Lahaul & Spiti
High cold deserts, 1,000-year-old cliffside monasteries, turquoise moon lakes, and 5,000-meter pass crossings
All Destinations
Chandratal Lake (Moon Lake)
A pristine high-altitude crescent lake nestled in the Samudra Tapu plateau between the Pir Panjal and Great Himalayan ranges. Revered as the source of the Chandra River.
Key Gompa & Kibber
Key Monastery is a historic Tibetan Buddhist monastery perched dramatically on a conical hill above the Spiti River. Nearby Kibber is one of the highest permanently inhabited villages in the world.
Pin Bhaba Pass Trek
The most dramatic crossover trek in Himachal — starting in the lush green forests of Kinnaur's Bhaba Valley and abruptly emerging into the Martian barren landscape of Spiti's Pin Valley.
Jispa & Bhaga Riverside
Jispa is a serene village and riverside encampment on the banks of the turquoise Bhaga River in Lahaul Valley at 3,200 meters. Surrounded by towering scree mountains and willow groves, it is a favored acclimatization stop on the Manali-Leh Highway before ascending Baralacha La.
Kaza & Spiti Valley Capital
Kaza is the administrative headquarters and vibrant cultural heartbeat of the Spiti Valley, perched along the braided gravel riverbeds of the Spiti River at 3,650 meters. Divided into Old Kaza and New Kaza, it functions as the central logistical base for high-altitude expeditions, inner-line permit processing, and excursions to ancient monasteries, high villages, and passes.
Dhankar Monastery & Lake
Perched precipitously on the edge of a razor-sharp cliff 300 meters above the confluence of the Spiti and Pin rivers, Dhankar Gompa was the ancient 16th-century fortress-capital of the Spiti kingdom. From the ancient mud-and-timber monastery, a scenic 2 km uphill trail leads through wind-scoured scree to Dhankar Lake (4,140m), a high sapphire tarn framed by the jagged snow-peaks of the Manirang range.
Langza, Hikkim & Komic High Circuit
A legendary high-altitude village triumvirate perched above the Spiti canyon: Langza (4,400m), guarded by a giant golden statue of Lord Buddha facing the glaciated peak of Chau Chau Kang Nilda (6,303m) and famous for million-year-old marine Tethys Sea fossils; Hikkim (4,440m), boasting the world's highest operational post office where travelers send postcards across the globe; and Komic (4,587m), recognized as one of the world's highest permanently inhabited villages with its 14th-century Tangyud Monastery.
Chicham Bridge & Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary
Suspended at a staggering altitude of 4,150 meters, Chicham Bridge is the highest suspension bridge in Asia, spanning a terrifying 150-meter-deep vertical rocky gorge to connect the remote village of Chicham with Kibber. Surrounding this engineering marvel is the Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary, world-famous among wildlife biologists and high-altitude trackers as one of the premier global habitats for the elusive Snow Leopard, Tibetan wolf, and Himalayan ibex.
Pin Valley National Park & Mudh
Spanning the cold desert mountains of the Pin River basin, Pin Valley National Park is Himachal's only cold desert national park, protecting rare alpine flora, medicinal plants, and apex predators including the snow leopard and Tibetan wolf. The valley is steeped in the ancient Buchen sect of Tibetan Buddhism, centered around the picturesque last roadhead village of Mudh (3,800m), where colorful multi-hued mountain strata resemble painted tapestries.
Kunzum Pass
Kunzum Pass (4,551 m / 14,931 ft) is the majestic high mountain pass on the Eastern Pir Panjal and Great Himalayan Divide connecting the Lahaul Valley with the Spiti Valley. Adorned with 15 Tibetan stone chortens and fluttering lungta prayer flags, the pass houses the holy shrine of Goddess Kunzum (Kunzum Mata), where every passing vehicle completes a traditional circumambulation. The pass offers jaw-dropping vistas of the 6,000-meter Bara-Shigri glacier and Shigri peaks.
Suraj Tal & Baralacha La
Suraj Tal ('Lake of the Sun God') is the third-highest lake in India and the 21st highest in the world, sitting like a giant sapphire tarn at 4,883 meters immediately beneath the summit of Baralacha La (4,890m / 16,043 ft). Feeding the glacial currents of the Bhaga River, this high mountain lake remains partially frozen even well into July, surrounded by glaciated moraines and towering barren massifs along the legendary Manali-Leh Highway.
Keylong & Kardang Monastery
Keylong is the administrative capital of Lahaul and Spiti, situated on a terraced slope above the rushing Bhaga River amidst willow and poplar groves. Directly across the river gorge, perched dramatically against the rocky slopes of the sacred Rangcha peak, lies Kardang Monastery (900 CE)—the historical seat of the Drukpa Kagyu lineage in Lahaul, housing ancient Buddhist scriptures, exquisite thangkas, and an impressive collection of sacred musical instruments.