Escape to Wilderness: Lahual/Spiti #Spiti #Lahual #Manali #ChandraTaal #Dhankaar #Key #Kunzum

One would run out of superlatives to describe the raw beauty of Lahual & Spiti ....a terrain type, never ever experienced/seen before.

For any queries contact at my Instagram handle Me__the_Hodophile

Trip Map

Chandigarh-Shimla-Kinnaur-Spiti-Lahual-Manali-Manikaran-Chandigarh

Trip Summary

Destinations:

Shimla - Kinnaur- Nako - Tabo- Dhankar - Pin Valley( Mud village) - Kaza-Hikkim-Komic-Langza - Key Gompa-Kibber-Chincham-Kiato-Losar-Kunzum Pass-Chandra taal - Keylong-Jispa-Deepak Tal-Suraj Tal-Baralacha La Pass - Sissu- Atal Tunnel- Solang Valley- Rohatang Pass- Manali - Hadimba Devi Temple-Vashisth Temple -Manikaran

Distance /Days/Cost - 1400 + km, 13 days, Trip cost is for a family of 3

Preferred Travel Mode: Hire a SUV/Sedan . Contact Yuvraj Singh @ 8544799790 for reasonable cab rates. We hired a Maruti S-presso & paid Rs2500 per day.

If self driving, do check out this video before taking a call.

Where to stay? : Except for Spiti valley , hotels are available in destinations covered in this blog & can be booked using sites like Goibibo etc (do book 3/4 months early to get best rates). In Spiti, mostly you need to rely on homestays. Links for homestays are available in day wise travel/Tips section.

Tips:

Facts shared here are as on June 2023

1. Health Alert: If you have a history of suffocation, head ache, vomiting ,high altitude sickness or acrophobia, do consult a doctor or lookup authentic sites before trip. Including children below age of 5 yrs not advisable.

Remember you will be frequenting places in excess of 4100m+(13450ft +) altitudes & nearest city will have basic medical facilities. Just to give some idea , highest point of Europe, Jungfrau is only 4,158 m (13,642 ft)

2. Travel Alert: This is just not another trip where u can hop onto ur preferred transport mode. Be mentally prepared to experience landslides, road blockades & adjust your schedule accordingly. Also advisable to enter from Shimla side as this helps in acclimatization because you gradually gain altitude

3. This trip can be further optimized by 2/3 days for couples/bachelors

4. No need to visit Rohtang Pass If u r including Baralacha…snow quality & thickness far better in Baralacha

5. Route Alert:If u r planning also for Chandra taal then advisable to reach there post June 1st week . However this also does not guarantee that your Camp(Hotel) vendor will be able to set up camp by that time(may be not due to due to inclemental weather).

In such case choose your stay in Losar & then start early (by 8 am definitely).Avg speed of SUVs from Losar to chandra Taal then Grumphu on Leh Manali highway will be 25 kmph (at max) for SUVs & for sedans around 12 kmph…Google map time computed here, for this 105 km journey ,is far from reality & there will be no network for the entire journey

6.If you are someone who is fond of nature/photography then you will be tempted to stop @ every turn, post Tabo till Manali…..So keep buffer time in hand . Its also important to feel the place & not only click selfies…so also take a pause & appreciate the beauty

7. Best time to visit is May mid till 3rd week of June. However If Chandra Taal is included, then plan in June 1st week. Avoid late June as with arrival of monsoon you may experience landslides.

Winter adventure seekers pl be advised that there will be no running water during winter months, which means only dry toilets (indian) will be operational. Also route from Kaza to Manali will be closed for 6 months(from Oct) & so do Leh Manali highway.

8. Food available in homestays will be only vegetarian & very basic. For eg , rice/roti, dal & 1 curry for dinner....Aloo paratha/bread toast + tea in breakfast

9. Ambient temperature in Spiti region can be at max 4 deg C during day & at places can be -2 deg C in night...so prepare accordingly

10. Only foreigners require inner line permit

11. Reliance Jio network covers maximum stretch of this route....it's competitors lag far behind.

12. After successful trip..thank god for allowing you have a hassle free trip, something many may not be privileged enough in their attempt.

Tips

1. Try to book nightstay in Dhankar @ homestays. This will provide more time exploring a landscape which is absolutely magical & stunning.

2. You will start experiencing the real beauty of Spiti once you depart Tabo for Dhankar. So time your journey to experience this part of trip in ample sunlight.

3.Book homestay here .

4. Dont forget to carry suncream/cap/sunglasses

Tips

1. There will be no cell network once you enter Pin Valley

2. Lunch @ Mud may not be that pocket friendly for all

3. The entire landscape from Dhankar to Mud is just jaw dropping (the least to say)

4. There are a few hotels available @ Kaza for nightstay, rest all are homestays.

For any queries contact at my Instagram handle Me__the_Hodophile

Tips

1. Do post a letter from Hikkim post Office to your loved ones

Tips

1. Kiato is the most under rated destination (no mention when one searches for spiti ) & one of the most stunning. This means there will be no scheduled stops by your cab/Tempo traveler driver. So do watch out for this breathtaking place & stop for sometime....you will never ever get to experience anything in future...so do value this advise.

2. There will be no network post Losar

3.Be careful to choose your camp type @ Chandra Taal for night stay. It will be super windy & temperature will drop to -ve post midnight. Also advisable to always go for attached toilet camps

4.Some reliable camp operators are Parasol & Samsong

5. There are actually no roads post Losar to Chandra Taal (also till Grumphu enroute Manali) @ best these can be called dirt tracks...so do factor this & check this extreme road video

6. In Chandra Taal the walk from parking lot to lake is around 20-25mins...do not rush...you will run out of gas shortly & by the time you reach the beach ,a feeling of breathlessness will creep in.

6. Start not later than 7am from Kaza

For any queries contact at my Instagram handle Me__the_Hodophile

Tips

1. You can also plan your stay @ Sissu...It's an extremely beautiful village with Swiss vibes. We stayed at Keylong, Lahual's capital & closer to Baralacha La

2. From Chandra Taal enroute Sissu you will have to break out for lunch at Chacha Chachi Dhaba @ Batal ...This is the only food stop where you get basic veg items like Rajma rice or Choley rice (price will be close to Rs 200 per plate)

3. This will be the most difficult part of journey with non existent roads,,,,traveling thru river bed & streams passing thru middle of the dirt tracks

Tips

1. Snow quality here is absolutely superb....this will not be the case @ Rohtang La

2. You may experience breathlessness while approaching Baralacha La (4850mts) which is also the highest point in this trip.

3.Definitely spend sometime @ Jispa preferably on river side...this is just amazing !!!!

4. You can also choose to spend a night at camps in Jispa

Tips:

1. You can either return to Manali or move ahead & stay @ Kasol

2. You can also experience river rafting near Kullu & come back to Manali

For any queries, contact at my Instagram handle Me__the_Hodophile

Route: Sundernagar -Chandigarh- Your Hometown