11 Fun Things to do in Tabo, Spiti Valley

Tabo, the town which houses the oldest monastery in the country has a lot more to offer to travellers than just the Gompa.  Here is a list of things to do in the town.

1. Tabo Monastery

Of all the, monasteries in the country. The Gonpa in Tabo is surely the one where you will surely find the inner peace you seek. Established in 996A, the second oldest after Potala Palace in Lhasa. The Gonpa has ancient scrolls and murals with beautiful paintings on the wall done by natural paints.  One can easily spend an hour or two just mediating in the Monastery.

2. Monastery Tea

So the Tabo Gompa offers free Chai (tea) to everyone who enters the temple complex. The tea is totally worth trying and is a good way to bond with the locals and other backpackers.

3. Live with the Monks

A once in a lifetime experience to not just talk to the deep red-robed men known as Lamas. The Tabo Monastery offers travellers a stay in the guest house run by the Gonpa.  A night in the monastery stay is highly recommended. The best place in Tabo to stay and also the hardest to book.

4. Take a stroll in the fields

Behind the monastery is an entire stretch of green plantation of Peas. Head to the fields and get lost in the only patch of greenery the entire town has to offer.  Take a later afternoon walk and soak in some sun and fresh air or help the locals with their daily chores in the field.  Definitely the best way to get invited for a cup of chai after a few minutes of hard toil in the field.

5. Connect with Nature

At the far end of the fields is a concrete railing which is the best spot to just sit and be one with mother nature in the might Himalayas. With the towering Trans Himalayas on either side and the Spiti river flowing through them and the lush greenery of the fields, this place is just ideal for some soul searching.

6. Play with Dogs

If you are an animal lover or not, it does not really matter in the Himalayas. The dogs here are huge and furry with plenty of dread locks, bypass their imposing structure and they are arguably the friendliest and most loving creatures, you will come across on the entire journey. Open a packet of biscuit and over a dozen will flock to have a whole packet if not more. Don’t forget to take a selfie with them before you leave.

7. Hike to the Caves

A short 75-step hike from the main road and one reach the Tabo meditation caves. These caves are where the monks meditate for months during winters. From the caves, one will get a panoramic birds-eye view of the entire town of Tabo and the surrounding regions. Tie prayer flags at the top for some good Karma.

8. Spitian Nachos

In the monastery run guest house, a must-have is the home-made nachos. Filled with cheese and healthy vegetables, these nachos are not exactly what we are used to having in cities but will surely fill your stomach and be a good addition to your Instagram account.  

9. Star Gaze

The night sky in Tabo on a clear night is arguably the best in the entire valley. One will see over a million stars on a clear no moon night with hundreds of shooting stars all over the sky.  A must-do thing is to take a mat and a blanket and cozy up on the roof of your guest house and just stare at a blanket of twinkling starlight.  

10. Rooftop breakfast

Tabo has a couple of guest houses which have terraces where travellers can have their morning breakfast by getting a once in a lifetime 360° view of the rugged trans-Himalayas. The pray flags fluttering and the clouds moving make it a great option to start the day.

11. Sunset Time-lapse

Being so close to the sky makes Tabo an ideal place to shoot a time-lapse. Use your smartphone or DSLR and soon the entire sunset with a 5 or 10-second photo interval and what you will get a rugged wilderness time lapse. Don’t forget to carry a tripod for the same.

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