Best time to visit Spiti, month by month
The short answer
For most people the best time to visit Spiti is June to September, when both roads in are open and Chandratal is reachable. October is clear and quiet, but the Manali side usually shuts by mid-month. From November to May you can come in only through Kinnaur, and it is properly cold.
Month by month
| Months | Roads in | What it’s like | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| January – March | Kinnaur only | Deep winter. Kaza averages −14 °C to −18 °C at night; the coldest nights fall below −30 °C. | Snow, the snow leopard season, empty roads |
| April – May | Kinnaur only; Kunzum cleared from late May | The thaw. Cold nights, few visitors. | A quiet trip from the Shimla side |
| June – September | Both roads | Kaza days of 12–19 °C; nights near freezing in June and September. | The full circuit and Chandratal |
| October | Both, until Kunzum shuts with the first heavy snow | Clear, dry and cold. | Photography, clear skies |
| November – December | Kinnaur only | Freezing nights, about −13 °C to −18 °C in Kaza; fewer places open. | Silence, if you can take the cold |
By what you want
Chandratal. June to early October, while the Manali side of Kunzum Pass is open. See Chandratal.
The full circuit. June to mid-October: in through Kinnaur, out over Kunzum to Manali.
Snow. January to March, through Kinnaur only, for travellers ready for the cold.
Snow leopards. January to early March around Kibber. Give it four or five days; nothing is ever promised.
Quiet roads. Late September to November, with clear skies and very few visitors.
Festivals. Ladarcha in Kaza in mid-August, Dachang around February and Spiti Losar around November.
How the roads decide it
Two roads lead into Spiti. The Kinnaur road from Shimla stays open most of the year, with short closures for landslides in the monsoon and snow in winter. The Manali road over Kunzum Pass is open only from about June to mid-October. In 2025 snow shut it on 6 October and it reopened for 4×4s on 14 October before closing for the winter; in 2026 BRO reopened it on 20 May. Before any trip, check Is Spiti open?.
Every month in detail:
Quick answers
Which month is best for Spiti?
June to September for most trips, when both roads into Spiti are open and Chandratal is reachable. September is often the clearest and quietest of the four.
Can you visit Spiti in winter?
Yes, through Kinnaur from Shimla. Nights in Kaza fall to −15 °C to −30 °C, Kunzum Pass and Chandratal are closed, and snow can shut the road for days, so keep spare days.
When does the Manali road to Spiti open?
Usually in late May or June, once BRO has cleared Kunzum Pass. In 2026 it reopened for 4×4 vehicles on 20 May.
What is the best time for snow in Spiti?
January to March. Snow usually starts in mid to late December, and January and February bring the most.
When should you not visit Spiti?
Skip December to February unless you want deep winter. In August, monsoon rain can bring landslides on the Kinnaur road in, so leave a spare day.
Sources
- Himachal: Kunzum Pass route to Spiti opens after 6-month closure, The Tribune, 20 May 2026
- Kunzum Pass thrown open for 4x4 vehicles; residents relieved, The Tribune, 14 October 2025
- Open-Meteo historical weather API (ERA5 reanalysis), Kaza, 2001–2025
- Spiti Valley in winter, Himalayan Brothers
- Kaza, Himachal Pradesh, Wikipedia
Trips that fit
Run by Himalayan Brothers, our family’s travel company, and quoted on WhatsApp.
From our door
Spiti Villa is on Kibber Village Road, just below Key Monastery and 12 km from Kaza: 32 rooms, a glass-walled restaurant, and oxygen on site if the altitude catches up with you. Open all year.