Village · Key Gompa and Kibber, Spiti & Lahaul
Kibber lanes and the Chicham bridge
A slow afternoon in one of the highest villages in the world inhabited all year, then across the Chicham bridge for the view into the gorge. Best after two nights in Kaza.
Photo: Sanky cse · CC BY-SA 4.0 · CommonsKibber spreads across a plateau at 4,270 m, with stone houses, a small gompa and fields watered by a stream from the snow above. In summer, peas and barley are green and families work the fields until dusk. The village was the last stop on the trade route north over Parang La, and older villagers still remember caravans of horses and yaks.
Walk through the lanes without entering courtyards uninvited. Greet people with julley, ask before photographing anyone, and buy tea at a homestay cafe if one is open. Livestock comes home in the late afternoon: give dzo and yaks the path.
From Kibber, drive a few minutes to the Chicham bridge, which spans a deep gorge to Chicham village. Walk across, look down, and come back. Keep away from the cliff edges, and do not stop cars on the bridge. Back in Kibber, sunset light falls across the Spiti valley below.
Good for
Also in Key Gompa and Kibber
More days here
Photo: Pranav perspective · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
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Photo: Irbis1983 · Public domain · Commons
Winter snow leopard spotting from Kibber
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Trips through Key Gompa and Kibber
Do this on a trip
Each of these trips stops in Key Gompa and Kibber. Tell us and we keep a slot for this day.
Photo: Sumita Roy Dutta · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Saver
Spiti village homestays: Dhankar to Langza
Shared car to Kaza, then local buses and short taxi transfers
Sleep nearby
Stays in Key Gompa and Kibber
Questions
Before you book
How high is Kibber?
Kibber is at about 4,270 m, higher than Kaza by more than 600 m. Visit after two nights in Kaza and walk slowly.
Can I walk from Key to Kibber?
Yes, a road and older footpaths link them, about 7 km. It is a good acclimatisation walk once you have spent two nights in Kaza; take water and sun protection.
Is there a homestay in Kibber?
Yes, several family homestays operate in season and a few in winter. Book through your Kaza host or operator.