Started from Manali where I arrived a day early to acclimatise little bit longer and to be not stressing to arrive. Trips this direction are unpredictable as was shown by the plane that didn't deliver as promised one of the participants. I arrived by cab, long ride but more relaxed then wondering if flight arrives.
After a nice day around Manali we started the next day early in the morning as we expected a long ride (10 hours), normally google is quite accurate but for this I don't believe their estimate. Estimate is 4:40 with the message that the road is now closed, assume because it is winter.
The car in the next picture only could cross after a lot of rocks were thrown in to create some driving surface. No photo's of us crossing as I was in the bus, took quite some time also as we got stuck and the other car had to pull us out. Welcome to the Spiti Highway 😏.
Next day a more relaxing day with a visit to the Key Monastery (4166 m), here you will feel the difference in height as two days before I was only at 913m in Bangalore. Changing this quickly will force you to take it calm. Walking up to get a good view of the Monastery from above took some time. Result a nice view over the valley and Monastery.
Some more Monastery pictures where we were looking for monks and nice lights, both available but then still a challenge to get together with the right distance, angle etc.
Back at Langza we went into the field to prepare for sunset. Again the ladies in the field some of them not agreeing to be topic for a photo even after quite some talking, but mother and daughter agreed after a long discussion. Luckily for me the daughter was speaking good English and she was able to convince her mother. She had a university degree but still would come home and work in the fields and was intending to stay even after graduation. Looking around I can imagine.
The next day we switched to Chandratal, where a camping place was waiting for us. Here you see the way the people can improvise as our tents were double booked and we cam in second. Little bit spreading out but still all got a good place to sleep. Much more comfort then I would have in my own tent. On the way we crossed again something that claimed to be the highest, this time the highest bridge at 4145 m.
After the clouded sunrise we returned to Manali to end the trip, not with all the night photo's that we hoped for but still an amazing trip.
If you have the opportunity don't hesitate. For all photo's see the Spiti photo page