Spiti means "the middle land" — the land between Tibet and India. Its valley is a high-altitude cold desert of bare mountains, river plains and tiny villages, cut off by snow for much of the year. Kaza, at about 3,800 m, is its main town.
There are two routes in: from Manali over the Atal Tunnel and Kunzum Pass (open roughly June to October), or from Shimla through Kinnaur, which stays open for most of the year. Doing a full circuit — in through one route, out through the other — is the classic Spiti road trip.
Best time
May to October
Altitude
Kaza ~3,800 m; villages up to ~4,500 m
Ideal trip
7 to 10 days
Nearest airport
Bhuntar (~250 km to Kaza via Manali)
Why visit Spiti?
Spiti feels like another world — ancient monasteries perched on cliffs, villages under endless skies and some of the most dramatic mountain roads in India.
Thousand-year-old monasteries
Chandratal, the "Moon Lake"
One of the world’s highest post offices at Hikkim
Fossil hunting in Langza
Snow leopard country around Kibber
Unforgettable stargazing
Top places to visit
Key Monastery
The largest monastery in Spiti, about 12 km from Kaza, perched on a hill above the river at around 4,160 m. Its stacked white buildings are the valley’s most famous sight.
Chandratal Lake
A crescent-shaped lake at about 4,300 m, near Kunzum Pass, whose colour changes through the day. Camps are set up a short walk away from the lake.
Dhankar Monastery
Built on a crumbling cliff above the meeting of the Spiti and Pin rivers. Dhankar was once the capital of Spiti, and a short hike leads to Dhankar Lake.
Tabo Monastery
Founded in 996 CE, Tabo’s mud-walled halls hold some of the finest early Buddhist murals in the Himalayas.
Langza
A village at over 4,300 m, known for its large Buddha statue and for marine fossils found in the surrounding hills.
Hikkim
Home to one of the highest post offices in the world, at about 4,400 m — send a postcard home from here.
Kibber
One of the highest villages in the region connected by road, and the base for winter snow-leopard tracking tours.
Pin Valley
A national park known for snow leopards and Himalayan ibex. The village of Mudh sits at the end of the road.
Kunzum Pass
The 4,590 m pass between Lahaul and Spiti, marked by chortens and prayer flags around the Kunzum Mata temple.
Adventure activities
Spiti is a destination for road-trippers, trekkers and anyone who loves wild, empty landscapes.
Popular treks
Food to try
Spitian food is simple and warming, made for the cold — try it in homestays for the real taste.
Best time to visit
Summer
May to June
- Shimla route open; Manali route opens around June
- Snow still on the high passes
- Cold nights
Monsoon
July to September
- Spiti is in a rain shadow — dry and clear
- Best time for the full circuit
- Landslides possible on the Manali and Kinnaur roads
Winter
November to April
- Manali route closed; reach via Shimla–Kinnaur
- Temperatures can drop to −20°C or below
- Snow-leopard season
Tibetan Buddhist Culture
Spiti shares its culture with Tibet — its monasteries, prayer flags, festivals and whitewashed mud-brick homes have been preserved for centuries. Tabo Monastery, founded in 996 CE, is one of the oldest continuously working Buddhist monasteries in the Himalayas.
Ancient gompas at Key, Tabo, Dhankar and Komic
Murals and statues over 1,000 years old
Prayer wheels, chortens and prayer flags
Monastery festivals with masked Cham dances
Traditional mud-brick village homes
Homestays with Spitian families
Best Things to Do
Monastery Visits
Key, Tabo, Dhankar and Komic monasteries
Stunning Landscapes
Chandratal Lake, Pin Valley, Kunzum Pass and the fossil village of Langza
High Villages
Kibber, Hikkim, Komic and Langza — all above 4,000 m
Stargazing
Clear, dry skies make Spiti one of the best places in India to see the Milky Way
Photo Gallery
Travel Tips
Acclimatise slowly — spend a night at a lower altitude before Kaza and drink plenty of water.
Indian citizens need no permit. Foreign nationals need an Inner Line Permit for the Kinnaur–Spiti stretch near the border.
Mobile networks are limited — BSNL and Jio work best — and ATMs are few, so carry enough cash.
Fill fuel in Kaza; there are very few petrol pumps in the valley.
The Manali–Kaza road over Kunzum Pass is usually open only from about June to October.
Carry sunscreen, sunglasses and warm layers — the sun is harsh and nights are cold even in summer.
Nearby Destinations
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit for Spiti?
Which route is better — Manali or Shimla?
How many days do I need for Spiti?
Is altitude sickness a risk in Spiti?
Ready to Explore Spiti?
Join our curated trips to Spiti and experience the best of this amazing destination
Photos via Wikimedia Commons: Mike Shaw (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Lodhra (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Deepank Ranka (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Mdipa (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Sumita Roy Dutta (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Nrr1729 (CC BY-SA 4.0) · John Hill (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Timothy A. Gonsalves (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Gerd Eichmann (CC BY 4.0)