Description
Itinerary
Day 0 and 1: Delhi to Reckong Peo
Delhi – Chandigarh – Reckong Peo
I took an overnight HRTC bus from Delhi to Chandigarh to reach Kinnaur. I explored the little corners of Chandigarh in the morning. From Chandigarh, you can get a deluxe bus that leaves in the evening at 5:50 PM, 6 PM and 7 PM.
Alternatively, you can also take an ordinary bus directly from ISBT Kashmiri Gate of Delhi at 8 PM to Reckong Peo that takes approximately 18 hours to reach Reckong Peo. The bus fare is about INR 575/-.
Day 2: Reckong Peo to Chakha Trek (4500 meters)
You will reach Reckong Peo early in the morning and this is the day when the journey starts. If you want to see the peaks even more clearly away from the hustle bustle, Chakha is the perfect spot for you.
Further, you can also keep this trek optional if you do not have much time since Reckong Peo is beautiful in itself
How to Reach
It is a trek that takes approximately 2.5 hours to 3 to go uphill, however, it will only take 1.5 hours to come downhill.
Where to stay
I would suggest you find a hotel near the bus stand itself for today as the next day you would have to catch the bus that leaves for Sangla/Chitkul. Right next to the bus stop there are shops where you can ask for rooms and they also offer cheap stays. The prices mostly range between INR 400/- to INR 700/-.
You can check the website below as well for hotel booking. The best thing about this website is that you do not have to pay any amount in advance. Just reserve the room through them ?
Day 3: Reckong Peo to Sangla
How to Reach
From Reckong Peo two buses leave for Chitkul. One bus leaves at 9:30 AM and another one leaves at 12:00 PM. Catch any of the buses and get down at Sangla village as the village comes midway; Chitkul is approximately an hour away from Sangla.
Here, enjoy the village walk, visit the Sangla monastery and go to the nearby Kamru Village to visit the Kamru Fort which is said to be 1000 years old – one of the oldest in Himachal Pradesh. It is approximately 2-3 KMs away from Sangla Village which you can easily cover on foot. You have to also climb several steps to reach this fort. Upon reaching, the inspector (guard) here will give you a Kinnauri cap and will tie a cloth around your waist before entering the fort. The fort has a wooden balcony and has an idol of Kamakhya Devi.
Also, note that women who are on their menstrual cycle are not allowed to enter the fort.
Day 4: Sangla to Chitkul
Chitkul is so breath-taking that I just don’t have any words for this place. The civilization has increased 10 folds here though. Two years back there were hardly any hotels, however, now if there will be no problem in finding one, and the hotels are so gorgeous – they have graffitis and creative painting painted on it.
How to Reach
Catch the same bus that leaves from Reckong Peo and goes to Chitkul which will take 45 minutes to an hour.
Where to Stay
If you want to stay in Chitkul, you can stay in Zostel, however, I chose to stay in the nearby village called Batseri, as it offered secluded views away from the tourists. In Batseri I stayed in Hotel Batseri that offers luxury stay and epic views of the valley. You can also get a hot shower, free wifi, and restaurant right inside the hotel.
If you are looking for other economical accommodations you can check the website below. The best thing about this website is that you do not have to pay any amount in advance. Just reserve the room through them ?
Day 5: Chitkul to Reckong Peo to Kalpa to Suicide Point
How to Reach
Again, there are two buses that leave from Chitkul, one at 12 PM and other at 2 PM. In accordance with me, it will be best to take the 12 PM bus since you have enough time to explore Kalpa and Roghi Village.
After returning to Reckong Peo, head towards Kalpa. You can easily get a bus from Reckong Peo bus stand for Kalpa, or hire a cab. Kalpa is 15 minutes away from Peo.
Kalpa is really really gorgeous! It comprises of monasteries and temples and from here on you can walk through the apple orchards to go to the Suicide Point near Roghi Village.
Just ask around the walking route from Kalpa to Suicide point, it hardly takes 15 minutes.
Where to Stay
I really wanted to stay at a place that is cozy and offers perfect views of the Kinner Kailash. One such place was Kalpa Deshang. The rooms were cozy and from the balcony itself, we were able to enjoy the whole of Kalpa. The rooms were comfortable and hot water was available as well which is essential when you are traveling to a colder region. In fact, the hotel has a restaurant as well with well-served and fresh food at your service. You can visit their website to know more about their prices.
Although there are several homestays where you can stay just for INR 500 bucks. So if you are traveling on a budget consider booking a room at a homestay.
Day 6: Reckong Peo to Delhi
Well, again either you can take a direct bus to Delhi which leaves in the morning or take a deluxe bus at 1:30 PM that will drop you off till Chandigarh. The last bus that leaves Peo is at 6 PM for Shimla. If you want to spend a little more time, consider taking this bus and then taking another bus for Delhi from Shimla. The frequency of buses from Shimla to Delhi is good.
