By mark1967
26 June 2008 17:57
Has anybody done any decent trekking in Lahaul and Spiti? I was in the area about ten years ago but only did a few day trips from Kaza. Has anybody got info on maps, guide books, routes etc? Also any advice on guides and mules would be helpful. I'd rather not use guides, but realise I may have to hire a mule and mulateer. Cheers, Mark
Answer
By Trail magazine
Lahaul and Spiti is a remote, primitive but breathtaking area of the Himachal Pradesh region of the Indian Himalaya.
There are few specific guidebooks to the area, with most available information contained in bigger books, all available from Amazon. Try Lonely Planet’s India or A Guide to Trekking in Himachal Pradesh: Over 65 Treks and 100 Destinations by Minakshi Chaudhry. (There is also a map sheet entitled A Trekking Map of Ladakh, Lahaul and Spiti published by Melvyn R King.)
The best way to get information about local guides and tours is to contact the official government tourism site for the region at www.himachaltourism.nic.in. This is a reliable organisation which should be able to dispense advice on hiring muleteers and guides, and also profiles a number of treks on the website. Another good source of info is the Directorate of Mountaineering and Allied Sports.