Quick answer
This 8-day Spiti circuit enters via Shimla and Kinnaur for gradual acclimatisation, with nights at Sarahan, Chitkul and Nako, then Tabo, two nights in Kaza and a camp at Chandratal before exiting over Kunzum La and the Atal Tunnel to Manali. It works from mid-June to early October. Mid-range land costs start at about ₹34,000 per person.
The route
- Delhi
- Shimla
- Sarahan
- Chitkul
- Nako
- Tabo
- Kaza
- Chandratal
- Manali
- Delhi
Day-by-day plan
- 1
Day 1
Shimla to Sarahan
Morning: Arrive in Shimla by overnight Volvo from Delhi and meet your driver. Drive via Narkanda.
Afternoon: Descend to the Sutlej at Rampur and climb to Sarahan, about 170 km and 6–7 hours in all.
Evening: Bhimakali Temple at dusk.
Stay: Sarahan
Groups of four can start from Chandigarh by SUV instead, adding about 4 hours to the day.
- 2
Day 2
Sarahan to Chitkul
Morning: Drive to Karcham and up the Baspa valley to Sangla, about 100 km and 4 hours.
Afternoon: Continue 25 km to Chitkul, the last village before the Tibet border; walk by the Baspa river.
Evening: Early dinner; a cold night at about 3,450 m.
Stay: Chitkul or Sangla
- 3
Day 3
Chitkul to Nako via Kalpa
Morning: Drive to Kalpa, about 2 hours, for views of Kinner Kailash and a walk to Roghi village.
Afternoon: Continue past the Sutlej–Spiti confluence at Khab to Nako, about 3.5 hours.
Evening: Walk around Nako's lake and old monastery.
Stay: Nako (about 3,600 m)
Fill fuel at Reckong Peo; pumps are scarce until Kaza.
- 4
Day 4
Nako to Tabo via the Gue mummy
Morning: Drive through the Malling slide zone to Sumdo and detour to the Gue mummy.
Afternoon: Tabo Monastery, founded in 996 CE, with its painted mud-walled halls.
Evening: Quiet evening in Tabo village.
Stay: Tabo (about 3,280 m)
Carry a torch for the dark inner halls at Tabo; flash photography is not allowed.
- 5
Day 5
Dhankar and Pin Valley to Kaza
Morning: Drive 30 km to Dhankar Monastery; fit walkers can climb an hour to Dhankar Lake.
Afternoon: Detour into Pin Valley as far as Mudh, then drive to Kaza.
Evening: Arrive in Kaza; rest and hydrate.
Stay: Kaza (about 3,800 m)
- 6
Day 6
Key, Kibber and the high villages
Morning: Key Monastery, Kibber village and the Chicham bridge.
Afternoon: Langza's Buddha statue and fossils, the Hikkim post office and Komic.
Evening: Kaza market and the Sakya monastery.
Stay: Kaza
Send postcards from Hikkim; carry stamps in case stocks run out.
- 7
Day 7
Kaza to Chandratal over Kunzum La
Morning: Leave by 8 am via Losar to Kunzum La, about 4,590 m.
Afternoon: Reach the Chandratal camps and walk 2–3 km to the lake.
Evening: Stargazing and a below-freezing night in camp.
Stay: Chandratal camp
Kunzum and Chandratal open only from about mid-June to early October. Outside that window, return to Shimla via Kinnaur.
- 8
Day 8
Chandratal to Manali and overnight to Delhi
Morning: Leave early for Batal, Chhatru and Gramphu, a rough road with stream crossings.
Afternoon: Through the Atal Tunnel to Manali, about 120 km and 6–7 hours in all.
Evening: Evening Volvo to Delhi, or rest a night in Manali if the day ran late.
Stay: Overnight Volvo to Delhi, or Manali
Why go clockwise, from Shimla?
Entering via Kinnaur means you climb slowly: Sarahan at about 2,150 m, Chitkul at about 3,450 m, Nako at about 3,600 m and only then Kaza at about 3,800 m. Coming in from Manali instead puts you at Kunzum La and Kaza on day one or two, which is a common cause of altitude sickness. The exit via Manali also saves you retracing the long Kinnaur road.
When does this route work?
Only when Kunzum Pass is open, roughly mid-June to early October. Chandratal camps usually close in the first week of October. In May or late October, do an in-and-out trip via Kinnaur instead, adding Pin Valley and a homestay night.
What does the driving involve?
Expect 4–7 hours on most days on narrow, broken roads shared with army trucks. The Malling slide area near Nako and the Batal–Gramphu stretch are the roughest. Hire an experienced local driver with an SUV; this is not a road for city cars or first-time hill drivers.
What should you carry?
Cash for the whole trip, as ATMs are unreliable beyond Reckong Peo. Warm layers for sub-zero nights even in summer, a basic medical kit, ORS, sunscreen and spare phone power. Mobile signal is patchy outside Kaza.
Build in one buffer day if you can. A single landslide on the Kinnaur road or a swollen stream near Batal can hold you up for hours.
Check the season on the best time to visit Spiti Valley, see costs on Spiti trip cost, read things to do in Spiti Valley, and if you are finishing with a few days in Manali, see where to stay in Manali.
Frequently asked questions
Can I do this Spiti circuit in reverse, from Manali?
Is a sedan enough for Spiti Valley?
What if Kunzum Pass closes during my trip?
How much does an 8-day Spiti trip cost?
How we checked this page
Last reviewed
Written and fact-checked by the Elitech Travels editorial desk in New Delhi, drawing on our consultants' day-to-day booking work and the official sources below. Rules, fares and fees change — always confirm anything critical with the issuing authority before you travel. Our editorial policy.
