Trip to Spiti Valley: A 9-Day Himalayan Odyssey from Chandigarh to Manali

As they landed in Chandigarh on a warm summer morning, Tanisha and Surya exchanged nervous smiles. For months, they had planned this adventure — not just any journey, but one that would take them through some of the most breathtaking and challenging terrains of the Indian Himalayas. The Spiti Valley had called to them like a distant melody, and now, with their backpacks shouldered and hands intertwined, they were about to answer.

Day 1: The Beginning – Chandigarh's Warm Embrace

The organized charm of Chandigarh served as a gentle introduction to their Himalayan odyssey. After checking into a cozy hotel, they spent the afternoon exploring the city's famous Rock Garden, marveling at how discarded materials could transform into art. That evening, they attended a trip briefing where their excitement bubbled over as they met their guide.

"You ready for this?" Surya whispered to Tanisha over dinner. Her eyes sparkled with anticipation as she nodded. That night, beneath city lights that would soon give way to star-filled skies, they dreamt of mountains.

Day 2: The Ascent Begins – Chandigarh to Narkanda

Morning came with birdsong and the promise of adventure. Their journey began along winding roads that gradually climbed upward, leaving behind the plains and entering a world of pine-scented air and distant snow peaks. As they drove through Shimla, Kufri, and Fagu, the landscape transformed dramatically.

Tanisha couldn't stop taking photos, while Surya lost himself in the endless green valleys that stretched beneath them. "Look!" she exclaimed, pointing to apple orchards that dotted the hillsides. By evening, they reached Narkanda, where their first mountain sunset painted the sky in hues of orange and pink. Under the glow of a kerosene lamp in their wooden cottage, they shared hot tea and whispered dreams of the journey ahead.

In the mountains, love finds a different rhythm—one that matches the steady beat of your hearts as you climb higher together, both literally and metaphorically.

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Day 3: Into Kinnaur's Embrace – Narkanda to Chitkul

They awoke to crisp mountain air and embarked early on a journey that would take them deep into the heart of Kinnaur Valley. The drive was both exhilarating and humbling—with roads that clung to mountainsides and valleys that plunged to dizzying depths below.

By afternoon, they crossed Rampur and Sangla, where they stopped for lunch beside the rushing Baspa River. "It's like we're the only people in the world," Tanisha said, her voice almost lost in the sound of flowing water. Hours later, they arrived at Chitkul—the last Indian village near the Indo-Tibet border. Their homestay, a wooden structure with flower boxes in the windows, welcomed them with simplicity and warmth. That night, under a blanket of stars so bright they seemed within reach, Surya and Tanisha lay on a grassy patch behind their homestay, counting shooting stars and making silent wishes.

Day 4: Echoes of Ancient Mountains – Chitkul to Kalpa

Morning in Chitkul brought them face to face with its timeless beauty. They explored the village on foot, walking through narrow lanes where children played and elders sat soaking in the sun. After breakfast of local buckwheat pancakes and honey, they bid farewell to this borderland paradise.

The drive to Kalpa took them through landscapes that shifted like dreams. By afternoon, they stood on a viewing point in Kalpa, gazing at the majestic Kinner Kailash range. "Can you believe those peaks are over 6,000 meters high?" their guide told them. The sacred mountain seemed to watch over them as they visited Roghi Suicide Point—where Tanisha clutched Surya's hand tightly as they peered over the edge. That evening, from the balcony of their heritage stay, they watched as alpenglow turned the distant peaks golden, then crimson, before darkness claimed the valley.

Day 5: Where Green Meets Desert – Kalpa to Kaza

Today marked their longest journey—nearly 200 kilometers of ever-changing landscapes. As they left behind the greenery of Kinnaur, the transformation was almost magical. Verdant valleys gave way to stark, lunar landscapes as they entered Spiti Valley.

At Nako Lake, they took a meditative walk around the sacred waters. Later, at Tabo Monastery, believed to be over 1,000 years old, they felt the weight of history in its ancient painted walls. "Can you imagine the devotion it took to build this in such a remote place?" Tanisha whispered as they studied the intricate murals. By sunset, they reached Kaza—the capital of Spiti and their base for the next few days. The stars that night were so bright and numerous that they seemed to form a glowing canopy above the couple as they huddled together against the mountain chill.

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Day 6: Villages Touched by Time – Exploring Spiti's Treasures

After a breakfast of Tibetan bread and butter tea, Surya and Tanisha set out to explore Spiti's most iconic villages. Key Monastery, perched dramatically on a hilltop, welcomed them with fluttering prayer flags and the soft chanting of monks. They joined a prayer ceremony, sitting cross-legged on the floor as ancient mantras filled the air.

Later, holding hands, they crossed Chicham Bridge—India's highest suspension bridge—laughing nervously at the canyon that yawned beneath them. In Komic, Hikkim, and Langza, they mailed postcards from the world's highest post office, hunted for marine fossils in the high-altitude desert, and sat in peaceful silence beneath a giant Buddha statue that overlooked the valley. As the sun dipped low, casting long shadows across the barren landscape, they returned to Kaza, where they spent the evening in a local café, sharing stories with travelers from across the world.

High in the Himalayas, where the air thins and time slows down, you discover that love is like oxygen—the less there is around you, the more precious each shared breath becomes.

Day 7: The Lake of the Moon – Kaza to Chandratal

Today's journey would take them to what many considered the crown jewel of the Spiti circuit—Chandratal Lake. The drive to Kunzum La Pass was an adventure in itself, with roads that disappeared into streams and views that stole their breath at every turn.

When they finally caught their first glimpse of Chandratal, its crescent shape glimmering turquoise against the barren landscape, both fell silent in awe. "It's like something from another world," Surya finally said. They spent the afternoon exploring the lake's shores, skipping stones across its crystal surface. As twilight approached, they set up camp nearby. That night, huddled in their tent against the cold, they witnessed a sky so laden with stars it seemed impossible. In the absolute silence of the high-altitude wilderness, they whispered promises meant only for each other's ears.

Day 8: Through the Gateway – Chandratal to Manali

The morning greeted them with frost on their tent and the soft glow of sunrise on distant peaks. After a quick breakfast beside the embers of last night's campfire, they began the challenging drive toward Manali.

The journey was an adventure unto itself—crossing multiple water streams, navigating the rugged terrain of Batal, and stopping for a heartwarming meal at the legendary Chacha Chachi Dhaba where they savored rajma-chawal that tasted like home. By afternoon, they entered the Atal Tunnel, leaving behind the stark beauty of Spiti and emerging into the lush green world of Kullu Valley. Manali welcomed them back to civilization with its bustling markets and warm cafes. That evening, over steaming cups of coffee and apple pie, they scrolled through photos of their journey, each image a treasure of moments shared.

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Day 9: Coming Full Circle – Manali to Chandigarh

Their final day dawned bright and clear. After one last mountain breakfast of fluffy omelets and parathas, they began the descent back to Chandigarh. The seven-hour drive took them through changing landscapes—from pine forests to terraced fields, and finally to the plains.

As the mountains receded in their rearview mirror, they fell into a comfortable silence. This journey had transformed them—individually and as a couple. They had seen landscapes that few ever witness, breathed air thinner than they thought possible, and found strength in each other when the path grew challenging.

"We should come back," Tanisha said softly as they approached Chandigarh. Surya reached for her hand across the seat, his smile answer enough. Because once you've found love in the heights of the Himalayas, a piece of your heart remains there forever, calling you back to the mountains.