Greening the Desert

Total Trip = 765 km*Total Carbon = 0.35 ton*Your Trip = 0 Carbon

26,990.00

Keen to make a lasting difference? Help build a greenhouse so local families can grow their own vegetables throughout the year and have life long access to nutrition!

  • 8 June - 16 June
Clear

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Highlights

Travel through Spiti’s spectacular landscapes experiencing its unique culture, while you make a meaningful and long-lasting difference to the lives of communities in one of the most isolated and harsh areas in the World. 

  • Build a Greenhouse & enable the local community have life long access to green organic vegetables through the year even in the extreme winter 
  • Learn traditional mud building techniques and the basics of solar passive architecture.
  • Ensure enhanced nutrition and better health for the locals and an additional source of income from sale of the surplus
  • Explore the beautiful villages of Spiti for a first-hand experience of life and culture in Spiti
  • Visit the Highest village in the World and send a Postcard from the Highest Post Office in the World 
  • Visit 1000-year-old monasteries and sites steeped in folklore and legend

The Greenhouse Project is of special significance in Spiti since it is very hard to grow green vegetables here, especially in the 6 month long winters when temperatures dip to as low as – 30°C.

Sign up to make a REAL difference in Spiti!

Get detailed itinerary

Route

Manali – Kaza – Langza – Hikkim – Komic – Project Site – Dhankhar – Tabo – Project Site – Kaza – Kee – Kibber - Chicham – Chandratal – Manali

Day 1Manali - Kaza
Day 2Kaza - Langza - Komic - Hikkim - Kaza
Day 3Kaza - Project Site
Day 4 & 5Project Site
Day 6Project Site - Dhankhar - Tabo - Kaza
Day 7Kaza - Project Site
Day 8Project Site - Kaza
Day 9Kaza - Kee - Kibber - Chicham - Chandratal - Manali

Hotel

8 - 9 hrs

183 km

3800 m

Dinner


Day 1Manali - Kaza

  • Drive through the famous Atal tunnel that divides Kullu from the Lahaul Valley
  • Traverse through the beautiful Chandra River Valley
  • Cross the magical Kunzum Pass (4551mt/14931ft) and visit the Buddhist shrine
  • Stunning vistas of the Chandrabagha Mountain Ranges

Hotel

3 - 4 hrs

45 km

3800 mt

B'fast & Dinner


Day 2Kaza - Langza - Komic - Hikkim - Kaza

  • Glimpses of the days to come
  • Visit an existing Greenhouse built by past volunteers and learn more about the project and the impact you will be creating.
  • Komic – the World’s Highest Village and the ancient Komic Monastery
  • Hikkim, the World’s Highest Post Office – send postcards to your loved ones back home
  • Picture perfect Langza Village – famous for its Buddha Statue and mud craft

Tents/Homestay

1 - 2 hrs

0

10 - 40 km

3500 mt - 4500mt

B'fast, Lunch, Dinner


Day 3Kaza - Project Site

  • Settle in and meet the family for whom you will be building a greenhouse.
  • Experience and learn more about life in Spiti.

Tents/Homestay

0

0

0

3500 mt - 4500mt

B'fast, Lunch, Dinner


Day 4 & 5Project Site

  • Start your journey of making a difference – Work on the Greenhouse begins!
  • Immerse yourself in the simple joys of mountain village life.
  • Learn the techniques of building with Mud.

Tents/Homestay

3 - 4 hrs

1 - 2 hrs (optional)

112 - 150 km

3500 mt - 4500mt

B'fast & Dinner


Day 6Project Site - Dhankhar - Tabo - Kaza

  • Explore Spiti today.
  • Visit Dhankhar the erstwhile capital of Spiti.
  • Travel back in time at the ancient Dhankar Monastery & Fort.
  • Tabo and its over 1000-year-old monastery – popularly referred to as the Ajanta of the Himalayas

To the serene Dhankar Lake.

Tents/Homestay

1 - 2 hrs

0

10 - 40 km

3500 mt - 4500mt

B'fast, Lunch, Dinner


Day 7Kaza - Project Site

  • Work on the final stages of the Greenhouse.

Hotel

1 - 2 hrs

0

10 - 40 km

3800 mt

B'fast, Lunch, Dinner


Day 8Project Site - Kaza

  • Complete the Greenhouse and inaugurate it!
  • Celebrations on a job well done and the prospect of homegrown green vegetables in the village throughout the year!

10 - 12 hrs

0

208 km

2050 mt

B'fast


Day 9Kaza - Kee - Kibber - Chicham - Chandratal - Manali

  • A stop at the beautiful Kee Monastery
  • Drive over the Chicham Bridge – highest bridge in Asia.
  • Cross the spectacular Kunzum Pass (4551mt/14931ft) and visit the Buddhist shrine
  • The picturesque Chandratal – Lake of the Moon Goddess
  • Back to Manali

INCLUDES:
  • All accommodation Day 1 to Day 8 on a sharing basis
  • Meals – Breakfast & Dinner: Day 1 Dinner to Day 9 Breakfast, Lunch: Day 3, 4, 5, 7, 8
  • Guide Day 2 to Day 8
  • Transfers Day 1 to Day 9
  • Monastery fees while in Spiti
  • First aid kit
EXCLUDES:
  • GST @ 5%
  • Mineral water and beverages (other than those provided)
  • Tips & Insurance 
  • Inner Line Permit (For Foreign Nationals only)
  • Expenses arising out of unforeseen circumstances, road blocks  or medical emergencies  
  • Add on Experiences entail an additional charge
  • Pick & Drop to Delhi or Chandigarh (this can be included at an additional cost)

Customize your trip

    To help us plan a memorable Spiti trip for you, please fill in your requirements below:

















    Add Day Trips

    Short but culturally-vibrant experiences that are windows to Spitian life.
    Enjoy these experiences as stand-alone programs or add them onto an existing Ecosphere trip.

    Cook Like as Local

    Work with our expert local chefs and learn how to cook mouth-watering Spitian delicacies.

    • January To December
    • 1 to 2 Hours
    • INR 600 pp*
    Cook Like as Local
    • January To December
    • 1 to 2 Hours
    • 600 pp
    Folk Expressions

    Keen on a rhythmic and melodic participation in Spitian social life? Join in for a magical evening of folk songs and dance.

    • May to October
    • 1 to 2 Hours
    • INR 10000*
    Folk Expressions
    • May to October
    • 1 to 2 Hours
    • 10000
    Bhuchen Performance

    Prepare to be transported at a mystical tantric performance by the Bhuchens. Unique to the Spiti Valley, these minstrel lamas perform Buddhist tantric dances to drive evil spirits away

    • May to October
    • 1 to 2 Hours
    • INR 15000*
    Bhuchen Performance
    • May to October
    • 1 to 2 Hours
    • 15000
    Throw a Pot!

    Get your hands dirty and learn the art of Pottery with the last-surviving potter in Langza village. Make your own Spiti Souvenir or a fossil replica!

    • May to October
    • 1 Hour
    • INR 600 pp*
    Throw a Pot!
    • May to October
    • 1 Hour
    • 600 pp
    Mountain Biking

    Hop on a mountain bike for an unforgettable ride through surreal Spitian landscapes! Cycle down at your own pace from Komic - the highest village in the World, or between Kaza and the iconic Kee Monastery

    • May to October
    • 1 Day
    • INR 1500 pp*
    Mountain Biking
    • May to October
    • 1 Day
    • 1500 pp
    Yak-Back Safari

    Not up for trekking. Travel through Spiti the traditional way on the back of a Yak!

    • May to October
    • 2 to 5 Hours
    • INR 2000 pp (min 2 yaks)*
    Yak-Back Safari
    • May to October
    • 2 to 5 Hours
    • 2000 pp (min 2 yaks)
    Spin Yak Rope

    Make and take back your own souvenir from Spiti. Learn the art of spinning yak wool and twine it into a yak rope.

    • January to December
    • 30 Mins to 1 Hour
    • INR 600 pp*
    Spin Yak Rope
    • January to December
    • 30 Mins to 1 Hour
    • 600 pp
    Say Yak Cheese!

    Discover traditional ways of churning butter, ghee, and cheese. Go back with a ton of learning and mouthfuls of Spiti’s unique Yak Cheese

    • May to October
    • 30 Mins to 1 Hour
    • INR 600 pp*
    Say Yak Cheese!
    • May to October
    • 30 Mins to 1 Hour
    • 600 pp
    Session with Amchi

    Have your pulse read and get an insight into your internal health on a one-on-one session with the local Amchi (traditional Spiti doctor)! 

    • May to October
    • 30 Mins to 1 Hour
    • INR 600 pp*
    Session with Amchi
    • May to October
    • 30 Mins to 1 Hour
    • 600 pp
    Nun for a Day

    Experience a day in the life of a Buddhist Nun. Hear their fascination stories, join their daily prayer sessions and discover your inner peace.

    • May to October
    • 1 Day
    • INR 2500 pp*
    Nun for a Day
    • May to October
    • 1 Day
    • 2500 pp
    Why a LOCAL GUIDE ? Window to Spiti

    Your guide is your window to Spiti. Would you like to visit Spiti in a way that you develop a relationship with the place and its people – memories that will last forever ?

    Our guides are local and apart from being amazing fun, they are a storehouse of information and stories about Spiti. They are very knowledgeable about the culture, trained as naturalists and in mountaineering and first aid. Given the remoteness of the region, believe us when we say you will know Spiti better because of them.

    I Love Spiti Drink and Drive Change!

    Potable drinking water is always a concern wherever we travel, as a result we end up buying bottled water and leave behind lots of trash.

    Ecosphere requests you to reduce your plastic footprint by carrying your own Water bottle that you can refill with filtered water. Most hotels have filters and we have set up water filter stations at various key locations in Spiti.

    NO ONE KNOWS SPITI LIKE US

    We are local and we are passionate. With us you will experience the hidden gems of Spiti like an insider.

    GOOD KARMA

    What you pay for your trip goes directly towards creating local livelihoods and supporting various development & conservation projects in Spiti.

    YOU’RE IN SAFE HANDS

    Your safety is our utmost priority. We ensure our trips and staff follow highest safety standards and protocols. Our guides are all first aid trained and air ambulance services are just a call away.

    WE CARE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

    Traveling with us means you leave ZERO carbon footprint – all your emissions + more is offset by our award winning solar projects. We provide you reusable water bottles to ensure you don’t need to buy bottled water.

    AWARDED & FEATURED

    Internationally recognized as a leader in responsible travel and recommended by leading travel guides, magazines and blogs.

    Dont just take our word for it!

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