Spiti Amritsar Tour

Arrival at night, welcome by our  team and installation in a hotel near the airport.

• Transfer: 30 minutes
• Accommodation: Hotel

Early in the morning, transfer to the train station to take the train to Chandigarh (breakfast on board). Arrival in Chandigarh and visit the city built by Le Corbusier, the famous Swiss architect. Discover the Rock Garden , a unique garden where sculptures of stones, various materials or urban waste coexist! The self-taught founding artist Nek Chand has made his dream come true by building a fairy garden that today is said to be the second most visited site in India after the Taj Mahal! Lunch in town, then we go to the assault of the Himalayan foothills. In 4 hours we reach Shimla,in Himachal Pradesh. When the British developed the fashion of the mountain resorts, they made Shimla their summer capital in the middle of the 19th century.

• Transfer: 7h
• Accommodation: Hotel
• Meal: BLD

A short city tour in this tiny state capital: the nostalgic Victorians will delight … Departure via Kufri and Narkandha where the view, in good weather, is panoramic. Descent to Rampur, which contains the remains of the ancient Himalayan kingdom of Rampur Bushahr and offers a rare vision of customs, religion and art. It is also one of the largest shopping centers in Himachal Pradesh. We continue to Sarahan (1920m), the former summer capital of Rajah Rampur , with its beautiful ancient temple, dedicated to the goddess Bhima Kali . View of the Shirkhand Range. In the evening we will certainly attend a ceremony at the temple!

• Transfer: 5h
• Accommodation: Hotel
• Meal: BLD

Descent 23 km to reach the main road, which then follows the Sutlej , until Wangtu, the gateway to Kinnaur . At Karchham, we branch off into the Baspa Valley , one of the most picturesque Kinnauri valleys. It is dominated by Kamru Fort near Sangla (3450m). A walk of 30 minutes allows to visit the fort and the village. In the afternoon we walk to the typical remote villages of Chitkul and Rackchham. Walk in the villages and meetings with the inhabitants. Back to Sangla.

• Transfer: 5h
• Accommodation: Simple Hotel
• Meal: BLD
• Hours of walk: 1h

We reach the capital of Recongpeo district (2290m), where a new monastery was built at the top of the city. Then by an old merchant path, we hike to the village of Kothi with its temple of exceptional architecture and a beautiful statue of the goddess Devi Chanadika . Return to Recongpeo and drive to Kalpa; view of Kinner Kailash , a sacred mountain sheltering Shiva’s home. Visit the village of Kalpa and the carved wooden temple, beautifully carved. After the meal, we drive 3 km, for a second ride that leads us to Chini, located on the old Indo-Chinese trade route. The architectural style of the village is a harmonious fusion of the Hindo-Buddhist cultural mix. Visit the small Gompa Hubu Lankhar , founded by Rinchen Zangpo.

• Transfer: 3h
• Accommodation: Simple Hotel
• Meal: BLD
• Hours of walk: 1h

We descend to the Sutlej with en route, a stop for a stroll in the typical village of Moorang . Visit of a watchtower and meeting with the inhabitants. Pass check post for passport control and Spiti permits then we make another stop to Khab , at the confluence of Sutlej and Spiti. The road climbs gradually and the landscape changes dramatically before arriving at Nako . Installation for the night in a fixed camp. Then visit the village of Nako, perched above the valley. Discovery of the monastery attributed to Rinchen Zangpo and walk in the Tibetan style village, built around a lake and located in the middle of barley fields. Splendid view and total calm.

• Transfer: 4h
• Accommodation: Fixed Camp
• Meal: BLD
• Hours of ride: 1 / 2h

The road crosses several villages along the Spiti. Arrival in Tabo and installation in a guest-house. Visit the monastery with unique architecture, founded in 996 and which includes frescoes and statues of exceptional stucco … We visit the various rooms (including the Tsug Lakhang and Mandala Hall). In the evening, we attend the service with the monks (be careful to keep quiet). Tabo is also the largest monastic complex of Spiti, gathering 9 temples in the old part, 23 chorten, many cells of monks and nuns. It is a monastery equivalent in importance to that of Tholing in Tibet.

• Transfer: 4h
• Accommodation: Guest House
• Meal: BLD

Drive to Dhankar, the ancient capital of the Kingdom of Spiti . The site of Dhankar is impressive. Perched on top of a rocky promontory, the gompa dominates the village, which is surrounded by fields of barley, forming a beneficial oasis in the heart of a desert of stones. The gompa of the 6th century, very damaged, shelters magnificent tangkas and statues preserved in dark rooms (a lamp is useful). Part of the monastery has been restored. We then visit the Lalung Monastery. The local tradition tells that this monastery consisted of a set of nine temples with an iconography of great wealth. Picnic in the village then we reach the Pin Valley,famous for its national park (snow leopard, ibex). Visit of Kungri Monastery, center of Nyingmapa School in Spiti. This monastery was founded by Guru Rinpoche. Unlike the compact architecture of Tibetan monasteries where temples and apartments are in the same buildings, the Kungri Monastery consists of a series of rectangular blocks with, on the highest terrace Lha-khang, followed to the north by the Samdrup -ChoLing in the middle, whose architecture is typical of the time of Rinchen Zangpo and finally a compact structure in the south-east, including Tangur and Gongkhang, more recent and Tibetan influence. End of the road to reach Kasa.

• Transfer: 4h
• Accommodation: Simple Hotel
• Meal: BLD
• Hours of walk: 1h

Ascent to Gelugpa Monastery in Kye . Nearly 200 monks live on this rocky peak. The murals of the Dukhang are in an exceptional state of preservation. It was here that the Dalai Lama taught Kalachakra in 2000. We reach the village of Kiber , which includes about 220 souls. This mountain population grows barley, buckwheat and peas. The visit of the monastery at the top of the hill is interesting, especially that of the old pieces. Return to the same hotel as the day before.

• Transfer: 1h
• Accommodation: Simple Hotel
• Meal: BLD
• Hours of walk: 1h

The day begins with a small climb up the road to the remote villages of Spiti Langza, Kaumic and Hikkim . Walk to meet the inhabitants, to discuss their daily lifestyle and better understand the adaptations necessary to the seasons … Picnic in a local house. Return to Kasa at the end of the afternoon.

• Transfer: 1h
• Accommodation: Simple Hotel
• Meal: BLD
• Hours of walk: 2 / 3h

The road climbs gently towards the bottom of the high Spiti then, by laces, we reach the Kunzum La at 4550m. View of the Chandra-Bhaga and Barashigri mountains, with many peaks over 6000 m. Descent to Chattru and Chotta Dara , hamlets that signal our arrival in the valley of Chandra, whose atmosphere is already much more green than Spiti. At Gramphu , the road goes left, facing south. Then begins the long and winding climb to Rohtang La (3950 m).Here the greenery takes over and we could almost believe in the Swiss Alps. The road plunges into the Kulu valley, zigzagging through the meadows of wild flowers … At the level of the first villages, it is good to find pines, birches and poplars! Some beautiful waterfalls further amplify the heavenly side of this valley. Arrival in Manali (1900 m).

• Transfer: 8h
• Accommodation: Hotel
• Meal: BLD
• The Kulu Valley, located within the Himalayan range, is famous for its apple orchards, trees (deodar pines and cedars of the Himalayas) as well as for the hospitality of its inhabitants. The valley includes hundreds of temples and deities, which earned it the nickname "Valley of the Gods". The Aryans gave him the name of Kulantpitha (the end of the habitable world).

1 km from the city center, stands the temple of Hadimba Devi , shaped like a pagoda. We will walk to this temple located in the heart of a forest of beautiful giant cedars. Road to Nagar, former capital of Raja Kulu in 1660. Visit the old castle now transformed into a hotel, overlooking the valley of Béas. Visit the art gallery and ancient temples of Tripura Sundari , Shiva and Gaitri Devi in ​​Jagatsukh. Another walk makes it possible to reach an old traditional village. Back to Manali.

• Transfer: 1h30
• Accommodation: Hotel
• Meal: BLD
• Hours of walk: 1h30

Beautiful road along the river Béas. Stop at Kulu for a visit to the 17th Raghunatji Temple , and the 8th Bajaura Temple (one of the oldest in Himalayas). We continue to Mandi, former Rajput capital. Installation at the hotel and meals. We drive then to Rewalsar , high place of Buddhist pilgrimage. Walk around the sacred lake (the legend says that the great Guru Padma Sambhava would leave here in the 8th to join Tibet to spread Buddhism there). Visit temples and monasteries. Back to Mandi.

• Transfer: 4h
• Accommodation: Hotel
• Meal: BLD
• Hours of walk: 1h30

Morning visit of shikhara style temples, we visit those of Bhootnath, Triloknath, Panchvakra … We take the road to Bir Khas , located 60km away at the foot of the chain of Dhauladhar, where resides a large Tibetan community. We take the time of this detour. Then we return to the main road to Baijnath , 16 km before Palampur. Baijnath promises superb temples dating from the 9th, dedicated to Vaidhyanath. Always Shikhara style, they are remarkable for their proportions and architectural beauty. Arrival in Palampu , beautiful city surrounded by pine and cedar forests. Benefiting from a mild climate, the tea plantations, irrigated through a network of canals dating from the colonial era, have flourished.

• Transfer: 4h
• Accommodation: Hotel
• Meal: BLD

A road detour leads us to the temples of Masroor, cut in the rock. Fifteen sumptuous cave temples, have similarities with the famous temple of Ellora in Maharashtra. We then go north to reach Dharamshala . Installation at the hotel and discovery of the bazaar with its colorful crowd, Indo-Tibetan.

• Transfer: 4h
• Accommodation: Hotel
• Meal: BLD

Former garrison town, McLeod Ganj is known since 1959, due to the Tibetan exodus. It is from this time, the residence of His Holiness the Dalai Lama . The Tibetan government in exile has settled there and even the architecture is typical of Tibet. The Namgyal Monastery is surrounded by a row of prayer wheels and houses beautiful frescoes of Buddha, Padmasambhava and Avalokiteshvara life. Visit Tibetan handicraft centers and Norbulinga monastery. Free evening to discover McLeod Ganj at your leisure.

• Accommodation: Hotel
• Meal: BLD

Departure for Amritsar, meal en route and installation at the hotel in the afternoon. Then drive to the Indo-Pakistan border 30 km ( Bagha ), to witness the "amazing" change of guard (both sides of the border) at sunset. A unique experience ! Back to hotel in Amritsar.

• Transfer: 6 / 7h
• Accommodation: Hotel
• Meal: BLD

This morning visit Amritsar . Founded in 1577 by Ramdass, the fourth Sikh Guru. It is the main center of this religion and the largest city of Punjab, it is mainly inhabited by Sikhs . The name of Amritsar "ocean of nectar", comes from the sacred lake on which is placed the famous temple of gold . Jewel of the Sikh religion, it is at the same time the nerve center of the old city. To visit this monument it is obligatory to take off your shoes and cover your head, whether you are faithful or simple tourist. Then visit the temple of Laxmi Narayan , located in the center of a lake where there is a complex dedicated to the great goddess of the Hindu pantheon. Then the Jalianwala Bagh, a park designed to honor the 2000 Indians murdered by the British in 1919, during one of the battles for independence …

• Transfer: 1h30
• Accommodation: Hotel
• Meal: BLD

Morning flight to Delhi then check into a day hotel (1 room for 4). Short visit of Delhi then last dinner in common and transfer to Delhi airport for the flight back to Destination with lots of  good memories,thanks….

• Transfer: 2h
• Accommodation: Day Hotel
• Meal: BLD