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Ancient Cultures of the Indian Himalayas - Forgotten Tibet

July 1-19 & September 3-21, 2009
Exploring the Greater Himalayas of Kinnaur, Spiti and Lahaul
July Tour: During our Journey, His Holiness the Dalai Lama will give a two day teaching and confer the Avalakotieshvera Initiation (Chenresig Wangchen) at the Sakya Monastery in Kaza.

July Tour Only: Post Tour Extension to Ladakh during Phyang Festival

Click Here for a Detailed Itinerary
Indian Himalaya Tour Pop Up Map

Experience ancient culture as it has existed for thousands of years
and enjoy exquiste and dramatic beauty

The Indian Himalaya (in the state of Himachal Pradesh) provide an alternative to the masses that crowd Nepal. In this region of hill stations, fertile valleys, lunar landscapes and rarefied mountain air, local inhabitants have carved out a spartan existence in the pockets of habitable terrain.

Kinnaur and Spiti Valley, two districts set within remote areas of the eastern side of Himachal Pradesh and bordering Tibet, are the major highlights of this very special tour. This area has been off limits to travelers until recently. Now, although still somewhat restricted, it is possible to enter with special permits.

Spirit of India's 19 day Himalayan journey offers visits to several traditional villages, a chance for genuine interaction with the local people, visits to ancient monasteries containing priceless collections of thankas, sculptures and wall paintings; and private meetings with lamas and monks.

This trip is comfortable adventure at its best. The group, limited to a maxiumum of 12 people, travels in 2200 cc Peugeot engine Armada jeeps; sleeps in delightful mountain resorts and special16mm fiber tents with foam mats (three nights) and deluxe stand-up tent (one night) when camping.

The group is served fine meals of Indian, Chinese and Continental cuisine prepared by a gourmet Indian chef formerly employed as head chef of the Swiss Consulate.

The day walks are easy/moderate grade. A support vehicle with staff and supplies accompanies the group. Bio-degradable western-style toilets, and solar lanterns are employed.

Click Here for a Detailed Initerary

Area Information
So dramatic is the land that on one side there are dense forests, fruit orchards and lush green valleys, while on the other, rugged and barren mountains and miles and miles of high altitude desert.

River Sutlej, the most important of the five major tributaries of the Indus system enters India near Shipkila and literally cuts the Greater Himalayan belt of Kinnaur in the center, carving in the process spectacular gorges

Simla
The 'summer capital' of British India sprawls along a crescent-shaped ridge at an altitude of over 2100 metres in southern Himachal Pradesh. This was the most important hill station in India before Independence. The famous main street, The Mall, runs along the crest of the ridge and is lined with stately English-looking houses, Christ Church, Gorton Castle and the fortress-like former Viceroyal Lodge. Along the narrow streets which fall steeply away from the ridge are colourful local bazaars. There's an interesting walk to Jakhu Temple, dedicated to the monkey god Hanuman. It's located near the highest point of the ridge and offers fine views of the town, surrounding valley and snow-capped peaks and literally hundreds of monkeys.

Simla-Spiti
From Shimla, the route descends sharply down to the Sutlej River and the ancient Hindustan-Tibet Road. Another 70 kms of increasingly winding road perched above the Sutlej river and we reach the confluence with the Baspa river at Karcham. We follow the Baspa, first narrow and steep for 18kms, then widening at Sangla village in a forested and cultivated valley of several villages. Orchards of apple and apricot are in full bloom and many households are still spinning and weaving woolen blankets with intricately designed borders on primitive wooden looms. The fortress temple of Kamru, with it's beautifully carved wooden portals, clings precariously to the mountainside above Sangla watching over the peaceful activity of the valley. Continuing up the Hindustan-Tibet road, one passes, Rekong Peo and Kalpa, the administrative capital of Kinnaur. Taking the side road up to these towns, an indescribable panorama of mountains emerges to the East. The centrepiece is the holy Kinner- Kailash, one of the seven holy Kailash peaks spread across the Himalayas. At the confluence of the Sutlej and the Spiti rivers, the valley narrows alarmingly into the Dobling gorge and the road winds upward to the border of Spiti district.

Lake Nako
Lake Nako and the village, at 2950m, with it's beautifully sculpted terraced fields, grand views and gallant efforts at forestation, could be reason enough to call this unique location the Crown of Kinnaur. It also has it's own monastery commemorating the sojourn of Padmasambhava, the first disciple of Buddha to Tibet, A check post at Sumdo, only 20 kms from the Chinese border, is the official entry to Spiti.

Spiti
Spiti is a high altitude desert and home to the endangered snow leopard presently under study in the adjacent Pin Valley National Park. The Spiti river flows south-east for 150 kms originating in the glaciers above KumzumLa, the 4900m. high pass leading to the district of Lahaul. From Sumdo the valley widens and recent efforts at forestation provide patches of soft green in an otherwise harshly eroded landscape. About 30 kms. upstream, the important monastery town of Tabo is a suprise in its simplicity. The single-storied sandstone and mud buildings of this 1000 year old monastery houses a most valuable collection of Tibetan Buddhist religious art. In the eleventh century, the Spiti area was called The Kingdom of Guge and was a part of Tibet. In July and August 1996, celebrations took place in Tabo at which the Dalai Lama performed the Kalachakra Initiation Ceremony. The next monastery of historical importance is Dankar. Impressive from a distance and providing an excellent view up the Pin River Valley; ufortunately, close-up view shows the buildings are in a state of disrepair.

Kaza
Kaza is the administrative centre of Spiti and it has a busy market-place. People are friendly and curious. Hospitality is built into the tenuous condition of life and any request for assistance is generally met with humour and sympathy.

Ki Gompa, 11 km from Kaza
A side road from Kaza leads up to Ki (11kms) and Kibber (18kms) monasteries, and continues to Gete, the highest electrified village in the world. From there it is possible to walk down a very steep path back to Ki. This monastery is dramatically situated on the steep slopes of a rocky outcrop. The monks are most welcoming and busily engaged in construction maintenance, toward which any donation is gratefully accepted.

Kullu Valley
The fertile Kullu Valley in northern Himachal Pradesh rises northward from Mandi and Aut and heads toward the 3978-metre-high Rohtang Pass. In the south, the valley is little more than a narrow, precipitous gorge, but further north it widens into a beautiful region of stone-fruit and apple orchards, and terraced rice and wheat fields. This idyllic scene is dwarfed by huge deodar forests and the snow-crowned rocky peaks of the Parvati and Barabhangal ranges. The valley is home to friendly, devout and hard-working hill people, and to Tibetan refugees and nomadic shepherds.

Manali
Manali, is the main tourist center and a favored haunt of Indian honeymooners. The area around Manali is still one of the most beautiful in the valley, with hot springs, waterfalls, temples and pretty villages.

Price: $3155 per person; single supplement $825; Plus airfare Amritsar-Delhi

Group Size:
Minimum of 6-Maximum of 12 people

Includes:

• airport transfers
• all land transport including first class train and private jeeps
• accommodations, dble occ, in 5* hotel Delhi; simple mountain resort at Sarahan; beautiful mountain resort in Kalpa; best available guesthouses in small villages
• daily breakfasts, all meals in Kinnaur and Spiti
• mineral water during jeep travel & at camps
• escorted throughout
• interstate taxes
• special permits

Does Not Include

• International Flight
• Departure Tax
• Travel/trip cancellation insurance
• Tips
• Personal expenses such as laundry, phone calls, drinks

Click Here for a Detailed Itinerary