Short treks (2-6 days) in North India - where to go

honnzik · Oct 18th, 2004, 19:01

Hi Alan,
Thaks for fast answer..
I would like to visit some Monasteries in this area ..
There is no other way how to get there ??
Honza

Alan D · Oct 18th, 2004, 19:22

Spiti is probably your best bet. You could take buses or taxis from Shimla and visit Tabo and Ki monasteries. You could also do some trekking along the PIn Valley below the snow line. At 3000 meters plus it can still be cool at this time of year so you will need warm clothes.

Another alternative would be to fly to Leh and spend some time visiting the monasteries in that area.

honnzik · Oct 19th, 2004, 13:40

Thanx Alan,
One more question about the permission - where can I get it ?? Is it only formality and how much is it ?
Thanks a lot
Honza

Alan D · Oct 19th, 2004, 19:59

honnzik

If you're going into Spiti you can get the permit at the SDM's (Sub-Divisional Magistrate's) office near the bus stand in Rekong Peo. We were coming the other way so we got ours in Kaza. Talking to other travellers we met, the requirements seem to vary from office to office and person to person!

To be on the safe side have with you 3 passport size photos and 2 photocopies each of your passport details and your Indian visa. Don't count on getting these in Rekong Peo as there can be power cuts. This happened to someone in Kaza and he lost a whole day because he didn't have any copies.

It can take some time to get the permit - a whole morning spent in Kaza - first the SDM's office, then to the police station, then back to the SDM's office, then waiting around for the SDM's final approval, petty bureaucracy at its worst! I think it would have taken all day, had not a local travel agent, who was acting for some other foreigners, taken our papers directly to his friend, the SDM.

However, I've heard from other travellers that the SDM in Rekong Peo is a friendly guy, so if it's taking a long time ask to see him in person.

Cost again seems to vary. We paid nothing for ours in Kaza but I think others were charged 100 rupees in Rekong Peo. PM me if you need any other details as I haven't got around to putting them up on the forum yet.

Haji's post from last year contains a lot of good information.

mountaingirl · Oct 19th, 2004, 21:48

I agree with Alan.
However if you are still hell bent upon exploring this area then go to Recong Peo or Batseri - there are some cheap camps/ huts there. and use it as a base to explore the region and nothing more adventurous than that.

This year has seen some unusual rain in Uttaranchal as well. So, I would go with Aln's advise /go for lower himalayas

jmcquoid · Oct 24th, 2004, 17:14

honnzik,

Leh is definitely out by the time you will arrive. I even tried to get to spiti from manali - we manged to get over the rothang pass but bad weather made us turn around and come back to manali. There were however jeeps and trucks heading to leh but the word on the street is that the rohtang pass will definitely close by the begining of nov. when we went there were tons of stranded trucks and lots of police check points due to the road being snowed over.

Even trekking here in Manali has been very limited - only basically 2 treks are being offered - beas kund (3 days) and manala (5 days). Luckily I hooked up with a good guide and we went via the mathi pass to a place called zameer (at the base of deotibba peak). For a 4 day trek it couldn't be faulted and it was low enough (3600m) that snow was not a problem. It is cold at nights (-8C) so be prepared.

Am off to he chamba valley tomorrow to do whatever I can there as well. To be honest late oct and for that matter early Nov isn't the best time to come - that is if you want options. July, Aug and Sept seems to be prime - good luck.

Oct 18th, 2004, 19:01	#16
honnzik Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Prague Posts: 16	Monasteries Hi Alan, Thaks for fast answer.. I would like to visit some Monasteries in this area .. There is no other way how to get there ?? Honza

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Oct 18th, 2004, 19:22	#17
Alan D Maha Guru Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Southampton UK Posts: 1,866	Spiti is probably your best bet. You could take buses or taxis from Shimla and visit Tabo and Ki monasteries. You could also do some trekking along the PIn Valley below the snow line. At 3000 meters plus it can still be cool at this time of year so you will need warm clothes. Another alternative would be to fly to Leh and spend some time visiting the monasteries in that area.

Oct 19th, 2004, 13:40	#18
honnzik Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Prague Posts: 16	Thanx Alan, One more question about the permission - where can I get it ?? Is it only formality and how much is it ? Thanks a lot Honza

Oct 19th, 2004, 19:59	#19
Alan D Maha Guru Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Southampton UK Posts: 1,866	honnzik If you're going into Spiti you can get the permit at the SDM's (Sub-Divisional Magistrate's) office near the bus stand in Rekong Peo. We were coming the other way so we got ours in Kaza. Talking to other travellers we met, the requirements seem to vary from office to office and person to person! To be on the safe side have with you 3 passport size photos and 2 photocopies each of your passport details and your Indian visa. Don't count on getting these in Rekong Peo as there can be power cuts. This happened to someone in Kaza and he lost a whole day because he didn't have any copies. It can take some time to get the permit - a whole morning spent in Kaza - first the SDM's office, then to the police station, then back to the SDM's office, then waiting around for the SDM's final approval, petty bureaucracy at its worst! I think it would have taken all day, had not a local travel agent, who was acting for some other foreigners, taken our papers directly to his friend, the SDM. However, I've heard from other travellers that the SDM in Rekong Peo is a friendly guy, so if it's taking a long time ask to see him in person. Cost again seems to vary. We paid nothing for ours in Kaza but I think others were charged 100 rupees in Rekong Peo. PM me if you need any other details as I haven't got around to putting them up on the forum yet. Haji's post from last year contains a lot of good information.

Oct 19th, 2004, 21:48	#20
mountaingirl Mother Goose Join Date: May 2003 Location: underground Posts: 426	I agree with Alan. However if you are still hell bent upon exploring this area then go to Recong Peo or Batseri - there are some cheap camps/ huts there. and use it as a base to explore the region and nothing more adventurous than that. This year has seen some unusual rain in Uttaranchal as well. So, I would go with Aln's advise /go for lower himalayas

Oct 24th, 2004, 17:14	#21
jmcquoid Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: United States Posts: 15	honnzik, Leh is definitely out by the time you will arrive. I even tried to get to spiti from manali - we manged to get over the rothang pass but bad weather made us turn around and come back to manali. There were however jeeps and trucks heading to leh but the word on the street is that the rohtang pass will definitely close by the begining of nov. when we went there were tons of stranded trucks and lots of police check points due to the road being snowed over. Even trekking here in Manali has been very limited - only basically 2 treks are being offered - beas kund (3 days) and manala (5 days). Luckily I hooked up with a good guide and we went via the mathi pass to a place called zameer (at the base of deotibba peak). For a 4 day trek it couldn't be faulted and it was low enough (3600m) that snow was not a problem. It is cold at nights (-8C) so be prepared. Am off to he chamba valley tomorrow to do whatever I can there as well. To be honest late oct and for that matter early Nov isn't the best time to come - that is if you want options. July, Aug and Sept seems to be prime - good luck.

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