Snow Leopard Photo Tour in Spiti Valley (Kibber WLS)
It might strike you as both bizarre (and equally fascinating) to drive to Spiti valley and Kinnaur during wintertime. Though for solitude seekers and wildlife photographers — with a goal to unplug and get off-grid, or spot endangered (now vulnerable) snow leopards and assorted mammal and bird species in Kibber wildlife sanctuary — the snowscapes…
Exploring Sangla – A Ravishing River Valley in Kinnaur
The picturesque and heavenly Sangla valley — alternatively known as Baspa valley — of Kinnaur attracts backpackers and travelers from across the globe. It is named after Sangla village, the largest in the Sangla valley. People of Kinnaur refer to the valley as the Tukpa Valley. Located in the middle of the valley, 18 km…
Himachal Pradesh Home Stay Rules 2025
The picture on the first page of the Himachal Pradesh Home Stay Scheme 2008 depicts a quintessential Himachali home located by a river. On its slate stone roof, built in the traditional Kath-kuni style, corn is drying. The image also shows people harvesting grains in their fields, cascading hills, and snowy mountaintops on the horizon.…
HRTC Baggage Policy & Terms Decoded (Tips & Fee Chart)
HRTC (Himachal Road Transport Corporation) is well known for its drivers driving buses through vertiginous landscapes of Himachal Pradesh. However, a few people know that HRTC — though established in 1974 — came up with a luggage fare policy only in August 2023. Needless to say, the revenue generation of the corporation have been boosted…
Temso – A High Altitude Sacred Lake in Kinnaur
Temso (also spelled as Tem Tso) is a sacred glacier fed lake located high (4979 meters) above Lippa and Labrang villages of Kinnaur. Each year, on 20 bhado, a flower festival — called Fluiach/Ukhayang/Minthko — is celebrated by the villagers of Lippa, Labarang, Kanam and Ropa valley at the shores of this Lake. The Tibetan…
Get Inner Line Permit (ILP) for Kinnaur & Spiti Valley (Step-by-Step Guide)
Inner line permit is an official travel document that allows an Indian citizen to travel to restricted/protected borders areas of India. Prior to August 2021, such areas extended from Ladakh Union Territory to Arunachal Pradesh all along the India-China border. Ladakh UT administration waved goodbye to the ILP condition for domestic tourist in August 2021. …
Top Photo Spots on Spiti Valley (Circuit) Road Trip
Wrapping up my series on the best photo spots from my trip to the Kinnaur and Spiti valley of Himachal Pradesh! Escaping the daily grind, we started on a week-long adventure in the majestic Greater and Trans Himalayan mountains of Himachal Pradesh. The first day was a treat for my taste buds as we indulged…
Tso Moriri – Hiking Shores of Ladakh’s Azure Lake
Sitting alone in silence on a mound overlooking the staggering blue waters of Tso Moriri, while the cold mountain winds froze my face in the searing afternoon heat of high altitude, it felt like life came full circle. Five years before this moment, I was standing at that very same spot where the jeep track…
Backpacking & hiking in Spiti (Tabo, Dhankar & Lhalung)
“Spiti valley backpacking & hiking (Tabo, Dhankar and Lhalung) ‘You mean to say we are walking between villages in Spiti?’, I asked, making a puzzling face. ‘Yes, as much as we can’, Arpita replied with conviction in her voice.” I debated between waiting for hitching a ride, but considering that it was already past 4…
Unexplored Kinnaur – Rusklang village of Ropa Valley
Kinnaur in northeast Himachal, surrounded by Tibet in the east, is the least explored and the second least populous district, after Lahaul & Spiti, in Himachal Pradesh, India. The old Hindustan-Tibet road, the ancient Silk Route, passes through Kinnaur along the banks of Sutlej River. Kinnaur Kailash is a peak (6500 meters) in Kinnaur, considered…
Delightful Charang Village of Kinnaur
After trekking for what seemed like most part of the day from Thangi & Lambar, we reached Charang – a delightful little village. I had no clue what lay ahead of us – the Kinnaur Kailash Parikrama (otherwise known as Charang-La pass)! Charang, last village on Indo-Tibet border One of the most challenging, once in a lifetime adventures I’ve had…
I Stayed in Key Monastery for 3 Days (and Savoured Tsampa)
This is how things unfolded in Spiti Valley, —quietly, unexpectedly. On the morning of 22 September 2018, I woke early and looked out of the guesthouse window in Kaza. The bright grey landscape that had stretched endlessly the previous day was now transformed. Overnight, it had disappeared beneath a white blanket of sleet and snow.…
Khimloga (Khimlay) Pass Recce From Chitkul Side
Khimloga or Khimlay pass; it is no longer used by the Shepherds and traders. It is an old trade route between Lewari (Uttarakhand) and Chitkul in the Baspa Valley or Sangla Valley. We enquired with the locals about this pass, but no one seemed to have crossed it. One of the locals said that earlier…
Charang Monastery: The Oldest Temple in Kinnaur
My first ever trek was to Kedarnath in Rudraprayag, Uttarakhand, a small town in the Garhwal Himalayas flanked by snow-covered peaks, famous for its Shiva temple. Almost a decade later, when I got the opportunity to do the Kinner Kailash Parikrama trek, I was thrilled! After traveling in public transport, bikes, and cars, what I enjoy…
Auden’s Col: #1 Trek Expedition in India
Last 25 days I have been to the most exotic yet most secluded corners of Indian Himalayas. I have hiked and climbed one of the most challenging and dangerous regions during this expedition. I was extremely lucky to witness some incredible landscapes and was lucky to see it’s fascinating yet unique wildlife. Auden’s Col Expedition…
Kinnaur Bus Timetable (New Timings)
Reckong Peo bus stop is located near HPPWD Circuit House, Reckong Peo. Mostly, the government run Himachal Pradesh Transport Corporation (HRTC) buses run from the Reckong Peo bus stop. The bus stop is colloquially known as Peo bus stand, as the locals prefer to call the town ‘Peo’. Travelers can also take a bus from…
Spotting Snow Leopards Of Kibber (in Spiti Valley)
It was a sunny, yet blistering cold day, with temperatures around -15 degrees Celsius. We had spotted a male snow leopard across the valley, sleeping in a shallow cave in Kibber wildlife sanctuary (WLS). This cat was about 600 meters away (as viewed through the lens), with a steep, narrow gorge and a river at…
Parang La Pass (Trekking From Kibber To Tso-moriri)
Despite nearly losing one hiking boot to its flow just minutes before, crossing the thigh-high fast currents of the Pare Chu River at Norbu Sumdo felt strangely exciting. After all, there’s only so much walking on river bed that one can take. Walking through dry valleys for days after crossing the Parang La pass, even…
Uber Charming Chitkul Village of Himachal Pradesh
I wonder why people who plan to explore the most scenic state of Himachal Pradesh only end up visiting Shimla or Manali? What a lost opportunity to experience the real beauty of Himachal Pradesh, which lies in locations beyond these popular towns. Chitkul, for instance, is a hidden gem that can offer a memorable experience away…
Manirang Pass Trek Log
Manirang Pass Trek Itinerary Day 1: Mud Village to Mane. Mane village to Manirang base camp 2nd of August Took a bus from Mud village to Mane village. Trekked to Manirang Base camp near Mor Nala (a stream or rivulet). Coordinates (lat 31.97792N, long 78.31715E). Day 2: Manirang base camp to advance base camp 3rd…
Guest Post Guidelines | Write For Raacho Trekkers
We are currently accepting the guest posts. We accept guest posts from travel bloggers or from someone who has actually visited the place. We prefer a true experience and good storytelling over linguistic & writing skills If you want a link back to post on your blog that’s fine. We offer one (do-follow) link back…
Crossing the Himalayas: From Leh To Kathmandu
The 28-year-old French adventurer Eliott Schonfeld, winner of the GEO Adventure contest, crossed the Himalayan chains on foot and on horseback from August to December 2017. After four and a half months of trudging in trans-Himalaya, he gradually got rid of the modern comforts & paraphernalia. The aim was to replace the products of modern…
Exploration Of Peaks in Kinnaur & Spiti Valley of Indian Himalaya
We went to Kinnaur and Spiti region in the summer of 2014 to explore the untrodden virgin peaks. Our expedition team consists of five members, Akira Taniguchi, Masahiro Fukumoto, Masayasu Murakami, Etsuko Kobayashi, and Kimikazu Sakamoto (Leader). We are so much interested in the Spiti area, being impressed with the book “Spiti – Adventure in…
Kedartal Lake Trek – A Dream Trail For Hikers
Kedartal, as the name indicates, it is the Lord Shiva’s lake. The legend says Shiva created this lake as a contribution to River Bhagirathi. The lake is believed to be the origin of Kedar Ganga, a tributary to Bhagirathi which joins the river at Gangotri. But, in that landscape, you happen to see Kedar Ganga…
My Solo Trip To Spiti Valley in Frigid Winter
Better late than never. After multiple attempts to convince my parents, I finally completed my FIRST ever solo trip to Spiti valley in frigid winters. Like every first thing, it was special. So, I chose to go solo to SPITI Valley. Yes, the most beautiful, serene, and one of the most exotic places in the…
How Lamkhaga Pass Trek Made Chitkul Worth Visiting?
The Lamkhaga pass trekking is an amazing but exhausting experience. We trekked through beautiful villages, farm terraces, river streams, forests, and suspension bridges. Jaw-dropping views compensated for the boulder-strewn terrain & strenuous climb. 8 to 12 hours of trekking on average every day. Lamkhaga Pass The route to the Lamkhaga Pass is exceptionally scenic with…
Lamkhaga Pass Trek Blog – May 2018 Expedition
Lamkhaga Pass (5282m) (Chitkul in Sangla valley to Harsil village of Garhwal, Uttarakhand), May 2018 Chitkul to Harsil/Gangotri trek The trek starts from the last village of Kinnaur, Himachal and ends at Harsil in the Gangotri valley of Uttrakhand. That is why, the Lamkhaga pass trek is also known as Chitkul to Gangotri trek or…
Lamkhaga Photostory: The Chitkul-Harsil Trek
Lamkhaga photoblog Lamkhaga Pass (5284m) is one of the most beautiful and challenging treks I’ve done so far. This 8-day trek connects the beautiful village of Chitkul in Sangla or Baspa valley of Kinnaur, Himachal to Harshil (Gangotri region, Uttarakhand) through some of the remote regions, usually not accessible for the civilians. The amount of…
Kinnaur Kailash Trek Blog
Otherwise, called Kinnaur Kailash Parikrama, this trek is circumambulation (parikrama) around the holy Kinnaur Kailash Range.Kinnaur Kailash is one of the 5 Kailash a Shiv Bhakt must-visit (others being Shrikhand Mahadev, Manimahesh Kailash, Adi Kailash, and Kailash Mansarovar). Kinnaur Kailash Parikrama Trek Kinnaur Kailash itself has two important routes from the pilgrimage perspective.1) Kinnaur Kailash…
Lamkhaga Pass Trek (May 2018) Expedition Log
Lamkhaga Pass (5282 m) (Chitkul to Harsil), May 2018This Himalayan high pass divides Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh from Uttarakhand in India. We followed the following route: Chitkul to Harsil (Gangotri) Trek This is a remote pass and very few groups have finished this. Thus, it could be a good option for all those who loves to…
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2 responses to “Raacho Log”
Keep going strong ❤️
Best wishes from Spain
CiaoHi,
I’m a reader of your awesome website. Your website contains lots of content about traveling & outdoor activities, which are awesome and helpful.
I’m writing to you because I’d love to contribute a guest post on your awesome website about traveling in India. Last month, I’ve been traveling to some wonderful places near Mumbai, especially Pawna Lake, and the Gateway of India. I have some good memories and experiences that I would love to share with your website readers.
I’ll make sure the piece overflows with information that can’t be found anywhere else. I hope my content will help your readers to get new ideas and tips.
Cheers,
Nihal
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