Jeep safari and yogatrekking to Spiti via Manali - 12 days
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What is the yoga trekking concept?
Explore Himachal Pradesh from Manali, the Valley of Hindu gods, to Spiti, the hidden Tibetan valley protected by hundred snow capped peaks around 6000 meters.Experience an unforgettable jeep drive through rough river valleys, crossing two high passes and reaching small villages where the Tibetan culture is untouched.
Enjoy camping at two pristine lakes, 4350 meters of height; take a holy dip under guidance of Eric Lon, certified swimming teacher. You may also ride a kayak at the lakes.
Visit many Tibetan Buddhist monasteries belonging to the four major Tibetan sects, each of them being different of the others. HH the Dalai Lama is used to give teachings in Spiti. In July 2009 he will stay at Kaza.
Enjoy Himalayan yoga daily, before breakfast, to get more energy and a better acclimatizing to the Himalayas. Stretch by evening with hatha yoga exercises under guidance of a French physiotherapist who has taught hatha yoga to the young monks at Kaza, in 2006.
Eric Lon has also the expertise of rock skiing and trekking from Spiti to Ladakh.
Trek daily few hours amongst gorgeous landscapes and take plenty of unforgettable pics.
Note: yogatrekking means daily yoga lessons and guided treks included in the price. Individual treatment, massage or lessons are possible at extra cost.
Trip facts
Duration: 12 days from Delhi to Spiti via Manali and back to Delhi or 10 days from Manali to Kaza and back to Manali.Transport: taxi expert in this road.
Grade: easy yogatrekking but with altitude above 4000 meters.
Date: : under request of a group of four people it can be organized from mid June 2009 to the beginning of September because the Mooson is not reaching Spiti.
Price: a discount is offered to the groups of 4 people.
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.
Contact: ericlon@hotmail.fr