The bare hills around Tabo have been swept into uneven ridges by the winds and melting snow. Weather-beaten and mottled with loose boulders, in a long boat shaped valley, these hills hold a tiny hamlet, which is home to about 400 people. Tabo is the largest of all the monastic complexes in Spiti.
When the kingdom of Guge rose in Western Tibet after the assassination of Lang Darma because he rejected Buddhism, it encompassed the present day tracts of Spiti, Lahaul, Zanskar and upper Kinnaur. Tholling was the capital of Guge and its Gompa, monastery is still held in high reverence. Appropriately, the Tabo Gompa or Chos-khor as it is sometimes called, comes next in veneration.
For the truly adventurous the journey up from Sangla towards the Spiti Valley is a must-do! The Tabo terrain will leave you breathless and speechless. Rock-hard Desert Mountains, torrential rivers and icy cold winds account for the sparsely populated villages. At a height of 10,500 ft this high altitude desert is home to the second most important Buddhist monastery in the entire Himalayan region - the Tabo Gompa. It is now more than 1000 years old and is rumoured to be the place the Dalai Lama will finally settle in. 
The Banjara Retreat at Tabo overlooks the old monastery and is 1 km away from the Spiti river that flows through the area. It has been built in the local architectural style. There are comfortably furnished rooms with attached bathrooms and a well-equipped kitchen.

Best time to visit
The Retreat stays open from April to October. Temperatures vary from 26 degrees during the daytime in June to about 5 degrees during night time in October. The Tabo area does not usually experience rainfall even during the monsoon as it falls in a rain shadow area. Please carry sunscreen lotion and sun glasses. 
Accommodation
Eight fully furnished standard rooms and one family suite with attached baths. 24 hrs running hot and cold water.
Places to visit around the Retreat
Tabo Monastery
More than 1000 years old monastery in the village.
Nako Lake
Beautiful lake in the middle of the village at 3600 Mtrs. 
Dhankar Monastery
About 800 year old monastery. The monastery overlooks the confluence of Pin and Spiti rivers. An hours walk from the monastery takes you to the beautiful Dhankar Lake. 
Pin Valley
A short drive from Kaza is the spectacular Pin Valley, home to the Pin Valley National Park which is the natural habitat of the snow leopard and Himalayan ibex.
Kungri Gompa
This is Spiti's second oldest monastery located in the Pin valley. Kungri provides unmistakable evidence of tantric cult as practised in Buddhism. Kungri gompa is the main centre of the Nyingma-pa sect in Spiti. This monastery will form the venue of the next Kal Chakra to be held in 2004.
Lalung Monastery
Lalung Town at above 3800m in the Lingti Valley boasts one of the oldest monasteries of the region, which is dedicated to the female goddesses of Buddhism and contains a total of 51 deities, most of which are painted in gold.
Reaching Tabo from Shimla
From Shimla you take NH 22 via Kufri-Narkanda-Rampur-Sumdo upto Tabo. Shimla-Tabo is 365 kms. The Retreat is on the main road and is marked by the Banjara Retreat sign. 
By road from Manali
From Manali- take the Manali-Leh highway upto Gramphoo, 62 kms from Manali. At Gramphoo, turn right on Gramphoo-Batal-Kaza-Tabo road. Gramphoo-Tabo is 186 kms. The Retreat is on the main road and is marked by the Banjara Retreat sign .