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The Himalayas Calling
The Himalayas Calling
Bare slopes and snow peaks mirrored in Chandratal lake
  • Spiti
  • 10 days
  • Moderate

Spiti Circuit, Kinnaur to Chandratal

Overview

A full circuit of Kinnaur and Spiti. You enter from Shimla so you gain height slowly, and leave over Kunzum La to Chandratal and Manali. Thousand-year-old monasteries, fossil villages and some of the highest inhabited places in Asia, with a spare day for the roads.

  • Tabo Monastery, founded in 996
  • Key Monastery above the Spiti river
  • A postcard from Hikkim, one of the world’s highest post offices
  • A night beside Chandratal lake

Day by day

Where you sleepHighest night 4,300 m
  1. Night 1: Shimla, 2,276 m
  2. Night 2: Sangla, 2,680 m
  3. Night 3: Kalpa, 2,960 m
  4. Night 4: Tabo, 3,280 m
  5. Night 5: Kaza, 3,800 m
  6. Night 6: Kaza, 3,800 m
  7. Night 7: Chandratal camp, 4,300 m
  8. Night 8: Manali, 2,050 m
  9. Night 9: Manali, 2,050 m
  1. 1

    Day 1: Arrive in Shimla

    Your driver meets you in Chandigarh for the drive up. Evening on the Ridge and Mall Road.

    • Night in Shimla, 2,276 m
    • 115 km
  2. 2

    Day 2: Into Kinnaur

    Past Narkanda and along the Sutlej to Sangla in the Baspa valley.

    • Night in Sangla, 2,680 m
    • 225 km, 8 hours
  3. 3

    Day 3: Chitkul and Kalpa

    Morning in Chitkul, the last village on the old Hindustan–Tibet road, then Kalpa, facing the Kinner Kailash range.

    • Night in Kalpa, 2,960 m
    • Highest point 3,450 m
    • 90 km
  4. 4

    Day 4: Nako and Tabo

    Past the Khab confluence and Nako lake to Tabo, one of the oldest working monasteries in the Himalaya.

    • Night in Tabo, 3,280 m
    • Highest point 3,662 m
    • 165 km, 7 hours
  5. 5

    Day 5: Dhankar to Kaza

    Dhankar Monastery on its cliff and a detour into the Pin valley, then on to Kaza.

    • Night in Kaza, 3,800 m
    • 100 km
  6. 6

    Day 6: The high villages

    Key Monastery, Kibber, the Chicham bridge, the fossil beds of Langza, the post office at Hikkim and Komic.

    • Night in Kaza, 3,800 m
    • Highest point 4,587 m
    • 90 km
  7. 7

    Day 7: Over Kunzum La to Chandratal

    Cross Kunzum La and spend the night in a camp near the crescent-shaped lake.

    • Night in Chandratal camp, 4,300 m
    • Highest point 4,551 m
    • 95 km
  8. 8

    Day 8: To Manali

    A rough but spectacular road via Batal and Gramphu, then the Atal Tunnel down to Manali.

    • Night in Manali, 2,050 m
    • 120 km, 6 to 7 hours
  9. 9

    Day 9: Spare day in Manali

    Kept free in case landslides delay the road. If it isn’t needed, explore Old Manali and Naggar.

    • Rest and acclimatise
    • Night in Manali, 2,050 m
  10. 10

    Day 10: Leave Manali

    Fly from Bhuntar or take the overnight bus to Delhi.

What the price covers

Included

  • Hand-picked hotels, homestays and camps, twin sharing
  • Breakfast and dinner every day
  • Private SUV with an experienced mountain driver, fuel, tolls and parking
  • Oxygen cylinder, pulse oximeter and first-aid kit in the vehicle
  • All permits and environment fees for the route
  • A trip planner on call throughout

Not included

  • Flights or trains to the start and from the end
  • Lunches on travel days
  • Monument, camera and activity fees
  • Travel insurance and evacuation costs
  • Extra nights caused by landslides, road closures or flight cancellations
  • Tips and personal expenses
  • 5% GST

Good to know

Permits

Indian citizens need no permit and simply register at the Jangi and Sumdo checkposts. Foreign nationals need an Inner Line Permit, which we arrange. The small entry fee at Chandratal is included.

  • Jio and BSNL work best in Spiti. There is no signal at Chandratal.
  • ATMs in Kaza often run dry in peak season, so carry cash.
  • The road from Batal to Gramphu is unpaved. We use high-clearance SUVs and experienced local drivers.
  • Kunzum La usually opens in late May or June and closes in October or November.

Questions travellers ask

Why start in Shimla instead of Manali?

Entering through Kinnaur gains height over four days before you sleep at 3,800 metres in Kaza. Going the other way puts you at 4,300 metres at Chandratal on the second night.

Can I visit Spiti in winter?

Yes, on a shorter route from Shimla to Kaza and back, because Kunzum La is closed. Temperatures fall to −25 °C, so it suits experienced travellers.

How rough are the roads?

Mostly paved through Kinnaur, with rough stretches near Malling and between Batal and Gramphu. Expect long drives on days 2, 4 and 8.

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