The Spiti Valley circuit — route, days and season

The loop

1. Shimla → Sarahan or Sangla — up the Sutlej into Kinnaur.
2. → Kalpa — apple orchards under the Kinnaur Kailash range.
3. → Nako — a lake village at the edge of Spiti.
4. → Tabo — the monastery founded in 996 CE, with some of the oldest murals in the Himalaya.
5. → Dhankar → Kaza — the cliff monastery, then Spiti’s main town at about 3,650 m.
6. Kaza day — Key Monastery (4,166 m), Kibber, Langza and Hikkim.
7. → Chandratal — over Kunzum La (4,551 m) to the crescent lake.
8. → Atal Tunnel → Manali.

From Manali to Kaza directly is 201 km; Shimla to Kaza through Kinnaur about 412 km.

When to go

June to September for the full circuit. Kunzum La usually opens between late May and early June — on 20 May in 2026 — and closes for the winter in November, though early-October snow can shut it for days; the pass calendar has the dates on record. Chandratal is reachable from late May to early October. In winter only the Kinnaur side is open, and it is a hard, cold trip.

Altitude

Kaza is about 3,650 m and Key, Kibber and Kunzum much higher. Go via Kinnaur first if you can, rest the first afternoon at height, drink water, and descend if symptoms get worse.

Practical notes

• Fuel: fill up in Kaza and in Reckong Peo; there is little in between.
• Network: limited outside Kaza.
• Vehicle: an SUV or MUV with good clearance.

With us

Spiti is not one of our fixed packages; we plan it as a custom tour. Message us your dates and we will suggest a route — see the Spiti guide and camping.