Himachal Pradesh · North 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.
Costs are typical per-person ranges in Indian rupees, reviewed September 2026. Check current prices and conditions before you book.
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 travelers 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 acclimatization.
When to go
Kunzum 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.
Cold nights and quiet villages. The Shimla–Kinnaur side is usually open; Kunzum Pass often isn't, so plan an in-and-out trip.
Winter 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
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.
Chandigarh has the most flights. Bhuntar (Kullu) is closer to Manali but has few, weather-dependent flights.
Chandigarh or Kalka, then the toy train or a bus to Shimla.
Budget
| Per day | Backpacker | Mid-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 |
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.
Itinerary
Drive into Kinnaur along the Sutlej. Stay in Sangla valley or Chitkul, the last village before the Tibet border.
Short drive to Kalpa for the Kinner Kailash view at sunrise. Rest day for altitude.
Nako's lake and village, then Tabo Monastery, founded in 996 and one of the oldest continuously running monasteries in the Himalaya.
Dhankar's cliffside monastery and the short hike to Dhankar Lake, then on to Kaza. Stock up on cash here.
Key Monastery in the morning, Kibber village, and the Chicham bridge over a deep gorge.
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.
Over Kunzum Pass to Chandratal lake. Stay in the camps near the lake (summer only) and watch the stars.
The rough Batal–Gramphu stretch, then down through the Atal Tunnel to Manali.
Don't miss
The fortress-like gompa above Kaza; go early for morning prayers.
A crescent lake at about 4,300 m, reachable in summer from Batal.
Fossil-rich slopes and a large Buddha statue overlooking the valley.
Greener side valley and national park, home to Himalayan ibex and, rarely, snow leopards.
Thousand-year-old murals in mud-walled halls.
Before you go
Questions
Yes. With HRTC buses, homestays that include meals, and shared taxis, many travelers spend ₹2,000–3,000 a day. A private taxi is the main thing that pushes costs up.
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.
Usually from about June to early October, depending on snow on Kunzum Pass. Camps near the lake operate only in that window.
Ladakh
7–9 days · ₹2,500–4,000 backpacking
Uttarakhand
3–5 days · ₹1,200–2,200 backpacking
Sikkim
6–8 days · ₹2,000–3,200 backpacking
