Dhankar
town · 46 min from Kaza
2 nights · 3 daysFirst visitClassicrelaxed
Three days in Spiti — Kaza's monasteries and the Pin valley
A three-day Kaza plan: the monastery circuit and Dhankar on days one and two, the Pin valley's Kungri and Lhalung on day three. Free on HimLocal.
The fullest ordinary visit to Spiti from Kaza: the monastery circuit on days one and two, then day three crosses to the Pin valley side for Kungri Monastery, Spiti's second-oldest, and Lhalung Gompa and Tangyud Monastery at Komic.
Days one and two repeat the two-day classic plan exactly; day three is new ground on a different road entirely.
Photos: Prasad Gaude (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Deepank Ranka (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Arup1981 (CC BY-SA 4.0) — via Wikimedia Commons, resized.
Who this is for
Anyone with three days who wants the full range of Spiti's fort monasteries, both sides of the valley, without extending as far as Tabo or the high loop to Langza and Komic's own village.
Day by day
Day 1
Key Monastery, Kibber, Chicham Bridge
Spiti's best-known trio on this side of the valley.
- 09:00Ki GompaSpiti's largest monastery, on a hilltop above the Spiti River, a religious training centre for lamas since the 11th century.
- ↓ 15 min by road · 7 km11:00KibberOne of the highest villages on the circuit, with a monastery of its own and a base for the wildlife sanctuary nearby.
- ↓ 17 min by road · 3 km13:00Chicham BridgeA suspension bridge at 4,145 m over the gorge between Kaza and Kibber's side of the valley.
Day 2
Dhankar and Dhankar Lake
One of Spiti's most dramatic settings — a monastery on a spur, a lake above it.
- 09:30DhankarA fort monastery on a 300-metre spur overlooking the confluence of the Spiti and Pin rivers.
- 12:10Dhankar LakeA high-altitude lake above the monastery, reached by a trek from it.
Day 3
Kungri, Lhalung and Tangyud
The Pin valley side — Spiti's second-oldest monastery and two quieter fort monasteries.
- 09:00Kungri MonasteryFounded roughly seven centuries ago, in the Pin valley — second only to Key Monastery in age among Spiti's gompas, and known locally for a sword dance performed by dancers from Mud village.
- ↓ 1 h by road · 35 km12:00Lhalung GompaA quieter fort monastery further up the Pin valley road, with a notable statue of Manjushri inside.
- ↓ 1 h 8 min by road · 38 km14:30Tangyud MonasteryAt Komic, one of the world's highest motorable villages — a fortified castle-like monastery from the early 14th century, on the edge of a deep canyon overlooking Kaza.
Getting there
Kaza is reached from Shimla via Kinnaur (NH505, open year-round except landslides) or from Manali via Rohtang Pass and Kunzum La (closed roughly October to June). See the hub guide for the full arrival table.
Where to stay
Kaza works as a base for all three days — each is a round trip, not an overnight move.
Know before you go
- Day three's three stops sit on two different roads — Kungri and Lhalung are in the Pin valley, Tangyud is back towards Komic on the main loop. Confirm the route with your driver before setting out.
- The sword dance at Kungri is performed on specific festival days, not on demand — ask locally if one falls during your visit rather than expecting it.
- Fuel up in Kaza before day three — options are limited once you're into the Pin valley.
Places on this route
Other ways to do it
All Kaza itineraries →
Day plan · First visitClassic
One day around Kaza — Key Monastery, Kibber and Chicham Bridge
A single-day Kaza loop: Key Monastery, Kibber village and Chicham Bridge over the gorge, with real drive times. Free, copyable itinerary on HimLocal.
Best Jun–Sep
See the plan →
1 night · 2 days · First visitClassic
Two days in Kaza — the monastery circuit and Dhankar
A two-day Kaza plan: Key Monastery, Kibber and Chicham Bridge on day one, Dhankar and its lake on day two. Free, copyable plan on HimLocal, with real distances.
Best Jun–Sep
See the plan →Questions people ask
What is the Pin valley known for?
Kungri Monastery, founded roughly seven centuries ago and second only to Key Monastery in age among Spiti's gompas, is known for a sword dance performed by dancers from nearby Mud village. It's a quieter side of the circuit than the main Kaza–Kibber–Dhankar loop, with fewer visitors.
Is Tangyud Monastery the same as Komic village?
Tangyud Monastery sits within Komic village, on the edge of a deep canyon overlooking Kaza — visiting the monastery is effectively visiting Komic itself, without needing to attempt the separate high loop road to Komic's own village centre further along.
Can this three-day plan be done in reverse order?
Yes — the days aren't dependent on each other, so starting with the Pin valley on day one and finishing at Key Monastery on day three works just as well, depending on which direction your onward travel actually takes you next.