Manali to Spiti Valley Road Adventure (8N/9D)

Description

Spiti is a cold desert valley in the Himachal Himalaya, hemmed in by 6,000-metre peaks and accessible for only part of the year. Its name translates roughly as the middle land, referring to its position between India and Tibet, and its culture, architecture and monasteries are essentially Tibetan. For travellers who want raw, high-altitude landscape with almost no crowds, this is among the most rewarding road journeys in the country.

The route from Manali crosses Rohtang and Kunzum passes into a landscape that changes entirely within a few hours of driving, from pine forest and green slopes into bare rock, scree and river gravel under an enormous sky. Villages appear as sudden patches of green barley and mud-brick houses along the Spiti river, and the monasteries above them are among the oldest surviving Buddhist institutions anywhere.

Key Monastery, stacked in tiers on a conical hill, is the largest in Spiti and houses monks, ancient thangkas and a famous collection of wind instruments. Tabo, founded in 996 CE, holds murals and stucco sculptures often compared to those at Ajanta and is protected as a national heritage monument. Dhankar clings to a crumbling cliff above the confluence of the Spiti and  Pin rivers, and Komic and Hikkim compete for the title of the highest village and highest post office in the world.

Chandratal, the crescent moon lake at 4,300 metres, provides the trip's most dramatic camping night. Adventure elements include high-altitude trekking to Dhankar Lake, mountain biking sections, wildlife spotting for blue sheep and ibex in the Pin Valley National Park, and for winter travellers, the possibility of joining a snow leopard expedition. This is a demanding but deeply rewarding Himalayan adventure.