Parang La trek is an ancient route between Spiti valley in Himachal Pradesh. Spiti Valley is a cold
desert mountain valley situated in the northern state of Himachal Pradesh, India. The word 'Spiti'
means 'the middle land'. It is named this because it lies between India and Tibet. The local
population of Spiti valley follows Vajrayana Buddhism the same as that of other regions of Tibet
and Ladakh. This trek can be started from Karzok village of Leh or Khibber village of Spiti Valley.
It takes you to the maximum altitude of 5580 meters which is approximately 18,308 ft above mean sea
level.
The trek takes you to Parang La and follows the Pare Chu river which originates in India, enters
the Tiber, and re-enters India. The Parang La trek takes you through deep gorges of Spiti Valley to
vast landscapes of Ladakh. It ends at Tso Moriri lake which is situated at 4522m. This high
altitude lake is 26 km long and 5 km wide and it is one of the most beautiful lakes in the whole
world.
Culture:
Spiti valley is known as the cultural and research center for Buddhists. Key Monastery and Tabo
Monastery are the highlights. They are a few of the oldest monasteries of the world and favorite of
Dalai Lama. They are commonly used as scenery and cinematography in many Bollywood movies and
documentaries on Buddhists and Buddhists and Tibetan saints.
The Pin Valley situated in Spiti valley is home to the few surviving Buchen Lamas of the Nyingmapa
sect of Buddhism.
Nearby Attractions:
There are a number of places nearby where you can feel enchanted and amused. You can roam around the nearby villages, and visit the numerous famous monasteries. Lamayuru Monastery and Diskit Gompa are some of the most visited ones. The photographer's paradise, The beautiful Nubra Valley will take your breathe away. The nearby located magnetic hill is a drive away. No one leaves Ladakh without seeing the Pangong Lake, the blue sapphire lake. Turtuk and Bordang have nearby located ruined palaces, exciting to visit. They are 150 km away from Leh and can be easily reached by taxi. Gurudwara Pathar Sahib and Leh Royal Palace are must-visit places.
Places to visit in the Spiti valley:
Kaza, Chandra Tal Lake, Key Monastery, Tabo Monastery, Hikkim village, Komic village, Langza
village, Tabo caves, Kunzum pass, Rohtang pass, etc.
People of surrounding villages are really helping, kind and welcoming. You can approach them if you
face any troubles during your trek.
Best Time To Visit
Spiti Valley is situated in Leh, so it is automatically a really cold place to start with. The best months to trek the place are considered to be a period from May to September. It is because these months are comparatively warm, water lines are not frozen, the trek paths are not covered in snow, and hotels are open for tourists.
Weather Conditions:
The temperature in Spiti Valley in the period of May to September reach up to 20 degrees Celsius with the minimum temperature of 9 or 10 degrees Celsius. The nearby places like Tabo, Batal, Chandrataal, and Hansa get really chilly and windy with the temperature getting as low as 2 to 3 degrees Celsius in the same period from May to September.
Food you can expect to find in Spiti Valley
As Spiti valley is really close to Tibet, Chinese food is quite a food there along with the normal north Indian food. Noodles and meat are the most common food you will find. Vegetables are hard to find there.
Trip Highlights
The trek stems from Spiti, and crosses over to the cold
desert of Ladakh, spanning over a
diversity of stunning terrains.
You also get to witness the splendid Kiangs in their natural habitat.
The radiant confluence of the Pare Chu river and Phirtse
Phu river greets you with a
sprawling embrace.
Itinerary Details
Any road trip can be a moment of life for people. And this trip to Spiti valley via Kaza is no less than a memory. The nasty water crossings and roadways shall surely make your heart bounce like none other. It starts from Gramphu and ends at Kunzum Pass and covers around 200 km. This way is termed to be one of the deadliest roads hence termed to be really adventurous. If you are someone traveling from Delhi, you need to invest two days in order to reach Kaza. On the first day, travel to Manali from Delhi and the next day reach Kaza, your destination.
This is a good place to explore. You must cover some of the famous places and make it a regret-free trip. Enjoy the serene beauty and brilliant views. Get a good collection of photographs with you. Starting with a monastery, forget about you being spiritual or not, once you visit Kaza, you must visit the Key Monastery which is almost 7km from Kaza. It was established in the 11th century. Coming next is Chandratal Lake, which is at an altitude of 4300m and a not to miss a place in your travel itinerary. This lake won't ever dismay you as it sparkles with clear blue water, a true charm to your eyes. Where are fossils found? Did you ever wonder that you could get an answer to it on your trip? One such place is Komic village, at an altitude of 4275m; a place where fossils are found. But beware and do not buy them as its illegal. Although Kaza is a small place, buying famous stuff of wool-like shawls and carpet and clothes is a part not to be missed.
Once you are done with exploring Kaza, climb up to parilungbi river for 7 hours and get to find a spectacular view of Kang Nilda towards the southeast. Apart from this, towards your northwest, you’ll find a variety of peaks standing above Kunzum Pass. Thaltak is an apt place for camping and provides you with good camping ground.
Day 4 is sure to be your toughest day of the trek. To reach bongrogen, you have to descend way down to Parilungbi river. Once you cross the footbridge, you need to walk around 2 km till you reach Jagatha. This place is known to be a base camp for Parang la. Since you have already experienced a way too tiring trip, have a break and comfort yourselves in nature’s lap at this beautiful base camp.
Now catch what you have traveled for 3 or 4 days. After having a good rest, you are re-ready to move ahead and continue your trek. So, grab a good breakfast and get ready for further trekking. Now your zig-zag trail finally lets you enter Parang la. When you see the spiritual flags and hear the enchanting prayers, you are here at Parang la. On the right, you can find layers of ice and walk along the Parang chu glacier, (If you know chu means river). Click as many pictures as you can because often these kinds of trips are once in a lifetime. Finally, you reach the campsite of Dak Karzong after walking a long distance alongside the trail.
As you move further along the river, you get to see a beautiful meadow that is going to be really pleasant to your eyes. It is a lush green meadow amidst the dry landscape, a true beauty. Get in the hold of a lot many memories in your camera enjoying this treat to your eyes.
Crossing several glacial paths and moving alongside the river is one thing that is not going to leave your part till your entire journey. Also in these 6 hours of trekking, you will be experiencing to walk on dry river beds. Sumdo means a junction of 3 trails- one from Chumur, one from Spiti, and the last one from Ladakh. One can enjoy the experience of an overnight stay in a tent. Camp at the broad oasis of Norbu Sumdo at low temperatures and get a thrilling experience. It’s surely a must-visit place, no doubt about it.
Get ready for a 6 hours trek from Norbu Sumdo to Kiangdom. This is going to the largest and biggest river crossings in your entire trek. This is going to be the last time you shall be crossing the river. At this place, you can easily find groups of horses and mules crossing the river and easily capture the bond between the two. Also, you must watch out that you stay cautious while your trek and don’t get harm by these animals. This trail now ascends towards the left side once you leave the river and continue towards Chanthang. Once you are inside the city, you can easily find many attractions, the most famous one is Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary, which is surrounded by two mountain lakes, Pangong Tso Lake and Tso Moriri. This place is home to Changpa tribe, a nomadic and pastoral community. Commonly found animals in this place are sheep, Tibetian wild ass, snow leopard, etc.
Korzok is a place that will head you towards Leh. This trek is about a 7 hours trek of 24 km. Herein, you walk along the shores of Tso Moriri throughout the day. And can easily see the lake change its shade throughout the day. Finally, you reach Korzok, which is a small village. You can visit Korzok Monastery which was founded by Kunga Lodro Ningpo. Korzok literally means 'acquired by unfair means'. The famous festival of this place is the Kurzok Gustor festival celebrated during the months of July or September. After exploring the place to your fullest, you can have a comfortable night stay with your friends or family as the next day is going to be tiring for you.
Wake up fresh and start your travel towards
Leh, an ultimate level of beauty, so scenic, so pure; you would just completely love
it. It is an 8-hour drive of about 213 km. This is a hub of must-visit places. The
magnetic hill, the name itself can capture the travelers. This place has an
anti-gravitational effect, the only magnetic hill in India. The next is Leh palace,
a 19 storey high building made in the 17th century. Also, you can have a glance at
Zanskar Valley, mostly traveled for river rafting and trekking trails. Enjoy this
place at your fullest and get a huge collection of memories saved in your
cameras.
This sums up your day to day itinerary of Parang la trek. This entire trip is a
lifetime trip that can provide you with thrill an experience like none other. Enjoy
the traditional Tibetian food and get to stay in camps. You can easily come across
the culture and traditions of this place. Indulge in the views of mountains,
glaciers, rivers, sunrises, sunsets, and what not. Where would you get this nature
and sceneries so pleasing to your eyes? So, simply, plan a good trip with your
friends and enjoy this week-long trip.
How To Reach
The starting point of Parang La trek is Kaza in Spiti Valley. Kaza is well connected to the rest of India by road. The nearest airport is Bhuntar Airport near Kullu which is approximately 250 km away from Kaza. The nearest railway station is 365 km away from Kaza, which is in Joginder Nagar (near Kasol).
How to Reach Parang La Trek base camp, Kaza:
Inclusions
- To and Fro economy class air trave
- Travel by comfortable A/c or Non A/c coach / Vehicle as per the tour itinerary
- Entrance fees of all sightseeing places to be visited from inside
- Accommodation in comfortable and convenient hotels
- All Meals – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (set menu) as mentioned in the itinerary
- All Tips – Guide, Driver & Restaurants
Exclusions
- Govt Tax of 5.00% over and above the Tour Cost mentioned
- Any applicable new taxes from Government
- Any upgradation in Airline class or hotel room category
- Any extra expense such as route change, Airline change, Date change, Accommodation facilities, etc incurred due to the unforeseen, unavoidable forced majeure circumstances during the tour
- Porterage (coolie charges), laundry, telephone charges, shopping, wines & alcoholic beverages, mineral water, items of personal nature and food or drink which is not part of a set group menu
- Any extra cost incurred on behalf of an individual due to illness, accident, hospitalisation, or any personal emergency