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Winter Spiti Expedition


Karavan

Hosted by Karavan


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All About It
  • Difficulty - Moderate
  • For 18+ years
  • Best Season - December

 

Spiti Valley in Winters is truly paradise personified. The whole valley is covered in a thick tapestry of snow, seemingly spreading to a vast expanse until one can’t tell where the land ends and the sky full of ivory clouds begins. Spiti is nothing less than a dream. A dream that feels more than real when the chilly breeze fills your heart with warmth from within.  What makes the Winter Spiti trip perfect is that you get to experience Spiti the way it’s meant to be experienced, with snow under your boots and mountains overlooking you in all their glory. 


Highlights

  • Guided road trip to a snow-clad white Spiti Valley in a Tempo Traveler driven by experienced local drivers.
  • Visit to the Highest Habitable place in the world- Komic
  • Send letters to your loved ones from the highest post office in the world.
  • Visit the Last Village on the Indo-Tibetian Border
  • An adventure of a lifetime - staying at homestays with local families and experiencing the warm Spitian hospitality.


Arrive at Shimla
Meet and Greet
Last Minute Shopping

First Day is for everyone to arrive at Shimla. I plan to reach Shimla by 6 P. M and spend overnight at Shimla to acclimitise to the cold weather that is going to be even colder as the trip progress. You can also plan to shop for some winter essentials on Mall Road, Shimla. 

Note: People can arrive on their way to Shimla either from Chandigarh or Delhi. We can also plan for a group pickup directly from the airport if everyone's flight is the same. We will have a Briefing and Introduction late in the night once everyone is in. 

 

 

The Mall Road Shimla
The Ridge Shimla
Enroute Sarahan
Glimpse of Kinner Kailash
Enter Kinnaur Valley

We begin this Winter Spiti expedition by hitting the road from Shimla. We pass through the popular towns of Sarahan and Rampur-Bushahr before entering the spectacular Kinnaur Valley. If the day is clear, we might catch a glimpse of the famous Kinner Kailash Peak – said to be the summer adobe of Lord Shiva. Overnight at a hotel in Rampur / Kalpa/ Reckong Peo.

Sarahan -Enroute Reckong Peo
Kalpa- With Mighty Kinner Kailash in the Background
Lunch at Nako
Frozen Nako Lake
Tabo Monastery

After a comfortable night’s rest at Reckong Peo / Kalpa, we set off on the famous Hindustan-Tibet Highway. Famed for its spectacular views and proximity to Tibet, this road snakes north into Nako, the last hamlet of Kinnaur district. We have a steaming hot lunch at Nako, before entering the magical Spiti Valley. Here, we spend the night at a comfortable and authentic homestay in Tabo. Overnight spent at a homestay in Tabo.

Lunch by the Nako Lake
Tabo Caves
Aerial View of Tabo
Typical Homestay
Enter White Spiti
Kungri Monastery
Sangam (Pin+Spiti River confluence)

We start the day with a visit to the 1000 – year old Tabo Monastery, UNESCO World Heritage Site and also visit the Tabo caves. 

From Tabo, we drive to the spectacular Pin Valley. A national park with an abundance of animals and birds, with some rare plant varieties and a river that is frozen. Pin Valley promises all this. We first visit the Kungri Monastery and then the beautiful hamlet of Mudh – the last motorable village of the Pin Valley. 

Depending on the road condition, we can head to Dhankar and explore the ancient monastery and village here, before heading to Kaza.

Pin Valley National Park
Dhankar - A Thousand Year Old Monastery
Entering Spiti Valley
Famous Frozen Waterall Enroute Kaza
Key Monastery
Chicham Bridge
Kibber Village

We began the fifth day with a drive to the renowned Key Monastery. We will first stop at the base of the monastery hill for the ultimate photo opportunity of this remarkable structure amid white snow. Then we will move further up the valley to the picturesque village of Kibber. Located at a height of 4205 meters and 18 km from Kaza, this formerly highest permanently inhabited village in this region is also a popular base camp to embark on adventures and treks to adjoining mountains of high altitude. From Kibber we will head to the famous Chicham Bridge - Asia's highest bridge. We drove back to Kaza for the night.

Overnight at a homestay in Kaza.

 

Key Monastery
Chicham Bridge
The Village of Kibber
Key Monastery
Komic-Highest Habitable Place in the world
Hikkim Post Office
Langza Buddha Statue

On the sixth day of this Spiti Valley Winter Expedition, we drive to some of the highest inhabited regions of the world.

The highest village in Asia, Komik, which literally translates to ‘eye of a snow cock’, is situated at a height of 4513 meters. 

Later, we drive to Hikkim where we visit the highest post office in the world. You can spend some time here and write a postcard to your loved ones back home. 

After sending out a postcard, we drive to Langza. Langza village is situated at an altitude of 4400 meters and belongs to the Sakyapa sect of Tibetan Buddhism. 

Overnight at a homestay in Kaza.

Komic
Hikkim
Langza
Himalayan Yak
Last glimpse of Spiti Valley
Back to Kinnaur

The Seventh day we say bye to Spiti Valley. We make our way south towards Kinnaur Valley. Along this journey, you can get to capture some scenic views that you might have missed out earlier. After a scenic and memorable drive, we will end the journey at Reckong Peo.

Overnight stay at a hotel in Reckong Peo.

 

Spiti Valley
Blanket of Snow on the Road
Last village of India
Sangla Valley
Snow covered Pine Trees

Today we drive from Recking peo to enter sangla valley, and head to Chitkul. Chitkul is the last village on the Indo Tibatian border. Youll witness a change in landscape, from the barren lands of Spiti to snow cladded Pine trees that welcomes as we enter sangla valley. 

Bye Bye Spiti Valley
Shimla
Shopping at Mall Road Shimla.

The Ninth day marks the beginning of the end of this expedition. We trace back the same route from Chitkul and head towards Shimla. Youll be reaching Shimla by 6-7Pm in the evening, you can spend the rest of the day Shopping and buying souveniers at Mall road Shimla. 

Note: Stay and Meals are not included. 

Departure From Shimla
Chandigarh
Fly Back Home

Leave Shimla and head to Chandigarh or Delhi to catch a flight back Home. Plan your return flight/Train accordinlgy. 

Note: Return from Shimla is not included in the cost, however we can help in booking a cab or bus for the entire group depanding on your interest. 


Meet your host

Karavan

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About Host

We started Karavan with an idea to bring more and more people close to nature. This idea, in its purest form meant only to show everyone, the world outside. Soon after we started, although in small groups to explore together, documenting the trails with photos and videos, preparing a blue print for weekend treks, finding new routes, gaining knowledge from the mountains. We believed, to show people the world, we must have seen it before and have adequate experience, so we trekked more, we climbed peaks we took up challenging climbs to test ourselves, and after all these years of experience, we arrived. In the Last 4 Years or since its inception we have conducted Over 30 weekend treks within Karnataka and Two big treks in the Himalayas.

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Inclusions

  • Hotel Accommodation on sharing basis except for Day 9 at Shimla
  • Breakfast and Lunch from Day 2 to Day 8. 
  • On Day 9 Only breakfast is included.
  • Transfers by Non-AC Force Traveller (14 seater) shared by 10-12 people for all days as per the itinerary 
  • Tolls and all entry Fees. 

Exclusions

  • Stay at Shimla is not included
  • Meals in Transit / Lunch / Any Beverages / Any meals at chai points that are not mentioned in the itinerary.
  • Sightseeing in Shimla / Any accommodation, activities or transfers other than what is mentioned in the itinerary.
  • Any cost arising out of unforeseen circumstances including medical emergencies and acts of God.
  • Anything that is not mentioned in the above list of inclusions.

Things to carry

 

  • Rucksack: 60-70L good backpack to carry all your essentials 
  • Trekking shoes: Carry waterproof trekking shoes with good grip and there is going to be lot of snow on the road
  • Three layers of warm clothes: Carry two or three-layer jackets, fleece jackets and a Down jacket the Temperature can go down as low as -25
  • Three -Four Travel pants: Carry light cotton trek pants. Denim/jeans and shorts are not suitable for travelling.
  • 5-6 Tshirts: Cotton T-shirts, as you wish. You can carry one per day as well.
  • Thermals: Carry thermals Mandatory as the winter is extremely cold (top and bottom).
  • Sunglasses: Sunglasses are mandatory. There will be a lot of snow on the trip and can cause snow blindness.
  • Cap: At high altitude, the sun is extra harsh so carry a cap to protect yourself.
  • Waterproof hand gloves: Carry waterproof gloves and avoid woollen gloves as they will get wet if you touch snow or carry both
  • Socks (4-5 pairs) and a pair of woollen socks: Apart from two sports socks, you can take a pair of woollen socks for the night.
  • Headlamp/LED torch: Mandatory
  • Documents – ID (Driver’s License, AADHAR Card, Voter ID)
  • Day Pack (Small Bag of 10 litres to carry necessary stuff for the day)

 


HOW TO REACH

How to reach Shimla?

If you are traveling from Bengaluru, Chennai, Pune, Mumbai or any other city, plan to reach Shimla on Day 1 before 6 PM.

There are two options for your flight booking.

1. Fly directly to Chandigarh: We recommend taking a flight to Chandigarh as hours just 3–4 hours from Chandigarh. One can take a bus or take a cab directly from the airport.

2. Fly to Delhi and take an overnight bus to Shimla: Reach Delhi before 4.00 PM, one day before your pick-up date, and take reach overnight bus from Kashmiri Gate.


 

  • Cancellations up to 30 days prior to departure date 5% Deduction,
  • Between 30 days to 15 days prior to departure 50% deduction,
  • Less than 15 days of departure No Cash Refund

Between Karavan (‘First Party’) and Client (hereinafter referred as ‘You’) (‘Second Party’). Booking of services with Karavan represents your unconditional acceptance of the terms & conditions set out herein. These terms and conditions shall be binding on you and all the travel companions booked by you.

Trekking and other outdoor activities provided by the Karavan depend on various factors and have inherent risks associated with life. Karavan does its best to reduce all types of risks, discomfort, and hazard to the best of its ability (within financial constraints), yet there are chances of accidents, mishaps, and deficiency in service.

Fitness Responsibility - Karavan offers trip(s) and trek(s) that require varying levels of fitness. The level of difficulty can be based on the extent of physical stress, the terrain, weather, and/or climate. The degree of difficulty for some trips can be physically demanding. To enable you to choose appropriately and prepare accordingly, carefully review the level of difficulty of each trip before booking the same

Itinerary- Karavan reserves the right to modify or cancel the trip or part of the trip under circumstances, including but not limiting to Acts of God, road blockage, political unrest, sickness, accidents, events beyond Karavan’s control etc. Any extra cost arising from such circumstances shall be borne by you on the spot. Wherever possible, Karavan shall intimate you of such changes in advance or while on the trip.

Luggage Responsibility - Baggage and personal effects are at your risk throughout the trip. You are solely responsible for your personal belongings while on the trip. Karavan is not responsible for the loss of baggage, goods, air tickets, passport, cash, traveller’s cheques, or any other travel document or item owned by you while on tour, whatever the cause.

On-trip Behaviour- You are required to behave in a manner that is acceptable and conducive to group travel. Karavan reserves the right to terminate your trip (if you are found to be causing distress/annoyance to co-traveller’s, endanger/damage property of any supplier or of other traveling companions), without assigning any reason whatsoever. No refund for unused services is possible in such cases.

You also agree to abide by the authority of the group leader designated by Karavan. The decision of the tour leader is binding on all participants on matters that affect the safety or well-being of any person participating in the trip. Behaviour that causes danger, distress, or annoyance to others, or interferes with the mobility of the group can result in the group leader terminating your participation from the trip, with no right to refund for missed or unused services.

Protect The Environment The entire trip/ trek would be through natural trails, and we would spend most of the time in eerie forests, serene valleys, soothing hillsides, or at golden beaches. You should know that it’s your duty to protect the environment and not create nuisances on the way by throwing your plastic materials and other wastes like packets of chips or wrappers of chocolates. Karavan shall not consider any such behaviour towards nature. We expect you to be responsible and aware adults.

No Smoking or Alcohol Consumption- Karavan doesn’t support smoking or any sort of alcohol consumption during the journey and as a team, we earnestly request you to not indulge in those practices while you are with us. Smoking is not only injurious to your health but also equally bad for nature. We should ensure that there’s sustainable natural conservation and our acts, in no way, hampers that. Also, alcohol consumption might ruin your experience as well as cause discomfort to your fellow mates. No action of smoking or drinking shall be tolerated by Karavan during the trip/trek.

Amenities- Karavan makes every effort to ensure the comfort of our guests, but Karavan requests you to understand that the amenities around the trekking region may not be the same as the ones you are accustomed to, at home. Weather is another factor that will have a direct impact on your journey. Hence, you are requested to have patience, enthusiasm and be prepared for compromising, before you choose to undertake this journey.

Emergency Situations - In the event you fall ill or suffer an accident during the trip, all hospital expenses, doctor fees, repatriation expenses, evacuation from road or mountain, any other charges incurred as a direct or indirect result of your illness/accident are your responsibility.


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