Spiti Valley trip guide: route, season and where to stay
Spiti is a cold desert between mountains, with thousand-year-old monasteries and villages cut off half the year. It is less known than Ladakh, and that is exactly why it is worth more: less traffic, the same monumental scale, shorter distances.
The classic loop
Most riders enter from Manali over Kunzum La and exit south to Shimla — up fast, down slowly, which suits acclimatisation.
- Manali to Kaza: about 200 km, a long day, Kunzum La at 4,590 m.
- Kaza: base for three nights — Key, Kibber, Langza, day hikes.
- Kaza to Tabo to Nako: monasteries and moonscape.
- Nako to Shimla: two days of steady descent.
When the road is open
Kunzum La usually opens in late May and closes in October. The Shimla side stays open most of the year but is dangerous in winter. July and August bring mudslides on the Manali side, which makes September the strongest month.
Beds and altitude
Kaza sits at 3,800 m. Accommodation is homestays and simple guesthouses, mostly unheated. A night at Chicham or Batal before going higher helps a lot.
As in Ladakh: don't climb and sleep high on day one, drink constantly, and descend if you get breathless at rest.
Don't miss
Key monastery above the valley, Kibber village, the fossils at Langza and the Chicham bridge. With a spare day, add Chandratal lake.
Frequently asked
- How many days do you need for Spiti?
- Seven to nine days for the full loop. Five days only cover one direction with a single night in Kaza.
- Spiti or Ladakh?
- Ladakh is bigger and more dramatic; Spiti is intimate, less touristed and has shorter distances. With one week, choose Spiti.
- Do I need a permit?
- Foreign nationals need an inner-line permit for the Sumdo—Tabo stretch when entering from the south. It is issued in Reckong Peo or Shimla.
- Is there mobile coverage?
- Very little, and mainly on Indian networks. Kaza has patchy internet; between villages there is nothing.