Spiti: Hidden Valley of the Himalayas
15 Days
Visiting: India
Tour operator:
Tour code:
SHV
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
4 - 12
Interests:
Tour Overview
Steeped in Buddhist traditions and infused with a way of life that has remained largely unchanged for centuries, this remarkable journey takes us deep into the heart of the Spiti Valley of northern India.
Filled with experiences, this astonishing odyssey begins amongst the quintessentially Indian streets of Delhi, before heading towards the spectacular Himalayan landscapes of Himachal Pradesh. The days that follow are filled with a wealth of cultural encounters, as we take to the rails of Shimla’s famous ‘Toy Train’, visit hill stations and ancient monasteries and experience Spitian rural life as it has endured and adapted for generations. Staying within the local communities we will visit some of the oldest temples in the world, learn how to make yak cheese and mountain arak and trek through some of the most breath-taking landscapes on earth.
Unique experience follows unique experience as we meet nuns, learn about their lifestyle and witness Bhuchen tantric dancing in the mountains of the Pin Valley. Our journey then ends amongst the Tibetan exiles of Dharamshala, where we visit the monastery of the Dalai Lama before returning to the Indian capital.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Tour Starts In Delhi
Accommodation: Colonel’s Retreat or similar
Meals Included: Lunch, Dinner
The journey begins in India’s bustling capital, where we have time to explore this most fascinating and historic of Indian cities. A vibrant fusion of colour and noise, Delhi is home to some of the country’s most iconic monuments, with its Mughal heritage and the grand architecture of the British Raj evoking memories of its role at the heart of two of the world’s most powerful empires.
Day 2: Delhi – Kalka – Shimla
Accommodation: Woodville Palace Hotel or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Starting early we board the morning train to Kalka, lying amongst the verdant foothills of the Himalayas. Crossing India’s rural hinterland we arrive later this morning and swap onto the narrow gauge tracks of Shimla’s famed ‘Toy Train’ for the journey on to what was once described as the Queen of Hill Stations. Following a timeless route through some of the most beautiful scenery in the region, our journey gets us in to Shimla late this afternoon, in time to enjoy a stroll through town before dinner.
Day 3: Full Day's Sightseeing In Shimla
Accommodation: Woodville Palace Hotel or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Sprawled across seven hills, Shimla still retains some of the faded charm that attracted the British here during the summer days of the Raj. Today we have an opportunity to enjoy a little something of its old colonial character with visits to the Viceregal Lodge and the Mall, before taking in the famed splendour of Jakhu Temple, the ancient Hindu temple that sits astride Jakhoo Hill, Shimla’s highest peak.
Day 4: Shimla - Kalpa (2960M)
Accommodation: Hotel Grand Shambala or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Departing early again this morning, we have a full day’s drive travelling by jeep through the apple-growing landscapes of the Satluj Valley towards Kalpa. Home to the Kinnauri people, Kalpa lies some 2,960 metres above sea level, at the base of the snow-capped peaks of the Kinnaur Kailash ranges. Negotiating the fertile vistas of the Satluj River Valley as far as Puwari we then begin the ascent towards Kalpa, following the road up through the forests as we enjoy the stunning mountain landscapes ahead of us.
Day 5: Kalpa - Tabo Via Lake Nako (3280M)
Accommodation: Hotel Dewachan or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accompanied by the splendours of the Kinnaur Kailash, today’s drive takes us from the lush Satluj Valley and into the stark desert landscapes of the Spiti Valley. The drive is as spectacular as it is dramatic, as we make our way along what has often been described as one of the world’s most adventurous roads. The journey takes us close to the Tibetan border and the small village of Nako, where we may have an opportunity to stop and visit its picturesque lake. Approx. 5 hours drive.
Day 6: Tabo - Dhankhar - Pin Valley (3800M)
Accommodation: Hermitage Guesthouse or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
This morning we visit Tabo Monastery, the oldest continuously operating Buddhist enclave in both India and the Himalayas. Continuing on to Dhankhar we then head towards what is considered one of the most endangered monuments in the world, Dhankhar Gompa. Much has been done in recent years by our local team to raise funds to support the restoration of the building and its treasures. From here we then head into the Pin Valley, to end our day at a unique village dedicated to Bhuchen tantric dance.
Day 7: Pin Valley - Demul (4320M)
Accommodation: Homestay
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today’s destination is the remarkable village of Demul, lying high up amongst the Spitian highlands 4,320 metres above sea level. The village is fast earning a reputation for its ground-breaking efforts at sustainability, with solar cookers, greenhouses and solar heated and electrified homes very much a part of Demul’s modern culture. Breaking the journey en route, there is an option to enjoy a hike up to nearly 5000 metres, to take in the panoramas across up to 18 different villages. If you prefer you can follow the same route experiencing a yak back safari which is optional and payable locally. Alternatively, you can continue the journey by jeep.
Day 8: Cultural Activities Around Demul
Accommodation: Homestay
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today provides an opportunity to fully immerse ourselves in village life, with a range of activities on offer. These include a chance to get up early and join the sheep herds up on the high pastures. You can learn how to make Spiti’s unique yak cheese, try your hand at making pure mountain arak, or alternatively join some of the locals in producing rope from yak wool. Demul offers a fascinating and unique insight into the traditional lives of these remote people.
Day 9: Trek To Komik (4500M)
Accommodation: Homestay
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Trekking across a landscape of alpine grazing pastures we head up into the hunting grounds of the snow leopard today. Journey’s end is the settlement of Komik, at 4,500 metres above sea level the highest village in Asia. After visiting Komik’s monastery we’ll have a chance to get settled in to our overnight homestays before we head out to learn more about the intricate irrigation systems and farming practices of Asia’s highest community. There is the option to undertake the trek by yak if you prefer. Trekking 14-16km approx 5-6 hours
Day 10: Trek To Langza Then Drive On To Kaza (3650M)
Accommodation: Hotel Sakya or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Early risers can take a walk down into the fields before breakfast this morning, after which we’ll start our trek on to Langza (4300M). The four hour journey takes us by way of Hikkim, where we’ll find the highest post office in Asia! In Langza we’ll then have an opportunity to spend some time with the local potters, before continuing by road on to Kaza. Here we head to the market with our hosts to purchase ingredients before trying our hand at creating some typical Spitian cuisine for dinner. Trekking 8-10km approx 4 hours
Day 11: Kaza - Pangmo - Kaza
Accommodation: Hotel Sakya or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After breakfast this morning visit the iconic Kee Monastery, the largest of its kind in the Spiti Valley. Home to ancient murals, books and Buddhist imagery, the monastery is still a functioning school for lamas of the Gelug sect of Tibetan Buddhism. Continuing on to Pangmo from here, we spend the day at a Nunnery and enjoy the hospitality of the local nuns, a remarkable opportunity to witness first-hand their daily rituals and spend time in meditation, or simply enjoying tea with them.
Day 12: Kaza - Manali
Accommodation: Ride Inn or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Leaving the Spiti Valley today, our journey takes us across the spectacular mountain passes of Kunzum and Rohtang, as we make our way to Manali near the northern end of the Kullu Valley. A long drive, the day takes us across some of the most dramatic scenery imaginable as we follow the old trade routes towards the “Valley of the Gods”. If time allows we may have a chance to stop en route at Chandratal, the beautiful moon lake that occupies the Samudra Tapu plateau. Approx. 5 hours driving
Day 13: Manali - Dharamshala
Accommodation: Chonor House or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Another long drive filled with spectacular landscapes and timeless vistas, today we head for Dharamshala, the capital of the Tibetan government in exile since the 1959 uprising. Nestling amongst the fertile tea plantations of Himachal Pradesh, the town lies encircled by cedar forest, snow-clad mountain and captivating monasteries. One of the finest and culturally most important hill stations in India, the town’s rich Tibetan culture and old colonial history instils it with a character all its own. Approx. 7 hours driving
Day 14: In Dharamshala
Accommodation: Chonor House or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
A full day exploring this fascinating town begins with a visit to the Dalai Lama’s Monastery, within whose confines we can find the Tibet Museum. Other points of interest around the town include the Tibetan Men-tse-khang Medical Centre, the charming little village of Dharamkot and the Norbulingka Institute, which is dedicated to the preservation of Tibetan art and culture. Later we will have some free time to explore the market at our leisure before enjoying a final dinner together.
Day 15: Dharamshala - Delhi
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
This morning you will have some free time for personal exploration in the city before we head to the airport where we will say goodbye to our guide and take a late afternoon flight to Delhi. Those on onwards flights can transfer to the International terminal (where the group flight will depart in the early hours of Day 16).
What's Included
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MEALS
14 x Breakfasts15 x Lunches14 x Dinners
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TRANSPORT
On this tour we will use minibuses, jeeps, a domestic flight and our own two feet!
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GROUP SIZE
Maximum: 12
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CARBON CONTRIBUTIONS
Contributions to climate and community projects for all bookings
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EXPERT TEAM
The full services of a Wild Frontiers Tour Leader with local guides where appropriate
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ACCOMMODATION
All accommodation as outlined in the itinerary
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FITNESS RATING
Moderate
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ENTRANCE FEES
All entrance fees for sights mentioned in the itinerary
What's Not Included
We believe in a completely transparent approach to pricing with no hidden extras. As such, please note that the following are not included in the cost of the tour.
Visas & Travel Insurance: Visas will always be tour/nationality dependent but travel insurance is mandatory
Tips: Always optional but some guidance will be given in the pre-departure information documents
International Flights: Please ask us for an obligation-free quote for flights which originate in the UK
Airport Transfers: We include complimentary transfers if arriving/departing on the suggested group flights
Beverages & any costs of a personal nature: This will include items such as laundry and souvenirs
Responsible Travel
With local people, culture and eco-systems in mind, responsible travel and sustainable tourism are at the core of Wild Frontiers. We believe that a successful trip not only delivers a unique and unsurpassable journey for our travellers but also benefits the people and places we visit.
When designing our tours, we actively seek out experiences that have a positive impact on the communities and precious environments we visit - from supporting social enterprises; resting our heads in rural homestays; and eating at locally owned restaurants; to helping fund conservation projects that protect wildlife and their habitats.
Visit the Responsible Travel area of our website to read more, including the work of the Wild Frontiers Foundation through which we fundraise to aid community empowerment and education projects.
Visas
VISAS
Visas are necessary for many of the destinations we travel to and while we aim to provide you with the most up-to-date information, requirements frequently change and as such for the latest advice we advise that you check with the relevant embassies or contact a reputable visa agency. More details can be found here - https://www.wildfrontierstravel.com/visa
For this tour UK passport holders currently require a visa for India.
Passports should ideally be valid for a minimum period of 6 months from the end of your tour.
Non-UK passport holders or non-UK residents should contact the relevant embassies for individual requirements.
VACCINATIONS & ADDITIONAL TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS
There are no mandatory vaccination requirements for travellers to India.
A Yellow Fever vaccination certificate is a requirement for travellers arriving from certain countries. Please visit the Indian Bureau of Immigration website for information.
For all destinations, please make sure you are up-to-date with any standard vaccinations (e.g. MMR, Hepatitis A, Tetanus) as recommended by your local health care provider.
Malaria is present in some parts of India and precautions are essential.
For the most up-to-date information on all vaccination requirements and the most suitable anti-malarial tablets, we strongly suggest that you seek advice from your local travel centre or consult an official travel health website such as www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk or www.travelhealthpro.org.uk
Covid Testing: No mandatory testing is currently required for vaccinated or unvaccinated travellers.
If necessary further details will be sent out to you upon booking, however ensuring that correct and valid visas & vaccinations are obtained remains the sole responsibility of the client.
Travelling Solo and single supplements
As a company approximately 70% of our clients are solo travellers, so it’s very unlikely you’ll be alone!
Our prices are typically based on twin-share accommodation, but single supplements are not compulsory for any Wild Frontiers tour. If you prefer not to pay a single supplement, we’ll pair you with someone else of the same sex for you to share with throughout the trip.
On this trip, if you do opt to pay for a single supplement then please note that it will cover you for all nights of the tour except days 5–11 due to the size and nature of the accommodation available in this remote region.
Please note that paying a single supplement entitles you to lone occupancy of a single room. In many cases these rooms will be of the same size as a double/twin room, but in some cases they may be smaller.
Key Aspects to Consider
Anyone in a reasonable state of health, with an open mind and a sense of adventure should be perfectly able to cope with this tour, as many of the activities are optional. However, please note that a significant portion of this tour is at an altitude of 3800m and some mountain passes over 4500m. There are some long driving days on challenging but spectacular roads. Whilst there are some walking elements you can ‘opt out’ of these if you choose.
This is a stunning and unspoilt region of India and any lack of facilities will be more than compensated by the stark beauty of the landscape and warmth and friendliness of your hosts.
Insurance
Insurance that provides cover for emergency repatriation in case of a medical emergency is compulsory for all tours. You should be aware that due to some of the geographical areas visited and some of the activities included on certain of our trips some standard insurance policies may not always provide adequate cover. As such we strongly recommend that you purchase a policy that adequately covers your trip. Please see the Insurance section for more details.
Check out our Q&As
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
We have a complete Covid-19 hub here: https://www.wildfrontierstravel.com/en_GB/covid-hub
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Over 70% of passengers on our group tours are solo adventurers. Unlike many tour operators, we don’t believe in charging solo travellers a premium, so if you are happy to share a room with a fellow traveller of the same sex, you will pay exactly the same as a couple..Occasionally you may even end up with your own room. You can travel as a single traveller on any of our holidays, from our escorte
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Since 2002
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Do I need to be double-vaccinated against Covid-19 to travel with you?
In most cases, yes. Not only are many destinations making double-vaccination a requirement of entry to the country and/or access to restaurants, museums etc., but additionally on all our group tours for the foreseeable future, for everyone’s peace of mind, we are asking that all clients be double vaccinated.
Reviews from Travellers on this Tour
Book with Confidence
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Free Date Changes
Wild Frontiers allows you to make 2 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 90 days before the start of the tour.
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Low Deposit
Wild Frontiers requires a minimum deposit of 200 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 70 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of wild frontiers charges.
Up to 71 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 51 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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Wild Frontiers' COVID Promise
You will have the right to transfer without any transfer fee, from any of our trips at ANY time if your trip is not Covid Viable (see below).*
We will not ask you to pay your final balance if your trip is not yet Covid Viable.
If your trip is not Covid Viable, by 30 days prior to departure at the latest, we will cancel your holiday and you can either transfer your funds to another departure or have a refund.**
We will only consider a trip Covid Viable*** if pre-departure it meets all of the following criteria:
There is no national lockdown or ban on foreign travel for the period when your trip is due to depart.
Destinations on the tour must not be on the UK’s Red List. ****
No destinations visited on the tour have in place any significant COVID-19 restrictions for travellers.
Tourist visas (if required) are available.
There is reliable airline access to/from the start/end of the trip.
Following an assessment by both Wild Frontiers and our local partners we are confident that your trip is able to run in both a safe and enjoyable manner.*****
** If you were originally booked to travel before 30 April 2020 and transferred to a later date, or if you have a tailor-made booking, there may be some irrecoverable costs which we cannot refund. Please speak to us and we will be able to advise you if this is the case for your booking.
***Since our HQ is in London, Covid Viable status for our Group Tours will be assessed on UK-based travellers. However we are fully aware that many of our clients live in the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and beyond. As such, when we deem a trip to now be Covid Viable, everyone booked will have a chance to review their own personal situation before deciding whether or not to remain booked on the trip. Anyone wishing to, will have the option to transfer without fees to another trip at this time. For tailor made bookings, we may also able to consider additional countries’ travel advice when deciding if a trip is Viable. Please discuss this with us at the time of booking.
**** This relates to bookings from UK clients only. We may operate trips to destinations which the British FCDO advise against travel for Covid reasons. If this is the case, anyone wishing to will have the option to cancel with a refund or transfer to another trip. In some cases we may choose to offer a tour to a Red destination but these will be at both clients’ and Wild Frontiers’ discretion and will be subject to alternative conditions to be discussed on an ad hoc basis.
*****If a destination, that we have deemed to be Covid Viable, subsequently fails any aspect of the criteria for two consecutive weeks, you will have the right under our Covid Promise to transfer without any fees.