Spiti Valley
Trip Overview Facts
- Kunzum Pass (14,931 ft) — the gateway between Lahaul and Spiti
- Key Monastery, the largest and oldest gompa in Spiti
- Hikkim — the world's highest post office, at 14,567 ft
- Komic and Langza, among the highest motorable villages on earth
About Spiti Valley
Eight days on the road through the cold desert of Lahaul & Spiti — Manali to Kaza over the 14,931 ft Kunzum Pass, the thousand-year-old gompas at Key, Dhankar and Tabo, the world's highest villages at Langza, Hikkim and Komic, the Pin Valley, and a night camped beside Chandratal before the drive back. Entirely by road: there is no trekking on this circuit beyond short walks at each stop.
- Kunzum Pass (14,931 ft) — the gateway between Lahaul and Spiti
- Key Monastery, the largest and oldest gompa in Spiti
- Hikkim — the world's highest post office, at 14,567 ft
- Komic and Langza, among the highest motorable villages on earth
- Tabo Monastery, founded in 996 CE and known as the Ajanta of the Himalayas
- Dhankar Gompa, perched on a spur above the Spiti–Pin confluence
- Mudh village and the Pin Valley National Park
- A night under canvas at Chandratal, the crescent-shaped moon lake
The itinerary holds you at Kaza (12,500 ft) for a full day before the Langza–Komic loop, so your body has time to adjust. Rushing straight to 15,000 ft is the single most common cause of AMS on this circuit.
Most operators photograph Chandratal from the roadhead and drive on. You camp at the designated site near the lake and see it at both dusk and first light.
Portable oxygen, a pulse oximeter and a stocked first-aid kit travel with the group throughout. The nearest hospital to Kaza is in Keylong or Reckong Peo, several hours away.
Drivers are from Lahaul and Spiti and know the road in every condition. Village nights are in family-run homestays rather than chain hotels.
Ideal for: Travellers who want high-altitude Himalayan landscape and Buddhist monastic culture without a multi-day trek, and who are comfortable with long mountain drives, basic village accommodation and limited mobile network.
Day-by-day Schedule
- 8:00 AMArrive in Manali, meet the trip captain and check in to the hotel.
- Rest through the morning. The rest of the circuit climbs fast, so this day is deliberately light.
- Afternoon walk through Old Manali, the Hadimba Devi temple and the Manu temple.
- Evening trip briefing — route, altitude, documents and what to pack into your daypack.
- Overnight in Manali (6,700 ft).
What's Included & What's Not
- 7 nights accommodationhotels in Manali, guesthouse in Kaza, homestays in Mudh and Tabo, and tents at Chandratal
- All breakfasts and dinners from Day 1 dinner to Day 8 breakfast
- Private vehicle for the full Manali–Spiti–Manali circuit, allocated by group size
- Experienced local driver and a trip captain throughout
- Inner-line formalities and monastery entry where applicable
- Portable oxygen cylinderpulse oximeter and a stocked first-aid kit with the group
- All tollsparking, fuel and driver allowances
Eligibility & Fitness
Graded Difficult. Days are built around drives, sightseeing stops and short walks, so a baseline level of everyday fitness is enough — no prior trekking experience is required.
This itinerary is open to travellers aged 12 and above. Travellers with a cardiac history, chronic knee trouble or reduced mobility should tell us at the time of booking so we can plan the pace and the stops around them.
- Age 12 to 60 — travellers under 18 need a parent or guardian on the trip
- No trekking experience needed, but you must be comfortable spending seven days above 10,000 ft
- Not suitable for anyone with a heart condition, uncontrolled high blood pressure, severe asthma or a recent surgery — altitude here is unforgiving
- Carry an original government photo ID; it is checked at the inner-line and sanctuary posts
- Long days on rough, exposed mountain road — not advisable if you suffer badly from motion sickness
- Able to walk 2–3 km on uneven ground at altitude, such as the Dhankar Lake path or the Chandratal shore
- Comfortable with 8–10 hour driving days on unsurfaced road
- Start 15–20 minutes of daily cardio about three weeks before departure — it noticeably eases the first two days
Spiti Valley Departure Batches
Choose your preferred 8-day departure batch. Open batches are available from May 2026 to October 2026.
How to Reach Spiti Valley
The circuit starts and ends in Manali. Reach Manali by the evening of Day 0 or the morning of Day 1; everything beyond that point is covered by the trip vehicle.
Limited daily flights from Delhi and Chandigarh, and frequently cancelled for weather. Most travellers fly into Chandigarh (240 km) or Delhi instead and continue by road.
Joginder Nagar is a narrow-gauge terminus with very limited service. Chandigarh is the practical railhead, with overnight buses on to Manali.
Roughly 800 km over eight days, almost all of it above 10,000 ft. The Manali side is reached through the Atal Tunnel; the Kunzum Pass section is unsurfaced and crosses several glacial stream beds.
- Manali
- Kunzum Pass
- Kaza
- Mudh (Pin Valley)
- Dhankar
- Tabo
- Chandratal
- Manali
Overnight Volvo seats from Delhi are not included but can be booked through the trips desk. Keep a spare day before any onward flight — the Spiti road is weather-dependent and delays do happen.
Trip Essentials Packing List
- Rucksack with rain cover
- Trekking poles
- Day backpack
- Thermals
- Quick-dry t-shirts
- Fleece jacket
- Trek pants
- Woollen cap and buff
- Waterproof gloves
- Woollen socks
- Trekking shoes
- Camping slippers
- Personal first aid kit
- Rain gear
- Sun cap and sunglasses
- Sunscreen and lip balm
- Water bottle
- Power bank
Trip Photo Album
Trail, campsite and summit shots from past batches.
Cancellation & Voucher Policy
Cancel 30 or more days before travel and a 25% cancellation fee applies. Between 15 and 30 days, 50%. Within 15 days of departure, 100% — no refund.
Trek Reviews & Videos
"Summiting Spiti Valley with TripMySoul was a dream come true! The guide team carried oxygen tanks and checked our SpO2 twice daily. Food at high camp was fresh and hot!"
"The campsite management and safety protocols on Spiti Valley are top notch. Triple-layer sleeping bags kept us warm even at -8°C at night!"
"Joined the Women-Only batch and felt completely safe and empowered! Our female trek leader was super supportive during steep incline sections."
"Clear instructions from base camp to summit ridge. TripMySoul's logistics and transport coordination made the journey seamless."
Trip Article & Written Guide
The Complete Guide to Spiti Valley: Trail Contours, Campsites & Preparation
Everything you need to know about preparing for Spiti Valley. Deep-dive analysis of altitude sickness prevention, terrain contours, camp temperature ranges, and gear checklist.
Frequently Asked Questions
Similar Trips
- Kunzum Pass (14,931 ft) — the gateway between Lahaul and Spiti
- Key Monastery, the largest and oldest gompa in Spiti
- Hikkim — the world's highest post office, at 14,567 ft
- Komic and Langza, among the highest motorable villages on earth