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Key Monastery on a rocky hillside in Spiti ValleyPhoto: Naman Sood / Unsplash

Spiti Valley

Himachal Pradesh, India

A high-altitude cold desert of monasteries, fossil villages, and some of India's most dramatic roads. Spiti rewards slow travel and punishes rushing.

Backpacker / day
₹1,800–3,000
Mid-range / day
₹4,900–8,800
Best time
June to September (full loop); May and October for the Shimla side only
Ideal length
8–10 days for the loop
Gateway
Shimla or Manali (Chandigarh for flights and trains)
Altitude
Kaza about 3,800 m; villages up to about 4,500 m

Spiti sits behind the main Himalayan range in Himachal Pradesh, which keeps the monsoon out and leaves a landscape of bare ridges, river terraces, and whitewashed villages at 3,500–4,500 m. Kaza is the only real town; everything else is a village with a monastery, a few homestays, and a lot of sky.

Most travellers do a loop: in from Shimla through Kinnaur, out over Kunzum Pass to Manali (or the reverse). Going in via Shimla gains height gradually, which is the single best thing you can do for acclimatisation.

Day by day

8-day itinerary

₹14,400–24,000per person on a backpacker budget (estimate), excluding travel to get there

  1. 1

    Day 1: Shimla to Sangla or Chitkul

    Drive into Kinnaur along the Sutlej. Stay in Sangla valley or Chitkul, the last village before the Tibet border.

  2. 2

    Day 2: Kalpa

    Short drive to Kalpa for the Kinner Kailash view at sunrise. Rest day for altitude.

  3. 3

    Day 3: Nako and Tabo

    Nako's lake and village, then Tabo Monastery, founded in 996 and one of the oldest continuously running monasteries in the Himalaya.

  4. 4

    Day 4: Dhankar to Kaza

    Dhankar's cliffside monastery and the short hike to Dhankar Lake, then on to Kaza. Stock up on cash here.

  5. 5

    Day 5: Key, Kibber and Chicham

    Key Monastery in the morning, Kibber village, and the Chicham bridge over a deep gorge.

  6. 6

    Day 6: Langza, Hikkim and Komic

    Fossils and the big Buddha at Langza, a postcard from Hikkim's high-altitude post office, and Komic, one of the highest villages reachable by road.

  7. 7

    Day 7: Kaza to Chandratal

    Over Kunzum Pass to Chandratal lake. Stay in the camps near the lake (summer only) and watch the stars.

  8. 8

    Day 8: Chandratal to Manali

    The rough Batal–Gramphu stretch, then down through the Atal Tunnel to Manali.

Estimate budgetCompare

When to go

  • Jan—
  • Feb—
  • Mar—
  • Apr—
  • May—
  • Jun★ Best
  • Jul★ Best
  • Aug★ Best
  • Sep★ Best
  • Oct—
  • Nov—
  • Dec—
  • Jun–Sep: BestKunzum Pass and the Manali side are usually open, so the full loop and Chandratal are possible. Spiti is in a rain shadow, but the Manali–Kaza road can be hit by monsoon landslides.
  • May, Oct: MixedCold nights and quiet villages. The Shimla–Kinnaur side is usually open; Kunzum Pass often isn't, so plan an in-and-out trip.
  • Nov–Apr: AvoidWinter Spiti is possible only via Shimla, with temperatures far below freezing and frozen water pipes. Go with a local operator if at all.

Getting there

By road
Shimla → Reckong Peo → Nako → Tabo → Kaza is about 420 km over 2–3 days. Manali → Kaza over Rohtang/Atal Tunnel and Kunzum Pass is about 200 km but slow and rough; it only opens in summer. HRTC buses run on both routes in season, plus shared taxis from Manali.
By air
Chandigarh has the most flights. Bhuntar (Kullu) is closer to Manali but has few, weather-dependent flights.
By train
Chandigarh or Kalka, then the toy train or a bus to Shimla.

Budget per person per day

Estimated daily costs in Spiti Valley
ItemBackpackerMid-range
Stay (homestay or dorm)₹600–1,200₹1,800–3,500
Food₹400–700₹800–1,200
Local transport (bus or shared taxi)₹400–800₹2,000–3,500 (share of a private taxi)
Entry fees and extras₹100–300₹300–600
Typical day₹1,800–3,000₹4,900–8,800

Many Spiti homestays include dinner and breakfast in the room price. A private taxi for the full loop is the biggest cost; splitting it between four people brings it close to the bus budget.

Highlights

  • Key Monastery

    The fortress-like gompa above Kaza; go early for morning prayers.

  • Chandratal

    A crescent lake at about 4,300 m, reachable in summer from Batal.

  • Langza

    Fossil-rich slopes and a large Buddha statue overlooking the valley.

  • Pin Valley

    Greener side valley and national park, home to Himalayan ibex and, rarely, snow leopards.

  • Tabo

    Thousand-year-old murals in mud-walled halls.

Practical tips

Altitude
Enter via Shimla, spend a night at Kalpa or Nako before Kaza, drink plenty of water, and descend if a headache, nausea, or breathlessness get worse. Don't fly or drive straight from the plains to Kaza.
Permits
Indian citizens don't need a permit for Spiti. Foreign nationals need an Inner Line Permit for the stretch near the border between Kinnaur and Spiti, issued in Shimla, Reckong Peo, or Kaza. Check current rules with the district administration.
Cash and network
Kaza has a couple of ATMs that sometimes run dry; carry enough cash for the whole loop. Mobile data is patchy outside Kaza; download offline maps and your itinerary first.
Road status
Landslides and snow close sections without warning. Check the latest status with HRTC or local drivers the day before, and keep a buffer day.

Spiti Valley FAQs

Can I visit Spiti on a budget?

Yes. With HRTC buses, homestays that include meals, and shared taxis, many travellers spend ₹2,000–3,000 a day. A private taxi is the main thing that pushes costs up.

Is Spiti better from Shimla or Manali?

Enter from Shimla if you can. The road climbs gradually through Kinnaur, which lowers the risk of altitude sickness. Exit via Manali when Kunzum Pass is open.

When is Chandratal open?

Usually from about June to early October, depending on snow on Kunzum Pass. Camps near the lake operate only in that window.

Guide reviewed September 2026. Costs are estimates, not live prices. Check current prices, permits, weather, safety advice and schedules before you travel.