Ultimate travel Guide for Kinnaur Spiti tour.
All information you need to know about planning your perfect Kinnaur spiti trip.
Kinnaur - Beyond Ordinary
Kinnaur is one of the best district of Himachal Pradesh, known for high Himalayan peaks like Kinner Kailash (6,050 m) and its apple and apricot orchards, ancient temples & monasteries. You'll witness a perfect mixture of Hindu and Buddhist culture here. One of the highest peak is here in Kinnaur known as Reo Purgil Peak. If you are looking for a once in a lifetime experience then Kinnaur tour is just perfect for you - remote villages, Sacred Buddhist culture, and raw nature, a proper mix. to satisfy every adventure lover soul.
How to reach Kinnaur ? - if you are planning a Kinnaur trip then you have to trave by road through Shimla. You can choose Bus travel or can Hire a local taxi ( best option due to roads). There are no airport in Kinnaur and no rail lines so only option is by road. You can come from shimla via Narkanda (through NH5). Shimla to Kinnaur distance is 258 kms which will take 7-8 hrs to reach.
Best Time to Visit Kinnaur
For seameless travel you can visit in April- June for pleasant weather temp. that time is between 10-25 degree. July-Sep mid is monsoon time so avoide travel that time, slippery roads and landslide risk. And Best time for Snow lovers is after Nov-March. Winter spiti expedition time - best for adventure seekers and daredevils.
How to Plan Kinnaur tour ? - we recommend 6-7 days kinnaur tour if you want to feel Kinnaur vibes properly. Best option is to book a taxi from chandigarh or Shimla then travel through Narkanda-Rampur-Sarahan-kinnaur. If you are a budget traveller then you can take HRTC bus. Kinnaur have best option for homestays/guest house/hotels but if you are planning in season time (April-June) then we recommend to book hotels 4-6 weeks before departure. Busget stays starts from INR 1,000-1,500 depends on travelling time/availabilty due to rush and meal plan you'll choose. And Mid range Hotels in Kinnaur starts from INR 1,800-2,500. And for luxury travellers for 3* premium hotels in Kinnaur you can expect rates from INR 3,500-6,500 or more as per you budget. Honest suggestion we give to our travellers to spend more on exploration than stay, and choose local homestay to feel local culture and try local food of Kinnaur.
Top Nearby Attractions of Kinnaur valley
- Reckong Peo (2,280 m): Reckong Peo is Kinnaur’s administrative headquater, offers top views of Kinnaur Kailash. Best market for purchasing local crafts and specially gold jwellery, Kinnaur offers best treditional design and famous for their shawls/ Kinnauri Pattu ranging from 2,500-25,000 and more.
- Sarahan (2,165 m): Sarahan is famous for its 1,500-year-old Bhimakali Temple - one of the 51 shakti peeths, Shri Raghunath temple, Bijjat Maharaj Temple, Bushahr royal palace, and the nearby Himachal Bird Park.
- Sangla (2,675 m): Sangla attracts visitors with its hilltop Kamru Fort, the sacred Bering Nag Temple, apple orchards and vibrant buckwheat fields.
- Chitkul (3,400 m): India’s “last village” on the Indo-Tibetan border, Chitkul sits at the end of the Sangla Valley, offering amazing meadows and a Mata Devi temple worshiped by locals.
- Kalpa (3,000 m): Kalpa is famous for its spectacular sunrise views of the snow-capped Kinner Kailash peak, surrounded by fragrant apple orchards and ancient cliff-side temples. also you can visit Suicide Point, Roghi Village, and the Hu-Bu-Lan-Kar Monastery.
- Nako (3,280 m): Nako village is around a mesmerising glacier made lake and Lotsava Jhakang - 11th century monastery that reflects the region’s Tibetan Buddhist heritage. Also visit Chango Gompa - 500 yrs old wheel buddhists use for prayers made from yak skin.
- Pooh (1,600 m): Gateway to upper Kinnaur area, Pooh is a mid-valley settlement known for its traditional wooden houses and seasonal jau (barley) cultivation, visit Khab sangam point, Kasang waterfall etc.
Spiti - Hear the Silence
Spiti Valley is a high-altitude plateau (2,950 to 4,100 m from sea level) of Himalya, situates in the nort-east area of Himachal Pradesh. Spiti name means "Middle land" and this word is derived from old buddhist language "Bhoti" pronounced as "Piti". Spiti Valley is known as cold desert and this is least populated area in India having population around 18,000 people approx. The main source of their income is farming sheeps & tourism from last few years. Spiti area is best known for it's 4x4 expedition and adventure activities in winters and also popular among wildlife photographers. Prediators like Snow leopards are mostly spotted in these areas. In some of the areas you'll find rock art done by Buddhist monks, some of them are more than 3,000 yrs old.
How to reach Spiti Valley ? - Only option is by road journey from shimla. You can come till Chandigarh by Air or Shimla ( jubbarhatti), but limited flights to Shimla. From Shimla (Preferred Route – Less Risky): Shimla → Narkanda → Rampur → Sarahan → Sangla/Chitkul → Kalpa → Nako → Tabo → Dhankar → Kaza (NH5 up to Kinnaur, then NH505 to Spiti) From Manali (More tough Route): Manali → Atal Tunnel → Gramphu → Kunzum La → Kaza (Road opens - June to October)
Plan Your Spiti Valley Tour
Best suggestion for seamless travel is to Hire a local expert taxi driver from Chandigarh/Shimla because these routes are tough and needs more area knowledge & experiece to drive here. we suggest 10-15 minimum days, for this route for amazing experience
- Day 1: Chandigarh/Delhi → Shimla/Narkanda
- Day 2: Narkanda → Sarahan (Visit Bhimakali Temple)
- Day 3: Sarahan → Sangla → Chitkul (last Indian village)
- Day 4: Chitkul → Kalpa (stay for Kinnaur Kailash views)
- Day 5: Kalpa → Nako → Gue (Sangha Tenzin's - mummy statue)
- Day 6: Gue → Tabo (Visit 1000-year-old monastery)
- Day 7: Tabo → Dhankar → Pin Valley
- Day 8: Pin Valley → Kaza
- Day 9: Kaza → Langza, Hikkim, Komic, Chicham bridge
- Day 10: Kaza → Chandrataal (via Kunzum La)
- Day 11: Chandrataal → Manali
- Optional Days: Add for rest days/acclimatization, treks etc.
| Category | Budget (10–12 Days) | Mid-Range | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Couple | ₹30,000 – ₹45,000 | ₹50,000 – ₹70,000 | ₹80,000+ |
| Group (per head) | ₹15,000 – ₹22,000 | ₹25,000 – ₹35,000 | ₹50,000+ |
*Prices totally depends on availabilty of hotels and travelling dates. For stay options in Spiti regions you cannot expect high class hotels here, you'll find local guest houses and decent hotels/camps here. if you are coming in season time you have to book 1 month before your departure. Budget guesthouses starts from ₹800–1,200, mid-range ₹2,000–3,000, camps/Homestays ₹1,500–2,500 per person. rates depends on availabilty and travelling dates.
Must Visit Spiti Valley places
- Nako – Famous for beautiful lake, Nako Monastery.
- Gue – where 500 year old Mummy of Sangha Tenzin is preserved.
- Tabo – UNESCO Monastery - also known as the "Ajanta of the Himalayas.
- Dhankar – Cliff-top monastery, Dhankar lake trek.
- Pin Valley – Wildlife sanctuary, Mudh village.
- Kaza – Capital of Spiti, cafes, fuel station.
- Langza – Fossil village, giant Buddha statue
- Hikkim – Highest post office in the world, send postcard to your loved ones.
- Komic – One of the highest motorable villages (15,027 ft)
- Chicham – Highest suspension bridge in Asia (13,596 ft) which connects Chicham & Kibber.
- Kunzum Pass – Also Known as Kunzum la (14,931 ft) - Connects Spiti with Manali.
- Chandrataal lake – Moon lake- from where Yudhisthir goes to heven in humanly form believed by locals, best for camping.
