Kanamo Peak
The most accessible trekkable summit

Difficulty

Moderate

Duration

5 days

Max Altitude

19553 ft

Starting Point

Kibber village

End Point

Kibber village

Distance

24 KM

Best Time to Visit

July-Sep

Camping sites

The grand landscapes of Spiti valley
The feeling of climbing on dominant heights brings it’s own thrill. Once you have been in the rarified atmosphere above clouds and among glaciers you yearn to push yourselves a little harder. Such is the glamour of high trekkable summits that take you to heights which otherwise would require a proper expeditionary assault, yet being a trekkable peak you would not require anything but acclimatization to overcome it. Kanamo peak is a 6000 meter non-technical feature situated in the heart of Spiti, dominating the skyline of the Kibber and Tashigang villages. It is revered holy in the local folklores and lies in a valley totally untouched by time and modernity. Where people still follow the basics of life. Kanamo peak is comparable to the Mt.Stok Kangri in Ladakh, since Stok is also a non-technical feature that touches the revered 6000 meters ceiling and is perhaps the mecca of mountaineers after finishing their Basic Mountaineering courses.
kanamo-peak-trek-spiti-hikesdaddy
The spiti valley in summers.Picture credit : Awara_traveller
Enroute the Kanamo peak from Kibber
However Kanamo registers itself right up there, in terms of the thrill and difficulty. It is funny that the companies which commercialized Stok now call it commercialized because of the rise of local Ladakhi mountaineering ecosystem. Both the peaks have their own charm. That being said, Kanamo lies in a fossil belt and the nearby region is full of fossils. It is a challenging yet non-technical trek most of which is through the scree sections with very steep gradient. The Kanamo peak has an overhanging glacier on the other side and from the peak you get to see the entire skyline of Spiti in one go. The peak is easily accessible in all the summer months, come winters and it transforms into a proper mountaineering expedition.
kanamo-peak-trek-spiti-hikesdaddy
Jaw-dropping views on Kanamo trek. Picture credit : Awara_traveller

Short Itinerary

.Brief Itinerary
Day 1 : Manali to Kaza ; 204Km ; 10 hours (drive)
Day 2 : Kaza to Kibber ; 19Km ; 1 hour (drive)
Day 3 : Kibber to Kanamo Basecamp ; 5Km ; 6 to 7 hours
Day 4 : Basecamp to Kanamo Summit to Basecamp ; 14Km ; 10 hour trek; 7 hr ascent, 3 hr descent
Day 5 : Kanamo Basecamp to Kibber ; 5Km ; 5 hours

Hikesdaddy Itinerary

Trek from:
Manali to Kaza
Trek gradient:
Bumpy road trip
Water Sources:
N/A
You will have to position yourself at Manali to start your journey towards Spiti valley. Manali is an overnight bus ride away from Delhi. Once you reach Manali ,Himachal road transport buses are available till Kaza, the headquarter of Spiti Valley. The route to Kaza requires crossing over the Rohtang Pass. However nowadays the Atal tunnel is functional which reduces the time to reach Lahaul by almost 3 hours. After crossing the tunnel you will be in Lahaul, with the Chandra river flowing to your side and massive barren mountains throughout the route before reaching Kaza at around 4:00 PM. You can take a stroll in the Kaza market, however you are advised to rest after the strenuous journey. Read: All about Manali to Kaza
The magnificent Spiti valley.Picture credit : lostbandar
Trek from:
Kaza to Kibber
Trek gradient:
Increase in altitude.
Water Sources:
N/A
Today you will be moving towards Kibber village from where the Kanamo peak trek starts. On the way to Kibber falls the Key Monastery, which is an ancient monastery in the region and has connections with the tibetian form of Buddhism. In the ancient times Spiti was part of the extended Tibet region for brief periods. However it had enjoyed good trade relations with the erstwhile tibetian kingdoms throughout. To know more plugin to our article about Key Monastery. After visiting Key Monastery you will be on your way to Kibber village. Buses and taxis both ply for Kibber from Kaza. Also hotels are available in Kibber. Plugin to our guide to plan your journey from Kaza to Kibber.
The barren terrain terrain near Kibber.Picture credit : lostbandar
Trek from:
Kibber to Kanamo Basecamp
Trek gradient:
Levelled walk followed by an increase in gradient through scree.
Water Sources:
Water from the lake one hour away from Kibber on the trail.
The route to the Kanamo Basecamp starts from Kibber and takes you near the base of the mountain. The route has plain sections as well as scree sections. It starts with a gradual ascent from the Kibber village after which the trail becomes more or less levelled. During this period you will come across two lakes. One of them supplies water to the town of Kaza. Recently it was the due to the pollution of these water bodies due to tourist activities, the Kibber village panchayat paused the Kanamo trek. But it has since resumed. After passing by these water bodies you will find that the gradient of the terrain is increasing gradually before reaching the Kanamo base camp which is dotted by stones piled on top of one another to mark the site. For the day you can rest here and enjoy the views of the arid terrain around you.
The scenes enroute the Kanamo Peak. Picture credit : Awara_traveller
Trek from:
Basecamp to Kanamo Summit to Basecamp
Trek gradient:
Two humps in the initial period.Very steep ascent through loose scree throughout.Carefully traverse upto the peak.
Water Sources:
Carry 3-4 liters of water for today and the the day of summot push.
You will have to start early in the morning today. Start the push for the Kanamo peak by 5:00 AM in the morning. You will see the skies changing colors as you make your way to the first shoulder and will see the entire skyline get illuminated. Slowly make your way to the second shoulder keeping a steady pace. Once you make your way to the second shoulder you have completed half the journey to the peak. From now on the path till the peak will have a steep gradient and is covered with scree sections. More than once you will run out of breath but continue your assault towards the peak after taking small breaks to catch up your breath. After having gradually ascended through the ridge you will find yourself at the Kanamo peak which is marked by the prayer flags and the stone formations. From here the entire skyline of Spiti valley is visible. You will be surrounded by the dominating mountain peaks in the region and will be at the zenith of your expedition. Don’t try to go too far into the snow side of the peak, as it might be a serac and might give in under your weight. After spending a good 20 minutes on the summit it’s time to come down to the base camp. Have a drink of water and continue your descent. You will have to be extra cautious while coming down from the ridge as a minor slip of foot can prove fatal here. Also not getting carried away and controlling your rate of descent is the key to safety in this leg of your trek. You can come down slowly while enjoying the vistas for one last time.
The snow overhang at the Kanamo Peak. Picture credit : Awara_traveller
Trek from:
Basecamp to Kibber
Trek gradient:
Gradual descent.
Water Sources:
Water from the lake on the trail.
The trail from the Kanamo basecamp is downhill and you will be traversing on rock and scree sections throughout. This journey is a true moment of bliss after having completed the summit, coming back to the Kibber village with the tall mountain behind you and distant mountains ahead of you. You will pass by the twin lakes once more, spend few minutes her and reflect upon your journey so far. After reaching Kibber have your lunch at any of the local restaurants and plan your journey ahead, as the entire Spiti valley is dotted with inummerable places of interest. You can visit our guide to Spiti, which has all the villages and places of interest listed. However few places off the bat would be Dhankar village and Mudh village, both very interesting. If you have time on your side, Mudh is the place to go to give your trip a grand closing.
Camp setup near the Kibber. Picture credit : lost_bandar

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