Planning a four-five day road trip with friends? Are you looking for some adventurous yet safe trails? What better place than Chitkul? 

The last village before the India-Tibet border, Chitkul is a paradise. Trust me, I am not overselling. We saw snowfall in April. The sky was crystal clear, the vibe was serene and the place was untouched by urban shenanigans. 

Chitkul was on my bucket list for a very long time and it felt so liberating to tick it off my list, finally. So, how did I plan my itinerary?

Delhi to Chikul in Four Days – Itinerary, Budget and More

Let me tell you one thing first, you shall not plan a trip to Chitkul if you do not have at least 4 days in hand. Yes, you can do it in three days if you drive for 12 hours a day, deprive yourself of sleep, and visit the place just for the sake of it. 

I needed one more day to soak in more but I was short on time #CorporateSlaves. However, it’s only for the best as I have many reasons to go back to Chitkul.   

My Four Day Itinerary for Chitkul

What you see below is the route we followed to reach chitkul. The tiny detour that you see for Kalpa was the decision I took. It was our pitstop on day one. I am sharing the day-wise itinerary and other travel details. Enjoy reading!

Day 1: Delhi to Kalpa – 580 km

My friends and I started our trip from Delhi on Friday night and reached Kalpa on Saturday evening. Kalpa was our first halt after a long and tedious drive of 17 hours. This was our longest stretch on the entire trip. We wanted to cover as much distance as possible on the first day because we knew as the bumpy roads start and the trip unfolds, our bodies will not be able to endure much. 

Kalpa was surprisingly beautiful and therapeutic. The view from our rooms was amazing. We got an unobstructed view of the Kinnaur Kailash or Kinner Kailash range. It was the month of April therefore the apple orchards were in their fullest bloom. The entire village was embellished with apple flowers. 

We woke up early the next day as we didn’t want to miss the sunrise but we were so close to the snow-clad ranges that by the time the sun was visible to us it was very intense. We rambled in the orchards, went to the monastery, stopped by a view we discovered on our way to Reckong Peo, and headed to Chitkul.   

Day 2: Kalpa and Chitkul 

The roads of Kinnaur district are anyway popular for their narrow and cliff-hanging drive-throughs. You’ll get a lot of them on this route. The road gets messier and the view gets prettier as you get closer to Chitkul. We pulled over our car at least three or four times on a 60 km stretch to savour the beauty of Kinnaur. #GuiltyPleasure 

We left Kalpa around 10 am and reached Chitkul around 2 pm. We had lunch at the famous Hindustan ka Akhri Dhaba. You get only limited options on the menu like chai, rusk, rajma, kadhi, chawal, etc. We ordered a thali of rajma chawal for Rs 100 each and it was yummy. You could refill rajma as many times. 

As we left the dhaba it started snowing and rushed to our homestay. You’ll not find fancy and luxurious stays in Chitkul so come mentally prepared if you are not used to it. I would suggest you go to a river-side camp. We had to book a homestay as all the camps were pre-booked. 

After freshening up and having tea, we hiked to the riverside. Some of us video called our friends and family, some meditated on the banks, and some crossed the river and went to explore the other side.

Read: What made my last minute trip to Shimla the best weekend getaway ever.

Day 3: Chitkul and Kotgarh

The previous night was exhausting, long and crazy as we danced till 2 in the morning. Yes, this happens when you plan a trip with your school friends after eternity. So our morning started late, even though we woke up early because most of us were sleepwalking only till 9 am. 

After hogging on break-fast and packing our bags, we went on a small hike to this hidden gadera/waterfall/stream on the other side of the Baspa river. It was a peaceful spot. The sounds we could hear were water flowing and wind blowing. We clicked a few pictures, filled our water bottles, relaxed a bit and left. I have attached the pictures below. 

We left Kotgarh around 2 pm. It was a 165 km journey that we covered in 7-8 hours. You’ll get a mesmerising view of Sangla valley and Rakcham village on the way. 

Day 4: Kotgarh to Delhi 

We lodged at 13 Forest BnB in Kotgarh. The view from our stay was amazing. Kotgarh used to be the closest village to Shimla during British times. What fascinated me the most was the fact that the first apple plantation that happened in Himachal Pradesh happened here in Kotgarh back in 1916. Cherry and apples of Kotgarh are of the finest quality and are famous worldwide. 

Our stay in Kotgarh was brief but I am revisiting the hub of cherries soon. 

All we did was – drove through the apple and cherry orchards nearby and visited a lake which was sacred to local people. Then we left for Delhi.

Things to do in Chitkul

Chitkul is a Himalayan hamlet perched at an altitude of 12,000 ft. You get to experience nature in its purest form. It offers all things organic and earthy.  

1. Stroll on the banks of the river Baspa

• Find a spot on the banks of the river, sit and meditate for a while. Take a walk along the river and breathe in the purest air. You may also cross the bridge to go to the other side of the river. Explore waterfalls, jungles and meadows after a long walk. 

2. Go on a hike or trek 

• Chitkul is a base camp for some amazing treks such as the Borasu pass and the Lamkhaga pass. These are long treks that end in Uttarakhand. However, there are some small treks of 2-3 km that start from the village itself. When you reach the summit you get a panoramic view of the Himalayas. 

3. Appreciate the local architecture and Mathi temple 

• Most of the houses in Chitkul are built on old wooden architecture and slate rooftops. The vibe of the local architecture is very original and rustic. The Mathi temple, built almost five centuries ago, is built with the kath kuni technique. It is again the finest example of wooden carvings that the Tibetan regions are famous for. Mathi is the local deity, who the locals believe is protecting the valley. She was one exemplary traveller herself. No wonder she chose Chitkul as her resting point after travelling from Vrindavan via Mathura and the foothills of the Himalayas. 

4. Have lunch at ‘Hindustan Ka Akhri Dhaba‘

• One must-do thing on this list is having rajma chawal at Hindustan ka Akhri Dhaba. The best part is it’s on the road, at a very prime location. You do not have to take time out especially to tick it off your bucket list. A thali of Rajma Chawal of Rs 100 is enough for one person with a good appetite and its lip-smacking good. 

Best Season or Time to Visit Chitkul

The best time to visit Chitkul is any time between April and September. However, the infamous roads of Kinnaur can be big trouble during rains. Roads between Sangla and Chitkul are a bit shoddy, you can only imagine their condition during Monsoon. Landslides and watery causeways are a common sight during rains. Between November and February, the town is covered in white carpet. Forget the luxury of water supply. So, the best time, in my opinion, is from April to June. The weather is pleasant and the roads are in good condition too. 

Hotel and Homestays in Chitkul

Like I said earlier, you shall not expect luxurious stays at Chitkul. There are a few homestays, hostels and campsites. 

1. Zostel

• Zostel Chitkul is one of the top choices for travellers. On long weekends and during peak season it is mostly sold out. They have bunk beds, private rooms and camps. It’s not as fancy as other properties of Zostel like Mussoorie, and Ramgarh but yes, much better than other options you’ll find in Chitkul. 

2. Baspa River Camps

• If you want to enjoy a riverside camp experience, the Baspa River Side can be one of the options. Enjoy star gazing, bonfire and authentic home-cooked meals.  

3. Mannat Homestay

• Mannat has five or six rooms for guests. You can either opt for room only or CP, MAP or AP. I stayed at Mannat for a night, thanks to Hamrahi for handling my accommodations for the entire trip.  

Network Connectivity and ATMs

Well, there was not either a few years back, the best place to go on internet detox. Right? BSNL had decent connectivity in Chitkul but now Jio has enhanced the connectivity in this remote village of Himachal. 

There is no ATM in Chitkul as of yet but with Jio taking the internet virginity of the town maybe there will be one soon. However, there is one ‘Digital Dukaan’ that offers cash-in and cash-out services like an ATM only. The nearest ATM is in Sangla and then in Reckong Peo. Make sure you carry enough cash while travelling to Chitkul because relying on ATMs in the mountains is not the smart thing to do.