Spiti Valley
Marango Rangarik, Himachal Pradesh, India, 172114
Himachal Pradesh’s Spiti Valley is a geographical and cultural extension of the Tibetan Plateau that’s tucked into India. The dry, rocky, high-altitude valley is characterized by cliffside and hilltop Tibetan Buddhist monasteries, a patchwork of green irrigated farmland, and small traditional villages. Adventurers will enjoy the detour to a region distinct from the rest of the mountainous state.
The basics
The Spiti Valley is remote and isolated in far-northern India, but that’s exactly its appeal for most travelers who venture here. Many visitors come on hiking, motorcycle, or 4WD tours, which provide access to parts of Himachal Pradesh that are hard to reach independently. Tours typically include visits to monasteries and high-altitude lakes, plus staying in homestay accommodation in the Spiti Valley.
Things to know before you go
There are small, limited health facilities in Kaza, Tabo, and Kibber villages for minor ailments. For anything more serious, you’ll need to leave Spiti.
Non-Indian travelers reaching Spiti via Shimla need an Inner Line Permit as the road passes very close to the sensitive Tibetan border. You can get these from Kinnaur.
Be prepared to go offline while you’re visiting Spiti: cell phone service and internet speed are poor, when they’re available at all, as this is a very remote area.
How to get there
Many multi-day guided tours to the Spiti Valley start in Delhi, although Manali is closer and offers more access options. Kaza, the Spiti Valley headquarters, is 112 miles (181 kilometers) from Manali. Daily buses ply the mountainous roads between July and October, but 4WD private transportation is more comfortable. There are also road connections from Shimla but the journey is much longer. The nearest airport is in Bhuntar, south of Manali.
When to get there
Road access to the Spiti Valley is only possible between May or June and October, depending on the level of snow on the roads. As there are no air or rail links, this is the only feasible time to visit. The long, cold winters bring heavy snow.
Visit Ladakh, Spiti’s larger northern neighbor
If you like the idea of visiting the Spiti Valley but its remoteness and the difficulty of getting there put you off, consider Ladakh instead. The larger area to the north of Spiti shares the same dry, moon-like landscape, Tibetan Buddhist culture, and outdoor adventure activities, but it’s a little more accessible. Don’t get us wrong—it’s still very remote. But there’s an airport in the capital, Leh, so you can fly there directly from Delhi.
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