Spiti Valley, located in the state of Himachal Pradesh in India, is a remote and rugged destination known for its stunning landscapes, ancient Buddhist monasteries, and traditional villages. A 10-day itinerary is the perfect amount of time to explore the valley and take in all of its highlights.
Day 1: Arrive in Shimla
Begin your journey by flying into Shimla, the capital of Himachal Pradesh. Take a taxi or bus to your hotel and spend the rest of the day acclimating to the area and exploring the city. Shimla is a popular hill station with a colonial past and offers great views of the surrounding mountains.
Day 2: Shimla to Rampur
Start your journey to Spiti Valley by taking a bus or taxi from Shimla to Rampur. The journey takes around 7 hours and offers great views of the mountains and valleys. Check into your hotel in Rampur and spend the rest of the day exploring the town.
Day 3: Rampur to Reckong Peo
Today, you will travel to Reckong Peo, the district headquarters of Kinnaur. This drive takes around 6 hours and offers great views of the Kinnaur Kailash mountain range. Check into your hotel and spend the rest of the day exploring the town.
Day 4: Reckong Peo to Tabo
Today, you will travel to Tabo, a small village located in the Spiti Valley. The journey takes around 5 hours and offers great views of the valley. Tabo is known for its ancient Buddhist monasteries and is a great place to explore the culture and history of the area.
Day 5: Tabo
Spend the day exploring Tabo and visiting the ancient Buddhist monasteries. The Tabo Monastery, also known as the Ajanta of the Himalayas, is a must-see.
Day 6: Tabo to Kaza
Today, you will travel to Kaza, the district headquarters of Spiti. The journey takes around 2 hours and offers great views of the valley. Kaza is a small town with a few shops and restaurants, and it is a great place to explore the culture and history of the area.
Day 7: Kaza
Spend the day exploring Kaza and visiting the Ki Monastery and the Kibber village. The Ki Monastery is one of the oldest and largest monasteries in the Spiti Valley and offers great views of the surrounding mountains.
Day 8: Kaza to Langza
Today, you will travel to Langza, a small village known for its unique landscapes and fossil-rich rock formations. The journey takes around 3 hours and offers great views of the valley. Langza is a great place to explore the natural beauty of the area.
Day 9: Langza to Komic
Today, you will travel to Komic, a small village known for its stunning landscapes and ancient monasteries. The journey takes around 2 hours and offers great views of the valley. Komic is a great place to explore the natural beauty and culture of the area.
Day 10: Komic to Shimla
Today, you will travel back to Shimla to catch your flight back home. The journey takes around 9 hours and offers great views of the mountains and valleys.
Precautions for a Snow Drive in Spiti
- Ensure your vehicle is a 4*4 enabled and has good tyres to support the terrain
- Keep snow chains handy for the ice sheet / heavy snow would need them and the vehicle would not loose the grip
- Have spares of the following: brake pads, wipers, engine oil, oil coolant and battery jumpers, air filters, fuel filters, extra headlight set
- Ensure the threading is in perfect condition in the car you are taking
- Braking distance would increase in snow laden roads, so be mindful of the speed and the driving behavior that you demonstrate while on road
- Do a proper check of tow vehicles and mechanics around the cities you plan to visit while planning your itinerary as the company tow vehicles might take very long to reach in remote areas
- Purchase a jerry can that is designed to withstand and not turn fuel into gel in extreme snow conditions
Few anti-gel additives that might come handy for your snow roadtrip:
AMSOIL – AMSOIL Diesel Recovery Emergency Fuel Treatment
AMSOIL – Diesel Concentrate Cold Flow Improver
Stay & Experiences
For your stay, look for home stays that are properly insulated and have attached washroom facility.
Zostel has some good options that you could explore right from the outskirts of Shimla, Chitkul (last village in India), Tabo, Kaza and local homestays in Kaza as well.
We did have a mix of good and bad roads but the overall drive in winters would be one not to be missed.
Internet connectivity would be limited hence, download local maps of Spiti and surrounding areas.
Do not go with the time given by Google and add at least 50% additional time for the time shown.
How to get there?
Conclusion
In conclusion, Spiti Valley is a beautiful and remote destination in India that offers great landscapes, ancient Buddhist monasteries and traditional villages. A 10 day itinerary is perfect to explore the valley and to take in all of its highlights.
Disclaimers: Some pictures are sourced from royalty free images and a few pictures forwarded by friends who have been on a Spiti roadtrip in winters with their consent.
