Road trip to Spiti, Kaza, Chandratal, Manali starting in June 2018 by Sukla Chaki

Travelogue of a road trip in early June 2018 by Indian Roadie Sukla Chaki and five other male friends and a driver in a rented Toyota Innova.

The route was as follows:
New Delhi - Chandigarh - Shimla - Narkanda - Sangla - Chitkul - Kalpa - Mud - Kaza - Kibber - Komik - Hikkim - Langza - Chicham Bridge - Chandratal - Batal - Gramphoo - Rohtang Pass - Manali - Chandigarh - New Delhi.

The itinerary .......
Day 1:
Vadodara 7.10am to Delhi 8.00am by flight.
By rented full-time Toyota Innova, Delhi (3pm) to Chandigarh (9pm), 6 hrs including one lunch break for 45 minutes and a short tea break.

Day 2:
Chandigarh to Sangla (312 km/ 10 hrs including breaks for breakfast, lunch, 4 tea breaks) via Shimla, Narkanda, Rampur.
Stayed in Hotel Madhu in Sangla.

Day 3:
Sangla to Kalpa (47 kms) via Chitkul.
Stayed in Chini Bungalow, Kalpa.

Day 4:
Kalpa to Tabo (159 km/ 7 hrs, including breaks for lunch and tea) via Geu Village.
Stay in Namsy Homestay in Tabo.

Day 5:
Tabo to Mud via  Dhankar Monastery and Dhankar Lake.
Visit to the Monastery and back involved a 2 kms trek.

Day 6:
Mud to Kibber (46 kms/ 5 hrs) via Kaza, Tashiganj, Gette.
The highest fuel filling station, an IOC outlet is in Kaza.
Stay in Kibber homestay.

Day 7:
Kibber to Langza (approx 42 kms/ 6 hrs) via Komic Village and Hikkim.
Stayed in PhanDhey Homestay in Hikkim, Komic.
Langza is famous for the huge statue of Buddha.
Hikkim is famous for world's highest Post Office. 

Day 8:
Langza to Chandratal (approx 51 kms) via Chicham Bridge.
Stayed in Tenzing Camp (tent).
Trekked Tenzing Camp to Chandratal (3 kms each way or 6 kms in total).

Day 9:
Stayed in Chandratal.

Day 10:
Chandra Tal to Manali (approx 50 kms) via Pagla Dhara (left early morning at 6am to avoid wide and deep water-crossings, Batal (famous for Chacha Chachi's Dhaba),  Gramphoo, Rohtang Pass.
Stayed in Crazy Pad Hostel in Old Manali.

Day 11:
Stayed in Manali.

Day 12:
Manali to Delhi Airport (578 kms) via Chandigarh.
Checked out of Crazy Pad Hostel in Old Manali at 9am. Exited Manali city limits after lunch at 1pm. 

Day 13
Delhi - Vadodara by flight in the evening. 

Road trip from Kaza (Himachal Pradesh) to Leh (Ladakh) with route and intermediate distances

The road route from Kaza (Himachal Pradesh) to Leh (Ladakh) is as follows:
Kaza - Losar - Kunzum - Batal - Gramphu - Khoksar - Keylong - Jispa - Zing Zing Bar - Sarchu - Pang - Leh.



While driving from Kaza and going towards Leh, you will reach Gramphu. The drive from Kaza to Gramphu is via NH505. Gramphu is the intersection from where you can either go to Manali or to Leh.

Kaza to Gramphu via NH505 = 137 kms.

Breakup of distances between important points between Kaza and Gramphu:
Kaza to Losar = 57 kms.
Losar to Kunzum Pass = 18 kms.
Kunzum Pass to Batal = 13 kms.
Batal to Gramphu = 49 kms.


Gramphu to Leh = 408 kms.

Breakup of distances between important points between Gramphu and Leh:
Gramphu to Keylong = 50 kms.
Keylong to Jispa = 23 kms.
Jispa to Zing Zing Bar = 31 kms.
Zing Zing Bar to Sarchu = 54 kms.
Sarchu to Pang = 76 kms.
Pang to Leh = 174 kms.

Gramphu to Manali = 68 kms via Rohtang Pass.

Manali to Keylong = 118 kms.

From Gramphu turn right towards Sissu, Keylong, Jispa, Zing Zing Bar, Sarchu, Pang, Leh.
A left turn from Gramphu will take you to Rohtang, Manali and onwards to Chandigarh.

While driving on the route from Kaza towards Gramphu, after crossing Kunzum when you see the deviation for Chandratal you could visit that as well on the way.

Starting from Kaza, you will cross the Spiti River which flows alongside, a couple of times. Losar and Kunzum are two important locations as you drive alongside the Spiti River. The Spiti River forks off after Kunzum.
Going ahead, you will reach Batal after crossing the Chenab River. The Chenab River will be on your left all along till Chhatru. After crossing the bridge at Chhatru, the Chenab River will be flowing on your right.




Roadies should be aware that Kaza to Gramphu is a horrible stretch of road. The weather is very fickle and people have got stuck in snow storm while climbing Kunzum around 6.30 AM. One would be lucky to get out and reach Batal. The road beyond Batal till Gramphu is a misery.

After starting from Kaza ideally by 5 AM, try and stay in Jispa for the night.