15 Days Cultural Yoga Tour with Trekking
The Spiti Valley is a fairy-tale country: mountain slopes in all kinds of colours, eroded mountains, raging rivers, small villages in green pea and barley fields, deep gorges… all this is part of the surreal landscape of Spiti. Spiti is strongly Buddhist and has about 30 monasteries. During the long winter season, the valley is shrouded in snow and cold.
Spiti is a cold desert region protected from rains by big mountain ranges on all sides and is therefore perfect for visiting during the monsoon season.
When you trek through this high cold mountain desert, you get a great insight into the rich culture and life of the Spiti inhabitants and may be lucky enough to even spot some rare animals. (snow leopard, blue sheep, Tibetan wolf).
Kinnour is adjacent to Tibet and is located in the northeastern corner of Himachal Pradesh. The beautiful district has only recently been opened to visitors. There are secluded green valleys, orchards and remote villages.
The moderate four-day trek over the 4950-metre-high Bhaba Pass is one of the most beautiful treks in the region. It leads us out of the dry high mountain desert of Spiti into the green Kinnour valley.
In the past, the trek served as a popular trade route and is still used by many locals and shepherds.
During this tour we will have a daily Yoga practice at beautiful camp sites in the beautiful Himalayas. We will dive deep into the Buddhist Yoga and Meditation Practice and will join the Buddhist monks in the morning for their ceremonis and meditation practice.
Program
Day 1 Arrival in Delhi, India
Transfer from the airport to our hotel (overnight stay at the hotel).
Day 2 Temple and NGO Visit in Delhi
In the morning we will visit the NGO ” Chetna”, which takes care of Street Children. We will interact with the children and do a common Yoga class and then have a joyful lunch with the children. In the afternoon we will visit the Iskon Temple to participate in the famous Arti (Fire Ceremony). (Overnight stay in hotel) B/L/-
Day 3 Train Ride to Shimla ( altitude 1800 m)
We take the famous ride by Toy Train up to Shimla, the capital of the mountain state Himachal Pradesh. The route was opened in 1903 and runs over 800 bridges, through 102 tunnels and takes 900 curves. The landscape is unique! In the afternoon we will visit the popular Jakhu Temple of Lord Hanuman, the God of devotion. From the 30 m high statue on top of the hill you get a view of the entire city of Shimla.
Our accommodation- The Woodville Palace is an old British mansion with a big garden and just perfect for a relaxing evening Yoga class, followed by a royal dinner. (Overnight stay at the hotel) B/-/D
Day 4 Drive to Saharan 160 km , 5 hours
Early morning Yoga class. Today we take our journey deeper into the Himalayas. On this five hour journey we will experience a beautiful scenery of snow capped mountains, apple and fruit orchards and the mighty river Satluj.
Sarahan is tiny but beautiful. Saharan was the ancient capital of Rampur Bushehr, one of the largest areas in the mountains around Shimla. We visit the place with its ancient temple, followed by an evening meditation. (Overnight stay at the hotel) B/-/-
Day 5-8 Four days Bhaba Pass Trek (4950 m) form Kafnu (2390) m to Mud (3600 m)
The four days Trek starts after a 2 hour transfer from the village Kafnu.
For some of you this four days trek might be the highlight of the entire tour, for others it might be a tiny bit challenging to be pulled out of the comfort zone of a soft bed and a daily shower, others might struggle to cross a 4950 m Himalaya Pass. But believe me, for all of you these four days in nature, far away from civilization will be amazing.
We will be accompanied by an experienced team of mountain guides, helpers, horses and a cook. We will hike 4- 8 hours daily, enjoy the changing scenery- green pine forest,alpine terrain with snow fields and lose gravel- and in the evening enjoy some quality time with the entire team while cooking delicious vegetarian Indian food. In the morning and afternoons we will have small Yoga and meditation sessions.
Crossing an almost 5000 m Pass is not easy but you will be overwhelmed at the summit.
During the trek we will enter the dry mountain desert of the Spiti Valley. Basically the whole scenery will change drastically and for the next week or so, we will hardly see any natural greenery. Instead we will reach the first Buddhist mountain villages. Remotely located these people live almost self- sufficient from the locally grown barley and peas and the Yaks and goats. The first village called Mud is located in the Pin Valley. (Overnight in tents) B/L/D
Day 9 Mud to Kaza via Dhankar (50 km)
During the 2 hour drive to Kaza, we will stop at Dhankhar. The Dhankar Monastery, a more than 1000-year-old monastery is built on a steep mountain slope. The atmosphere invites for a small meditation. After lunch we will continue to the small capital of Kaza. A hot shower and a soft bed awaits us in the Deyzor Hotel. We take a stroll through the market and can enjoy some warm and comforting hot noodle soup. (Overnight in hotel) B/-/-
Day 10 Day Trip to Langza, Comic (4600m) via Hikkim (4500m)
The village of Langza is one of the highest villages in Asia. In the area we have the chance to find prehistoric marine fossils and mussels. The golden Buddha can be seen from afar. Afterwards we drive or hike to an old monastery in the village of Komik and on to Hikkim to the highest post office in the world. Of course, yoga is also offered in the morning and evening. An interesting option is a mountain bike tour (Overnight stay at the hotel) B/- /D
Day 11 Ki Monastery and Kibber Village (4200 m)
In the early morning we will take a short transfer to the Ki Monestary to join the morning ceremony and meditation lead by the Buddhist monks. Built in the 14th century, the monastery is one of the largest in the Spiti Valley with up to 200 monks living here. After a visit of the Gompa we hike up to the village of Kibber. Kibber used to be for a very long time the highest village with electricity in the world.
From the balcony and dining area of our beautiful homestay we can observe the ongoing village life. Our hosts treat us with traditional meals and we will enjoy a deep Yoga practice in this special atmosphere. (Overnight in homestay) B/-/D
Day 12 Camping at Chandratal Lake (100 km), 4 hours drive + 3 hours hiking
We do our morning Yoga practice, surrounded by grazing yaks and goats, before continuing our journey to the Chandratal Lake.
We will pass the last villages of Spiti to then drive up the 4500 Meter Kunzum Pass. From the Pass we dont only have a fantastic view of 6000 Meter high mountains and mesmerizing glaciers, but there is also a small Gompa. All passing vehicles make a clockwise loop around the Gompa, before continuing the journey. Also it is said, that wishes made here, are getting full filled. The end of the day is optional- whether you want to take a three hours hike down the pass to the beautiful moon shaped Chandratal Lake or take the bumpy road by car. We will camp in a luxury camp near the lake (Overnight in Camp) B/-/D
Day 13 Chandratal to Manali 130 km, 6 hours, over 3970 m Rothang Pass
Today we leave the dry mountain dessert and will enter the Kullu Valley- a valley of greenery. Smelling grass and trees again, you will notice the importance of these oxygen giving plants.
But before we reach Kullu Valley, we will have to survive one of the toughest roads in the world. This 70 km stretch is covered under a big layer of snow all year round and only open for a few months in the year. The jeep trek resembles more of a riverbed than a road, therefore the driver will go very slowy. There are no villages between the Kunzum pass and the Rothang pass, but 2 small Dhabas (simple places for food and stay). Once we are on top of Rothang Pass it is very likely to be also covered with thick fog and monsoon rain.
In the evening we arrive at Old Manali, a very nice small backpacker village in apple orchards. (Overnight stay in hotel) B/-/-
Day 14 Day in Manali
Enjoy a day of with optional Yoga, massages, some shopping and some relaxed time in the restaurants. You can also join us for a trip to the neighborhood village Vashisht for a hot Sulfur Spring bath. (Overnight stay in hotel) B/-/-
Day 15 Drive to Chandigarh and journey home
After an 8 hour drive we reach Chandigarh. From here you will take your flight back home. (In case your flight is the next day or from Delhi, we will help you arranging transportation to Delhi or a hotel in Chandigarh) B/-/-
Included services:
- 10 nights in hotels, guesthouses, Deluxe Camps or homestays
- Complete transport as advertised by Mini Bus or Jeep, train
- travel escort and Yoga teacher for complete trip
- daily Yoga classes
- all entry fees and activities
- Meals as advertised (B: Breakfast, L: Lunch, D: Dinner)
Four-day trek with:
- 4 nights in a tent (sleeping bag, mattress)
- Kitchen tent, dining tent, toilet tent if necessary
- Mountain Guide, Cook, Helper
- Last horses with horse guide
Non-included services:
- International flight
- Flight Chandigarh-Delhi (can be booked with us for approx. 50 Euro)
- Visa
- Unmentioned food and beverages
Fixed Departure Tour:
14.08-28.08.2021
2050 € per person (4-12 Participants) Single room Supplement 350 €
The tour is also possible as a private tour with different departure dates. Please get in touch with us.
Yoga classes and tour escort
Whenever possible we will offer daily twice Yoga sessions with Asana, Pranayama, Relaxation and Meditation Practice.
Teachers and Travel escort: Sudha Mukti or Noor
About trekking in the Indian Himalayas with us
Mountain guide and trekking team
On all our treks we have at least one (for larger groups of 6 participants or two) trained local mountain guides. Our mountain guides have all completed at least the Indian mountaineering training, many of them have also taken part in the advanced courses.
You are familiar with the trekking routes and know the terrain excellently. Our mountain guides all speak English.
In addition, there is a local team consisting of a cook (if the group consists of only two participants, the mountain guide also takes over the tasks of the cook), helpers, horsemen with horses or Nepalese carriers, depending on the type of trek.
All our team members have been working with us for years, are very friendly and always strive to provide our guests with a great trekking experience. Their English is rather mediocre or non-existent, but this is not necessarily a hindrance to communicating with them.
Trekking routes
The Bhaba Pass Trek is a moderate trek in itself, but the altitude of 4900 m makes it more challenging. The entire trip is almost exclusively at an altitude of over 3500 meters, so that we will acclimatize already (or before) the trip. If you experience health problems due to the altitude, the trip will be changed.
The trekking routes are designed for the skills of our guests and are all feasible for a person with a good fitness level, unless otherwise mentioned. The daily routes are between five and eight hours long (with breaks) and an average increase of around 500-800 metres of altitude is completed.
In between, rivers may have to be crossed or crossed. The paths are partly well developed, but sometimes also almost non-existent. On our trekking routes there are hardly any villages in between, so we will take enough food for the whole tour.
On our treks you can cross passes, snow or glaciers. On steep slopes, we have safety equipment with us.
Daily routine (Depending on the length and intensity of the trek, the times may vary)
7: 00 Get up with tea
7:30-8:30 Breakfast
7:00-9:30 Dismantling of the camp
8:00- 9:30 Start Trek
13:00 Lunch on the way
15:00-17:00 Arrival at the camp and camp construction
15:30-17:30 Snacks
19:00 Dinner
Altitude and altitude sickness
Altitude sickness is a very important topic that should not be underestimated, especially during our trekking tours in the Indian Himalayas. At altitudes above 3500 m, our body has to slowly get used to the low air pressure, which also causes less oxygen to enter our lungs. The first signs of altitude sickness are headaches, which are accompanied by dizziness, nausea, insomnia and loss of appetite. It becomes problematic when water accumulates in the lungs and brain and edema occurs. Then only the immediate descent to lower altitudes will help. To prepare for the highs on our treks, we will either spend a few nights at high altitudes before the trek or slowly ascend during the trek to acclimatize. If we notice that there are problems with our guests (each person is otherwise able to acclimatize, regardless of age, gender and fitness level), it may happen that either the entire tour group or the participant descends/returns with a team. In addition, it makes sense to take an emergency drug for altitude sickness. For this, it is best to consult the pharmacy or the travel doctor. For certain treks we will also have oxygen with us.
Luggage
Each trekking participant is responsible for his own clothes and personal belongings. Depending on the trek, we are either on the road with horses or carriers. If we have load horses, one bag per participant can be loaded onto the horse. In the case of treks with carriers, all personal luggage must be carried independently. Tents, sleeping bags, mattresses and food are carried by our porters.
For trekking tours with horses, a day backpack with space for the lunchbox, a water bottle and warm overcoat clothing should be taken with you.
Packing List
- backpack
- trekking shoes
- slippers
- thermal long underwear
- trekking shorts
- trekking pants
- sports shirt
- fleece
- warm jacket
- head, gloves
- trekking socks
- warm pair wollen socks
- Yoga clothes
- sun glasses
- suns cream, small medical kit
- small towel
- personal hygiene products
- solar charger, extra battery
- camera, phone
Meals
During the trek there will be a vegetarian full catering. Water is either boiled or we have a water filter with us.
Breakfast (daily selection):
- Coffee/Tea
- Oatmeal porridge/muesli/cornflakes/Indian porridge
- Indian Breakfast/Toast/Eggs/Jam/Butter/Cheese/Honey/Chocolate Spread
- Sliced fruit/vegetables
Lunch (mostly lunchbox), sometimes warm in the camp
- Sandwiches/Indian (rice, chapati, vegetables)/eggs/potatoes
- Juices
- Chocolate
- Fruit
Snacks
- Tea/coffee
- Cookies
- French fries/Indian snacks
Soup
Dinner (depending on the length of the Trek mix of Indian/Chinese/Continental)
Vegetable dish
Lentil dish
Rice/noodles
Chapati
Salad
Dessert
Accommodation and camp
We have very comfortable and spacious two-man tents. Our mattresses are practical but simple if there are problems with sleeping on hard surfaces, please take your own mattress with you or order from us. Our sleeping bags are freshly washed and have a very good quality with comfort zone up to -5°C/extreme zone up to -20° C. It is recommended to bring personal indoor sleeping bags.
In addition, we have a spacious dining tent with tables and chairs, a kitchen tent for the team and a toilet tent. For treks up to 4 people, the kitchen tent can also act as a dining tent at the same time.
For trekking tours with porters, we will take our smaller, lighter tents with us and do without a toilet tent.
Besides the trekking tour we will stay in comfortable homestays, nice hotels or Luxus tents- depending on the availability at the different location. Please notice, that Spiti is a very remote area.
Weather
In the Himalayas, temperatures fluctuate widely. While it can get warm up to 25°C during the day and the sun is not only warming, but also very intense (sun protection is a must), it can also cool down significantly below the minus-grade at night, especially in the months end of September and October, as well as in June. There may also be weather changes with snow on the passes.