Spiti Valley Travel Guide 2026

Best places to visit in Spiti Valley

Best time: June to September

Spiti is accessible only 4–5 months a year. Both routes (Shimla and Manali) close in winter.

Only Season ⭐

Jun – Sep

5°C – 25°C

The only time both routes (Shimla–Spiti and Manali–Spiti) are open. Chandratal Lake is accessible. All monasteries and villages are active.

Closed ❄️

Oct – May

-30°C – 5°C

The valley is cut off by snow. Only Kaza town has year-round residents but most guesthouses and roads close.

Airport: Bhuntar Airport, Kullu (via Manali route) (210 km from Kaza)

Duration: ~7 hrs drive

Fly to Bhuntar (Kullu) or Chandigarh then drive or take buses through Manali–Rohtang or Shimla–Kinnaur route.

Taxi: ₹6,000 – ₹10,000 (Bhuntar to Kaza)

Airlines: Air India, Alliance Air to Bhuntar

Station: Shimla (via Shimla–Spiti route) or Chandigarh

Take a train to Shimla and then drive via the Shimla–Kinnaur–Spiti route (8–10 hrs). Or train to Chandigarh and drive via Manali.

Two routes into Spiti — via Shimla (longer but more scenic, all-weather) or via Manali (shorter but high passes).

Spiti's cuisine is simple, hearty Tibetan-Himalayan food designed to fuel people in extreme high-altitude conditions.

Thukpa
Thick noodle soup with vegetables or yak meat — the staple meal in every Spitian home.
Where: Homestays and dhabas throughout Spiti
₹80 – ₹150
Butter Tea (Gur Gur Chai)
Salted yak butter tea — an energy drink unique to high-altitude Tibet and Spiti. An acquired taste.
Where: Every household and monastery
₹20 – ₹50
Tsampa
Roasted barley flour mixed with butter tea or water — the original Himalayan fast food, eaten at high altitudes.
Where: Homestays
₹30 – ₹60
Momos
Steamed dumplings with potato, cheese, or meat filling — available everywhere in the valley.
Where: Kaza market restaurants
₹60 – ₹120
Chhang
Traditional barley beer — mildly alcoholic and consumed locally, especially in summer.
Where: Local households (when offered by hosts)
Offered free by hosts usually
Sepen
Spiti's version of a chili paste sauce — used as a condiment with most meals.
Where: Served at homestays
Included with meals

Most food in Spiti is served at homestays. Kaza has the best restaurant options. Carry snacks and energy bars for long drives between villages.

Spiti is famous for Key Monastery (Kee Gompa), Chandratal Lake, Kibber village, the Langza Buddha statue, Pin Parbati Pass trek, and the surreal cold desert landscape.