Spiti Valley Road Trip

Spiti Valley is one of India’s most remote and dramatic landscapes — a cold desert high in the Trans-Himalaya, dotted with whitewashed monasteries, terraced barley fields and villages that sit among the highest inhabited places in the world. This 8-day, 7-night road trip is built to cross the region properly, in a 4×4 vehicle suited to its narrow mountain roads and river crossings, with the necessary permits arranged in advance so you can focus on the journey itself.

The route begins in Shimla and climbs gradually through Narkanda before dropping into the Sangla Valley, where apple orchards and pine forests line the Baspa River. From there it continues to Chitkul, the last inhabited village on this route before the Indo-Tibet border, and on to Kalpa, known for its close-up views of the Kinner Kailash range. The trip then crosses into Spiti proper, stopping at Tabo — home to a thousand-year-old monastery often compared to Ajanta — before reaching Kaza, the region’s main town and base for exploring Hikkim, home to the world’s highest post office, and the neighbouring village of Komic.

One of the trip’s clear highlights is Chandratal, a high-altitude lake ringed by barren mountains, whose still waters mirror the surrounding peaks. The return leg brings you back over to Manali.

Homestay and hotel accommodation, all meals, the 4×4 vehicle, permits and a local guide are included throughout, keeping logistics simple in a region where facilities can be sparse. Because of the altitude, long driving days and remote terrain, the trip is recommended for travellers aged 16 and above, in small groups of up to 8, and personal gear, a medical kit and travel insurance are worth arranging in advance.