Spiti Valley

Welcome to incredible India! We will meet you at New Delhi airport and arrange a transfer to Shimla — the pearl of the Himalayas, located at an altitude of 2200 meters above sea level among the mighty Himalayan hills covered with dense coniferous forest. Himalayan oaks, pines, rhododendrons and firs grow on the picturesque slopes.
This wonderful place was discovered and created by the British, who arranged a summer capital here, escaping from the unbearable summer heat. Shimla has a colonial atmosphere — stunning mansions with antique furniture, beautiful architecture, clean streets.

Today is our first day of travel and we will go to Sarahan — a small village (2300 m above sea level), surrounded by pine forests and oak thickets and having a magnificent panorama of the surrounding mountains. Here is one of the highly revered places — the Bhimakali Ji Temple.

The temple was built in the 12th century and is considered one of the best examples of Kinnauri architecture, using a unique Indo-Tibetan style. Entry to the temple is allowed barefoot and in an orange cap (for men), which is given at the entrance.

We continue our journey and today we will reach Chitkul — a small settlement practically on the Tibetan border. This is the last Indian village before Tibet. The village is very picturesque — there are wooden houses, some of which are decorated with intricate carvings, beautiful landscapes and several Buddhist and Hindu temples, undoubtedly worthy of attention.

The most interesting is the temple of the local goddess Matha, consisting of three buildings. The main temple was built more than 500 years ago.

The road takes us further and today we will reach Kalpa — a village located at the foot of the powerful peak of Kinnaur Kailash at an altitude of 3000 meters above sea level. This is a charming and colorful village, conveying the spirit of local traditions, surrounded by picturesque landscapes. There are also several Buddhist monasteries here. We rest and enjoy the pristine beauty of the Himalayas

Today our road will take us to Tabo. The most beautiful serpentines and mountain passes throughout the day will leave an indelible impression. Tabo is known primarily for its monastery Tabo Chos-Kor, which was founded in 996 AD and is the largest monastery complex in the Spiti Valley. The work of Kashmiri craftsmen is truly a rare thing.

There are not many places left in India where you can admire the bright colors and perfect forms that have been preserved since ancient times.

We are going to the capital of the Spiti Valley — Kaza. Today we will have a day full of visiting local attractions! We will stop by the highest post office in the world and send postcards to friends and family. We will visit a monastery where a mummy is located, locals say that it still has hair and nails growing. We will stop by the highland village of Kibber and enjoy the peace and quiet in these remote places

Having ridden around monasteries and attractions, today the road will take us to another amazing and beautiful place on the planet — Chandra Tal Lake. Translated from Sanskrit — Moon Lake. It is believed that the waters of this lake cleanse the body of ailments, and the soul of the devil’s tricks and vices.

Despite the difficulties with the road, this place is quite visited by tourists and lovers of everything mystical and religious. The lake has not been fully explored, so its true depth is still unknown.

Back to civilization. Today will probably be the hardest day in terms of driving. The real adventures are beginning! Before this, every day we drove on pretty decent roads. Today we will see rivers, fords, rocks, sand — basically everything we love)) In the evening, a cozy hotel in Manali will be waiting for us, where we will gather for a farewell party and celebrate the successful end of the trip.

Today we have a well-deserved day off and we will visit the Roerich House Museum, located in the neighboring valley — Kullu. After lunch we will walk around the old town, look into local shops and buy souvenirs as a keepsake.