Spiti is one of the coldest, most inaccessible parts of Himachal Pradesh in winters. Our Winter Spiti Homestay trail takes you on a walk through some of the highest permanently inhabited settlements in the world. You will drive through the Kinnaur, the easternmost part of Himachal for two days to get to Spiti valley, trek to the frozen Dhankar Lake and through the villages of Dhankar, Demul, Komic and Langza while experiencing the traditional Spiti hospitality in the cold, harsh winters where temperatures often drop to -30 C at night.
Shimla to Sangla - 220 km Drive
Report in Shimla by early morning and board your vehicles for the drive to Sangla. We will drive through the precipitous Sutlej gorge to the beautiful Sangla valley till Sangla. You will get the first view of Kinner Kailash today. Overnight in hotel / guest house in Sangla.
Sangla to Tabo (3400 m) via Nako and Gue - 180 km Drive
We will continue our road journey to Spiti today and drive towards the confluence of the Sutlej and Spiti rivers at Khab, passing through the towns of Pooh and Nako. We will take a detour through Gue, where you will see India's only know naturally preserved mummy. At Sumdo, we will cross the confluence of the Spiti and Parechu rivers and drive onward to Tabo.
Tabo to Chicham (4125 m) - 70 km Drive
Today, we will drive from Tabo to the village of Chicham. We will visit Ki and Kibber en route. Overnight in homestay in Chicham.
Chicham to Kaza (3800 m) - 22 km Drive
Today, we will hike to an ancient cave with petroglyphs near Chicham. After returning from the caves, we will drive to Kaza. Overnight in hotel/guest house in Kaza.
Kaza to Langza (4420 m) - 15 km Drive. Langza to Komik (4587 m) via Hikkim (4400 m) - 10 km Trek
Today, we will drive from Kaza to Langza, famous for its fossils. We will explore the stunning village of Langza with the sacred and mighty Chau Chau Kang Nelda Peak overlooking the village. We will then start our trek to Komic one of the highest villages of the world, and the highest village of Asia. En route to Komic we will visit the village of Hikkim, with the world's highest post office
Komic to Demul (4320 m) - 25 km Drive. Demul to Lalung (3750 m) - 10 km Trek
Today we will drive from Komic to Demul. Demul is one of the main villages of the Spiti Valley. We will explore the village and then continue to trek on a descending trail from Demul to Lalung which is situated in Lingti Valley at the foot of the Tangmar mountains. At Lalung, visit one of the oldest gompas in the Spiti Valley. Overnight in homestays.
Lalung to Dhankar (3890 m) via Dhankar Lake - 9 km
Today we will trek from Lalung to the ancient capital of Spiti, Dhankar Village that is perched above the confluence of Spiti and Pin river with stunning panoramic views of the valley. We will also take a small but steep hike to the high altitude Dhankar Lake and make our way back to Dhankar village. Overnight in home stays.
Dhankar to Kalpa (2690 m) - 180 km Drive
Today, we will drive back down to the Kinnaur valley. We will drive to Kalpa. Overnight in guest house/ hotel in Kalpa.
Kalpa to Shimla - 225 km Drive
Today is the last day of our trip. We will drive back to Shimla along the Sutlej river. The trip ends here.
The Spiti Winter Homestay Trail is an easy trek perfect for both beginners and experienced trekkers looking to experience the harsh winters of the beautiful Spiti Valley. For a novice, it is recommended to be physically fit and have good mental endurance to successfully complete this trek in harsh winters.
No prior experience is required. However, for beginners, it is recommended to be physically fit.
If you are not meeting these benchmarks, please use the preparation schedule to improve your fitness till you achieve the above benchmarks.
January and February are the best months to do the Spiti Winter Homestay Trail.
Click here for packing list.
The Spiti Homestay Trail starts from Shimla as we drive to Kaza which will take about 2 days.
By Air: Shimla is well connected to Delhi and other cities of India by air. Air India runs a daily 7:45 am flight from Delhi to Shimla. You can also fly to Chandigarh or Delhi and take a taxi or bus to Shimla from there.
By Rail: If you are travelling by railways, then Kalka is your station. From Kalka, drive to Shimla which is an hour and a half journey. Buses and private taxis are easily available on this route.
By Road: There are daily overnight buses for Shimla from Delhi from Kashmere Gate ISBT and take about 11 - 12 hours.
Intermittent BSNL and Airtel networks.
The minimum age limit is 13 years. However, minors aged between 13 to 17 should be accompanied with their parents or guardians. If you are above the age of 60, kindly carry a medical certificate from your doctor that deem you fit for adventure activities like trekking.
There are washroom/toilet facilities at homestays. However, the toilet systems in Spitian villages are that of a dry pit system.
There will be no tents or sleeping bags as this is a village to village trek and you will be staying in homestays.
You will be provided with good quality of gaiters and microspikes from us depending upon the situation of the snow. Our trek leaders will also be carrying ropes and ice axe.
You can rent following items from us- Trekking Pole, Trekking Shoes, Fleece Jacket
The temperatures in Spiti during winters will be below 0 and can drop down to as low as -30 deg celsius.
Yes, there will be a lot of snow on the trek.
If you want to offload your rucksack, you will have to make a request for offloading a few days prior to the trek through an email so that arrangements can be made in advance. You will be charged per day for offloading your rucksack. In case you decide to offload on the spot, you may have to pay a higher price than usual. However, offloading your rucksack is not recommended since it is not a safe practice.
A team of participant will be led by a course certified trek leader and a local guide. All participants are requested to abide by what their leader says. There will also be a team of kitchen staff and porters on the trek. We maintain 1:8 ratio of trek leader and participants. All our trek leaders and staff have a certified training in first-aid and rescue operation.
Yes, trekking pole is necessary. If you don’t want to buy one, you can rent it from us on minimal daily basis charges. You can request the renting link from us.
Yes, there are stores and shops in Kaza from where you can buy necessary stuff. Though it is recommended that you come prepared with all the stuff. Please do not leave anything for last minute buying.
Yes, it is absolutely safe for a solo woman to travel in fix departures. Women on the trek will be sharing a room with each other. In case you are the only woman on the trek, you will be given a separate room.
Yes, e-certificates will be given at the end of each trek provided that you completed it. It will bear your name, the trek, and the maximum altitude you achieved on the trek.
You will be picked up from Shimla ISBT at 7am. Drop of point will be the same.
Expect to reach Shimla by late evening.
You will be accommodated in homestays and guest houses during the trek.
It is mandatory to carry ID Proof for the trek. (Soft Copy to be sent to us in Advance & original to be carried along)
Our community is an integral part of us and we take pride in our trekkers and climbers. When you complete at least three days on any trek or expedition with us, you become eligible for our membership and referral programs.
For us, a successful summit is not about reaching the highest point of a mountain but about making it safely back to base.
Cancellations up to 30 days prior to departure date
5% Deduction
Between 30 days to 15 days prior to departure
50%
deduction
Less than 15 days of departure
No Cash Refund
Cancellations up to 5 days prior to departure date
No Deduction
Cancellations less than 5 days prior to departure
No Refund
Bikat Adventures 31 March 2015
All of us pay a lot of attention in selecting a rucksack or for that matter any specialized item like hiking boots, ice axe etc etc. When we have done so much research on internet to get that awesome ruck sack its time we learn how to use a rucksack
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