Mid-range Tented camp · Chandratal
Chandratal camps
A group of seasonal Swiss-tent camps in the designated camping area a few kilometres before Chandratal. Beds, heavy blankets, dinner and breakfast are included; some tents have basic attached toilets. This is the only way to stay near the lake, at about 4,250 m.
Photo: Adarsh Patel · CC BY-SA 4.0 · CommonsCamping on the shore of Chandratal is not allowed, so local operators set up seasonal camps in a designated area a few kilometres before the lake. Tents have beds and heavy blankets; some have small attached toilets, others share a block. Dinner and breakfast are served in a dining tent, usually dal, rice, vegetables and roti, with tea on demand. Power comes from solar panels or a generator for a few hours.
Nights are cold, often below freezing even in July, so bring a down jacket, a cap and a warm sleeping layer. At about 4,250 m this is a high night: do it after Kaza or after two nights at Jispa or Keylong, never straight from Manali. Camps open once the road is cleared, usually mid-June, and pack up in early October. Check current status before you travel.
Why we use it
- The only overnight near the lake
- A short walk to the lake for dawn light
- Dark skies far from any town
Best for
Trips that stay here
Sleep here on a trip
Photo: Sumita Roy Dutta · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Comfort
Spiti circuit: Kinnaur in, Kunzum La out
Private SUV with driver
Photo: This Photo was taken by Timothy A. Gonsalves. … · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Comfort
Lahaul and Chandratal from Manali
Private SUV with driver
Photo: Sumita Roy Dutta · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Signature
Slow Spiti and Lahaul with a private guide
Private SUV with driver, private guide
Around the stay
Chandratal
Chandratal, the moon lake, is a crescent of blue water at about 4,250 m below Kunzum La in upper Lahaul, a Ramsar wetland since 2005. Camps sit 2–3 km away and the last kilometre is on foot. The road opens roughly mid-June to early October. Sleep here only after nights in Kaza or Keylong.
Photo: Adarsh Patel · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Morning walk around Chandratal
Walk from the camps to the lake and around its shore at sunrise, when the water is still and the crescent reflects the …
Photo: John Hill · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Commons
Kunzum La and its roadside shrine
Stop at Kunzum La, about 4,590 m, between Spiti and Lahaul, where drivers circle the small shrine to Kunzum Devi and th…
Photo: Gerd Eichmann · CC BY 4.0 · Commons
Dal and rice at a Batal dhaba
Eat with drivers, bikers and trekkers at Batal, the tiny stop where the Chandratal road leaves the highway. Hot dal, ri…
Questions
About Chandratal camps
Can I camp on the shore of Chandratal?
No. Camping is allowed only in the designated area a few kilometres before the lake. Walk the last stretch and leave nothing behind.
How cold is it in the Chandratal camps?
Nights often drop below freezing, even in summer. Camps provide heavy blankets, but bring a down jacket, thermal layers and a warm cap.
Is there mobile network at the Chandratal camps?
No, there is no mobile signal at Chandratal. Tell family you will be out of contact for the night.
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