Stay with us · Himalayan Brothers Hotels
Plan my trip
Key Monastery and the Spiti valley under snow

Spiti Valley tours, taxis & travel guide

A cold desert between Tibet and Lahaul: thousand-year-old monasteries, fossil villages and Chandratal lake. We run the circuit from our own hotel in Kaza, Spiti Villa.

Plan a Spiti Valley tripAsk a local
Altitude
Kaza 3,650 m · Key 4,166 m · Kibber 4,270 m
Best season
June – September; October for clear, cold days
Roads
Shimla–Kinnaur most of the year · Manali–Kunzum Jun to mid-Oct
Permits
None for Indian citizens · ILP for foreign nationals
Enquire

Spiti at a glance

Spiti is a high cold-desert valley in Lahaul & Spiti district, with Kaza as its main town at about 3,650 m. Villages and monasteries sit between 3,000 and 4,300 m, so the best trips go slowly: a rest day on arrival, plenty of water and a gradual climb.

Our usual route goes in from Shimla through Kinnaur and out over Kunzum Pass to Manali. That way you acclimatise on the way up and finish at Chandratal.

Snow-covered mountains above the Spiti valley in winter

Highlights

  • Key Monastery

    4,166 m

    The largest monastery in the valley, of the Gelugpa school, 12 km from Kaza.

  • Kibber

    4,270 m

    One of the highest villages lived in all year, and the base for Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary.

  • Tabo Monastery

    3,050 m

    Founded in 996 CE, with monks still meditating in the cliff caves above.

  • Dhankar

    3,894 m

    A cliff-top gompa above the meeting of the Spiti and Pin rivers. It was once the capital of Spiti.

  • Chandratal

    ~4,300 m

    A crescent-shaped Ramsar lake on the Manali side of Kunzum Pass.

  • Langza, Hikkim & Komic

    above 4,300 m

    A fossil village, a high-altitude post office and a monastery, all in a half-day loop from Kaza.

Best time to visit

  • Best

    June – September

    Both roads open and Chandratal reachable. Days around 15 °C in July; nights can still freeze.

  • Good

    October

    Clear, cold and quiet. The Manali road usually closes by mid-October.

  • Experts only

    November – May

    Deep winter, reachable only through Kinnaur. January lows can fall near −30 °C.

Sample itinerary: Spiti Circuit: 8 days, Shimla to Manali

  1. Day 1

    Shimla to Sangla

    Night: Sangla · Kinnaur

    Drive along the Sutlej into Kinnaur, with a lunch stop at Rampur. A long road day, so we start early.

  2. Day 2

    Chitkul and Kalpa

    Night: Kalpa
  3. Day 3

    Kalpa to Tabo via Nako

    Night: Tabo · police check at Sumdo
  4. Day 4

    Tabo, Dhankar and on to Kaza

    Night: Spiti Villa, Kaza
  5. Day 5

    Key, Kibber and Chicham

    Night: Spiti Villa, Kaza
  6. Day 6

    Langza, Hikkim and Komic

    Night: Spiti Villa, Kaza
  7. Day 7

    Kunzum Pass to Chandratal

    Night: camps near Chandratal
  8. Day 8

    Chandratal to Manali

    Trip ends in Manali

The Manali side is usually open from June to mid-October. Outside those months we return the way we came, through Kinnaur.

Things to do in Spiti Valley

All experiences

Stay with us in Kaza

Along the circuit we also book trusted guesthouses in Sangla, Kalpa and Tabo, and camps near Chandratal.

Routes, roads & permits

  • Shimla via Kinnaur

    • ~420 km to Kaza on NH-505
    • Most of the year

    Climbs gradually, which is best for acclimatisation. Short closures for landslides or heavy snow.

  • Manali via Kunzum Pass

    • ~200 km to Kaza
    • June – mid-October

    Shorter and more dramatic, crossing Kunzum Pass at about 4,550 m. Closed in winter.

  • Permits

    Indian citizens: no permit needed. Carry a valid photo ID.

    Foreign nationals: an Inner Line Permit is needed for the Kinnaur stretch near the border, checked at Sumdo. We apply for it as part of your booking.

    Rules change. We confirm them with the district office before you travel.

Taxi routes

Spiti Valley packages

All Spiti Valley trips

Spiti Valley FAQ

Is Spiti open in winter?

Yes, but only through Kinnaur. From November to May the Manali road is closed and temperatures in January can fall near −30 °C. Winter trips suit experienced, well-prepared travellers. We run them on request.

How many days do I need?

About 8 days for the full circuit from Shimla to Manali, so you can climb slowly through Kinnaur and rest in Kaza. If you are already in Kaza, 4 to 5 days covers the main monasteries and villages.

When can I visit Chandratal?

From late May to early October, while the road on the Manali side of Kunzum Pass is open. The camps near the lake are basic, with shared facilities, and the walk to the water is best at sunrise.

Which way should I enter Spiti?

Through Kinnaur from Shimla if you want to acclimatise slowly; that road is open most of the year. Over Kunzum Pass from Manali (June to mid-October) if you have less time. Our Spiti Circuit goes in one way and out the other.

Sources

Roads, weather and permit rules change. We check them before you travel; please confirm locally too.

Last reviewed by the Himalayan Brothers travel desk

Plan your Spiti trip with a local

Tell us when you want to go and how many of you are travelling. We’ll reply with an itinerary and quote on WhatsApp.

Plan a Spiti Valley trip