Life as a Local
When in Spiti, do as the Spitians do. Travel as an active participant in their lives, culture, and stories. Unforgettable travel experiences for you, enduring impact for the region and its people..
Life as a Local is an opportunity to experience life in Spiti up close by becoming a part of their lives. Live their life, toil their soil, care for their cattle and in turn be rewarded with one of the most memorable experiences of your life!
- Experience Spiti as an insider and get a deep insight into the culture and lifestyle of a community in one of the remotest parts of the world.
- Visit untouched gems and discover hidden stories of Spiti Valley
- Interact with monks and stay alongside the lesser-known yet endearing Buddhist nuns of Spiti
- Engage in the daily lives of these hardy mountain folks and contribute to development or conservation needs in Spiti
Coupled with living in remote villages and visits to the lesser-known parts of Spiti, this journey gives a glimpse into the true essence of life in Spiti.
Manali - Kaza - Nunnery - Langza – Hikkim – Komic - Demul - Pin Valley - Dhankhar -Tabo - Kaza - Kee - Kibber - Chicham - Chandratal - Manali
Day 1Manali - Kaza
- Drive through the 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
- Breathtaking vistas of the Chandrabhaga Mountain Ranges
Day 2Kaza - Nunnery
- Unique insights into Spiti’s rich culture
- Experience a resounding prayer session of the monks and a get peek into Tibetan Buddhism in practise.
- Get an insight into the ancient tradition and science of Tibetan Medicine
- One-on-one with a local doctor and learn more about your internal health
- Spend time with the amazing nuns of Spiti.
- Learn some Bhoti (the Tibetan script) or Buddhist mantras if you like, chat with the nuns, or just be!
Day 3Kaza - Langza - Hikkim - Komic - Demul
- Picture perfect Langza Village – famous for its Buddha Statue and mud craft
- Hikkim – World’s Highest Post Office. Send postcards to your loved ones back home
- Komic – World’s Highest Village and the Komic Monastery
- Scenic Demul Village – Spiti’s model sustainable village, also famous for its Arak (local brew) and Folk performances
- Get a taste of the best Arak in Spiti
- Learn how to Cook like a Local and the tricks behind making yum momos or local delicacies with your host
Trek along picturesque meadows from Komic to Demul.
Day 4Demul - Pin Valley
- Immerse yourself in the simple joys of mountain village life
- Chat with the locals, help out on their farms or help herd the village cattle
- Get involved and volunteer in ongoing activities or developmental needs in the village and the satisfaction of making a difference!
- Spectacular Pin Valley
- A hidden village of meditating monks and nuns on the buffer of Pin Valley National Park!
To Balangri – a spectacular vantage spot at 5000 mt. for incredible views of over 18 villages
Day 5Pin Valley - Dhankar - Tabo - Kaza
- Dhankar – 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- take the road less travelled
Day 6Kaza - Kee - Kibber - Chicham - Chandratal
- Explore the iconic Kee Monastery and their quaint 100 year old kitchen.
- Drive over the Chicham Bridge – highest bridge in Asia.
- The picturesque Chandratal – Lake of the Moon Goddess
Day 7Chandratal - Manali
- Drive along the beautiful Chandra River Valley
- Drive through the famous Atal tunnel that divides Kullu from the Lahaul Valley and experience the contrast from desert landscapes to the lush green of the Himalayas
- All accommodation Day 1 to Day 6 on a sharing basis
- Breakfast & Dinner – Day 1 Dinner to Day 7 Breakfast
- Local Guide Day 2 to Day 5
- Transfers Day 1 to Day 7
- Monastery fees while in Spiti
- First aid kit
- 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)
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
- January To December
- 1 to 2 Hours
- 600 pp
Folk Expressions
- May to October
- 1 to 2 Hours
- 10000
Bhuchen Performance
- May to October
- 1 to 2 Hours
- 15000
Throw a Pot!
- May to October
- 1 Hour
- 600 pp
Mountain Biking
- May to October
- 1 Day
- 1500 pp
Yak-Back Safari
- May to October
- 2 to 5 Hours
- 2000 pp (min 2 yaks)
Spin Yak Rope
- January to December
- 30 Mins to 1 Hour
- 600 pp
Say Yak Cheese!
- May to October
- 30 Mins to 1 Hour
- 600 pp
Session with Amchi
- May to October
- 30 Mins to 1 Hour
- 600 pp
Nun for a Day
- May to October
- 1 Day
- 2500 pp
WE ARE LOCAL
Experience the Himalayas with Those Who Know Them Best. With us you will experience the region like an insider.
GOOD KARMA
What you pay for your trip goes directly towards funding several community initiatives from Healthcare to building Climate Resilience.
YOUR IN SAFE HANDS
Your safety is our utmost priority. We ensure our trips and staff follow the highest safety standards and protocols. In case of an emergency, air ambulance services are just a call away.
CLIMATE POSITIVE TRIP
Traveling with us means you leave a Negative Carbon Footprint – all your carbon emissions + more is offset by our award winning solar projects. You’re not just reducing your environmental impact—you’re actively making a positive difference for the planet.
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!
The experience with ‘Spiti Ecosphere’ was one of its kind, as it not only provided my wife and me with an experience of a lifetime, but also opened our minds to the hidden world of Spiti. Ecosphere ensured that it was a safe, clean, scenic and educative journey for us. Most importantly, it was humbling to see how Spiti Ecosphere, especially Ishita has changed the lives of the people of Spiti, by the untiring energy, that Ecosphere dedicates for the better upliftment of the local people. I would sincerely advise anyone to only use Spiti Ecosphere, if one plans Spiti as their destination.
A genuine responsible travel agency led by warm and sincere people. If you are looking for a real experience of Spiti in a way that supports the locals and protects their environment, Ecosphere must be your choice.
Spiti has left an unimaginable impressions on our minds and souls. Kudos to Ecosphere for organizing a very memorable trip and introducing us to the wonderful world of spiti with its magnificent peaks.A big thank you and warm hugs to the entire team of Ecosphere for doing such wonderful projects.!! Hoping to be back in spiti very soon. Once again thank you team Ecosphere for making our holidays so memorable and taking care of us like a family. Took care of us like family.
Spiti with Ecosphere was a life changing experience for me. I grew up as a person while 'living like a local' in this wonderland. Understanding the local way of life, its merits, its struggle and its sanctity had a profound effect on me. I've never traveled with an itinerary, so I was apprehensive doing the same here, but Ecosphere has done a wonderful job, not only in managing this programme for us but good work done by this organization is visible everywhere which somehow makes me feel extremely proud that I was tiny part of their efforts to do something good for real and not just for show. This was travelling redefined for me and I looking forward to be a part of the good work again, for sure.
This was the most rewarding experience of my life. . Spiti Ecosphere gave me an amazing volunteering opportunity that allowed me to help build a greenhouse in a small village in Spiti Valley, a mountain desert where nothing grows. I signed up for Ecosphere’s 2-week voluntourism program that combines volunteer work with the opportunity to explore the beauty of the valley without the negative side effects of commercial tourism. . What Ishita and Ecosphere are doing in Spiti is remarkable. Ecosphere is helping local communities create sustainable means of living through its many projects, volunteerism being just one of them.
Spiti with Ecosphere was a life changing experience for me. I grew up as a person while 'living like a local' in this wonderland. Understanding the local way of life, its merits, its struggle and its sanctity had a profound effect on me. I've never traveled with an itinerary, so I was apprehensive doing the same here, but Ecosphere has done a wonderful job, not only in managing this programme for us but good work done by this organization is visible everywhere which somehow makes me feel extremely proud that I was tiny part of their efforts to do something good for real and not just for show. This was travelling redefined for me and I looking forward to be a part of the good work again, for sure.
Outlook
World Travel and Tourism Council
Virgin Holidays & Responsible Travel
Wild Asia
Travel+Leisure
The Ashden Awards For Sustainable Energy
The Sierra Club
L’Oréal Paris
CNN IBN & Reliance Foundation
CNN-IBN
The IIPTI Global Awards
Economic Times
