Spiti Valley is a small piece of land situated between Tibet and India in the northeastern part of Himachal Pradesh, that forms one of the coldest desert mountain valleys in this country. This finley populated valley lies on the Tibetan plateau and showcases the rich Buddhist tradition. This is a popular travel destination among trekkers and most adventure enthusiasts. This place has a lot of tiny villages, monasteries, lush green meadows, clean rivers, and snow-capped mountains. If you are willing to have a colorful adventure then here’s a guide for you:

There are two routes toward Spiti, either from Manali or Shimla you can choose between both of them according to your preference. The trek is not so easy due to the rocky trails, unstable weather conditions, passes blocked by snow which makes it very risky to even reach Spiti Valley. But well worth the adventure!

The best route for Spiti Valley

From your city, you can reach Spiti Valley via airplane, car, or train.  

By air: you can take a flight from the nearest airport which is in Kullu and from there you can easily find a bus or an autorickshaw to reach Spiti Valley. It will be 12 12-hour journey from the airport to Spiti Valley.   

By road: you travel in a Volvo bus from Delhi to Chandigarh and then from Chandigarh to Spiti Valley, Manali.  

By train: you can travel by train from Delhi to Chandigarh as there are no direct trains available to Manali. From there you will have to travel in a bus or cab which will take 9 hours to reach Manali.

Spiti valley from manali

You can take a route: Manali-Rohtang pass-Kunzum pass to kaza-spiti valley.

Manali is the easier way to Kaza. if you are planning a trip from June to October then that is the best route because this route remains close during the rest of the time except these months.

Spiti valley from shimla

This is the route you should take via Shimla-Kinnaur-Kalpa-Nako-Kaza-spiti Valley.

Itinerary for Spiti Valley trip 

The basic itinerary for a trip will go something like this:

• Day 1: Departure from Delhi-Shimla
• Day 2: it takes around 3-4 hours to drive from Shimla to Narkanda. You’ll cover a distance of about 100 km.
• Day 3: Narkunda-Chitkul 
• Day 4: Chitkul-Kalpa
• Day 5: Travel via Nako, Tabo, and Gue to reach Dhankar from Kalpa.
• Day 6: you have to pass through beautiful Pin Valley to get to Kaza from Dhankar 
• Day 7: the journey from Kaza leads you through Kee, Komik, and Hikkim before returning to Langza.
• Day 8: near Kaza and Batal you will find Chandra Tal Lake which is a popular tourist attraction  
• Day 9: you can enjoy the beautiful view of Chandra Tal Lake while traveling to Manali from Batal.
• Day 10: Reach Delhi 

Things to do in Spiti Valley

Visiting Spiti Valley is one experience that should not be missed in your lifetime. 

Once you’ve reached Spiti Valley and found a place to stay, it is time for exploration! Here are some best things to do while in Spiti Valley.

1. visit the key monasteries

You can find some world-famous Buddhist monasteries in Spiti. Tabo, dongyu, and key gompa are some of the main monasteries present there. Make sure you visit one of these while you are in Spiti Valley.

2. Go on a hike 

This place has lots of trails from simple hikes to multi-day walks. The most famous hiking routes include the Pin Valley National Park, Kunzum Pass, and Baralacha Pass.

3. Explore the villages 

To get a taste of life in Spiti Valley, you must visit one of the villages in the valley. Each village has its specialty and places worth visiting. Some of the famous villages are Kaza, Hikkim, and Langza.

4. Go on a safari

Spiti Valley houses some of the most special wildlife species in the world. There are safaris where you can see animals like blue sheep and snow leopards.

5. Go camping

Camping under the blanket of stars is one of the best ways to feel Spiti Valley. There are various campsites across the valley. Some of the best campsites are situated near Pin Valley National Park.

The best time to visit 

Spiti Valley welcomes the presence of tourists during the summers. The temperature at this time ranges from 25 degrees Celsius during the day which drops down to 3-4 degrees Celsius at night. In winter the roads are blocked by snow which makes the travel experience difficult. So, tourists are advised to plan their trip to Spiti Valley between May-June and September-November.