Introducing Spiti
Divided from the fertile Lahaul Valley by the 4551m Kunzum La, the Spiti Valley is another piece of Tibet transported to India. Buddhist monasteries and tiny villages of whitewashed houses are dotted here and there along the arid valley floor, dwarfed by the sheer scale of the surrounding landscape. Local farmers eke out a living on the small strip of greenery that hugs the banks of the Spiti River.
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In many ways Spiti is even more rugged and remote than Ladakh, but buses run over the Kunzum La from Manali from July to October, and the Hindustan–Tibet Hwy to Tabo is theoretically open all year. A steady stream of motorcyclists and mountain bikers pit their machines against some of the most challenging roads in India. Most people start in Manali or Keylong and exit the valley at Rekong Peo in Kinnaur, but a few travellers go against the flow and travel west to Keylong or Ladakh.
In either direction, an inner line permit is required for the stretch from Tabo to Rekong Peo.
Last updated: Feb 17, 2009
Thorn Tree forum discussion
Recent posts
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Chandrataal, Lahaul-Spiti Expedition 11 Sept
by vibhavkumar 06 September 2011
Hi All, I am leaving for a 7 day expedition to Lahaul Spiti and Chandrataal in Himachal from 11-17 Sept. Let me know if anyone would…
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p.s. Chitkul
by SBhadwal 04 September 2011
After discussing it for two weeks we finally planned a trip to Lahaul Spiti area of Himachal, well almost. On 22nd Aug 2011 we started…
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Re: Northern India in 2 weeks!
by bearaman 31 August 2011
Hi Flynn, When we toured northern India, we hired a car and driver in Dharamsala and drove up to Manali, on to Spiti Valley and back to…
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