Tabo Monastery
temple · 1 min from Tabo
1 night · 2 daysFirst visitTemples & heritagebalanced
Two days in Tabo — the monastery and the road to Gue
A two-day Tabo plan: the monastery founded in 996 and its cave retreats on day one, then the long drive to Gue and its mummy on day two. Free, copyable.
Two days: a slow first day at Tabo Monastery and the cave retreats, then the long drive to Gue Monastery on the second. The one-day plan takes Dhankar instead of Gue.
Timing is in when to visit Tabo, and the stops are in things to do in Tabo. The Tabo guide has the arrival table.
Photos: Trina Singha Roy (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Rollinghopes (CC BY-SA 4.0) — via Wikimedia Commons, resized.
Who this is for
Anyone with a night in Tabo who wants one off-the-main-road village as well as the monastery.
Day by day
Day 1
The monastery and the caves
A slow day in Tabo itself, with time for the paintings.
- 09:30Tabo Monastery, Himachal PradeshFounded in 996 CE; take your time over the walls. No photography inside.
- ↓ a short walk13:30Phoo Gumpha, TaboThe cave retreats in the cliff above, after lunch.
Day 2
Gue and the mummy
The long drive out; leave early and be back before dark.
- 10:00Gue Mummy Lama TombThe monastery at Gue, 76 minutes by road, which keeps the mummy of the monk Sangha Tenzin. Ask locally about any restrictions before you go.
Getting there
Tabo is 47 km from Kaza, roughly 67 minutes by car or bus. See how to reach Tabo for the full table.
Where to stay
Stay in Tabo both nights; Gue is a day trip, not a place to sleep on this plan.
Know before you go
- Ask in Tabo about any current restrictions before driving to Gue, and carry ID.
- Fill the tank and carry water; there is little on the road to Gue.
Places on this route
Other ways to do it
All Tabo itineraries →
Questions people ask
Is Gue a safe day trip from Tabo?
It is an ordinary public road to a village monastery, but Gue lies close to the Indo-Tibetan border. We have no verified rule on permits, so ask at Tabo or Kaza the day before, carry identification and do not photograph anything military. Leave early so you are back before dark.
How far is Gue from Tabo?
About 34 km by road, roughly 76 minutes by car each way. The road follows the Spiti river and then the Gue stream. Allow a full half-day for the round trip with the visit, and top up fuel and water before you leave Tabo.
Where should you stay for this plan?
In Tabo for both nights. Everything on day one is a minute away, and day two starts and ends in town, so there is no reason to move your bags. Rooms are simple here, and the monastery's own guest houses are one option.