Yogatrek in Spiti: 7 or 12 days
What is "yogatrekking"? Click on the question to get the answer
If you are looking both for trekking during summer in one Himalayan region, without rain and where there are not as much tourists as in Ladakh, and if you are interested by the Tibetan Buddhist Culture, come to Spiti: the "Indian Tibet".
Highlights and history
Thousand years ago Tibetans crossed the "himals", the mountains, and settled in a small region surrounded by hundred peaks, 6000 meters high. The villages are located between 3000 and 4500 meters above sea level.This natural protection has preserved the Tibetan culture. The four major sects of Tibetan Buddhism are represented in Spiti, each one with his own tradition, in a different valley.
Tibet is very close. Nowadays the Tibetan border is 20 km from Tabo monastery, which hosts a Tibetan university, 1000 years old. This is the southern gate of Spiti. Since 1993 Spiti was a restricted area forbidden to the foreigners. Even today a permit is required for going to Tabo. It is easy to get it, but some trekking areas close to Tibet are strictly prohibited.
There are two roads from Delhi to Spiti.
Trough Tabo it takes 3 days. This road is supposed to be open all year long, but the landslides and the avalanches may block it. The road to Manali, a famous hill resort of Himachal Pradesh is shortest, 600 km.
There is an airport close to Kullu, 40 km from Manali.
From Manali it is a 200 km day drive to Spiti, but the road is only open in summer because it goes through 2 high passes.
All the villages of Spiti are located around 4000 meters of height and there are only 10.000 inhabitants, mainly Buddhists.
HH the 14 Dalai Lama is used to visit Spiti to give teachings to the locals and to many monks.
In 2006 Eric Lon has given free yoga classes to the young monks of Kaza monastery.
Yoga trekking in Spiti
Eric Lon is the first man skiing on huge slopes of rolling stones in different places of Spiti. He knows a couple of nice treks in Spiti.Spiti is a kind of Paradise for the alpinists and the skiers because there are many virgin peaks. Some areas close to Tibet are strictly prohibited.
Starting from Kaza, 3800 meters above sea level, the headquarters of Spiti, it is easy to reach any village by the motorable roads, with local bus or 4x4 taxis.
You can trek on the trails and the short cuts. There are short day treks, ideal for the beginners and longer treks leading to Ladakh for the experienced trekkers. The local people are not used to carry loads but their mules and their horses are crossing any pass with loads. It is similar as trekking in Ladakh, but with less trekkers. All the small villages have the right sense of Himalayan Buddhist hospitality. There are home stays and guest houses almost everywhere. The highest village and monastery is Komik, 4500 meters.
Each valley is different from the others.
You can trek for only few days or for much more.
Please tell us how many days you want to trek and we will organize a special trip adapted to your wishes and to your trekking capacities.
It can be oriented about trekking, or about discovering the Tibetan culture, or combining both aspects.
The major Buddhist monasteries to visit are: Tabo, Dangkar, Kaza, Kee, Kibber, Langza, and Komik.
Trip facts
Starts and finishes at Delhi, going through Manali.
Choose between a night bus trip to Manali and a direct flight from Delhi to Kullu.
Astonishing day drive, 200 km from Manali to Kaza with the crossing of Rothang pass, close to 4000 meters, and the Kunzum pass: 4551 meters. Gorgeous mountains landscapes.
Trekking between 3500 and 4500 meters.
Accommodation in guest houses.
Transport in Spiti by 4x4.
Himalayan yoga classes to have a better adaptation to the altitude and massage classes to trek more easily.
Detailed itinerary: 7 days.
Day 1: drive 580 km from Delhi to Manali or flew Delhi to Kullu and drive 40 km.Day 2: drive 110 km from Manali through Rothang pass, 3900 meters to Chandar Tal, 4350 meters. Enjoy camping and yogatrekking at the lake. Look at the photo. May be kayaking.
Day 3: yogatrekking around the lake before breakfast and then drive 15 km to Kunzum pass, 4551 meters. It is the administrative border between the district of Lahaul and Spiti and a holly Buddhist place. Look at the photo.
Drive 50 km to visit the first Tibetan monastery in Spiti and then drive 60 km down to Kaza, 3800 m. the headquarters of Spiti.
During summer 2009 HH the Dalai Lama will perform at Kaza the "Kalachakra", an important Buddhist teaching which attracts thousands of Buddhist devotees. The monastery which has been renovated will be inaugurated by HH the Dalai Lama.
Day 4: Himalayan morning yoga and short drive to Kee monastery, and then short drive to Kibber village, 4200 meters, and monastery: short trek in the National Park. Drive 50 km to Langza village and monastery to look at the largest Buddha statue of the Spiti and then drive to Komik, 4500 meters, the highest monastery. Visit the ruins of the ancient monastery and trek or drive down to Kaza.
Day 5: Himalayan yoga before breakfast and drive 30 km to Dangkar ancient fort and monastery, 4000 meters high. The recent movie "Milarepa" has been shot there. Trek to Dangkar Lake, 4350 meters. Drive 30 km to Lalung monastery with ancient clay statues similar to Tabo monastery. Night at Kaza.
Day 6: Drive back to Manali via Kunzum pass and Rothang pass.
Day 7: drive back to Delhi or flight Kullu Manali.
Detailed itinerary: 12 days
Day 1: drive 580 km from Delhi to Manali or flew from Delhi to Kullu and then drive 40 km to Manali. Day 2: wake up and warm up with a sulfur hot bath at the holy Vashist hot springs located 5 km from Manali. After breakfast drive 110 km from Manali to Chandar Tal, 4350 meters through Rothang pass, 3900 meter, a snow capped mountain where many people are used to ski.
This is a majestic mountain road with intense views of high cliffs and snow capped peaks along the river. Camping at the holy lake Chandar Tal. Short trek before evening yoga.
Day 3: Himalayan morning yoga before breakfast. It will be the same routine every day to feel the activation of the general energy. One hour yoga session with dynamic exercising and breathing. Bring your own yoga mat.
Trek 12 km to reach Kunzum pass, 4551 m. to get in our 4X4 vehicle. This is the border between the district of Lahaul and Sptiti. Drive 50 km into Spiti' valley with different colors and shapes of the barren mountains. Visit the first Tibetan monastery, the gateway of Spiti and the police check post. Drive 60 km to Kaza, 3800 meters. the administrative headquarters of Spiti.
During summer 2009 HH the Dalai Lama will perform at Kaza the "Kalachakra", an important Buddhist teaching which attracts thousands of Buddhist devotees. The monastery which has been renovated will be inaugurated by HH the Dalai Lama.
Day 4: Himalayan morning yoga, breakfast and then short drive to Kee monastery, 4000 meters: have a look to the photo. Trek three hours to the Dalai Lama retreat' monastery and get into our vehicle for a short drive to Kibber, 4200 meters. For long Kibber was the highest village reachable by road. It is surrounded by National Park. Kibber is the start of a week trek going to Ladakh and to Tsomoriri Lake. Eric Lon proposes also this trek.
Night at Kibber.
Day 5: Himalayan morning yoga and then trek into the National Park around Kibber looking to Mt Kanamo, a nice trekking peak, 5974 meters where Eric Lon did cross country skiing...
Day 6: Himalayan morning yoga and drive down to Kaza then up to Langza, 4200 m. to visit the monastery and the giant Buddha statue.
Trek on the direction of the base camp of Mt Chau Chau Kang Nilda, 6303 m., "the mountain of the Princess looking at the Tibetan sunrise". Tibet is very close.
Trek amongst marine fossils to Komik, 4500 meters, the highest monastery of Spiti.
Night at the monastery' guest house or camping.
Day 7: Himalayan morning yoga and morning trek to Demul, 4300 meters to get our vehicle. Drive to Lalung monastery and optional trek to Dangkar monastery, 4000 meters, or drive to visit of the old fort where the "Nonos", the ancient kings where ruling Spiti. This is where has been shot the movie "Milarepa". Night at Dangkar.
Day 8: Himalayan morning yoga and short trek to Dangkar Lake, 4350 meters, with a gorgeous panorama on the snow capped mountains rising 6000 meters. Swimming is permitted.
Drive 50 km to Tabo monastery which is located twenty km from Tibet. A special permit is required. Tabo monastery is thousands years old. It displays large clay statues and big wall paintings and the oldest Tibetan University. Then we then drive 80 km to Pin valley.
Pin valley must be visited because it is different from the other parts of Spiti.
Day 9: Himalayan morning yoga and then visit of the monasteries and the villages with short treks. Night at the highest village: Mud. From there, through high passes, the experienced trekkers can go back to Manali. Come another year.
Day 10: Himalayan morning yoga and then drive to Kaza and then to Kunzum pass.
If the weather is good, enjoy a short trek to enjoy an overall view of the Himalayas.
Camping at the river, 4000 meters, surrounded by snow capped peaks around 6000 m.
Day 11: last Himalayan morning yoga session and drive 100 km to Manali via Rothang pass where Indian tourists are used to ski. Eric Lon scaled this mountain several times, doing yoga on the summit. Photo.
Hot bath at Manali or Vashist and farewell diner, thinking to our next yogatrekking in another region of the Himalayas.
Day 12: way back to Delhi by road or by air.
You can also extend your stay in Himachal Pradesh, visiting Dharamsala, 250 km from Manali, where HH the Dalai Lama is living in exile with the Tibetan government.
Dates
The road from Manali to Spiti is open from mid June to mid September. Choose your dates. Minimum is 4 days to come and go Delhi-Spiti and 4 days in Spiti. Most of the tourists are coming in July and August. Better to visit in June or in September.
Choose your dates and we will organize your trip in Spiti.
Price: coming soon
The yoga classes connected with trekking are included in the package.
Special discount for the groups.
Have a look to the photo gallery of Eric Lon on: www.flickr.com
There are 2 sets: "The highest monastery" and "Trek from Spiti to Ladakh".
Each photo has a comment in English and in French.
Contact: ericlon@hotmail.fr and Vivek Chander, Manali: hocm71@yahoo.com
When Eric Lon is trekking far from Internet facilities he cannot reply immediatly to your questions: please, be patient. This quality is useful to trek in the Himalayas. Yoga increases this quality...
Feel free to contact Vivek Chander at Manali to make a pre booking