How Thrillophilia Turned Swati's Second Trip to Spiti into a Journey She'll Always Treasure

Thrillophilia Verified Booking
PNR: BKDRYLWVHSL
Rating: ★★★★★
Travellers: Swati Biswas & Arindam Ghosh
Trip Duration: 8 Days | 7 Nights
Date of Travel: 27 Sept 2025 to 4 Oct 2025
Package Booked: Spiti Valley from Delhi | FREE Lahaul Excursion

There are some places that stay with you long after you've left them. For Swati Biswas, Spiti Valley was one of those places.

She had travelled there once before on a solo trip, but this time, she wanted the experience to be different. She was returning with her boyfriend, Arindam Ghosh, and instead of planning every stop herself, she wanted to simply enjoy the journey. While searching for group departures from Delhi, they found Thrillophilia's Spiti Valley tour for an 8 day adventure.

Looking back, Swati smiles at that decision. "Although I had visited Spiti once before solo, this time I wanted a hassle-free and well-organised experience. So, my boyfriend and I started looking for group travel options and came across Thrillophilia’s 8 Days Spiti Group Tour (Delhi to Delhi). Booking it was one of the best decisions we made!"

Neither of them knew then that over the next eight days, they would discover not only the mountains they loved but also friendships, unexpected adventures, and moments that would stay with them long after they returned home.

The Beginning of the Journey in Manali

The trip started with an overnight bus ride from Delhi to Manali, where Swati and Arindam joined a group of fellow travellers, all excited for the week ahead. As the bus climbed into Himachal, the city slowly disappeared behind them, replaced by winding mountain roads, pine trees, and the Beas River flowing alongside. Swati had been to Spiti before, but this time, sharing the journey with Arindam made the experience feel completely different.

After checking into the hotel, the group headed out to explore Manali. They visited the peaceful Hadimba Temple before spending some time walking through the cafés and small shops of Old Manali. It was also the first chance for everyone in the group to get to know each other. Conversations started casually, and although they were still strangers at that point, there was an easy comfort that made the journey ahead feel even more exciting.

The next morning, everyone left Manali and began the drive towards Kaza. Crossing the Atal Tunnel, passing through Chatru and Batal, climbing Kunzum Pass, and stopping at Losar Village, the scenery kept changing with every hour. By the time they reached Spiti, it already felt like the journey itself had become a memorable part of the trip.

Exploring Kaza and the Villages of Spiti

The next few days revealed why so many travellers return to Spiti more than once. 

Komik welcomed them with endless Himalayan views from one of the highest inhabited villages in the world. At Hikkim, they stopped at the world's highest post office and sent postcards that would travel thousands of kilometres from one of the most remote corners of India. Langza stood beneath its towering Buddha statue, overlooking an entire valley that seemed untouched by time. At Key Monastery, centuries-old murals, fluttering prayer flags, and peaceful surroundings made everyone slow down a little.

They continued through Kibber, crossed the Chicham Bridge, explored the thousand-year-old Tabo Monastery, and visited Dhankar, where ancient monasteries stood dramatically above the meeting point of the Spiti and Pin rivers.

For Swati, these places became even more meaningful because someone was always there to explain the stories behind them. "Neetima Ji enriched our trip with her knowledge of the history and significance of every place we visited, their local foods and culture... making the journey feel even more meaningful."

The experiences extended beyond sightseeing. The group sampled seabuckthorn juice, warm cups of local tea, Babru for breakfast in Kaza, soft Himachali Siddu near Chicham Bridge, and other regional dishes that introduced them to Spiti one meal at a time.

One afternoon brought an unforgettable wildlife sighting when the group spotted Himalayan ibex moving naturally across the mountainside.

The second night in Kaza was even more interesting as they travelled to Langza after dark, all wrapped in layers against the cold, and watched the sky turn into something that many people only ever see in photographs.

In Swati’s own words, "The chill of the night was forgotten the moment we saw the Milky Way stretching across the sky... and yes, we even spotted an asteroid!"

It was one of those moments when nobody felt like speaking because simply looking up was enough.

Chitkul, Kalpa and the Journey Beyond the Original Plan

Mountain journeys rarely turn into something exactly the way you plan them to be.

During the trip, changing weather conditions meant Chandratal could no longer be visited. Naturally, the group felt disappointed at first. But instead of simply cancelling that part of the journey, Thrillophilia redesigned the route to include several beautiful destinations that hadn't originally been part of the itinerary.

Looking back, Swati had an amazing review to share for this impromptu plan and thanked Thrillophilia for making it work out for the better. To quote her excitement into words, she said, "While Chandratal was originally part of our itinerary, unpredictable weather led to its cancellation. At first, we were disappointed, but Thrillophilia didn’t just cancel – they adapted. Our route was beautifully reworked to include Shimla, Chitkul, Nako, Gue Monastery, and Kalpa. And honestly, it turned out to be even better than the original plan. No regrets at all!

When it came to Chitkul, it became one of the biggest highlights, with a night in tents under a sky full of stars, a warm bonfire, and long conversations that made the group feel more like old friends than fellow travellers.

There were memorable moments that no itinerary could have planned. As Swati recalled, "One moment that's etched in my heart is a spontaneous Maggi picnic in an abandoned but beautiful hut beside the Spiti River... It felt like something out of a movie." 

After visiting Gue Monastery and ending with the stunning views of Kinnaur Kailash at Kalpa, the group made its way back to Manali. By the time they boarded the overnight bus to Delhi, the goodbyes were much harder because, as Swati beautifully put it, "We didn't just make memories, we made true friends."

Why They Chose Thrillophilia

For Swati, the biggest reason for choosing Thrillophilia was simple. Having travelled to Spiti before, she already knew how demanding the logistics could be. This time, she wanted someone else to take care of the planning so she could simply experience the mountains.

That is exactly what Thrillophilia delivered with this journey.

From accommodation and transfers to sightseeing and daily coordination, everything moved smoothly, allowing the group to focus entirely on the experience. Even when weather disrupted the original plan, the team responded quickly with an equally rewarding alternative instead of letting the trip lose its momentum.

Neetima stayed closely involved throughout the journey, constantly checking on everyone while sharing fascinating stories about the places they visited. Their driver, Sai Ram Ji, navigated some of the country's most challenging mountain roads with remarkable patience and confidence, making long travel days feel comfortable and reassuring.

Swati also couldn't stop talking about the little things that often make the biggest difference.

“Also, all our stays were beautiful, cosy, and comforting – the kind of places that instantly make you feel at home. And the food, OMG, it was so delicious, light and healthy. And on our last day of the journey, because of Neetima ma’am, we had the opportunity to taste Himachali dham at Shimla; it was the best decision.

By the time they returned to Delhi, Spiti had once again left its mark on Swati, but this visit felt completely different from the first.

This time, the memories weren't only of dramatic mountain passes, ancient monasteries, and endless Himalayan skies. They were also of conversations around bonfires, spontaneous roadside picnics, new friendships, thoughtful planning, and discovering that sometimes the journeys that change direction unexpectedly become the ones you remember the most.

As she later wrote,

“This trip wasn’t just a vacation; it was a beautifully curated experience that gave me new memories, new friendships, and a fresh appreciation for the mountains. Thank you, Thrillophilia, for making it all so effortless, warm, and unforgettable. Highly recommend this to anyone who wants to experience the heart of Spiti – without the hassle and with a whole lot of heart.”

For Swati and Arindam, Spiti wasn't simply a place they visited. It became a journey they will always return to through the memories they brought home.

Also Read: Aparna's Spiti Trip with Thrillophilia