Zanskar Kanishka Tours and Travel
Share Himalaya with us in Zanskar, Ladakh and Spiti

 
Jeep Safari
Day 1: Departure from hometown.

Day 2: Arrival in New Delhi and transfer to hotel.

Day 3: By flight or by taxi/bus to Shimla.

Day 4: Obtain I.L.P (Inner Line Permit) to visit certain areas in Kinnaur and Spiti valleys. Sight seeing in around Shimla.

Day 5: Shimla (2206m) - Sarahan (1920m) - 174 kms. Our Jeep safari now begins passing dense forests in the lower range of Himalayas. Drive via Narkanda (2078m) a famous place for winter skiing. Lunch at Rampur (1924m) situated on the right banks of the river Sutlej. It is also known for its popular Lavi fair one of the oldest and largest fairs in the region attracting a large number of people. Reach Jeory a small market where the road bifurcates 21 kms up to Sarahan. Surrounded with apple orchards and excellent views of the northern side of Sreekhand Peak (5155m). Visit Bhimkali Temple, which is a pilgrimage centre for both Hindus and Buddhists. O/N stay in Sreekhand hotel or in camp.

Day 6: Sarahan - Sangla (2680m) - Rakchham (2900m) - 80 kms. Continue along the left bank of the Sutlej till you reach Wangtu, which is on the right bank of the river. Arrive at Karchham to enter the beautiful valley of Baspa. Reach Sangla village and take a 15-minute walk to visit the ancient Kamru fort. Once the fort was the main centre for crowning the kings of Kinnaur valley. Now it is dedicated to the Kamakshi temple. Above the Sangla valley, rises the gigantic Kinner-Kailash peak (6600m). O/N camp at Rakchham 11 kms from Sangla.

Day 7: Rakchham - Chitkul (3650m) - Rakchham (Day Trek). 15 kms easy walk leads to Chitkul village where you visit the centrally situated village temple. Chitkul is the last village in the Sangla valley and borders China to the north. Tourists are not allowed to go beyond. Return to Rakchham for overnight stay.

Day 8: Rakchham - Nako (2950m) - 145 kms. Drive back to Karchham beside Sutlej River, cross a bridge and drive on 9 km stretch of zigzag road leading to Rekong- Peo. Rekong-Peo (2290m) is the district headquarters of Kinnaur. From here a 13 kms drive goes up to the beautiful village of Kalpa, which affords excellent views of the Kinner Kailash peak (6600m). Kalpa was once the old capital of Kinnaur and a favourite haunt of Lord Dalhousie. Drive back down to the valley floor and follow the right bank. Cross a military bridge at Dubling and now drive along the left bank until reaching Khab, where Sutlej River (originating from Mansarovar lake in Tibet) joins with the Spiti River. The Tibet border lies 40 kms eastwards. An ancient trade route between India and Tibet starts from Khab. O/N camp near Nako Lake in Hangrang valley.

Day 9: Nako - Tabo (3050m). Depart to Tabo, following the Spiti River. Tabo monastery which is known as the Ajanta of the Himalayas was built by Rinchen Zangpo in 996 A.D. and is over 1000 years old. Tabo is an ancient village, situated on the right bank of Spiti river, flanked on either side by lofty hills - brown and sun-burnt. It is the seat of one of the most famous Buddhist monasteries regarded by many as only next in importance to the Tholong Monastery in Tibet.

Day 10: Tabo - Dhankar - Dhankar Lake (4200m) - Sichhiling. Drive to Dhankar monastery then walk up to the older monastery situated at the top of the village and visit the Queen's Palace. Dhankar was once the old capital of Spiti Valley. A 45 minute walk on a short trail will take you to Dhankar lake. Enjoy a boat ride. O/N camp Sichchiling.

Day 11: Sichchiling - Lalung - Guling. Drive to Attargo a small place where one road goes to Lingti Valley towards the eastern part of Attargo. Visit Sherkhang Monastery in Lalung Village. Leave jeeps in Lalung and walk down to the Lingti River. Cross the Lingti River by a bridge and follow the path on its right bank. Continue walking on the right bank until you reach Lingti Village. From here drive to Guling for O/N camp.

Day 12: Guling - Kungri - Lidang. Visit the Kungri Monastery built around 1330 A.D. More than 100 young monks from Spiti Valley receive religious training as well as learn to perform mask dance and play pipes. People of Pin Valley are called Buzen and the valley is known for ibex and snow leopard. After visiting monastery walk towards Pin River cross it by bridge and follow the trail on its right bank. Crossing two villages of Tinang Gongma and Tinang Yongma, cross the river by cable (1997m) for O/N camp at Lidang.

Day 13: Lidang - Langza - Kumik - Kaza. Drive 16 kms to Langza village through Kaza (sub-headquarters of Spiti Valley). Visit Langza Monastery. Mighty peaks of Shilla can widely be seen from Lagza village. Situated between 4400m to 4600m, these three villages of Langza, Hukkim and Kumik are a favourite route for those looking for fossils. The ruined monastery of Tangyut can be seen near Hikkim Village which was brought down by an earthquake in 1975. The newly built monastery of Tangyut can be visited near Kumik Village. Walk over a pasture for 45 minutes and trek further for 30 minutes down to Kaza for O/N camping.

Day 14: Kaza - Kibber (4205m) - Gete - Ki - Kaza. Drive 18 kms to visit Kibber village, which is the highest inhabited village in the world. Walk towards Gete village. One can find fossils near Gete Village. Now step down to visit Ki monastery that is the biggest in Spiti Valley. More than 260 monks receive religious training here. Back to camp for night halt.

Day 15: Kaza - Keylong (3010m). Drive to Rangrik village, which is the biggest in Spiti valley. Reach Losar by visiting small villages. Losar is the last village of Spiti Valley. Cross Kunzum Pass, which is at an altitude of 4551m. Come to a small teashop at Batal in Lahaul Valley. Cross Chandra River at Chattru again by a bridge at Khoksar. Now follow the road at right bank until reaching Tandi, where the Chandra and Bhagha rivers join and later flow down to the plains as the Chenab River. Keylong is 17 kms from here. O/N stay at Keylong.

Day 16: Keylong - Shishur - Khardung. Drive up to Shishur monastery, which was built around the 17th century by Dawa Gyatso of Ladakh. The main attraction of this monastery is a festival, celebrated every year in the month of June/July with the resident Monks performing masked dances. Drive back to Tandi to visit the Khardung monastery. Khardung, the old headquarters of Lahaul valley, is situated on the left bank of the Bhagha River. Visit Khardung monastery the largest in the Lahaul valley built about 900 years ago.

Day 17:
Option 1: Khardung - Sarchu - Leh (Ladakh)
Option 2: Khardung - Manali

Option 1
Khardung - Manali
Drive back to Tandi following the right bank of Chandra River; arrive at Gramphu, where the road climbs up to the Rohtang Pass (3978m) and then descends 51 kms to reach Manali. O/N stay at the hotel.

Day 18: Full day rest in Manali.

Day 19: Sightseeing in around Manali: Hadimba temple, Manu Temple, Natural Hot Sulphur Baths at Vashisht, Roerich Art Gallery at Naggar and Naggar Castle.

Day 20: Drive to Delhi by luxury bus/jeep, 16-hour journey through the lower range of Himalayas. Transfer to hotel for halt.

Option 2
Khardung - Leh
Khardung - Sarchu (4253m)
6/7 hours drive from Khardung passing Tandi, Keylong, Jispa/Darcha and Baralacha (4890m). O/N camp at Sarchu.

Day 18: Sarchu - Leh. Passing through the 2nd highest mountain pass of the world Tanglang-la (5065m). One may experience light snowfall on the saddle of this pass. Leh is 250 kms from Sarchu. Reach Leh by evening. Check into your hotel for O/N.

Day 19: Sight seeing in around Leh. Visiting Sankar Monastery, Leh Bazaar, Spituk, Thiksey, Shey and Hemis Monasteries. Hemis the largest monastery in the Ladakh region housing an ancient gigantic thanka painting which is displayed once every 12 years. The last time it was put on public display was 2004.

Day 20: Leh - Lamayuru. One day trip to visit the oldest monastery in the Ladakh region - Lamayuru.

Day 21: Leh - Delhi by flight. Transfer to hotel.

NOTE: Our responsibility finishes at Delhi unless you require arrangements to be done by us.