Tour overview

The Spiti-Kinnaur Tribal Circuit is one of the most breathtaking and adventurous road trips in the Indian Himalayas. This 8-day journey takes you through the rugged terrains of Kinnaur and Spiti Valley, where ancient monasteries, high-altitude villages, and dramatic landscapes await.

Starting from Delhi, the circuit covers Narkanda, Chitkul, Kalpa, Nako, Tabo, Kaza, and Chandratal, before looping back via Manali. From lush green valleys in Kinnaur to the stark, otherworldly beauty of Spiti, this trip is a perfect mix of culture, spirituality, and adventure.

Get ready to witness barren cold deserts, deep gorges, gushing rivers, and some of the highest motorable roads in the world while experiencing the warm hospitality of Himachali villages. Whether you’re an avid traveller, a photographer, or a seeker of solitude, this journey promises an unforgettable experience.

Included

  • Volvo bus from Delhi to Manali and back
  • Accommodation on triple sharing rooms at all destinations as per the itinerary.
  • Breakfast and dinner at all hotels, homestays and camps
  • Comfortable vehicle for all days as per the itinerary
  • Reliable and experienced local driver with great knowledge of the area and the terrain.
  • Driver charges, driver accommodation, fuel and inter-state toll.
  • Camping fees, comfortable tents and sleeping bags / blankets at Chandratal Lake

Not Included

  • Anything not mentioned in inclusions.
  • Expenses arising due to uncontrollable situations, act of God and natural calamities.
  • Meals During Transit
  • Any Kind of Insurance
  • Personal Expenses
  • 5% GST
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Day 0 (Delhi to Shimla Volvo)

Board an overnight Volvo from Delhi for Shimla.

DAY 1 (Shimla-Kufri-Narkanda)

This epic Road Trip will start from ISBT Shimla (8 am) in comfortable Tempo Traveller. Our first stop is Narkanda via enchanting places like Kufri, Theog and Fagu. Surrounded by dense forests of firs, pines, conifers and maple. From here, we then proceed to our next spectacular destination in the central Himalayas which is also known for the Spectacular Hatu Peak.

DAY 2 (Narkanda to Sangla)

Following the course of River Sutlej to Karcham where it is joined by the Baspa (Sangla) flowing from the east, Baspa is the most beautiful valley in Himachal Pradesh. From Karcham, Sangla valley is 18 kilometres and the road winds its way uphill through some more magnificent cliffs. From Sangla village, we then head to Chitkul through a beautiful ride, sometimes winding our way along the course of the river and sometimes through majestic mountain trails. Chitkul is the last inhabited village near the Indo-Tibet border and both Chitkul and Sangla are adorned with beautiful snow-clad mountains. This region is therefore often also called the Swiss Alps of India.

DAY 3 (Sangla - Chitkul - Kalpa)

As we rise from our overnight stay at the hotel, we then proceed to explore the vicinity in the morning including the ancient Kamru Fort and Temple dedicated to the Goddess Kamakhya Devi which was brought from Assam.
Hereafter, we drive to Kalpa and upon reaching there, we visit the massive apple orchards and beautiful streams in the area. Kalpa is one of the biggest and most beautiful villages of Kinnaur district. It is very famous for its production of high quality of apples, and pinus gerardiana is also known as chilgoza, Kalpa also offers spectacular sights early in the morning as the rising sun touches the snowy peak and paints the sky with crimson and golden light.

DAY 4 (Kalpa-Nako-Giu-Tabo)

We start our morning going around exploring parts of Kalpa and Reckong Peo to enjoy the stunning views of the Kinnaur – Kailash mountains, visit the sacred temples, monasteries and get an insight into the local way of living. From here, we depart for Nako while crossing the treacherous Malling stream. At Nako, the most picturesque hamlet of Kinnaur, we visit the Nako Lake and the Buddhist temple which is known for its foot like impressions ascribed to the Saint Padmasambhava or Guru Rinpoche. We also make a stop at the ancient Nako monastery which dates back to the 11th century. The monasteries at Nako contain a large number of scriptures and pieces of art, wall paintings and stucco.
From Nako, we now enter the vast Spiti Valley, while crossing the check post at Sumdo. Our first stop in Spiti is at the village Giu, located 17 kilometres from Sumdo. Giu village is known for its 500 years old mysterious mummy which still has its teeth and hair intact. After visiting the temple where this mummy is still preserved, we then move on to explore the oldest monastery in the world, the Tabo Monastery, which is also the favourite of the Dalai Lama.

DAY 5 (Tabo-Dhankar- Pin Valley- Kaza)

From Tabo, we drive ahead some 27 kilometres to reach Dhankar. Dhankar used to be the administrative capital of Spiti before Kaza. We explore the village and visit the Dhankar Gompa situated asymmetrically atop a steep cliff. This hill-top fort that overlooks the Spiti Valley also once used to serve as a jail in the olden days. We then proceed to Pin Valley National Park. After spending some amazing moments at this beautiful place, we proceed towards Kaza for a comfortable overnight stay.

DAY 6 (Kaza-Langza-Hikkim-Komic-Kibber-Ki-Kaza)

Today we explore some of the highest inhabited regions of the world. We first visit he Fossil Village- Langza situated at an altitude of 4,400 metres. Once at Langza we can stroll around and visit ancient Lang which is a 1000 years old temple and spot the marine fossils found here in the sedimentary rocks. From Langza, we drive to Hikkim (4,400 m) which is now known to be the highest post office in the world. Post this we move to the village Komic – which literally translates to ‘eye of a snow cock’. Komic is the highest motorable village in the world at a height of 4,587 meters! We then proceed to Kibber, which is a perfect site for sky gazers and astronomy lovers. Kibber is also home to the majestic snow leopard and gives a breathtaking view of Kanamo Peak at 19, 600 feet. Then comes to a most famous spot of Spiti Valley- the Ki Monastery, situated at the foot of steep ridges, which is also the Biggest Gelupa Sect Monastery in Spiti. This monastery is also known to have a training centre for the Lamas. Looking down at the valley from any spot of this upland country is a great sight. After a day packed with adventure and exploration, we drive back to Kaza and return to our comfortable beds after these meanderings.

DAY 7 (Kaza-Losar-Kunzum Pass-Chandratal)

From Kaza, we drive through the least populated village of Spiti- Losar, to reach India’s highest motorable mountain pass which connects Kullu and Lahaul to Spiti valley- Kunzum La at 15,000 feet. From Kunzum La, we head towards one of the most photogenic places in Spiti Valley- the breathtaking Chandratal Lake, also known as the lake of the moon. This magnificent lake has surprisingly no visible source of water, concluding that the water for this lake comes from underground. We spend the night in camps by the lake and spend our evening gazing at millions of stars on a clear night.

DAY 8 (Chandratal – Chhatru – Rohtang Pass – Manali)

To celebrate our last day in Spiti Valley, we depart from Chandratal Lake and make our way to Batal. From there we continue our journey on Kaza – Manali Highway while taking a lunch halt at Chhatru. Driving beside the Chandra river we pass Gramphoo village just before our ascend towards the Rohtang pass and then descend towards Manali, thus entering the Kullu District. Rohtang Pass is a high mountain pass on the eastern Pir Panjal Range of the Himalayas, it connects the Kullu Valley with the Lahaul and Spiti Valleys of Himachal Pradesh. After a spectacular journey of around 51 kilometres, crossing Rohtang Pass, we reach Manali, only to head back home with a heart full of happy memories.

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