Village homestay
Rooms in family homes with a wood-fired stove, thick quilts and meals shared in the kitchen.
All ridesWinter 2026–27
Winter Spiti: Snow, Silence & Monasteries
Twin sharing · Shimla to Shimla · GST extra. Private and tailor-made versions on request.
Overview
A frozen valley, travelled slowly
In winter the Spiti valley closes its northern road and goes quiet. The only way in is the long climb along the Sutlej through Kinnaur — which is exactly what makes this journey special. You'll stay in heated homestays, eat what the house is cooking and spend unhurried mornings in monasteries that see few visitors at this time of year.
We drive in sturdy 4×4s with drivers who spend their winters in these valleys, keep buffer time for snowfall and climb gradually so your body has time to adjust. Expect sharp blue skies, nights far below freezing and the kind of silence that's hard to find anywhere else.
Day by day
The itinerary
8 days, Shimla → Shimla. Open a day for the route, travel time, stay and meals.
The approachDays 1 – 3
Up the Sutlej, gaining height slowly.
Day 1Shimla to SanglaInto Kinnaur along the Sutlej
Route Shimla → Narkanda → Rampur → Sangla
Travel 8–9 hrs
Stay Sangla
Meals Dinner
Altitude 2,700 m
An early start takes you over Narkanda and down to the Sutlej, which you follow into Kinnaur. Arrive in the Baspa valley at Sangla by late afternoon for a warm dinner and an early night.
Day 2Sangla & KalpaWooden temples and the Kinner Kailash range
Route Sangla → Kamru → Kalpa
Travel 3 hrs
Stay Kalpa
Meals Breakfast & dinner
Altitude 2,960 m
Walk up to the old fort-temple at Kamru before driving on to Kalpa, where the Kinner Kailash range fills the view from your window. The afternoon is free to wander the village lanes and orchards.
Day 3Kalpa to NakoInto the rain shadow
Route Kalpa → Khab → Nako
Travel 5 hrs
Stay Nako
Meals Breakfast & dinner
Altitude 3,660 m
The landscape turns stark after the meeting of the Spiti and Sutlej rivers at Khab. Nako's small lake is usually frozen hard by January, and the village and its old temples are made for a slow afternoon walk.
Heart of the valleyDays 4 – 6
Monasteries, snow and the high villages.
Day 4Nako to Kaza via TaboA thousand years of murals
Route Nako → Tabo → Kaza
Travel 5–6 hrs
Stay Kaza
Meals Breakfast & dinner
Altitude 3,800 m
Stop at Tabo, founded in 996 CE, whose mud-walled halls hold some of the finest early Buddhist paintings in the Himalaya. Continue up the valley to Kaza and settle into your homestay.
Day 5Key, Kibber & ChichamThe valley's most famous view
Route Kaza → Key → Kibber → Chicham → Kaza
Travel 3 hrs with stops
Stay Kaza
Meals Breakfast & dinner
Altitude 4,200 m
Join morning prayers at Key Monastery, then climb to Kibber, a base for winter snow-leopard spotting. Cross the Chicham bridge, slung high above a deep gorge, before heading back to Kaza.
Day 6Langza, Hikkim & KomicThe high villages
Route Kaza → Langza → Hikkim → Komic → Langza
Travel 2–3 hrs
Stay Langza homestay
Meals Breakfast & dinner
Altitude 4,400 m
Visit the great Buddha statue above Langza, send a postcard from Hikkim's high-altitude post office and, if the road is clear, look in on Komic. The night is with a family in Langza.
The way homeDays 7 – 8
Back down the valley to Shimla.
Day 7Langza to KalpaWith Dhankar if the road allows
Route Langza → Kaza → Dhankar → Kalpa
Travel 8–9 hrs
Stay Kalpa
Meals Breakfast & dinner
Altitude 2,960 m
A long day down the valley, stopping at Dhankar's cliff-top monastery if the side road is open. Dinner and a comfortable bed in Kalpa.
Day 8Kalpa to ShimlaJourney's end
Route Kalpa → Rampur → Shimla
Travel 9 hrs
Stay —
Meals Breakfast
Altitude 2,200 m
The final drive follows the Sutlej back to Shimla, arriving by evening. We'll drop you at your hotel, the railway station or the bus stand.
Where you'll stay
Stays along the route
Chosen for warmth, cleanliness and character. Exact properties are confirmed when you book.
Orchard guesthouse
Wood-panelled rooms among apple orchards, with hot water and views of the Kinner Kailash range.
Guesthouse
Simple, warm rooms with attached bathrooms; hot water comes by the bucket when pipes freeze.
Dates & prices
Departures and prices
Prices are per person. Private journeys can start on any date in season.
| Departure | Type | Status | Enquire |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 Jan 2027 | Small group | Open | Enquire |
| 28 Jan 2027 | Small group | Few seats left | Enquire |
| 11 Feb 2027 | Small group | Open | Enquire |
| 25 Feb 2027 | Small group | Open | Enquire |
| Any date, Jan – Mar | Private journey | Open | Enquire |
| Option | Indian residents | International |
|---|---|---|
| Small group, twin sharing | ₹38,500 | USD 640 |
| Private · 2 travellers | ₹62,000 | USD 1,050 |
| Private · 4 travellers | ₹46,000 | USD 790 |
Twin sharing · Shimla to Shimla · GST extra. Single rooms, upgrades and extra nights on request.
What's included
- 7 nights in homestays and guesthouses
- Breakfast and dinner every day
- 4×4 vehicle with a winter-experienced driver
- Local guide in Spiti (Days 4–7)
- Inner-line permits for foreign nationals
- Oxygen cylinder and pulse oximeter in every vehicle
Not included
- Travel to and from Shimla
- Lunches, snacks and drinks
- Monastery donations and camera fees
- Travel and medical insurance (required)
- GST at 5%
Before you go
Good to know
Practical notes on altitude, kit, permits and connectivity for this journey.
How cold will it be?
Daytime temperatures hover around freezing and nights in Kaza can fall to –20 °C or lower. Rooms are heated with wood or dung-fired stoves, but you'll need a proper down jacket and thermal layers.
Water and bathrooms
Pipes freeze in winter. Most homestays switch to dry compost toilets and hot water in buckets. It's part of the experience — and we'd rather you know before you book.
Snow and road closures
Heavy snowfall can close the road for a day or two. We keep buffer time in the plan; extra nights caused by closures are charged at cost.
Permits
Indian citizens don't need a permit. Foreign nationals need an inner-line permit for the border stretch around Nako, which we arrange before you travel.
Phones and connectivity
BSNL and Jio generally work in Kaza and the larger villages. Signal is patchy elsewhere and Wi-Fi is basic.
Journey essentialsShimla → Sangla → Kalpa → Nako → Tabo → Kaza → Langza · Jan – Mar
Route notes: getting there & permits
Along the way
Photographs from the route
A few of the places you'll pass through.
Before you book
Questions we're often asked
Is winter Spiti safe?
With the right preparation, yes. The road through Kinnaur stays open for most of the winter and our drivers live with these conditions. We check the weather daily and will wait or reroute if it isn't safe.
Will I see a snow leopard?
Possibly, but it's never promised. We arrange a morning with local spotters around Kibber; sightings depend on luck, weather and the animals' movements.
What should I pack?
A down jacket rated for –20 °C, thermals, a warm hat, gloves, insulated boots with good grip, sunglasses and high-SPF sunscreen. We send a full list after booking.
Can I join as a solo traveller?
Yes. On small-group departures we pair solo travellers of the same gender in twin rooms, or you can pay a supplement for a room of your own.
How do I pay?
A 25% advance confirms your booking and the balance is due 30 days before you travel. We accept bank transfer, UPI and cards.
What if I need to cancel?
Our cancellation terms are set out on the booking terms page — the earlier you let us know, the more we can refund. We strongly recommend travel insurance that covers trip cancellation and high-altitude evacuation.
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Start planning
Ready for Winter Spiti?
Tell us your dates and who's travelling. We'll confirm availability, answer your questions and send a detailed quote.
