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Kee monastery Spiti Valley (edited)

Packing list

Spiti and High-Altitude Road Trip Packing List: What to Carry (and What to Leave Behind)

What to pack for Spiti and other high Himalayan road trips: layers, altitude medicines, car and bike spares, cash, fuel planning and homestay comforts.

Fact-checked 2 min readBy the Elitech Travels editorial desk
43 items6 categories
Original: Kulbhushan Singh Suryawanshi ( website ) Derivative work: Aristeas · CC BY-SA 4.0

Quick answer

Pack for a long, rough drive at 3,000–4,600 m: thermals, a fleece, a windproof jacket, sunscreen, UV sunglasses and shoes you can soak in stream crossings. Carry cash for the whole loop, because ATMs and fuel pumps are scarce beyond Kaza and Reckong Peo. Add motion-sickness tablets, altitude medicines only on a doctor's advice, a power bank and basic vehicle spares.

Documents & money

  • Photo ID plus photocopies — Checked at police posts such as Sumdo on the Kinnaur side.
  • Driving licence, RC, insurance and PUC — Carry originals if you are driving or riding yourself.
  • Cash for the entire circuit — Homestays and dhabas rarely take cards, and UPI fails without signal.
  • Homestay phone numbers written down — You will lose signal for hours at a stretch.
  • Printed bookings
  • BSNL or Jio connection — They cover the most villages; still expect long dead zones.

Clothing & footwear

  • Thermal innerwear, two sets
  • Fleece jacket
  • Windproof jacket, plus a down jacket from September
  • Quick-dry trek trousers
  • Full-sleeve T-shirts — Sun protection matters as much as warmth.
  • Woollen cap and a sun cap
  • Warm gloves
  • Woollen socks
  • Broken-in trekking shoes
  • Old shoes or sandals for water crossings — Streams across the Gramphu–Batal road can be knee-deep by afternoon.

Health & altitude

  • Acetazolamide (Diamox) — Only on a doctor's advice.
  • Motion-sickness tablets — The Kinnaur and Kunzum roads twist for hours.
  • Regular prescription medicines with a week's extra
  • Paracetamol, antacids, anti-diarrhoea tablets and ORS
  • Saline nasal spray and moisturiser — The air is very dry.
  • Sunscreen SPF 50 and lip balm
  • First-aid kit with a crepe bandage
  • Pulse oximeter

Vehicle & riding kit

  • Spare tyre, puncture kit and inflator — Mechanics are hours apart.
  • Tow rope and jump leads
  • Approved jerrycan for extra fuel — There is no pump for about 200 km between Manali and Kaza.
  • Riding jacket, trousers, gloves and helmet (bikers)
  • Bungee cords and waterproof bag covers
  • Spare clutch and accelerator cables, engine oil (bikers)

Electronics

  • Power bank, 20,000 mAh
  • Car charger
  • Headlamp — Homestay power cuts are routine.
  • Camera with spare batteries
  • Offline maps downloaded
  • Spare charging cables

Homestay & food

  • Sleeping bag liner — Adds warmth and hygiene in basic homestays.
  • Hot water bottle
  • Thermos flask
  • Dry fruits, energy bars and ready-to-eat meals — Dhabas between Losar and Gramphu close by evening.
  • Reusable bottle with a filter
  • Toilet paper and wet wipes — Dry compost toilets are common in Spiti homestays.
  • Rubbish bags — Carry waste out to Kaza or Manali.

What makes a Spiti road trip different to pack for?

Kaza sits at about 3,800 m, and the circuit crosses Kunzum La at about 4,590 m. Between June and October, days reach 18–25°C while nights at Kaza, Langza or Chandratal drop to 0–5°C. The Manali side, through the Atal Tunnel and over Kunzum La, usually opens only from June to October. The Shimla–Kinnaur side stays open longer, but a winter visit means -15°C nights or colder and frozen pipes.

Layers and footwear

Pack a thermal base, a fleece and a windproof jacket, and add a down jacket from September. Take one pair of broken-in trekking shoes and one pair you don't mind soaking: streams across the Gramphu–Batal road run deepest in the afternoon after snowmelt.

Fuel, cash and spares

Fuel is the real planning problem. There is no pump for about 200 km between Manali and Kaza, and Reckong Peo and Kaza are the dependable stops on the Kinnaur side, so fill up whenever you can. ATMs are few and unreliable beyond Reckong Peo, homestays rarely take cards and UPI fails without signal; carry cash for the whole loop. If you drive or ride yourself, carry a spare tyre, puncture kit, inflator and tow rope.

Altitude and health

Sleep low before you sleep high: a night in Kalpa or Tabo before Kaza eases the climb. Motion-sickness tablets help on the Kinnaur roads, and acetazolamide should be taken only on a doctor's advice.

What to leave behind

Skip the hair dryer, heavy jeans and anything that needs ironing. Woollen socks and caps are sold in Kaza if you forget them.

If you are linking Spiti with Leh, read our Ladakh season guide too. Check when Spiti's roads open and pick travel insurance that covers high-altitude road travel.

Frequently asked questions

Is there an ATM in Spiti Valley?
Kaza has a couple of ATMs, but they run out of cash or go offline often, especially in peak season. Reckong Peo on the Kinnaur side is the last dependable town. Carry enough cash for fuel, homestays and food for the whole circuit, and don't count on UPI, because signal disappears for hours.
What shoes should I take for Spiti?
Broken-in trekking shoes with ankle support for monasteries, villages and short walks such as Chandratal, plus sandals or an old pair of shoes for water crossings. If you are riding, waterproof riding boots save your feet on the Gramphu–Batal stretch, where streams run deepest in the afternoon.
What extra should I pack for Spiti in winter?
From December to February Kaza drops to -15°C or lower and the Kunzum La route is shut, so you reach Spiti through Shimla and Kinnaur. Add a heavy down jacket, two sets of thermals, insulated boots, a sleeping bag rated to about -10°C, a hot water bottle and extra cash. Expect dry toilets, because pipes freeze.

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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.