Winter Spiti Tour tour package via Kinnaur
Spiti when the Manali road is buried under snow: in through Kinnaur, frozen waterfalls, silent white villages and minus twenty at night.
- Duration
- 9D / 8N
- Highest point
- 3,800 m
- Distance
- About 1,250 km
- Best time
- Dec–Mar for winter; via Kinnaur most of the year
About this trip
From October to June the Kunzum La road is closed and Spiti can only be reached from the Shimla side, along the Sutlej through Kinnaur. In winter this becomes one of the most dramatic road trips in India: frozen streams, villages under snow, monasteries with smoke curling out of the kitchens, and almost no other travellers.
We go slowly, because the cold and the altitude both demand it. Nights in Sarahan and Kalpa break the climb before Nako and Kaza, where the homestays have heated rooms and the families who run them know how to keep you warm.
This is a serious winter trip. It needs a strong SUV, a driver who has handled black ice, warm clothing and an open mind about changes. The reward is a Spiti very few people see.
Highlights
- Bhimakali temple at Sarahan
- Kalpa with the Kinner Kailash range in front
- Frozen Nako lake
- Tabo monastery, founded in 996 AD
- Key Monastery, Kibber and Langza in snow
Altitude on the route
Day by day
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Day 1
Kangra to Shimla
Drive via Hamirpur and Bilaspur to Shimla (about 235 km). Evening on the Mall Road.
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Day 2
Shimla to Sarahan
Over Narkanda and down to the Sutlej at Rampur, then up to Sarahan and the Bhimakali temple.
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Day 3
Sarahan to Kalpa
Into Kinnaur along the Sutlej to Reckong Peo and Kalpa, facing the Kinner Kailash range.
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Day 4
Kalpa to Nako
Past Khab, where the Spiti river meets the Sutlej, to Nako village and its frozen lake.
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Day 5
Nako to Kaza via Tabo
Tabo monastery and its murals, then on to Kaza.
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Day 6
Kaza in winter
Key Monastery, Kibber and Langza, as far as the snow allows. Optional snow leopard spotting with local trackers in season.
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Day 7
Kaza to Kalpa
Long drive back down the valley to Kalpa.
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Day 8
Kalpa to Shimla
Back along the Sutlej to Shimla or Narkanda.
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Day 9
Drop
Drive to Kangra or Chandigarh, or drop at Shimla.
Included
- 8 nights in hotels and heated homestays, twin sharing
- Breakfast and dinner
- Private 4x4 or SUV with a winter-experienced driver
- Tolls, state taxes, parking and driver allowance
Not included
- Inner Line Permit fee for foreign nationals
- Snow leopard tracking fee
- Lunch
- Extra nights caused by road closures
Good to know
Extreme cold
Night temperatures in Kaza can fall below −20°C in January. You need down jackets, thermals, gloves and warm boots.
Road closures
Snow and landslides can close the road between Kalpa and Kaza for a day or more. We keep a buffer day and plan around it.
Permits
Indian nationals need no permit. Foreign nationals need an Inner Line Permit for the Kinnaur stretch, which we help arrange.
Health
Altitude plus cold is hard on the body. This trip is not suitable for infants, the elderly or anyone with heart or lung conditions.
Stay, pickup and who it suits
- Where you stay
- Hotels in Shimla, Sarahan and Kalpa; heated homestays in Nako and Kaza.
- Pickup points
- Kangra, Gaggal Airport, Dharamshala, Chandigarh or Shimla
- Best for
- Experienced travellers and photographers who are fit and comfortable with real cold.
Winter Spiti Tour: questions
Can you go to Spiti in winter?
Yes, via Shimla and Kinnaur. The Manali–Kunzum La route is closed from around mid-October to June.
How cold is Spiti in winter?
Daytime is often around −5°C to 0°C, and nights can drop below −20°C in January and February.
Which is better for Spiti, Manali route or Kinnaur route?
In summer, the Manali route is shorter from Kangra. In winter, only the Kinnaur route is open. Many people go in by one and out by the other in June–September.
Similar trips
Manali, Solang & Atal Tunnel
Kangra → Mandi → Kullu → Manali → Solang → Sissu
Plan your Winter Spiti Tour trip
Tell us your dates and group. We will send hotels and a final price you can change freely.