Challenging

Spiti Valley Tour Package, 7 Nights 8 Days from Shimla to Manali

8 days / 7 nightsStarts Shimla
8 days
7 nights
Shimla
start point

June to September for the full circuit, when the Kunzum road to Manali is usually open. The Shimla side stays open most of the year, but snow can shut it for days. Avoid driving in heavy monsoon rain in Kinnaur.

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Overview

Tour overview

This Spiti Valley tour package takes you round the full circuit in 7 nights and 8 days. You go in slowly from Shimla through Sarahan, Sangla, Kalpa and Nako, so your body gets used to the height, and you come out over Kunzum Pass and Chandratal to Manali. We tell you plainly which months the Kunzum side is open, who needs a permit, where the phone works and where to fill fuel.

What does this Spiti Valley tour package cover?

This Spiti Valley tour package is 7 nights and 8 days. You start in Shimla and you end in Manali. On the way you sleep at Sarahan, Sangla, Kalpa, Tabo, Kaza for two nights, and one night near Chandratal.

You go in by the Shimla side for one simple reason: it lets your body get used to the height. You climb a little each day, from about 2,300 m at Sarahan to about 3,650 m at Kaza. Then you come out over Kunzum Pass, at about 4,551 m, and down through the Atal Tunnel to Manali.

On the way you take darshan of Goddess Bhimakali at Sarahan. You see Chitkul, Kalpa, Nako, the 1,000-year-old Tabo monastery, Dhankar, Key, and the high villages of Kibber, Langza, Hikkim and Komic. If you want a softer trip first, our Shimla Manali tour packages cover the lower hills.

Which months is the Kunzum side open?

The road over Kunzum Pass links Spiti with Manali. Snow shuts it every winter, and the date changes every year. In most years it is open from late May or June to October or November. The Border Roads Organisation clears it, and the Lahaul and Spiti district decides when cars may go.

Here is what happened in the last three seasons, from The Tribune:

  • 23 November 2024: the district closed the Gramphu to Losar stretch till the next summer. It warned that anyone who broke the order could be punished under the Disaster Management Act.
  • 6 October 2025: early snow closed the road. By 14 October 2025 it had opened again for light 4x4 vehicles.
  • 25 November 2025: the Gramphu to Losar stretch was shut for the winter, for black ice.
  • May 2026: after more than six months, the road opened again for light 4x4 vehicles. Heavy vehicles came later.

So June to September is the safe window for this full loop. When Kunzum is shut, you can still reach Kaza from the Shimla side. You then come back the same way. We check the status the week you leave, and we tell you honestly if the plan must change. Please check the current road status with us before you book.

How do you avoid altitude sickness in Spiti?

This is the most important part of your trip. Kaza is at about 3,650 m. Key, Kibber, Langza, Hikkim and Komic are all above 4,100 m. Altitude sickness can hit fit young people too. In June 2025 a tourist died of it near Darcha in Lahaul.

The signs are headache, breathlessness, dizziness and nausea. Here is how you keep safe:

  • Go up slowly. This plan climbs a little every day, and on most nights you sleep lower than the highest point of the day. That is why we come in by Shimla.
  • Drink plenty of water. Do not drink alcohol or smoke, at least for the first days.
  • Walk slowly at Kaza. On your first evening, rest. Do not run up monastery steps.
  • Talk to your doctor before you go if you have heart trouble, high blood pressure, diabetes or a breathing problem. Ask your doctor before you take any medicine for altitude.
  • If the signs get worse, go down. Local guides in Kaza say to drop 600 to 1,200 m when the signs are bad. Never go higher with a bad headache.

Our car carries a first-aid kit and a small oxygen can, as the Lahaul and Spiti police advise. The oxygen can is for an emergency on the way down. It is not a reason to go higher.

Your altitude ladder, night by night

Most pages give you one height for Spiti. You should know every one. Here is how high you sleep and how high you go each day.

  • Night 1, Sarahan: about 2,313 m.
  • Night 2, Sangla: about 2,621 m. Day visit to Chitkul at about 3,450 m.
  • Night 3, Kalpa: about 2,760 to 2,960 m (sources differ).
  • Night 4, Tabo: about 3,050 m. Day stop at Nako at about 3,625 m.
  • Nights 5 and 6, Kaza: about 3,650 m. Day visits to Dhankar (about 3,894 m), Key (about 4,166 m), Kibber (about 4,270 m), Langza (about 4,420 m), Hikkim (about 4,400 m) and Komic (about 4,587 m).
  • Night 7, near Chandratal: about 4,250 to 4,300 m. You cross Kunzum Pass at about 4,551 m.

The Chandratal night is your highest sleep. If anyone in your group feels unwell at Kaza, we skip it. You then drive from Kaza to Manali in one long day with a short stop at the lake.

Do you need a permit for Spiti?

If you hold an Indian passport, you do not need an inner line permit for this route. Carry a photo ID for each person. Check posts on the road may ask for it. Rules can change, so our team confirms this again when you book.

If you are a foreign national, you need a permit for the stretch near the border. The Kinnaur district site lists places such as Nako, Pooh, Khab and Chango, and in Spiti, Sumdo, Tabo and Dhankar. Permits are for groups of two or more, through a recognised Indian travel agency, for up to 30 days. SDM offices at Shimla, Rampur, Kalpa (Reckong Peo) and Kaza can issue them. Pay the fee at the current official rate.

A note for OCI card holders. Many NRI families miss this. An OCI card does not make you an Indian citizen for this rule. The Consulate General of India says OCI card holders must get a Protected Area Permit before they visit such areas. Send us your passport and OCI details early, and our team helps with the papers.

Do not take photos of army camps, bridges with guards or check posts. The district site says this clearly.

Phone network, cash and fuel on the Spiti route

Plan for long hours with no signal. Tell your family at home before each long drive.

  • Phone: BSNL and Jio reach the most places. Kaza has the best signal in the valley. Tabo has BSNL and Jio. Kalpa and Sangla have BSNL, Airtel and Jio. There is no signal at Chandratal, and none from Gramphu over Kunzum. Prepaid SIMs from any state work in Himachal.
  • Cash: there are ATMs in Rampur, Reckong Peo and Kaza, and an SBI ATM at Tabo. They often run out of cash. Carry enough for the whole trip. Many homestays and small shops take only cash.
  • Fuel: fill the tank at Reckong Peo and again at Kaza. The Kaza pump, at about 12,500 ft, is run by the Himachal Civil Supplies Corporation and is often called the highest petrol pump in the world. It can run short. After Kaza, we know of no pump until the Manali side, so the tank must be full before Kunzum. Our driver handles this, but if you self-drive, carry a spare can.

Chandratal lake: rules you should know

Chandratal is a lake at about 4,250 to 4,300 m, near Kunzum Pass. Since 2005 it has been a Ramsar wetland, protected for its birds and clean water. A 12 km side road leaves the highway near Batal. From the parking, you walk about 1 km to the water.

The local panchayat stopped camps near the lake in 2019, to keep the water clean. Local reports since then say that camping and swimming at the lake itself are not allowed. In 2021 the district also started a free online e-pass for vehicles going to Chandratal. Our team checks before you go if it is still needed. Your camp is in a campsite near the lake, where the rules allow it, not on the shore.

The lake is open by road from about late May to early October. It freezes from December to March.

What is special at each stop?

Sarahan and Bhimakali. Goddess Bhimakali, a form of Goddess Durga, is the family deity of the old Bushahr kings. Devotees count the temple among the Shakti Peethas. Tradition says a part of Goddess Sati's ear fell here. The temple is open from sunrise to sunset.

Chitkul. This is the last village in the Baspa valley and on the old Hindustan-Tibet trade route. Its temple of goddess Mathi is built in the Kath Kuni style, with layers of stone and deodar wood. Locals say it is about 500 years old.

Kalpa. From Kalpa you face the Kinner Kailash range. Devotees watch the Shivling rock on the ridge. Apples grow all around.

Nako. A small lake, a monastery from about 1025 AD, and a rock that devotees believe carries the footprint of Guru Padmasambhava.

Tabo. Founded in 996 AD by the scholar Rinchen Zangpo. Its painted halls earned it the name 'Ajanta of the Himalaya'. Monks once meditated in the caves on the cliff above.

Dhankar. In the 17th century this was the capital of Spiti. In 2006 the World Monuments Fund listed the old gompa among the 100 most endangered sites in the world. The new monastery stands below, at Shichilling.

Key, Kibber, Langza, Hikkim, Komic. Key is the largest monastery in Spiti. Kibber sits at about 4,270 m beside a wildlife sanctuary for snow leopards. Langza is the fossil village under Chau Chau Kang Nilda peak, with a big Buddha statue. Hikkim has a post office that has worked since 1983. Komic, at about 4,587 m, is one of the highest villages you can drive to.

How do you reach Shimla, and how do you go home from Manali?

Most families reach Shimla by road from Chandigarh or Delhi, or fly into Chandigarh. If you come from abroad, rest at least one night in Delhi or Chandigarh first. Spiti is a hard trip, so please do not start it tired. If you want a night in Shimla before Day 1, see our Shimla tour package.

You end in Manali. From there, buses and cars run to Delhi and Chandigarh, and the nearest airport is at Bhuntar near Kullu. Many families add two easy nights in Manali after Spiti. Our Manali tour package and Kullu Manali tour fit well after this trip.

What to eat and buy in Spiti and Kinnaur

Food here is simple and warm. In Spiti, you eat thukpa (noodle soup), momos and butter tea in homestays and cafes. Most homestays serve vegetarian food. Try a glass of seabuckthorn juice, a local berry drink that Kaza homestays suggest at height. In Kinnaur, the apples from Kalpa and Sangla are sweet and crisp in season.

The best thing to buy is a Kinnauri shawl. It has a GI tag since 2010. A real one is woven in two halves and stitched in the middle, and one shawl takes about 45 days to weave. Fakes are common, and selling a fake is an offence. Buy from a shop that gives a bill, and ask how the shawl was made.

Do not pick or carry away fossils from Langza, or stones from monasteries. Leave them for the next family.

Is Spiti right for elders and children?

Spiti is a hard trip. The roads are long, narrow and rough. The air is thin. Hotels are simple, and hot water can be short. For elders with heart or lung trouble, we suggest the lower hills instead, such as our Himachal tour package.

Fit elders can do it with care. Keep the Chandratal night optional, sit in the front seat, and rest every afternoon at Kaza. Young children feel the cold and the height too. Watch for headache and sleepiness, and tell us at once.

If you want more mountains

If Spiti makes you want more, the next step is Ladakh. Our Manali to Leh tour goes north from the same Atal Tunnel road. For a longer and gentler round of the state, see our Himachal holiday tour package.

How is this package different from others?

Before we made this plan, we read the top pages that sell Spiti packages. Most of them give you no day-by-day plan. None of the pages we read takes you to Sarahan for darshan of Goddess Bhimakali. None tells OCI card holders that they need a permit. Most never tell you the Kunzum dates, where to fill fuel or where your phone will work.

With this plan, you know the km and hours for every day, and how high you sleep every night. You also get the last three Kunzum seasons with dates, and the Chandratal rules. We check official sites first. Where sources differ, we tell you so.

Tour highlights

You take darshan of Goddess Bhimakali at Sarahan, the old family temple of the Bushahr kings, built in wood and stone
You drive up the Baspa valley to Chitkul, at about 3,450 m, the last village of the valley, with its temple of goddess Mathi
You watch the Kinner Kailash range from Kalpa, where the Shivling rock seems to change colour through the day
You stop at Khab, where the Spiti river joins the Sutlej, and then climb to Nako lake at about 3,625 m
You walk through Tabo monastery, founded in 996 AD and protected by the Archaeological Survey of India
You see Dhankar, the old capital of Spiti, with its gompa on a cliff at about 3,894 m
You visit Key monastery, the largest in Spiti, and the high villages of Kibber, Langza, Hikkim and Komic
You post a card to your family from Hikkim, often called the highest post office in the world
You cross Kunzum Pass at about 4,551 m and walk to the blue water of Chandratal, a Ramsar wetland
You climb slowly, sleeping lower than the day's highest point on most nights, to keep altitude sickness away

Destinations covered

ShimlaSarahanSanglaChitkulKalpaNakoTaboDhankarKazaChandratalManali

Best Time

June to September for the full circuit, when the Kunzum road to Manali is usually open. The Shimla side stays open most of the year, but snow can shut it for days. Avoid driving in heavy monsoon rain in Kinnaur.

Ideal For

Fit families, couples and friends who love mountains, monasteries and long drives; devotees who want Bhimakali at Sarahan; NRI and OCI families who want the real high Himalaya, with time to get used to the height.

Difficulty

Challenging

Day by day

Day-by-day itinerary

A carefully paced plan, day by day. Tap any day for the stay, meals and altitude detail.

Today you leave Shimla by 7 am. Our driver picks you up at your hotel or at the bus stand. The road runs past Narkanda and its apple farms, then drops to the Sutlej river at Rampur, the old winter capital of the Bushahr kings. At Jeori you turn off and climb to Sarahan. The drive is about 170 to 180 km, about 6 to 8 hours with stops.

Check in and rest for an hour. Sarahan sits at about 2,313 m, a good first step up.

In the late afternoon, walk to the Bhimakali temple. You see tall towers of stone and wood, with silver doors and carved wooden walls. Goddess Bhimakali is a form of Goddess Durga. Tradition says a part of Goddess Sati's ear fell here. The older tower beside the main one tilted in the 1905 earthquake, and people say it stood straight again after a later tremor. Follow the rules the temple staff give you at the gate.

The temple closes at sunset, so reach by 4.30 pm. If you have time, walk to the Sarahan Pheasantry, where the state breeds the Western Tragopan, called Jujurana, the state bird of Himachal.

  • Distance and drive time: Shimla to Sarahan about 170 to 180 km (about 6 to 8 hours, by Narkanda, Rampur and Jeori).
  • Best time today: Leave Shimla by 7 am; reach Bhimakali by 4.30 pm, as the temple is open from sunrise to sunset.
  • What to buy, and how not to be cheated: Stalls near the temple sell prasad and puja items. Buy from a stall where the price is written, and pay only after you get the item. If anyone outside asks you for money to arrange a quick darshan, say no and join the normal line.
  • A fact few people know: Sarahan was the summer capital of the Bushahr kings, and Rampur was their winter capital. Raja Padam Singh helped rebuild the temple in the 1920s.
Special Tips for This Day: Keep a warm layer in the car, even in June; Sarahan gets cold after sunset. Eat a light lunch, as the road after Rampur has many bends. People who get car sick should sit in front. In the monsoon, landslides can hold you up near Rampur, so leave early and do not drive after dark.

Today you take morning darshan at Bhimakali and leave by 8 am. You drive down to the Sutlej and on to Karcham, where the Baspa river meets the Sutlej. From Karcham the road climbs to Sangla. It is about 95 km, about 4 hours.

Check in, have lunch, and then drive on to Chitkul, about 28 km and about 1 to 1.5 hours each way. Chitkul sits at about 3,450 m. It is the last village in the Baspa valley, on the old Hindustan-Tibet trade route.

Walk up to the temple of goddess Mathi, built in layers of stone and deodar wood. Locals say it is about 500 years old. Then walk down to the Baspa river. The water is ice cold and fast, so stay on the bank.

Come back to Sangla by sunset. You sleep lower, at about 2,621 m. This is how you get used to the height.

  • Distance and drive time: Sarahan to Sangla about 95 km (about 4 hours, by Karcham); Sangla to Chitkul about 28 km each way (about 1 to 1.5 hours each way).
  • Best time today: Bhimakali at opening time; Chitkul after lunch, when the sun is on the village; back in Sangla before dark.
  • What to buy, and how not to be cheated: In apple season, Kinnaur farm stalls sell apples by the box. Buy from a stall that lets you open and check the box before you pay. Packed dry fruit should be sealed and carry a date.
  • A fact few people know: A study by the Centre for Atmospheric Sciences at IIT Delhi, reported in 2016, found that Kinnaur district, where Chitkul lies, has the cleanest air in India.
Special Tips for This Day: Take a jacket, a cap and sunglasses to Chitkul; the sun is strong but the wind is cold. Do not go near the Baspa for photos on wet rocks. Chitkul is also the last place you can go without a permit, so do not try to walk further up the valley. Elders can stay in the car near the temple and still see the view.

Today is short on purpose. You leave Sangla at about 9 am, go back down to Karcham, and drive up the Sutlej to Reckong Peo, the district headquarters of Kinnaur. From there a short road climbs to Kalpa. The drive is about 50 km, about 2 hours.

Fill the fuel tank at Reckong Peo. This is also where foreign nationals and OCI card holders can get their permit, at the SDM office, if it is not done already. Our team sends the papers ahead.

Kalpa sits at about 2,760 to 2,960 m. You face the Kinner Kailash range, at about 6,050 m. Devotees watch the Shivling rock on the ridge, which seems to change colour from morning to evening. Sit in the sun in the afternoon and let your body rest.

In the evening, walk slowly through the old village lanes and the apple trees. Go to bed early. Tomorrow is the longest drive of the trip.

  • Distance and drive time: Sangla to Kalpa about 50 km (about 2 hours, by Karcham and Reckong Peo).
  • Best time today: Reach Kalpa by noon; watch Kinner Kailash at sunset and again at sunrise.
  • What to buy, and how not to be cheated: Reckong Peo has the most shops on this route. A real Kinnauri shawl has a GI tag; it is woven in two halves and stitched in the middle. Buy only from a shop that gives a bill. If the price looks too low, it is probably not hand-woven.
  • A fact few people know: Kalpa lies on the old Hindustan-Tibet road. The whole of tehsil Kalpa grows apples, and apples are the main crop for most families here.
Special Tips for This Day: This is your rest day. Drink plenty of water and walk slowly. Charge your phone and power bank tonight, as the signal fades after Pooh. Withdraw cash at Reckong Peo. Take a photo of Kinner Kailash at sunrise before you leave tomorrow; the light is clearest then.

Today you leave Kalpa by 7 am. This is the longest drive, about 175 to 185 km, about 7 to 8 hours. The road follows the Sutlej through deep, dry gorges.

Near Pooh, the road passes Maling Nala, a well-known slide spot between Pooh and Nako. Our driver checks the road before you set out. At Khab, you see the Spiti river join the Sutlej. Then the road climbs in loops to Nako, at about 3,625 m.

Stop at Nako for lunch. Walk to the small lake and the monastery from about 1025 AD. Near the lake, a rock in a small shrine is believed by devotees to carry the footprint of Guru Padmasambhava. Walk slowly. You are higher than you have been so far.

Then you drive down by Chango and Sumdo to Tabo, about 63 km more. Tabo is at about 3,050 m, lower than Nako, so you sleep better tonight.

  • Distance and drive time: Kalpa to Nako about 117 km (about 4.5 to 5 hours); Nako to Tabo about 63 km (about 2.5 hours); about 175 to 185 km in all.
  • Best time today: Leave Kalpa by 7 am so you cross the slide areas in good light; reach Tabo before dark.
  • What to buy, and how not to be cheated: Nako village sells dried apricots and apples in season. Pay the price written on the packet. There is little else to buy today, so keep your cash for Kaza.
  • A fact few people know: Reo Purgyal, the mountain above Nako, rises to about 6,816 m. It is the highest mountain in Himachal Pradesh.
Special Tips for This Day: Carry water, dry fruit and biscuits, as eateries are few. Keep your ID and permit in your hand bag; there are check posts on this stretch. Do not take photos of army camps or guarded bridges. If anyone has a headache at Nako, do not stay long; go down to Tabo.

Today you wake early. The monks begin their chanting at about 6 am in the new temple at Tabo monastery. Sit quietly at the back. After breakfast, walk through the old halls. Tabo was founded in 996 AD by the scholar Rinchen Zangpo, and the Archaeological Survey of India protects it. The painted walls and clay statues are why people call it the 'Ajanta of the Himalaya'. Look up at the cliff to see the caves where monks once meditated.

Leave by 10 am. About 22 km before Kaza, you turn off and climb about 8 km to Dhankar, at about 3,894 m. In the 17th century this was the capital of Spiti. The old gompa hangs on the cliff edge. The new monastery is below, at Shichilling.

Walk slowly here. Dhankar is higher than Kaza.

Then drive down to Kaza, the main town of Spiti, at about 3,650 m. In all, today is about 60 to 65 km, about 3 to 4 hours of driving. Rest this evening. Do not climb any steps fast.

  • Distance and drive time: Tabo to Kaza about 46 km, plus about 16 km up and down to Dhankar; about 60 to 65 km in all (about 3 to 4 hours of driving).
  • Best time today: Tabo at 6 am for the chanting; Dhankar before 1 pm, before the afternoon wind; reach Kaza by 4 pm.
  • What to buy, and how not to be cheated: Monastery shops at Tabo and Kaza sell prayer flags, incense and small thangka prints. Buy from the monastery counter, as the money helps the monks. Real old thangkas are not sold on the street; a 'very old' painting at a cheap price is a fake.
  • A fact few people know: In 2006 the World Monuments Fund named the old Dhankar gompa one of the 100 most endangered sites in the world.
Special Tips for This Day: Inside the old halls at Tabo, the paintings are delicate. Do not touch the walls and follow the rules about photos at the door. Walk clockwise around a monastery or stupa. Fill the fuel tank at Kaza this evening. Tell your family you have reached; Kaza has the best phone signal in the valley.

Today you see the high villages. Leave Kaza at about 8 am for Key monastery, about 12 to 14 km away by road. It sits on a hill at about 4,166 m. It is the largest monastery in Spiti and a training place for young lamas. If the monks offer butter tea, accept it with both hands.

Drive on to Kibber, at about 4,270 m, about 18 to 21 km from Kaza. It is one of the highest villages in the world where people live all year. The Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary around it shelters snow leopards. The forest department counted about 25 to 30 of them here in 2018, but you will almost never see one.

After lunch in Kaza, take the other road up to Langza, at about 4,420 m. A big Buddha statue looks over the village, under Chau Chau Kang Nilda peak. Long ago this land lay under the sea, and villagers find fossils of sea animals in the fields. Then go to Hikkim, where the post office has worked since 1983. Post a card home from here. Last is Komic, at about 4,587 m, one of the highest villages you can drive to.

Come back to Kaza by sunset. You sleep lower again, at about 3,650 m.

  • Distance and drive time: Kaza to Key about 12 to 14 km; Kaza to Kibber about 18 to 21 km; Kaza to Langza about 15 km; then Langza, Hikkim, Komic and back to Kaza about 28 km; about 80 to 90 km in all (about 4 hours of driving).
  • Best time today: Key in the morning, when the light is soft on the hill; Langza, Hikkim and Komic in the early afternoon; back in Kaza before the evening cold.
  • What to buy, and how not to be cheated: At Hikkim you can buy postcards and send them from the post office (PIN 172114). Kaza market sells woollen socks, caps and gloves. Check the wool by touch; machine-made acrylic feels smooth and shiny.
  • A fact few people know: Hikkim was once in the Limca Book of Records as the world's highest polling station. Tashigang, another village in the same district, holds that record now.
Special Tips for This Day: Today you go above 4,500 m, so walk very slowly and drink water at every stop. Carry sunscreen; the sun is strong at this height. If anyone has a strong headache or feels breathless, come back to Kaza at once. Please do not take fossils from Langza; leave them in the ground.

Today you leave Kaza by 7 am, with a full tank. You drive up the Spiti river to Losar, about 57 km, the last village before the pass. Then the road climbs about 18 to 22 km to Kunzum Pass, at about 4,551 m.

At the top, stop at the small temple of Kunzum Mata. Drivers stop here to seek her blessings before they go down. Stay only a few minutes. The air is very thin.

About 8 km below the pass, a side road of about 12 km leads to the parking for Chandratal. From there you walk about 1 km to the lake. The water is clear blue, and on a still day you see the mountains in it. Walk slowly. Sit on a rock and rest before you walk back. The whole drive is about 95 to 100 km, about 4 to 5 hours.

Tonight you sleep in a camp, set up where the rules allow it, away from the lake. It gets very cold at night, even in July. If the camps are not open, or if anyone feels unwell, we stay lower at Batal or Losar, or drive on to Manali.

  • Distance and drive time: Kaza to Losar about 57 km; Losar to Kunzum Pass about 18 to 22 km; Kunzum to the Chandratal turn about 8 km, then about 12 km to the parking and a 1 km walk; about 95 to 100 km in all (about 4 to 5 hours).
  • Best time today: Leave Kaza by 7 am, as the road is easier in the morning; reach the lake by early afternoon, when the water is bluest.
  • What to buy, and how not to be cheated: There are no proper shops after Losar. Buy biscuits, dry fruit and water in Kaza. Carry back all your plastic; there is no dustbin at the lake.
  • A fact few people know: Chandratal joined the Ramsar list of wetlands of world importance on 8 November 2005. It is one of the few high-altitude lakes in India on that list.
Special Tips for This Day: There is no phone signal at Chandratal or over Kunzum, so tell your family before you leave Kaza. Wear thermal inners, a down jacket, a woollen cap and gloves. Do not swim or wash in the lake; it is not allowed. Elders can skip this night and see the lake on the way to Manali tomorrow.

Today you leave the camp by 7 am. You drive down to Batal on the Chandra river. The next stretch to Gramphu, about 52 km, is the roughest road of the trip. It has streams that cross the road, loose stones and deep ruts. Our driver goes slowly. In the afternoon the streams carry more water from melting snow, so the morning is the time to cross.

At Gramphu you join the Manali-Leh road and pass through the Atal Tunnel, about 9 km long, opened in October 2020. In a few minutes you come out on the Manali side, and the dry brown hills turn to green pine.

You reach Manali by the afternoon. The whole drive is about 110 to 115 km, about 5.5 to 7 hours. Our driver drops you at your hotel or at the bus stand. Your Spiti trip ends here.

If you have time, rest at Manali for a night or two before the long road home.

  • Distance and drive time: Chandratal to Batal about 15 to 17 km; Batal to Gramphu about 50 km; Gramphu to Manali by the Atal Tunnel about 46 km; about 110 to 115 km in all (about 5.5 to 7 hours).
  • Best time today: Leave by 7 am so you cross the Batal to Gramphu streams before the afternoon water rises.
  • What to buy, and how not to be cheated: In Manali you can buy Kullu shawls and caps. Fake Kullu and Kinnauri shawls are a known problem in Himachal, so buy from a shop that gives a bill and ask how the shawl was woven.
  • A fact few people know: The Atal Tunnel cut the road from Manali to Keylong by about 45 km and saves about 3 to 4 hours, compared with the old road over Rohtang.
Special Tips for This Day: Wear shoes with a good grip; you may need to get out of the car at stream crossings. Keep your camera bag on your lap, as the car shakes. Traffic can be heavy near the tunnel and in Manali in season. If your onward bus or flight is today, keep a big gap; a late start or a stuck truck can cost you hours.

Travel tips

A family guide to the Spiti circuit, from Shimla to Manali

Spiti Valley, Bhimakali and Kunzum

On this trip you take darshan of Goddess Bhimakali at Sarahan, climb slowly through Kinnaur to Tabo and Kaza, see Key and the high villages, and come out over Kunzum Pass and Chandratal to Manali. Here is what you should know before you go, and while you travel.

7 NIGHTS / 8 DAYSSTART: SHIMLA, END: MANALIHIGHEST POINT: KUNZUM, ABOUT 4,551 MBEST: JUNE TO SEPTEMBER

The shrines

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01
Bhimakali temple
Sarahan
The family temple of the Bushahr kings, open sunrise to sunset
02
Chitkul
Kinnaur
The last village of the Baspa valley, at about 3,450 m
03
Tabo monastery
Spiti
Founded in 996 AD, protected by the ASI
04
Dhankar
Spiti
The old capital of Spiti, on a cliff at about 3,894 m
05
Key monastery
Spiti
The largest monastery in Spiti, at about 4,166 m
06
Chandratal
Lahaul and Spiti
A Ramsar lake near Kunzum Pass, a 1 km walk from the parking
01Roads and months

When the Kunzum side is open, and when to use the Shimla side

The full circuit works best from June to September. The Kunzum road to Manali usually opens in late May or June and shuts in October or November.

  • May 2026: Kunzum opensAfter more than six months, the road opened again for light 4x4 vehicles in May 2026. Heavy vehicles came later, so your car must be a 4x4 early in the season.
  • October 2025: early snowSnow closed the road on 6 October 2025. By 14 October it had opened again for light 4x4 vehicles.
  • November: the winter closureThe district shut the Gramphu to Losar stretch on 23 November 2024 and on 25 November 2025, till the next summer.
  • Shimla side: open most of the yearYou can reach Kaza from Shimla in most months, but snow can close the Nako to Kaza stretch for days. In winter you come back the same way.
Check the road the week you go

Dates change every year with the snow. Our team checks the Lahaul and Spiti district orders and the road the week you leave. If Kunzum is shut, we turn the trip into a Shimla-in, Shimla-out plan. Please check the current road status with us before you book.

02Altitude sickness

How to keep your family safe at height

Kaza is at about 3,650 m, and the high villages are above 4,100 m. Go up slowly, drink water, and go down if the signs get worse.

  • Know the signsHeadache, breathlessness, dizziness and nausea. They can come to you even if you are young and fit.
  • Climb slowlyThis plan goes in by Shimla and climbs a little each day: Sarahan about 2,313 m, Sangla about 2,621 m, Kalpa about 2,760 to 2,960 m, Tabo about 3,050 m, then Kaza.
  • Water, not alcoholDrink plenty of water. Do not drink alcohol or smoke in the first days. Walk slowly and rest on your first evening at Kaza.
  • Ask your doctor firstIf you have heart trouble, high blood pressure, diabetes or a breathing problem, see your doctor before you book. Ask before you take any medicine for altitude.
Go down, never up

If the headache gets worse or breathing gets hard, go down at once. Local guides in Kaza say to drop 600 to 1,200 m. In June 2025 a tourist died of high altitude sickness near Darcha in Lahaul.

04Phone, cash and fuel

Where the phone works, where to get cash, and where to fill fuel

Kaza has the best signal. There is no signal at Chandratal or over Kunzum. Fill fuel at Reckong Peo and Kaza, and carry cash.

  • PhoneBSNL and Jio reach the most places. Kalpa and Sangla also have Airtel. Prepaid SIMs from any state work in Himachal.
  • Dead zonesYou may have no signal for long stretches after Pooh, around Nako and between Tabo and Kaza. You have none at Chandratal or from Gramphu over Kunzum, so call your family before you leave Kaza.
  • CashATMs at Rampur, Reckong Peo and Kaza, and an SBI ATM at Tabo, often run out of cash. Carry enough for your whole trip, as many homestays take only cash.
  • FuelFill up at Reckong Peo and again at Kaza. The Kaza pump, at about 12,500 ft, can run short. We know of no pump after Kaza before the Manali side.
05Chandratal lake

Chandratal: the walk, the camps and the rules

Chandratal is a Ramsar wetland since 2005. You walk about 1 km from the parking. No camping and no swimming at the lake.

  • Getting thereA side road of about 12 km leaves the highway near Batal, about 8 km below Kunzum Pass. Then you walk about 1 km to the lake.
  • CampsThe local panchayat stopped camps near the lake in 2019. Visitors stay in campsites near the lake, where the rules allow, not on the shore.
  • E-permitIn 2021 the district started a free online e-pass for vehicles going to Chandratal. Our team checks before you go if it is still needed for your dates.
  • SeasonThe lake is open by road from about late May to early October. It freezes from December to March.
Carry back your plastic

There is no dustbin at the lake. Carry back every wrapper and bottle. Do not wash dishes or clothes in the water.

06Temples and monasteries

How to visit Bhimakali and the monasteries with respect

Bhimakali at Sarahan is open from sunrise to sunset. At Tabo the monks chant at about 6 am. Walk clockwise around every stupa.

  • Bhimakali, SarahanGoddess Bhimakali is a form of Goddess Durga and the family deity of the Bushahr kings. Follow the rules the temple staff give you at the gate.
  • Tabo at dawnChanting begins at about 6 am in the new temple. Sit quietly at the back. The old painted halls are delicate, so do not touch the walls.
  • Key and DhankarKey is the largest monastery in Spiti. Dhankar was the capital of Spiti in the 17th century. Both have steep steps, so take your time and keep your breath.
  • Kunzum MataDrivers stop at the small temple on Kunzum Pass to seek her blessings. Stop for a few minutes only, as the air is thin.
07Eat and buy

What to eat, what to buy, and how not to be cheated

Eat thukpa, momos and butter tea. Buy a real Kinnauri shawl with a bill. Leave Langza's fossils where they are.

  • FoodYour homestay will most likely serve vegetarian food. Try thukpa, momos and butter tea, and ask for a glass of seabuckthorn juice in Kaza.
  • Kinnauri shawlIt has a GI tag since 2010. A real one is woven in two halves and stitched in the middle, and takes about 45 days to make. Buy from a shop that gives a bill.
  • Apples and apricotsIf you come in apple season, you will find Kalpa and Sangla apples sweet and crisp. Nako sells dried apricots. Pay the price on your packet.
  • ThangkasBuy prayer flags and thangka prints at the monastery counter. A 'very old' thangka at a cheap price on the street is a fake.
The prayer you will see on every flag

Om Mani Padme Hum

Om Mani Padme Hum

You will see these six syllables on prayer flags at Kunzum, on prayer wheels at Tabo and Key, and carved on mani stones along the road. The monks of Spiti say them all day. Take a small prayer flag home from a monastery counter, and remember the high, quiet valley that gave it to you.

What's included

What's included

Included

  • ✓Your 7 nights in hotels, homestays and one camp night as per the plan: Sarahan, Sangla, Kalpa, Tabo, Kaza (2 nights) and near Chandratal
  • ✓Your daily breakfast and dinner, as most places on this route have few other places to eat
  • ✓Your pick-up in Shimla on Day 1 and drop in Manali on Day 8
  • ✓A private SUV with an experienced mountain driver for the whole route (a 4x4 when the Kunzum side needs it)
  • ✓Driver allowance, fuel, tolls, parking and state entry tax for this route
  • ✓Help with the permit for foreign nationals and OCI card holders, through our team, for the Kinnaur and Spiti stretch
  • ✓A WayToIndia trip briefing before you travel, with a road status check for Kunzum and Kinnaur the week you leave
  • ✓A basic first-aid kit and a small oxygen can in the car
  • ✓Phone and WhatsApp support from our team all through the trip, where the network allows

Not included

  • ✕Flights, trains or buses to Shimla and from Manali (we can book them on request)
  • ✕Lunch, snacks and drinks on the road
  • ✕Monastery and temple offerings, donations and any camera fee, paid at the current rate
  • ✕The permit fee for foreign nationals and OCI card holders, paid at the current official rate
  • ✕Extra nights, meals or vehicle days caused by snow, landslides or road closures
  • ✕Medical costs, rescue or helicopter evacuation
  • ✕Travel insurance (strongly advised for this route) and anything not listed in inclusions

What travellers say

What travellers say

4.7
Way to India · rated 4.7★ on Google across 47 reviews
S
Shivani Gupta★★★★★
“Had a wonderful experience with way to india for my badrinath kedarnath yatra.everything was well organized-from travel accommodation to food. A special thanks to Ms. Neha who managed everything so beautifully n was extremely supportive n cooperative throughout the journey. They took great care of us n darshan was done very smoothly.”
4 weeks ago · Google
Y
Yashvind Kumar Poteeram★★★★★
“A big thanks to Way To India for organising such a truly memorable and spiritually fulfilling experience during our 12 Jyotirlinga Darshan pilgrimage from 1st May to 18th May. They organized the entire journey exceptionally well, ensuring that every aspect of the trip was smooth, comfortable, and hassle-free. From transportation and hotel arrangements to darshan planning and coordination, everything was managed professionally. Despite the extensive travel across multiple destinations, the itinerary was well-structured, allowing us to complete all the Jyotirlinga darshans comfortably. Thanks to staff of Way To India, especially, Ms Neha, who was supportive, responsive, and attentive throughout the journey, always ready to assist whenever needed. Her dedication and careful planning made this sacred pilgrimage stress-free and enjoyable. I sincerely appreciate their excellent service, commitment, and hospitality. Highly recommend Way To India to anyone planning a spiritual tour, especially for the 12 Jyotirlinga Yatra. Thank you for making this divine journey so special and memorable.”
4 months ago · Google
A
Aruna Persand★★★★★
“We have successfully completed the 12 Jyotirlinga Yatra, with Waytoindia and it was a truly blessed and unforgettable journey. Every aspect of the tour was well planned and professionally organized, from transportation and accommodations to temple visits and sightseeing. Visiting all twelve sacred Jyotirlingas was a deeply spiritual experience. The itinerary was designed efficiently, allowing us to have darshan at each shrine comfortably while enjoying the cultural and religious significance of every destination. We sincerely appreciate the excellent support and coordination throughout the trip. The team was always available to assist, ensuring a smooth and stress-free pilgrimage. Thank you Waytoindia for making our dream of completing the 12 Jyotirlinga Yatra a reality. We highly recommend this tour to anyone seeking a well-organized and spiritually enriching pilgrimage experience. Har Har Mahadev! 🙏🕉️”
5 months ago · Google

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Seven nights and eight days is a good length for the full Spiti circuit, in from Shimla and out to Manali. It lets you climb slowly, from Sarahan at about 2,313 m to Kaza at about 3,650 m, so your body gets used to the height. Shorter trips leave little time to rest and raise the risk of altitude sickness.

The Kunzum Pass road usually opens in late May or June and closes in October or November, depending on snow. In 2026 it opened for light 4x4 vehicles in May after more than six months. In 2025 the Gramphu to Losar stretch was shut for winter on 25 November. Check the status before you book.

June to September is the best time for the full Spiti circuit, as the Kunzum road to Manali is usually open. The Shimla side stays open most of the year, but snow can close it for days in winter. In the monsoon, landslides hit the Kinnaur road, so drive only in daylight.

Climb slowly. Go in by the Shimla side, rest on your first evening in Kaza, drink plenty of water, and avoid alcohol and smoking. Watch for headache, breathlessness, dizziness and nausea. If the signs get worse, go down at once. Ask your doctor before you go if you have heart, lung, sugar or blood pressure trouble.

Indian passport holders do not need an inner line permit for the Shimla to Kaza to Manali route. Carry a photo ID for each person, as check posts may ask for it. Foreign nationals and OCI card holders need a Protected Area Permit for the border stretch around Nako, Sumdo, Tabo and Dhankar.

Yes. The Consulate General of India says OCI card holders must get a Protected Area Permit before they visit protected areas. On the Spiti route this covers places such as Nako, Pooh, Sumdo, Tabo and Dhankar. Permits are issued at SDM offices such as Shimla, Rampur, Reckong Peo and Kaza, for groups through a recognised agency.

Only in some places. Kaza has the best signal, with BSNL and Jio. Tabo has BSNL and Jio. Kalpa and Sangla have BSNL, Airtel and Jio. There is no signal at Chandratal or from Gramphu over Kunzum Pass. Prepaid SIMs from any state work in Himachal, but tell your family before each long drive.

Fill up at Reckong Peo and again at Kaza. The Kaza pump, at about 12,500 ft, is run by the Himachal Civil Supplies Corporation and can run short. There is no pump we know of between Kaza and the Manali side, so the tank must be full before you cross Kunzum Pass.

Not at the lake itself. The local panchayat stopped camps near the lake in 2019, and local reports since then say that camping and swimming at the lake itself are not allowed. Visitors stay in campsites near the lake, where the rules allow. From the parking, you walk about 1 km to the water.

Spiti is a hard trip, with long rough roads and thin air above 3,500 m. Fit elders can go with care: go in by Shimla, rest at Kaza, and skip the Chandratal night. People with heart or lung trouble should ask a doctor first. Children feel the height too, so watch for headache and sleepiness.

Yes, but do not depend on it. There are ATMs at Rampur, Reckong Peo and Kaza, and an SBI ATM at Tabo, and they often run out of cash. Many homestays and small shops take only cash. Carry enough cash for the whole trip from Shimla.

For most families, go in from Shimla and come out to Manali. The Shimla side climbs slowly through Sarahan, Sangla, Kalpa and Nako, which helps your body get used to the height. The Manali side takes you over Kunzum Pass at about 4,551 m in one day, and it is open only in summer.

Before you book

Cancellation & Refund Policy

As per the cancellation terms shared at booking. Please ask our team for the full policy.

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