Trip report : kinnaur spiti tour - april 2008

Hi All, Can anyone suggest me an itinerary for the route Manali-Kelyong- Kaza - Shimla in 7 days? We're planning to go there in this Sep-Oct with family.

abhik09135 Welcome to Indiamike

7 days will be a bit too hectic and more so if you are travelling with your family in the Lahul/Spiti regeion. Though,we were there last year October and we started from Shimla (2 night)-Sarahan(1 night)-Kalpa(2 nights)-Kaza via Chitkul(2 nights)-Manali(2 nights) and thankfully with no major landslides, but the tour was really hectic as we were on road for 7-8hrs on an average which could be quite taxing considering the road conditions. It woulld be better if you have few more days in your hand as the regeion is breathtakingly beautiful.

Hi

Many thanks to all IMers in general, and Nayan, Uttam, Dhananjay, Voyager and Andreas, to name just a few in particular, for providing the inspiration to make this trip.

My trip to Kinnaur and Spiti (for all 10days, just back last Monday) was really awesome. All adjectives fall short of the immense vista that these districts present (along with a wee bit of Lahaul, from Kaza to Rohtang, including Chandra Tal).

Just an input, took our car (Tavera) from Ram Chand. Great service (apart from a very minor hiccup in the form of change of car and driver on way from Simla to Sarahan) and an even greater driver in the form of Satpal. They are really worth spending the money on.

Many thanks once again for the inspiration

regards

Hi guys,
Want to check which is the best way back to Delhi from Leh. I am willing to take a train back from Jammu. How long would Leh to Jammu station take?
Would appriciate any ideas on the route back.

Thanks Himangshu...Acctually we'll not like to stay in Shimla. Then will it be possible to visit below route in 8 days?
Delhi- Manali- Keylong- Losar- Tabo- Sarahan- Delhi

Hi a_wannabe_gypsy
this is a wrong thread to post your query. You have better chance to get good answers in Ladakh & Zanskar

Well you can set the itenary like this if you want:

Day1:Manali- Keylong (NightStay at Keylong)
Day2:Keylong- Kaza via Losar-Tabo (NightStay at Kaza) Note: This trip will take around 8-10 hrs on road.
Day3: Stay at Kaza
Day4:Kaza-Kalpa via Chtikool(NightStay at Kalpa)
Day5: Stay at Kalpa
Day6:Kalpa-Sarahan (NightStay at Sarahan)
Day7:Sarahan-Shimla
One day need keep in your hand just for any eventuality considering the road condition in that circuit.

There are few points to mention:-
1) You cannot drive to Delhi directly from Sarahan without halting in Shimla.It will to be too hectic.
2) You can avoid staying at Loshar/Tabo. These places will be en-route to Kaza which is just 50 km away.
3) Hotels are radially available in most of the places, but if you are going during the puja time, it may be better to check out the availability of hotels during that time due to the rush.

Hi all! I went to spiti on 4th jul & came back on 8th jul, due to hectic work schedule couldn't able to share my experience. Guy's it's awesome, we went there on WagonR, we were 3 guys & the best part is Chandratal.

we left on 4th Jul at 11 Pm from Delhi reached Fagu at 5.45 AM on 5th Jul. Cool breeze was flowing giving us respite from hot & humid climate of Delhi.
Had rest for 1.5 hrs then left Fagu reached Kalpa at 3 PM. The Road before Recongpeo is in bad shape the area comes under J.P group where construction work is going on. Rested there in Hotel Kinner Villa costed us Rs. 1800/- FOR NIGHT, but services were not at Par with it's repo. We had a great view of Kinner Kailash range. It looks fabulous. IN the evening when moon comes at the back of kailash peaks, it's was a breathtaking view. I'll share phtographs also.
On 6th we left 8 AM in the morning from Kalpa, we reached Nako lake at 12 O' clock rested there for an hour or so, friends took scotch there & enjoyed. We crossed malling nullah at 2 PM. We reached Kaza at 5PM. As Dalai Lama visit was there on 9th jul, kaza was on full boom, so we decided to move ahead & we reached Losar at 8PM. We stayed there in Rest House after convincing the person there as we had not taken the permission from the head office of Rest House. We paid 350/- as rent for night & we enjoyed frood there. View of Paks from there was very good. Rest house was full of all comforts & services.
On 7th Jul in the morning at 8.30 AM we left after washing my Car & we found that the road ahead is full of Mud & muck. Road is in pathetic condition, we reached kunzum Pass, cool breeze was flowing we enjoyed it. Then we moved ahead towards Chandrataal, & the road we exprienced is not at all good for any small Car, my Car took the burnt there.
What I really feel is Himachal Govt. should really do something about maintaining these roads as if road infrastructure improves, I can Bet there will be atleast 30 times increase in tourist in this area alone.
We reached Chandrataal somehow & saw a beautiful sight of Chantrataal. Let me tell you visiting that place could be a lifetime experience for a person. Not many tourist were there on few Israeli couples after sometime two guys from U.S came there. Then few local ladies group came to perform pooja near lake , did parikarma of Lake & Shiv Lingam near Lake.
We left Chandrataal at 2.30 PM, saw few Waterfalls in before Gramphoo. The road from losar to gramphoo is in very bad shape especially from losar till chattru. We enjoyed there.Then we reached Rohtang la at 5.45PM. Then back to Manali at 8.45 PM, there we had Bath at Vishwanath Temple & went back to our Hotel Snow view.
On 8th Jul 8 o'clock we left for vishwanath temple had bath & left for Delhi at 9 O ' clock just before kullu we went & visited Vaisno Mata & shiv Mandir , very famous mandir on that road. Whenever I go on Road to Manali, everytime I visit this temple. Then at 4.30PM we reached Anandpur Sahib thru Keeratpur. This Gurdawara is very famous & gives beautiful view of foothills of mountains.
At 5.30 we left gurdwara and at 11.30 we were back to Delhi covering 1638 KMs of total distance. We all are working guys, noone was having more holidays but whatever we saw in these 4 days, we'll remember it foreever.

I'll uploads photos soon.

Who says one can do this kind of trip in 4 days but for thatone must be having good driver, a capacity to drive for long hours consistently, guts, desire & patience to visit the places. but what u'll loose is rest, time to experience natural unexplored beauty of mountains.
Man everything has it's Pros & Cons and for people like us who are working, we don't have Time for ourselves. whenever & Whatever time I could fetch from my busy schedule, I take off for 4 - 5 days and visit different places in Himalayas.

I am submitting few of my Pics on the way from Rampur to Spiti. Hope Indiamike members will enjoyas I did. Pic of Rampur Dam, Nako Lake, Mulling Nullah, beautiful mountains, Local ladies enjoying & Dancing in Spiti.

Thanks Khak. You are right- I should post it there.
You signature is inspiring!

Thanx a ton Himangshu...Can you tell me.. How much time it will take to reach Kaza to kalpa? It's 210 kms. And from Kalpa to Simla? It is around 244 kms.

Hi Guys,

Want to know the best route back to Delhi from Leh. I am posting the itenrary here,this is the best I could derive from whatever I know about the place. Would be really helpful if anyone can suggest the fastest route back. That would save my job too

23 Day 0 Leave from delhi friday
24 Day 1 manali,overnight stay at manali
25 Day 2 keylong 120 kms,5 hours, camp overnight
26 Day 3 leave keylong for sarchu 150kms, camp overnight
27 Day 4 sarchu to leh 240 kms
28 Day 5 leh - changs pa-shanti stupa-inner permit for nubra and pangong tso-make copies,tso moriri
29 Day 6 leh- leh palace, rafting-Splash Adventure Tours-phey nimoo stretch for rafting
30 Day 7 leh-khardung la-nubra valley total 140 kms,camp overnight
31 Day 8 Nubra Valley-Sumur-Samsta ling monastry-deskit-stay at hunder,camp at nubra valley
01 Day 9 reach pangong tso,camp overnight
02 Day 10 leave for tso moriri,camp at tso moriri overnight
03 Day 11 tso moriri via chumathong to leh
04 Day 12 come back to delhi somehow

Can anyone tell me any Hotel contact no. of Nako?

Hi Abhik,

Although this q is not meant for me, let me try to answer one part of it, so that you get some idea.

It took us 12 hrs to reach Kaza from Kalpa with quite a few halts in between this was on 2nd July this year - goes like this:

- Quick smoke halt at Spillo (say 5-10mins)
- Tea break @ around Dubling (say 15-20mins)
- Break @ Khab (say 15-20mins)
- Breakfast @ Nako (say 45mins)
- Tea break before Tabo (forgot name of place, 15mins)
- Break @ Tabo fresh up, visit Monastery, have lunch (2hrs)
- Detour to Dhankar for a view (say 1hr)

We left Kalpa at 6:20 in the morning, reached our hotel in Kaza at 6:25 in the evening. One warning though, seems stretch between Spillo and Dubling gets very busy during day time due to construction work.

Rio Purguil (at last have got the name right, thanks to a paper napkin ) - (01785) 236339. Apart from this, check the net for Kinner Camps @ Nako - you would find their ph no there.

Regards