02-12-2024Best Time to Visit Spiti Valley: Summer, Winter, or Monsoon?
Best Time to Visit Spiti Valley
With the Echoes of “Om Mani Padme Hum”, this mountainous desert is known to bring good fortune and prosperity to the one who visits here. Spiti means “the middle land”, surrounded by valleys, villages, and landscapes. Spiti Valley is known to be a place where God lives, and fairies visit even today. Before you are curious to know the best time to visit Spiti Valley, here are some interesting facts you should know:
- Spiti is the middleland between India and Tibet.
- You can visit Spiti Valley all around the year through the Shimla-Kinnaur route.
- The Manali route remains closed in winter.
- May-June is the best time to visit Spiti Valley.
- Key monastery is the highest-altitude monastery in India.
- 500+ years old Giu Mummy is believed to have hair and nails that are still growing!
- Spiti is one of the most fossil-rich areas in the world.
- Komic is the world’s highest village, situated in Spiti.
In this guide, you will discover the best time to visit Spiti Valley. In every weather, find out the best places to visit in Spiti. With Tripzygo, you can plan the Spiti Valley itinerary for the number of days you want to visit.
Spiti Valley in Summer
Starting from March to June, the Spiti Valley starts to shed its snow cover after the cold winter months. In summer, the travelers start exploring the place in seclusion. If you are someone who wants to skip the crowd, you can come to Spiti Valley from Shimla.
The summer days are bright and clear to spend time and soak in the beauty with your loved ones. In this best time for Spiti Valley, you can camp at night under the star-lit skies in summer.
| Places to Visit | Specialty |
| Chandratal | One of the most beautiful places in Spiti Valley.It has calm crystal clear waters in shades of gray-blue-green. |
| Dhankar | It is famous for its 1200-year-old monastery.You can visit the pristine lake and the ancient fort here. |
| Tabo | Famous for its hidden cave systems, an ancient monastery, and stark barren landscape. |
| Hikkim | It has the world’s highest post office. |
| Komic | The highest village in the world with a running motorable road. |
| Langza | Visit Langza if you are interested in fossil hunting.It also has a huge golden statue of Lord Buddha overlooking the valleys. |
| Month | Temperature Range (High / Low )(°C) |
| March | -3°/ -15° |
| April | 2°/ -11° |
| May | 6°/ -7° |
| June | 10°/ -2° |
Spiti Valley in Winter
In winter, from October to February, the Spiti Valley is covered in snow and looks like a wonderland. The beauty of Spiti Valley in winter increases with its frozen lakes, waterfalls, and snow-covered mountains.
Winters are not only the best season to visit Spiti Valley but also a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If you love extreme winter adventures, you can visit Spiti Valley to enjoy snow trekking, waterfall climbing, etc. At this best time to visit Spiti Valley, Spiti is almost landlocked due to heavy snow cover and is approached only from the Shimla route.
| Places to Visit | Specialty |
| Gue Village | Famous for the intriguing mummy of a Buddhist monk.This was discovered during an earthquake in 1975. |
| Kibber | This village is famous for its snow-covered vistas in winter.You can visit here to see Tibetan-style houses and ancient monasteries.It also has wildlife like Blue Sheep, Tibetan Woolly Hare, Snow Leopards, and Ibex. |
| Chicham Bridge | Known as the highest bridge in Asia and the second-highest suspension bridge in the world.The bridge stands at a height of around 13,500 ft. |
| Chandratal Lake | The lake freezes in winter. |
| Month | Temperature Range (High / Low )(°C) |
| October | 6°/ -6° |
| November | -1°/ -12° |
| December | -7°/ -19° |
| January | -9°/ -20° |
| February | -6°/ -19° |
Spiti Valley in Monsoon
Spiti Valley is a dry cold desert and sees no rain even during the Monsoon. The Shimla route might see a bit of rain leading to bad road conditions. If coming from Shimla, you might need to cross the Batal and Gramphoo water crossing. Monsoon is perfect and also the best time to visit Lahaul Spiti Valley to enjoy the charm of the valley as it is covered in beautiful autumn colors.
| Places to Visit | Specialty |
| Nako Village | It is famous for its beautiful 11th-century monastery. |
| Tabo Village | Famous for its rustic houses.The village houses the ancient monastery.The monastery is revered by Buddhists around the world. |
| Mudh Village | Located in the beautiful Pin Valley.Mudh Village is famous for its remote and secluded charm. |
| Month | Temperature Range (High / Low )(°C) |
| July | 14°/ 5° |
| August | 16°/ 6° |
| September | 15°/ 3° |
Sneak peek of what to Wear in Spiti Valley:
- Heavy woolen jacket or parka (windproof)
- Balaclava or monkey cap
- Inner thermals
- Fleece jacket
- Heavy woolen clothing
- Woolen socks
- Warm insulated shoes or hiking boots
- Warm hand gloves
- Sunglasses
- Regular Clothes
- Light woolen clothing
- Gumboots for bike riders
How to Reach Spiti Valley
Spiti Valley in Himachal Pradesh is known for its river valleys, sacred peaks, and crystal-clear mountain lakes. You can reach Spiti Valley via major tourist destinations like Manali, Shimla, and Dharamshala. While you discover the best time to visit Spiti Valley, Here is how to reach Spiti Valley by road, train, and air:
By Road
You can easily reach Himachal Pradesh from Chandigarh, Kalka, and Pathankot. Interstate bus services are also available from Delhi, Chandigarh, Jaipur, and other neighboring cities.
The most common route to Spiti Valley is via Shimla which is around 405 km from the city. From Shimla, you can take a bus or a private taxi. This is a route map you can follow to reach the valley via Kinnaur Valley starting from Shimla:
Delhi – Narkanda – Reckong Peo or Kalpa or Sangla – Nako – Tabo (Spiti).
- Delhi to Shimla
- Shimla to Narkanda
- Narkanda to Rampur
- Rampu to Jeori
- Jeori to Karcham
- Karcham to Reckong Peo
- Reckong Peo to Nako
- Nako to Tabo
- Tabo to Kaza
Another popular route is via Manali which is around 177 km away from Spiti. On the Manali-Leh highway, you can enjoy the stunning views of the Himalayas, particularly from June to September. You can follow this route from Manali:
Delhi –Solang Valley or Manali – Rohtang Pass – Gramphu – Kunzum Pass – Kaza/Tabo (Spiti Valley).
By Train
From Punjab, Pathankot is the major broad gauge train station that connects to Himachal. Jogindernagar is another narrow gauge train from Pathankot that connects to the entire Kangra Valley.
From Haryana, Kalka connects to Shimla. The Kalka-Shimla train track is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Trains that run between Kalka to Shimla are Rail Motor, KLK SML Pass, Kalka Simla EXP, Shivalk DLX EXP, and Himalayan Queen.
- Joginder Nagar Railway Station which is located around 360 km from Spiti Valley.
- From Pathankot, you will have to take a toy train to Jogindernagar.
- From Jogindernagar, you can take a bus to Manali. From Manali book a taxi to reach Spiti Valley.
- Trains that run between Pathankot to Joginder Nagar: PTK JDNX PASS Daily, PTK JDNX PASSENGER Daily.
By Air
From Chandigarh, Pathankot, and other smaller airports there is air connectivity to Himachal Pradesh.
- The Pathankot and Gaggal-Kangra airports give access to Kangra, Dharamshala, Chamba, Hamirpur, and Una.
- The Bhuntar-Kullu airport gives access to Mandi, Kullu-Manali, and Lahaul-Spiti.
- The Chandigarh and Jubbarhatti airports give access to Shimla, Solan, Bilaspur, Mandi, and Kinnaur.
The major cities to travel by air and reach Spiti Valley are Delhi, Chandigarh, and Jubbar-Hatti of Shimla. Air India flights mostly run in the morning and take you to the Kullu airport directly. Kullu Airport or Bhuntar Airport is located 10 km away from Kullu. The Kullu Airport has good customer services such as free of cost luggage facility, ATM, and nearby transport services.
How to Plan a Trip to Spiti Valley for New Year 2025
If you are looking to plan a trip to Spiti Valley for New Year with your friends or your partner, TripzyGo has got you covered.
The TripzyGo itinerary builder will recommend the best routes and things to do during your entire trip. It would also suggest the best places and cafes to explore regional, national, and international cuisines.
To create an itinerary in minutes, go to TripzyGo trip planner:
Enter the place to visit (here: Spiti Valley) → enter the number of days of your trip → select the trip type (family, couple, group, friends, honeymoon), and voila! Your perfect itinerary is ready.
As a second option, you can book the seven-day Spiti Group tour with TripzyGo. The package covers destinations including Shimla, Chitkul, Tabo, Kaza, and more. The package covers:
- Transfers from Delhi to Shimla and back.
- Accommodations for 6 nights.
- A total of 12 meals.
- Inner line permits.
- Night charges, toll tax, and parking charges.
- A trip buddy!
- Oxygen cylinder for emergency.
- Medical kit.
Spiti Valley Safety Tips
Tourism in Spiti Valley has increased a lot in recent years. According to Himachal Tourism, the estimate of domestic and foreign tourist arrival in Lahaul & Spiti in 2023 was 823406 and 7035 respectively. Spiti Valley is the embodiment of peace. The place has all been about spirituality, Buddhist culture, cattle, and mountains. Here are some safety tips you should implement while coming to Spiti Valley:
- Keep a medical kit with painkillers, pain relief spray, Diamox, and other necessary medicines.
- Carry extra photocopies of your ID proof Passport and Visa if you are an international tourist.
- Keep at least 4 layers of clothing, a warm cap, sunscreen, gloves, warm socks, a raincoat, and sturdy shoes.
- Carry an extra bag for waste.
- Due to high terrains and low climate, you should not visit Spiti Valley alone. Always hike in a group of a minimum of four to six adults.
- Do not overpack and just carry what you will use daily.
- Plan a trip of a minimum of 8 days as you will spend most of the time traveling by road.
- Do not carry a trolly bag or a duffle bag as in some villages you will climb uphill. Instead, get a backpack for Spiti Valley.
- Stay quiet when you enter monasteries. Lakes in Spiti Valley are holy, so do not take a dip or even wash your feet there.
Conclusion
If you want to witness the greenery and crystal clear water of the lakes, then June to September would be the best time to visit Spiti Valley. However, for a second visit, you can have a winter adventure in the months from October to February. For a travel enthusiast or a full-time traveler, the whole year is the best time to visit Spiti. What matters more is the experience you have during the trip with your loved ones. To have a safe and affordable trip, always go for a reliable travel buddy like TripzyGo.