I come with a story about my latest road trip from Manali to Spiti Valley in Himachal Pradesh, India. Known as the most dangerous, roughest and longest route in India!
Life is not the amount of breaths you take, it’s the moments that take your breath away.
I feel like the quote is just perfect as an introduction for this article. However, I would separate these breathtaking moments into to two completely different situations. Moments in life, when you are mesmerized by the beauty that surrounds you and moments when you are scared to death. I experienced both at once!
I think that the 12-hours constant, backbreaking drive along steep hills, rocky paths and through small streams would be even tougher experience without the spectacular views on the way.
So lets start from the beginning.
Kaza is a main town and transport hub of the remote Spiti Valley. Located at an altitude of 3800 m, it is a gateway to some of the most spectacular hikes in Himachal Pradesh. It proves the fact of being the commercial center of the whole valley, as you can find here a large number of cafes and restaurants serving Indian, Chinese and Continental food, or shops filled with local craft and clothes.
The trip starts from Old Manali bus station at 5am ( the bus can be late) and costs 370 INR ($5). And as I previously mentioned, the trip from Manali to Spiti Valley takes about 12h – 13h and goes through some of the most spectacular landscapes in India. From green pine forests in Manali, incredible views of the second longest glacier in the World called Chandra-Bhaga in Kinzum Pass to tiny remote villages set along the Spiti River.
I choose the local bus which allowed me to experience this ride with locals and gave me the touch of how people live in India. However, there are also fixed-rate taxis available on this route, providing more comfortable ride for 800 INR. You can also save about 3 – 4h. The bus stops few times on the way, so don’t worry about food and drinks. There will be a chance to eat a breakfast and lunch.
After arriving to Kaza, let your body acclimatize and take a rest, before starting any hiking. The altitude made me very dizzy and I had a headache at the first day. Plenty of water and acetazolamide always help to reduce the symptoms of acute mountains sickness.
Be aware that the route from Manali to Spiti Valley can be close during the wet season. I would recommend take this road trip from June to November, otherwise you can stuck somewhere between, for more than a day waiting for a better weather conditions.
And one more important aspect! If you need to do some important work online, do it before, you go to Kaza, as there is no Internet connection.
Despite some terrifying situations on the way, the route from Manali to Spiti Valley was completely worth the effort! Driving across the Himalayan desert and seeing the incredible landscapes, was one of the experiences that I am looking for in my life!
I think that the 12-hours constant, backbreaking drive along steep hills, rocky paths and through small streams would be even tougher experience without the spectacular views on the way.
So lets start from the beginning.
The trip starts from Old Manali bus station at 5am ( the bus can be late) and costs 370 INR ($5). And as I previously mentioned, the trip from Manali to Spiti Valley takes about 12h – 13h and goes through some of the most spectacular landscapes in India. From green pine forests in Manali, incredible views of the second longest glacier in the World called Chandra-Bhaga in Kinzum Pass to tiny remote villages set along the Spiti River.
I choose the local bus which allowed me to experience this ride with locals and gave me the touch of how people live in India. However, there are also fixed-rate taxis available on this route, providing more comfortable ride for 800 INR. You can also save about 3 – 4h. The bus stops few times on the way, so don’t worry about food and drinks. There will be a chance to eat a breakfast and lunch.
And one more important aspect! If you need to do some important work online, do it before, you go to Kaza, as there is no Internet connection.
