Shimla to Manali via Kinner Kailash and Spiti Jeep Safari

17 days in India, all by a 4-wheel drive with few easy walks

Highest Point: 4551m

Dates: July, August, September, October

Inner-line Permit Required!

Highlights: Delhi - Manali - Shimla (2,206m) - Sarahan - Sangla (2,680m) - Chitkul (3,450m) - Nako - Tabo - Dhankar Gompa (3,890m) - Kaza (3,600m) - Ki Gompa - Kibber (4,205m) - Kunzum La (4,551m) - Batal - Rohtang Pass (3,980m) - Manali - Delhi

This safari takes you through districts of the Tibetan culture along the Indo-Tibetan border. We travel high altitude roads, over high passes, stark terrain, passing weathered gorges and centuries old monasteries. Starting from Manali we drive to Shimla down Kullu Valley, via Mandi, Sundemagar, and Bilaspur. We spend an extra day in Shimla, the queen of the hill stations. On the way to Sarahan, we visit the centuries old Bhima Kali Temple. Then it's up to the Baspa Valley to Sangla, the main village in the Kinner Kailash range. From Sangla we move on up the valley to the last village of Chitkul with its magnificent temples and the Kamru Fort. Next day we go back down to the bottom of the Sutlej gorge and climb the opposite bank through Rekong Peo to Kalpa for grand views of the Kinner Kailash massif. Following stage brings us past Jangi and Puh, now in the rugged and arid region behind the high Himalaya, to Nako and its lake high above the valley floor of the Spiti River. Here the legends of Kinnaur are replete with the stories of Padmasambhava, the greatest Buddhist teacher, also called the second Buddha. According to one legend Padmasambhava in a demonstration of his tantric powers is said to have landed on a rock in the village with a glacier fed lake - the Nako Lake. From Nako we continue to traverse high above Spiti River then ease down to Tabo, known as the Ajanta of the Himalaya, a 1000 year old monastery of unique art treasures and a place where the current Dalai Lama is said will retire.  After Tabo we climb to the spectacular site of the Dhankar Gompa, then follow the river valley to Kaza, the capital of Spiti. Next day we are off to a striking mount atop of which is Ki Gompa, another prominent monastery in Spiti. From Ki we ascend to Kibber (4,205m), one of the highest located villages in the world. We leave Spiti over Kunzum La, the highest point on our route at 4,551m and descend to the heavily glaciated Chandra Valley. We wind our way amidst huge boulders, towering ridges on both sides, then start climbing to the top of Rohtang Pass (3,980m), an engineering wonder. From the summit we start a long downhill toward Manali.