Lahaul Spiti Jeep Safari
12 NIGHTS – 13 DAYS
DELHI – SHIMLA – SARAHAN – SANGLA – KALPA – TABO – KAZA – KEYLONG – MANALI
If you want to visit one of most unexplored and amazingly beautiful valley of Indian Himalayas, then there is no better place than Lahaul and Spiti. These valleys are unparallel in mountain landscape with high snow clad peaks, crystal clear lakes and rivers flowing fast through the mountains. The remote valley is connected with the outside world only through a narrow road that traverses through high mountains. This offbeat jeep safari tour takes you from Shimla to Manali through some of the most fascinating landscapes offering you some breathtaking views. Staying in camps near pristine lakes deep in mountains in such an exotic location is an unforgettable experience. Another important aspect is that there is not much monsoon in these valleys in the summer months of June to September, thus giving you sunny days to explore the wilderness and grandeur of inner Himalayas.
1
Day : Delhi
Arrive at Delhi. Welcome at airport and transfer to hotel.
New Delhi is the capital of the Republic of India. Each crumbling wall of the city has a story to tell. The architecture of the city gives a deep insight into the glorious past of the country. It’s a cosmopolitan city where people are open to new ideas and lifestyle. Delhi has a vibrant nightlife with world class pubs and restaurants.
In the morning city tour of Old Delhi
Jama Masjid is one of the largest mosques in Asia that was completed in 1650. Built on an elevated platform, it has three daunting entrances approached by a series of steps; prayer hall is lined by a four-storied minaret on both the ends. The fort is roofed by three large domes decorated with black and white marble.
Red Fort is an impressive Fort that served as a capital to the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan for two centuries. The fort is a treasure trove of Indian art and history and is of great national importance. It is now used as a platform by the Prime minister of India to address the people on the eve of Independence Day.
Raj Ghat is a memorial place built to mark the cremation spot of the Father of Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, the man who changed the course of history with his ideologies and philosophies.
Afternoon tour of New Delhi
Humayun’s Tomb was the first garden tomb of the Indian subcontinent. The tomb of Humayun was built by his widow, Biga Begum (Hajji Begum) in 1569-70, 14 years after his death, at the cost of 1.5 million rupees. It has inspired several major architectural innovations, culminating in the construction of the Taj Mahal.
Drive past through India Gate, Parliament Buildings, Rashtrapati Bhawan
India Gate is an arch that was built to commemorate the death of 70,000 soldiers who sacrificed their lives during World War 1. The memorial even imprints the names of British and Indian soldiers who laid their lives during Afghan war. There is an immortal flame that burns throughout the day and night as a mark of remembrance.
Parliament House is a circular arcade building housing offices of various ministries and a well-stocked library. This imperial style architectural monument comprises of open air verandah and 144 columns. It is indeed a sight to watch.
Rashtrapati Bhawan is the residential estate of President of India. This magnificent monument cannot be compared to any other monument in terms of its size, immensity and magnificence. Rashtrapati Bhawan houses 4 stories and 340 rooms.
Overnight Stay.
2
Day : Delhi – Shimla ( 340 KM , 7 Hours )
In the morning drive to Shimla
Arrive in Shimla and check in at Hotel
Popularly known as Queen of Hills, Shimla was the summer hill resort of British Raj, located in the foothills of Himalayas. Nestled beautifully between snowcapped mountains and dense forest of pine and oak, the hill station is famous for its Victorian style architecture. Earlier a sleepy hamlet is now a favorite tourist destination around the world.
The rest of the day is at leisure. You may take a walking tour to Shimla on Mall road which is main hub for tourists. The road is located a level below the ridge.
Overnight stay.
3
Day : Shimla
In the morning we will visit Kufri.
Kufri is situated within the lap of the nature and is a hotspot for tourist visiting Shimla. The place attracts a lot of adventure enthusiasts as the place has lots to offer. The Himalayan Nature Park houses a variety of flora and fauna. you can also visit Jakhoo hills.
Jakhoo’s Hill is Shimla’s highest point and is a melting pot of tourist. Enjoy a panoramic view of Shimla from the peak of the hill. The top of the hill also houses famous Hanuman Temple.
Overnight stay at hotel.
4
Day : Shimla – Sarahan (180 KM , 7 Hours )
In the morning, leave for Sarahan, the adventure begins from here.
Full day drive via Narkanda and Rampur and finally reach Sarahan.
Sarahan offers a view of the Srikhan Mahadev Peak. Here, you will also find a mixture of Hindu and Buddhist architecture.
Visit the ancient temple of Bhimakali Temple.
Perched hill on the hill, the Bhimkali temple is immersed in legends and is known for unique hill architecture. The splendid glory and notable natural beauty is the access to the tribal area of Kinnaur. The temple portrays a perfect combination of Hindu and Buddhism architecture.
Overnight stay at hotel.
5
Day : Sarahan – Sangla ( 75 KM, 3 Hours )
In the morning leave for Sangla in Baspa valley which is the prettiest valley in Himachal Pradesh.
Drive via Karchham and reach Sangla.
Sangla offers a wonderful view of Gigantic Kinnar Kailash peak, winter home of Lord Shiva dominates the area. The valley is surrounded by forested slopes that are a combination of autumn-shaded leafy trees and big green pines.
Overnight stay in camp.
6
Day : Sangla – Kalpa ( 50 KM, 2 Hours )
Drive from Sangla to Kalpa.
The most beautiful village of Kinnaur district, Kalpa offers breathtaking sights of early morning sunrise where sun beautifully kisses snowy peaks with its crimson color.
In front of Kalpa, you can get an impressive view of the Raldang Kailash massif across the Sutlej River.
Kalpa boasts some of the ornamented Kinnauri style temples and is famous for an annual Phulech festival.
Overnight Stay in hotel.
7
Day : Kalpa – Tabo ( 150 KM, 6 Hours
Morning departure for Tabo.
Situated 46 kms from Kaza, the ancient village of Tabo is the Ajanta of Himalayas. The ancient village is nestled in by rocky slopes, is astounding and dramatic, and the ridge in the north of town is screened with caves which were once used as meditation cells by local monks. It’s a perfect place for enjoying the beauty of nature.
The village has the World heritage Site, Tabo Gompa, known for its dull mud brick walls that are treasure troves to finest Indo – Tibetan art in the world.
Overnight in hotel.
8
Day : Tabo – Kaza ( 50 KM, 2 Hours )
Leave for Kaza and en-route visit Danker Gompa.
Perched at the top of the Dhanker Village, this 1200-year-old Dhankar Gompa is nestled between rocks and offers sights that evoke imagination. The lower part of the monastery possesses a silver statue of Vajradhara. Beautiful ancient murals of Sakyamuni, Tsongkhapa and Lama Chodrag can be found in the second prayer hall situated at the top of the hill.
Continue drive to Kaza.
Kaza is famous for the lofty mountains with snowy peaks, gushing river and streams. The barren land dotted with patches of greenery is known for its splendor. It serves as the base camp for trekking and other adventure activities.
Afternoon visit to Ki Monastery.
1000 year old, Ki Monastery is the biggest and the oldest Buddhist learning center in Spiti Valley. Reckoned for its Pasada style architecture, the monastery is also famous for its ancient murals, rare Thangkas and ancient weapons. The major attraction of the monastery is the images of meditating Gautam Buddha.
Overnight in hotel.
9
Day : Kaza – Keylong 185 KM, 7 Hours )
Drive from Kaza to Kunzumla pass.
Situated at an altitude, the Kunzum La Pass is a gateway to Lahual & Spiti valley. It is one of India’s highest motorable mountain pass and offers outstanding views of Bara-Sigri glacier, the second longest glacier in the world.
Then drive to Khoskar and finally reach Keylong and visit the town.
Overnight in hotel.
10
Day : Keylong – Manali ( 115 KM, 5 Hours )
In the morning drive to Manali, en route visiting Rohtang Pass.
Situated 50 km from Manali, the Rohtang Pass is the entry to Lahaul and Spiti. Situated at an altitude, Rohtang Pass is the famous tourist attractions of Manali. It is a melting pot for adventure enthusiasts.
Then dip into the Manali region and another 51 km drive will take you to Manali.
Manali is widely popular as it is a prime tourist destination in the country. Manali is nestled in the lap of the Himalayas and is at the height of 2050 meter above the sea level. Being beautifully located near river Beas, the hilly town is widely known for white water rafting, kayaking, angling, Paragliding, hot air ballooning and trekking.
Overnight stay in hotel.
11
Day : Manali
In the morning visit Manali.
Visit Hadimba Temple. Also known as Pagoda Temple is one of the richest heritages in the Himachal Pradesh. The temple was built in 1553 and is dedicated to Goddess Hadimba. The beautiful architecture of the four storey temple was built in the 16th century. The entire temple highlights the local craftsmanship.
In the afternoon visit Naggar.
Naggar, a tranquil village situated on the foothills is famous for Naggar castle. The castle offers beautiful view of the valley and snowcapped peaks of the Rohtang Pass on the clear sky day.
The Roerich Art Gallery in Naggar displays oil paintings and the 1930’s Dodge car of the famous Russian artist, Gurudev Nikolai Roerich who lived in Naggar for many years.
Overnight stay in hotel.
12
Day : Manali – Delhi (50 KM, 2 Hours + By Flight – 1 ½ Hours)
In the morning transfer to Bhuntar airport to board a flight to Delhi.
Arrive in Delhi and transfer to hotel.
The rest of the day is free for shopping and other independent activities.
Overnight stay.
13
Day : Delhi
In the morning transfer to airport to board a flight to onward destination.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is this a group tour?
No, this is a private travel exclusively for you, your friends and family who may accompany you on the tour.
Is this trip possible for single traveler?
Yes, it is possible. But, the cost may be high in case of a single traveler. You may send us information in the form and we shall send you our best offer depending on number of persons in your group or for a single person.
May I choose dates according to my choice?
Yes, since this is a private tour, you may decide the dates as per your choice. Only in case of certain tours, we have to check if there are any operational difficulties for organizing a tour of your choice. Certain tours are not possible for particular period which we shall let you know. Besides, the cost may vary depending on seasonality.
Could you provide us international flights to India?
It is better if you could buy international tickets directly through your local agent or on internet. Although we can provide you international flight tickets, but you may a get a better deal locally.
Is visa service included in your cost?
No, you have to obtain visa on your own. The visa regulations will depend on your nationality. You may contact us for further details.
Is it possible to make extension or modify tours?
Yes, it is very much possible. You can extend your stay on arrival or departure or at any other place. You may also modify the tour. You may let us know your interest and we can send you modified tour itinerary with cost.
What’s included in the cost?
Our cost normally includes hotel accommodation with breakfast, private air-conditioned car with driver which includes fuel, parking and all taxes, entrance fee to monuments, train tickets if any, guided city tours in English or in other foreign languages, viz French, German, Italian, Spanish, Japanese, Chinese, Russian or other foreign languages subject to availability which we can notify at the time of reservation request. Our cost also includes some other services viz Elephant ride at Amer fort in Jaipur, camel safari in Jaisalmer and boat tour in Varanasi. We shall send you all details at the time of sending you quotation.
We may also include other services viz lunches, dinners or other services if you wish. We may also exclude guide service and entrance fee to monuments if you so wish.
Are domestic flights and trains are included in our cost ?
Train tickets are included in our cost. But, we give supplement cost for domestic flight tickets as these days, there are dynamic fares and these are not fixed. We send you indicative fare at the time of sending you quotation which is subject to change until issue of tickets with advance purchase for which we need payment from you to issue flight tickets. You may also purchase domestic flight tickets directly on your own if you prefer.
What kind of hotel accommodation is provided ?
We provide minimum standard (3 star or similar), superior (4 star or similar), deluxe (5 star or similar) hotels and the cost will depend depending on category of hotels. We can send you quotation for the category that you are interested in. We usually provide heritage or palace hotels which fit in your category of hotels. We may also mix the hotel category if you prefer and can also provide you rates based on hotels of your liking in all places if you like.
When do I have to pay?
We usually request 25% advance upon confirmation of our services unless otherwise informed at the time of sending you quotation. We shall send you all payment terms at the time of sending you our offer.
I am interested. What is next step?
Click here to send us information of your trip and we shall send you soonest possible.
Why State Express
Established in 1980, State Express has been providing most reliable services to travelers all over the world for last 35 years. We are renowned for our customer first approach and unobtrusive efficiency which ensures the highest levels of customer satisfaction. We have been awarded several times by State Government for being best Tour Operator. All aspects of our tours have been carefully researched and then designed to give ultimate experience to travelers. Let our travel knowledge help you to create a wonderful experience, whether on one of our tour itineraries or a tailor made tour itinerary made exclusively for you to give you an unforgettable holiday.
Our people make the difference
Our success has been possible because of our people who are our biggest asset. We have a team of highly dedicated, sincere, hardworking who work with integrity that has made State Express one of the leading and most reliable tour companies in India. They not only have expertise and experience to meet any requirement, they also speak foreign languages and trained to offer only the best and leave nothing to chance. We know that travel to Indian sub-continent is a dream of many of our guests and our team does everything possible to make their dream true and give them an experience of their lifetime.
Our infrastructure
We have complete infrastructure to provide you best rate and services to you. We are an IATA approved and authorized agents for all domestic airlines and Indian Railways. We have our own cars vans and coaches with experienced drivers. We have multi lingual staff to ensure that our guests do not face any language problem. We also have associate offices in all major tourist centers to provide assistance in shortest possible time.
Our fleet of vehicles & drivers
We undoubtedly have one of the best and most modern fleet of cars, vans, 4X4s and large coaches. Surface travel is a very important aspect in India as you spend lot of your time while travelling on the road and therefore given us an edge over other tour companies who have to rely on other transport companies to provide this service to their clients. We have our own garage and all our vehicles are well maintained to give you hassle free journey.
Besides having the best fleet, it is our drivers who truly make the difference as they play a crucial role in making a tour successful. Even if you stay in best of the hotels and travel in most comfortable and luxurious vehicles, if you do not have a good driver, it may spoil your experience. We have our team of drivers who are part of State Express and have been working with us for years and they are trained, dedicated and motivated to take care of our guests and make them comfortable. That is the reason that more than 90% of our guests thank us and appreciate them after returning to their home.
Our choice of hotels
We take utmost care in selection of hotels that we recommend to our clients and include in our list of suggested hotels. We inspect these hotels regularly to be sure of their quality of product and services. We give lot of emphasis on the location and the people who run those hotels. We want to give you clients an experience of heritage and palace hotels which are unique and not available in other part of the world.
Our tour itineraries
All our tour itineraries are designed by experts to give you an opportunity to see most wonderful sites in number of days at your disposal at the same time giving you time to explore the places in your own way. We have a number of itineraries to choose from which covers all India, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and Tibet. We also include mode of travel and approximate time taken between places to ensure that you do not have any surprises during the tour. Our specialists will also work with you to create an itinerary of your choice either by modifying our readymade tour itineraries or prepare an exclusive tailor made tour for you based on your interest and liking keeping in mind local conditions.
24×7 assistance during the tour
We provide you clients real 24×7 assistance during the tour. This is not a marketing gimmick but we have someone in our office always to assist you in case of any emergency anytime. We also provide cell phone numbers of our executive who you may contact even during odd hours when you need them for anything urgent. We have associate offices in all major cities of India to provide you assistance in minimum possible time.
Response time
We know that response time is key to our success and we value it a lot. Even at initial stages before reservation, you will get replies from us in not more than 24 working hours. We shall always be there whenever you need us during the tour.
Personalised Service
Apart from professional service, we believe in emphasising on personalised service. That is to make our guests feel at home in a foreign country and also feel that they have friends here who they can trust for any need. Our customer executives remain in constant touch with our guests during the tour to give them comfort and trust that we are always with them.
Good value for money
We know that there are so many travel companies providing their services and unless we provide good value for money to our clients, they will not be satisfied. Our own fleet of cars, vans and coaches and best special discounted rates with hotels due to our volumes enables us to offer value for money.
Call us at +91 11 47674000 or email us on info@statexp.in for all the details on this itinerary and what is included in your tour. We shall be glad to make any amendments in the tour if you so wish and send you our best quotation and details of the tou to suit your budget and interest.