Spiti Trek Over Pin Parbati Pass
Trek from Kulu to Spiti via the 4805m Pin-Parbati Pass in the Great Himalayan Range.
Overview
In this trek/overland journey, we will travel to this remote area to view the rich temple art that has emerged from this exchange of trans-himalayan religious faith and artistic styles.
Rinchen Tsangpo, or ‘The Great Translator’ as he is known, is credited with rejuvenating the Buddhist faith in Tibet and constructing 108 gompas and stupas. It is believed that these frescos span centuries beginning with the 11th and was allegedly begun by Kashmiri artisans who travelled with Rinchen Tsangpo.
Spiti’s villages hosted the trans-himalayan trade caravans journeying between Tibet, Kashmir and Kullu. Today, nomadic traders freely cross the Indo-Tibetan border trading in local villages. The Pin-Parbati Trek follows a lush forested path from Kullu into the Spiti province with spectacular views of the Great Himalayan Range. Join Samsara Expeditions on this trek over the high passes of Himachal Pradesh.
Duration: 20 Days
Grade: 4
When to Visit: September
Start: Delhi
Finish: Delhi
Prices are based on your group size and departure dates.Please send us the details of your requirements and we will supply a quotation.
Itinerary
Day 1.
Arrive in Delhi around midnight. Transfer to Hotel.
Day 2.
Morning; 5 hour bus ride to Chandigarh (242 km). Evening sightseeing of city, which had been founded according to designs of the famous French architect Corbusier, the suitability for Indian way of life, however, is disputed.
Day 3.
A ten-hour bus ride of 312 km through the hilly landscape of Himachal Pradesh, takes us to the Kullu valley, along side the river Beas, to Manali (2000 metres). Overnight stay in Hotel.
Day 4.
Manali; Visit the temple of Goddess Hadimba, built in 1553 AD, situated in cedar forest. Then drive to Old-Manali on a steep path, further along the Beas River to the hot springs of Vashisht.
Day 5.
Drive to Manikarin (1,737 metres) in the Parbati River valley and its hot springs are a pilgrimage site for Sikh and Hindu yogis, rishis and sadhus alike. One of the Himalayan’s ‘power centres’, Manikarin is surrounded by spiked snow-capped of the Great Himalayan Range.
Day 6.
Begin trek in the lush forest above Manikarin following the Parbati River. It is a narrow valley by steep hills. The forests of Himachal Pradesh are thick and the snowline is lower than in other parts of the Indian and Nepal Himalaya. Make camp at Pulga (2,896 metres).
Day 7.
Long days trek to Dhara Thach via Khir Ganga, a holy sulphur hot spring.
Day 8.
The canyon narrows and the river is crossed over a huge rock called Pandu Bridge (3,601 metres), to meadows. There are caves, which are used by shepherds for shelter
Day 9.
Further up the gorge is Mantalai Lake (4,462 metres), the source of the Parbati River, with excellent views of the Great Himalayan Range on all sides.
Day 10.
The trail continues steeply upward and towards the pass. An intermediate camp will be established at 4,573 metres above timberline.
Day 11.
Long day towards, and over the Pin-Parbati Pass (4,804 metres). Excellent views from the divide of the Parbati and Pin river drainage’s. To the east is the Spiti Valley and the Chang Tang of Tibet beyond. Towering overhead are more high peaks of the range rising up to 6403 Mts.
Day 12.
Descend into the Pin River Valley, drainage of the Spiti and Satluj Rivers to the village of Mud (3,811 metres).
Day 13.
Continue down the river valley to Sagnam (3,651 metres). A world famous breed of horses, called Chaumurti, can be seen in this valley.
Day 14.
Continue the trek to Gulling and will be picked up by jeeps and drive to Kaza. It is the administrative headquarters of the region.
Day 15.
Continue up the valley to Key, the largest monastery in Spiti. With more than 150 monks, and at an elevation of 4,117 metres. Key is the home of the 19th and current incarnation of Rinchen Tsangpo, Lo Chen Tulku, from Nako. Poised high on a cone-shaped hill above the village below a 488 metre cliff, the temple complex was constructed in the 16th century. Further up the valley, you will arrive in Kibber village, the world’s highest permanent settlement at 4,261 metres Mts. It is surrounded by mountains from all sides. Overnight camp in tents near Gompa.
Day 16.
Continue to the headwaters of the Spiti and the 4,482 metres Mts. Kumzum-La. Intrepid Swedish explorer Sven Hedin used the Kumzum-La to cross into Tibet at the turn of the 20th century, when the British denied him access through Kashmir. Camp at Chatru, (3,361 metres), on the banks of the Chandra River. Well-stocked tea shops can be found in Chatru.
Day 17.
Cross the Rohtang Pass (4,206 metres) en-route to Malani, arriving in the early afternoon.
Day 18.
Drive to Chandigarh, the joint capital of both Punjab and Haryana states. The city is unique as it was designed from the bottom up by the French architect Le Corbusier in the 1950’s.
Day 19.
Drive to Delhi.
Day 20.
Depart Delhi for onward journey
This trip can also be done in reverse. Start from Manali and, driving over the Kumzum Pass to finish the trek in Manikaran.
NOTE: This itinerary is a sample, intended to give you a likely trip scenario. Numerous factors, such as weather, trail conditions, the physical ability of the participants, etc, may dictate itinerary changes either before departure or while on the trail. We reserve the right to change this schedule in the interest of the trip participant’s safety, comfort and general well-being.
Included:
- Meals and accomodation on the trek
- All private and public transport from the start to finish of the tour
Not Included:
- International flights
- Entry visas for India