 9th to 20th Aug (Mumbai to Mumbai). How many of you are doing this trek? May be we can meet in somewhere :-).

Abhijit

Btw Prashant, have you got any info about birdlife in the Spiti area??? My lens kit will depend on it :-) !

Hi Abhijeet,
Sorry I didn't get time earlier to respond..

We are 4 guys on the trip.

We are still trying for Tso moriri, though not sure how to obtain ILP from Manali/Kulu/Keylong.

We have just planned a road trip along spiti-lahaul and probably Tso-Moriri with not much of details yet for the 12th - 18th Aug period.

Will let you know details as and when they emerge/plan. :-)
So lemme know via a message about your plan. Probably we can meet at Kibber/Tabo etc or some place then..

ohhh ok. Have u got any info on homestays @ kaza-komic-demul-lhalung-dhankar????

Hi Abhijeet,
from what I have heard there are plenty of homestays in and around the towns en route.

So we are aiming at staying at any nearby homestay depending upon how much we cover distance.
We are not going to plan the homestays but stay anywhere we end the day :-)