Spiti Valley, from Key
Roads, months and places in Spiti, written by the family that hosts travellers below Key Monastery, at about 4,000 m.
Is Spiti open?
- Shimla–Kinnaur road
- Open most of the year
- Manali–Kunzum road
- June to mid-October
- Spiti Villa
- Seasonal, closed in deep winter
Spiti at a glance
Spiti is a high, cold desert valley in Lahaul and Spiti district, Himachal Pradesh. Kaza, its main town, is at about 3,650 m. You can drive in from Shimla through Kinnaur most of the year, or from Manali over Kunzum Pass from June to mid-October.
- Kaza
- 3,650 m
- Key Monastery
- 4,166 m
- Best months
- Jun – Sep
- Shimla to Kaza
- ~420 km
- Manali to Kaza
- ~200 km
- Permits
- None for Indians
Spiti month by month
- JanDeep winterKinnaur road only.
- FebSnow leopard seasonKinnaur road only.
- MarSnow, clear daysKinnaur road only.
- AprThaw beginsKinnaur road only.
- MayKunzum being clearedKinnaur road only.
- JunSeason opensBoth roads open.
- JulDays near 15 °CBoth roads open.
- AugKinnaur landslidesBoth roads open.
- SepClearest skiesBoth roads open.
- OctKunzum shuts mid-monthKunzum road shuts mid-month.
- NovOne road inKinnaur road only.
- DecNights below −20 °CKinnaur road only.
Places in Spiti
Key Monastery
4,166 mThe largest monastery in Spiti, of the Gelugpa school, 12 km from Kaza. Spiti Villa sits below it.
Langza
Above 4,300 mFossils, the Buddha statue and a half-day loop with Hikkim and Komic.
Dhankar
3,894 mA cliff-top gompa where the Spiti and Pin rivers meet. Once Spiti’s capital.
Kibber
4,270 mA village lived in all year, and the base for Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary.
Kaza
3,650 mSpiti’s main town and its last big market, 12 km below Key.
Stay at Spiti Villa, below Key Monastery
Wooden cottages on Kibber Village Road, about 12 km from Kaza, with a glass-walled restaurant and the monastery in view.
- Since
- 2022
- Rooms
- 32
- Check-in · out
- 12:30 · 11:30
- On site
- Wi-Fi, power backup, oxygen, parking
Spiti Circuit: Shimla to Manali
8 days · 7 nights · Jun – mid-OctIn through Kinnaur, three nights at Spiti Villa, out over Kunzum Pass and Chandratal.
Spiti from Kaza
5 days · 4 nights · from KazaMonasteries and villages from one base: Key, Kibber, Langza, Hikkim, Komic and Dhankar.
Winter Spiti
7 days · 6 nights · via Kinnaur onlySnow, silence and the snow leopard trail around Kibber. No sighting is ever promised.
Before you go
How to reach Spiti
The Kinnaur road and the Kunzum road, and when each one is open.
On himalayanbrothers.comSpiti in winter
One road in, no Chandratal, and what still runs around Kaza.
On himalayanbrothers.comAltitude and oxygen
How to climb slowly, sleep low on the first night and spot the warning signs.
On himalayanbrothers.comSpiti permits
Who needs one, where to get it, and which stretches it covers.
On himalayanbrothers.com
Quick answers
Do you need oxygen in Spiti?
Most healthy travellers don’t, if they come in slowly through Kinnaur and rest on the first day. Spiti Villa keeps oxygen on site for guests who need it.
When should you not visit Spiti?
Skip December to February unless you want deep winter: only the Kinnaur road is open and nights fall below −20 °C. In August, rain can bring landslides on the Kinnaur side, so leave a spare day.
Is 5 days enough for Spiti?
Five days is enough for Key, Kibber, Langza, Hikkim, Komic and Dhankar from a base near Kaza. Add two or three days for the drive in from Shimla or Manali.
How far is Key Monastery from Kaza?
About 12 km, roughly half an hour by road. Spiti Villa is on Kibber Village Road, just below the monastery.