The road to Spiti,
section by section.

Updated 24 September 2026. Road and weather conditions change; we confirm them for your dates.

Two ways in, one circuit

Spiti can be reached from Shimla through Kinnaur, or from Manali over Kunzum Pass. Our 9 day private circuit goes in through Kinnaur and comes out via Kunzum, Chandratal and Manali. Going in from the Shimla side gains height gradually, which gives your body time to adjust before the high villages around Kaza.

Shimla to Kinnaur

The road follows the Sutlej valley on NH 5 through Narkanda and Rampur to Karcham, where the Baspa river joins the Sutlej. From there a side road climbs into the Sangla valley, with Rakcham and Chitkul further up (day 1 and day 2). Reckong Peo is Kinnaur's main town; Kalpa sits above it with wide mountain views.

Beyond Pooh the valley narrows and the road is cut into the cliffs, with landslide prone and under repair stretches. It is driven in daylight and at an unhurried pace. Nako, and the stop at Gue, lead to Tabo on the Spiti side (day 3).

Tabo, Kaza and the high villages

Tabo's old monastery, Dhankar on its ridge and the optional Pin Valley detour lead to Kaza, the main town of Spiti and the base for local days (day 4). From Kaza, short drives reach Key Monastery, Kibber and Chicham Bridge (day 5), and the villages of Langza, Hikkim and Komic (day 6). A slow day in Kaza (day 7) helps with altitude and gives a weather buffer.

Kunzum Pass and Chandratal (seasonal)

West of Kaza the road passes Losar and climbs over Kunzum Pass, at around 4,550 m. A side road beyond the pass leads to Chandratal lake (day 8). This section is usually open only in the warmer months, roughly from early summer to autumn, and closes with snow. Camps near the lake are seasonal too.

Batal to Manali

From Chandratal the road runs through Batal to Gramphu, a rough stretch with stream crossings whose water level changes through the day. At Gramphu it joins the Manali road, and the Atal Tunnel leads down to the Manali side (day 9). When Kunzum is closed, the return goes back through Kinnaur instead.

When to go

• Full circuit via Kunzum and Chandratal: only while the pass is open, usually summer to early autumn.
• Kinnaur route to Kaza: used through most of the year, but snow, landslides and road work can still cause closures.
• Monsoon months: the Kinnaur side can see landslides; build in buffer time.

We check the current status of each section before confirming a trip.

What it means for your vehicle

We travel in an Innova Crysta: comfortable on the long Kinnaur drive with room for luggage. It is not a 4×4 snow expedition vehicle, so high pass and stream crossing sections are confirmed trip by trip for the conditions at the time.

Before you travel

• Altitude: take it slow, drink water and keep the rest day. Tell us if anyone has health concerns.
• Permits: foreign nationals need a permit for the border stretch between Kinnaur and Spiti. Check the current rules before you travel.
• Connectivity and cash: mobile network is patchy beyond the main towns and ATMs are few, so carry some cash.
• Official updates: see the official district route guidance.