Spiti Valley is a cold desert mountain nestled in the north-eastern region of Himachal Pradesh. The name Spiti itself transalates to "the middle land". Spiti is renowed as the winter wonderland because during winters the entire valley gets covered in a thick blanket of snow. It's known for it's ancient monasteries, rich tibetan culture, pristine rivers and warm hospitality.

Spiti Valley is located in the Lahaul district of the state of Himachal. There are two routes to reach Spiti Valley by road. One is via Manali while the other is via Shimla.

The Shimla route passes via Kinnaur valley and you get to traverse the Hindustan Tibet Highway. The gradual ascend towards high altitude makes it easier for your body to get acclimatized as well. The distance from Shimla to Kaza is approx 225 Kilometers and it takes almost 9 hours for you to reach including the pit stops you might make while driving.

On the other hand, Most people prefer going on a road trip to Spiti valley from Manali as the route is shorter and also gives ample opportunity for adventure. The distance between Manali and Kaza is approximately 200 Kilometers. The roads are tough to drive upon especially when you’re headed towards Kunzum Pass, and the water crossings make conditions even tougher, but the journey becomes ten times better when you are traveling to Spiti valley from the Manali route, not to mention that even though the roads are extremely hostile, they are less susceptible to landslides, and the entire journey is less time-consuming. 

Spiti Valley has a lot to offer and if you want to make the most out of your backpacking trip to Spiti, then you need an 8-9 day itinerary at least. If we include the time it takes for you to reach your destination i.e Spiti valley in this case. If you are going to Spiti via the Kinnaur side, it will take you at least three days to reach Spiti. And if you travel to Spiti Valley through the Manali route, it will take you two days to reach Spiti. Any road trip to Spiti that isn't at least 8 days long doesn't do it justice. There aren't enough days that you can spend here but a 9-day trip to Spiti Valley should give you the taste of the adventure and peace it has to offer. 

First of all, you need to come up with a number when it comes to how many days you can afford to spend in Spiti valley. Then which starting point is convenient for you and then you just have to give us a call and let us take over the responsibility for you. We have curated different itineraries that are suitable for a wide range of people and cover most of the major attractions of Spiti Valley. 

The best time to Spiti Valley entirely depends on what your definition of fun and good times is. If you are someone who loves snow and all things winter, if you love putting your freezing hands around a piping hot cup of tea, if you prefer ivory snow to earthly hues, then you would love Spiti Valley in winters. It is called the winter wonderland because of the thick blanket of snow that covers the entire valley, from the mountains to the meadows. The best time to visit Spiti valley would be from February to May if you want to experience the true glory of Spiti. 

If you are someone who loves nature, lakes, and green fields, then the best time to visit Spiti Valley is from June to September. You'd be able to visit the Chandrataal lake, see the Himalayan sheep grazing in the meadows and soak in the sun as well. 

Although Spiti valley is paradise personified during winters, it's crucial to know that most of the motorable passes get closed due to heavy snowfall. The Manali route gets completely shuts down. The route via Shimla is open throughout but it's important to know that the roads are slippery hence caution is needed. The temperature drops below zero degrees. Since the network is scarce and the last ATM is in Kaza (which runs out of cash often), you must be fully prepared for a winter Spiti trip. However, December is not the ideal month for a backpacking trip to Spiti valley because it's extremely dangerous and you won't have resources at your disposal either.

Spiti is a treasure chest with many hidden gems in its embrace. The best places in Spiti valley that you can't miss are:

1) Chitkul: The last Indian Village with the cleanest air in the entire country. This tiny hamlet is quite literally a breath of fresh air.

2) Kalpa: With a breathtaking view of the Kinner Kailash peaks, apple orchards, serenity, and the suicide point that gets your heart beating faster, Kalpa is one of the places you simply can't miss while on a trip to Spiti valley.

3) Khab: The confluence of the Spiti and Outlet form a commune in the heart of Khab with the Reo Purgyil in the backdrop forming a landscape that looks like a dream.

4) Nako: A quaint village, Nako with the serene Nako Lake and Nako monastery is the embodiment of peace. 

5) Pin Valley: Famous for its wildlife reserve, diverse flora, and fauna, and lush green forests, Pin valley is a nature lover's paradise.

6) Kaza: The commercial center of Spiti, Kaza is the bridge that links Spiti to its neighboring valleys and gives you a glimpse at the Spiti which is a blend of both modern and traditional customs.

7) Langza: The village of Gods, Langza is known for the abundance of fossils that are found here. The main attraction is the 1000-year-old Buddha statue that overlooks the village as its watchful protector. 

8) Komic: The world's highest village nestles in Spiti valley. It is a remote hamlet with less population and an abundance of Spiti. 

9) Kibber: Although inhabited by humans, you can still sight the rare snow leopard in this village and the view is truly breathtaking. 

10) The monasteries, Spiti has no shortage of quaint villages but what's known, especially for is because of the centuries-old monasteries with their thangka paintings, murals, and relics of Buddha. Some of the most popular monasteries that you must see in Spiti valley are Tabo Monastery, Key Monastery, Kungri Monastery, Gue Monastery, Nako Monastery, Sakya Tangyud Monastery, and Dhankar Monastery.

We make sure to cover all of these in our itineraries. 

Because of its location in the Himalayan regions, there is a scarcity of ATMs in Spiti. That is not to say that there aren't any working ATMs in the valley but during winters, it can be hard to refill the cash and there is no resort if there is a power outrage. With that being said, the town of Reckong Peo has 7-8 ATMs. There is an ATM in Sangla and one in Kalpa. Beyond Kalpa is the most non-functional ATM at Tabo. There is also an ATM at Kaza that works efficiently but does face issues of running out of cash sometimes. Beyond Kaza, the next one is at Manali. 

The connectivity for mobile networks depends on a lot of factors, like the weather conditions, high altitude, hotspot regions, etc but still, there are a lot of places in Spiti that get decent mobile connections for Jio and BSNL. Chitkul gets volatile network coverage while Kalpa and Kaza have a decent network for Jio users. There is almost zero networks at Chadrataal. 

The temperature in Spiti can drop below -3 degrees during winters so you need to pack lots of warm clothes and layers. Thermal inners, fleece jackets, woolen jackets, fleece or woolen socks and gloves, Insulated shoes, and Balaclavas to cover your head, especially your ears and neck against chilly winds. We share an extensive list of things that you need to pack according to your trip to Spiti Valley so you can follow that packing list to help you pack better.