Our 8-day route
Day 1, Shimla to Sangla: via Narkanda and Rampur along the Sutlej, about 230 km.
Day 2, Chitkul and Kalpa: Chitkul, the last village before the Tibet border, then Kalpa for sunset on the Kinnaur Kailash range.
Day 3, Kalpa to Tabo: past Khab, where the Spiti river meets the Sutlej, with a stop at Nako lake.
Day 4, Tabo to Kaza: the thousand-year-old Tabo monastery and Dhankar fort on the way.
Day 5, around Kaza: Key monastery, Kibber, the Chicham bridge, Langza, Hikkim's post office and Komic.
Day 6, Kaza to Chandratal: over the Kunzum Pass to the moon lake. Camps open roughly from June to September.
Day 7, Chandratal to Manali: via Batal and the Atal Tunnel.
Day 8, Manali to Shimla or Chandigarh.
Things to know
- Altitude: Kaza is at about 3,800 m, Komic and Kunzum higher still. Go slowly, drink water and tell us if anyone feels unwell; we plan an easy day 5 for this reason.
- Season: the Kinnaur side is open most of the year, but the Kunzum Pass usually opens only from June to October. Outside that window we return the way we came.
- Permits: Indian nationals do not need a permit. Foreign nationals need a permit for the border stretch between Jangi and Sumdo; check the current rule before you travel.
- Network: mobile signal is patchy after Kalpa. Kaza has coverage on some networks, but expect long gaps on the road.
Why our guests take the Urbania to Spiti
Spiti means long days on rough roads. A modern 12 seater with reclining seats, a smooth monocoque ride and a driver who has done the route before is the difference between arriving tired and arriving happy. The separate luggage space takes everyone's bags with room for water, snacks and warm layers.
