How To Travel To Spiti Valley In The Winter

How To Travel To Spiti Valley In The Winter 

- posted by Subham.S.Tripathy 

" It's not a journey of my physical body, but rather my soul ".

The winter has its own perks in the high mountains and the same is true for Spiti in winter. 

Traveling to Spiti I winter is a very different experience from other seasons. 

With snow-covered mountains and literally near to zero connection to the outside world, this place is truly the perfect spot for detox. 

But going to Spiti in winter can be tiring and you can't really expect everything to go according to your plan. 

So don't be disheartened if you have to take a detour. 

Take the challenge. 

I was lucky to have had the chance to see the grandeur of Spiti valley in the winter of 2017 and it still is one of the best trips of my life. 

Both the views and the life change in Spiti in the winter. In fact, winter may be a perfect time to see local life in Spiti as it has existed for centuries. 

Here is how to plan before you leave for Spiti

Climate? (it's snowy)

October to March beginning is the perfect time to experience winter in Spiti. While temperature hovers around an average of 8 degrees Celsius during the daytime, at night the mercury touches -10 degrees when snowfall flourishes at its best.

October to December experiences least sunshine but mostly the conditions are cloudy, foggy, and there’s plenty of snowfall around. 

Occasionally, during December – January, the temperature at night falls even below -30-degrees Celsius.

How to reach? 

The only way to reach Spiti in the winter is by road from Shimla via the NH-22 highway through Kinnaur. Rohtang Pass and Kunzum La are both closed in the winters, making travel from Manali an unviable option. 

There is no railway service in the valley and the only way to reach Spiti in Winter is by road. Traveling to Spiti in winter in your own vehicle is not recommended because of the fact that most of the roads are closed.

In my opinion, public transport (taxi, bus ( if you are lucky enough to catch one), shared vehicle) would be best considering the driver's acquaintance with the roads and the weather. 

The roads could be blocked for many days and you might get stuck so always check before you go that the roads are open and you have all the tools that you need with you. 

Places to see 

Now let's get to the fun part. 

Roads to the high altitude villages of Demul, Langza, Kibber, Hikkim, Komic are sometimes open.

There are many tourists spots and a little escape from reality. But always make sure it is safe to go to the places you are planning on going.

It is also possible to visit Lhalung, Gue village, Dhankar & Losar if there are shared taxis plying. 

Going to Pin Valley can be a dicey affair because it is located on a different route and there may be chances of getting stuck.

Remember to always check with locals in Kaza and nearby villages about the prevailing weather and road conditions for the places you are heading to.

protip: 


It is recommended to Drink butter tea and water at regular intervals was my mantra to stay hydrated. I also like dark chocolate and nuts and always use them in the winters.

There is no water supply in toilets as the pipes are entirely frozen. Traditional Spitian dry compost toilets are the only choice in most places in winter in Spiti

Carrying sufficient cash with you is advised because the SBI ATM in Kaza may or may not work. Life in Spiti valley can come to a standstill due to temperatures falling in December and January.

Do share your story in the comment section below and if you have any doubts or any queries about traveling then feel free to email me or contact me on Instagram. I will leave a link right below. 

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