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Manali to Shimla via Spiti Valley, Chandratal Lake,Nako Lake & Sangla Valley |
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Manali to keylong,Chandratal Lake & Spiti Valley |
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Manali to Keylong,Tso Kar Lake,Tso Moriri Lake & Leh |
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Manali to Leh & Pangong Tso Lake |
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Solang Valley, Manali to Prashar Lake |
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Solang Valley, Manali to Chandratal Lake |
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Shimla,Narkanda,Shogi,Jalori Pass,Manali,Prashar Lake & Chandratal Lake |
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the
camp people jeep safari 01
MANALI TO SHIMLA VIA SPITI VALLEY, CHANDRATAL LAKE , NAKO LAKE &
SANGLA VALLEY
covering the solang valley camp retreat,the chandratal lake camp retreat
& the spiti valley camp retreat
This journey takes you through a barren landscape and then into the
lush green alpine valley of Kinnaur known for its apricot and apple
orchards.
Day 01
Leave Solang Valley Camp Retreat early and driving over the 13,050 ft
high Rohtang Pass enter the Lahaul Spiti valley. After descending the
winding road we turn right for our journey to Spiti. The road goes along
the Chandra River with towering mountains all around till we reach the
small two-shop hamlet of Batal. From here a track goes to the beautiful
lake of Chandratal 14 Kms away.
Chandratal Lake , also known as ‘Moon Lake’ is one of the
most beautiful & spectacular lakes in the Indian subcontinent. Set
on a large meadow between lower ridge and main Kunzum range , it offers
excellent view of Mulkila mountain range and Samudra Tapu Glacier. The
color of water keeps changing through out the day from reddish to orange
to blue to emerald green as day passes.
What do you say about a place that can take away 6 hours of fatiguing drive and dust in an instant? About a haloed patch of mystifying water body that exudes the stillness of the deepest shades of sapphire blending with the exuberance of jade green right in the middle of thousands of miles of parched brown and foreboding gray landscape? A place that transfixes you with its first sight and continues to haunt you long after, sending your adrenalin rushing for a yet second look? Breathtaking, awe-inspiring, beautiful, fabulous, overwhelming… all sound too prosaic. Maybe ‘chandratal-ed’ would be an apt expression about what one feels at the very first glance of Chandratal and rightly so.
Day at
leisure to explore the picture perfect environs of the Chandratal Lake
Camp Retreat.
Dinner & overnight at the Cahandratal Lake Camp Retreat.
DAY 02 : Post breakfast we take the climb up to the Kunzum Pass the
gateway to Spiti.After stopping awhile on top of the pass where a small
temple stands, we continue into the Spiti valley. The scenery is now
one of barren mountains and large plains. Reaching Kaza the capital
of Spiti by evening we check into the scenic Spiti Valley Camp Retreat.Overnight
dinner & bonfire at the camp retreat.
Day 03 We visit the ancient Ki Monastery perched upon a craggy outcrop
overlooking the wide Spiti River basin. We drive about half an hour
further from here to the neatly laid out village of Kibber also known
as the highest inhabited village in the world at 14,500 feet. After
lunch we return to Kaza where we go on to explore the old bazaar with
its narrow
streets and mud walled shops. Overnight, bonfire & dinner at the
Spiti Valley Camp Retreat.
Day 04 We now leave Kaza and head east to our next destination - Tabo
Monastery. We stop over at the formidable Dhankar Monastery sitting
high on a rock face overlooking the confluence of the Pin and Spiti
Rivers. This
was once a fort and palace of the Spiti lords. It's almost like stepping
way back into time. We reach Tabo by late afternoon. Over a 1000 years
old (built in 996 AD) and situated at a height of 3500 metres this beautiful
monastery has some of the most exquisite works of art in the West Himalayas.
Comprising of temple complex of Tabo Chokhor Its structure blends well
into the surrounding village of brown and white mud- and stone buildings.
This is one of the oldest religious sites resting in the barren landscape
of Spiti between the Great Himalayan and Zanskar mountain ranges.The
intriguing Indo Tibetan art form found here in the temples is one of
the finest ever created and even today the brilliant colours stand out.Beautiful
murals and stucco images stare at you telling you the story of an ancient
religion still flourishing in this part of the world. Check into
our camps for night .Dinner & Overnight at Tabo Camp.
Day 05 From Tabo the road goes south east and becomes more rugged as
we approach the boundaries of Kinnaur. The road now winds upwards and
we leave the main Hindustan Tibet Road as the highway was once known
to climb towards the hidden lake of Nako. The village of Nako still
surprises with its ancient mud and rock walled houses but the views
from here are spectacular. We camp at Nako Lake for the night.
Day 06 Leaving the picturesque Nako village with its emerald green lake
we head south and enter Kinnaur where the landscape now attains a greener
hue as forests of Pine and Fir begin appearing along the road. By afternoon
we
reach Karchham a small hamlet on the highway from where we turn left
into the Sangla Valley. The road winds upward high above the Baspa River
and we continue on this beautiful drive to arrive at the small village
of Sangla.We camp at the Sangla Valley for the night.
Day 07 We drive up to the last point of Chitkul in the valley through
verdant forests of Pine, Fir and Deodar by passing lovely meadows and
streams. We return to Sangla and continue onwards to join the highway
again to continue south towards the magical hamlet of Sarahan high up
on a hill.The campsite here has an amazing views of the entire Kinnaur
landscape and
also some excellent views of the mountains all round. Walk around the
Bazaar and visit the small nature sanctuary here. Return to our camp
for the night.
Day 08 Today we drive further south to the final destination of Shimla.
The highway goes through some sub-alpine landscape as we descend to
the valley floor and then climb up again to enter the Shimla hills with
their lush cover of Oak, Pine and Fir forests. Stop over at the quaint
town of Narkanda for lunch . Reaching Shimla by evening we check into
our hotel.
Day 09 Today we explore the small hamlets of Mashobra and Naldera two places that give you an insight into the culture of the Shimla hills. A relaxed day as we drive through enchanting scenery and get to see the heavily forested hills.Evening return to our hotel and later explore the legendary Mall road made famous by Anglo Indian writers during the halcyon days of the British Raj.
JEEP SAFARI TOUR ENDS