A Spiti Valley trek is one of the best ways to admire the immense beauty of Himachal Pradesh, and experience its soothing atmosphere. With an average altitude of 10000 feet, the landform is among the highest permanently inhabited places in the world. This itinerary combines hiking and sightseeing, giving the tour and you a twofold meaning. Your stay will be in homestays that are essentially houses of locals, where lodging arrangements for tourists are made. This will give you a wonderful opportunity to stay with the local population, interact with them, learn about their lives, and of course savour their traditional dishes.

Your experience will begin in Kaza, the largest town in the region, from where you will undertake a road journey to the historical village of Langza. En route, visit Ki Monastery, which contains Buddhist religious textbooks and wall paintings of numerous deities, including Lord Buddha. Enjoy an overnight stay in Langza post the visit, and in the morning begin this Spiti Valley trekking excursion by walking towards Komik village. After this moderately tough hike, stay in the homes of locals and prepare yourself for the journey ahead. The next phase of the tour is the most demanding yet, as a long and gruelling ascent will have to be made as part of it.

Walk uphill to the summit of Chemai Lepcha Pass and then make a descent to reach Demul. The following morning, come downhill with strong and heavy steps to avoid sliding and getting hurt. Post the descent, which will end at Saluang, walk through the Lingti Valley to arrive in Lhalung. The ensuing morning, make the most of an easy leg of the Spiti Valley trek with homestay tour on the way to Dhankar. Here, visit the old Dhankar Monastery, which houses statues, cloth paintings and a small museum. At dawn, travel to Tabo by road, and after exploring it, continue the drive towards Kaza to end the excursion.

No doubt, such a Spiti trek with homestay itinerary compels you to avail it, but you should take care of a few things before and after planning the tour. During the entire journey, you will be above 10000 feet altitude; hence acclimatizing prior beginning it is of utmost importance. If possible, start exercising way in advance to keep the arms and legs joints in prime state. Make sure you do not have any prevailing ailments, such as heart or lung conditions. Pack enough warm clothes because even in summers, the temperature in the region remains low.

Detailed Itinerary:

Day 01: Kaza – Ki Monastery – Kibber – Langza (14435 feet/approx. 5 hours)
In the morning, leave Kaza and begin a drive towards the village of Kibber. En route, stop for sightseeing at Ki Monastery – the largest in the Spiti Valley. The monastic complex houses a main assembly hall, printed and painting scrolls, and wall paintings.

Post this visit reach Kibber – located at an altitude of around 13795 feet. Simple buildings on slopes, with barren mountains in the background and green farms below, make the scenery surreal. After exploring the village, move on to the Langza village where fossils, belonging to the creatures of the Tethys Sea, were found. Sightsee in and around Langza, and then transfer to the homestay to rest at night.

Day 02: Langza to Komik (15000 feet/approx. 3 hours)
In the morning, begin the Spiti Valley trek by walking uphill on barren and rugged mountains. The journey will be 3-4 hours long, and it will be moderately difficult. On reaching Komik, one of the highest human settlements in the world, travel to the homestay to take rest.

Day 03: Komik to Demul (14300 feet /approx. 4 hours)
This leg of the Spiti Valley trekking itinerary requires crossing Chemai Lepcha Pass, located about 15420 feet above sea level. On arrival in the Demul village, relish dinner at the homestay, followed by an overnight stay.

Day 04: Demul to Lhalung (12000 feet/approx. 4 hours)
The ensuing stage of this Spiti Valley trek with homestay excursion ends at the Lhalung village. Start with a rapid descent till the Salunga village that should be done carefully and slowly. Once in the village, move on and enter the Lingti Valley. Walk through the landform for around an hour to arrive in Lhalung to rest at a nice homestay.

Day 05: Lhalung to Dhankar (12775 feet /approx. 5 hours)Drive to Tabo - kaza
Enjoy the easiest and the last section of the Spiti trek with homestay experience by walking to the Dhankar village. The hike is not difficult at all as the terrain along the journey is mostly flat.

On reaching the destination, visit Dhankar Monastery – built atop an approximately 1000-feet high cliff near the confluence of the Pin and Spiti Rivers. The site, associated with the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism, is notable for a large statue of Vairocana. Later, reach the homestay to sleep the night away.Later bid goodbye to your hiking grouop and travel through Spiti valley by road to the town of Kaza. Enroute, stop in the village of Tabo for some sightseeing and then resume the drive. On arrival in the town, continue your onward journey.