Spiti Valley, India · 6 Days · ₹40,000 per couple

The Road That Changed Us

High passes, monastery villages and skies so clear they don't feel real.

The overview

The road to Spiti is the trip. Six days of high passes, whitewashed monastery villages and star-fields you can read by. Not luxurious — unforgettable anyway.

Day-by-day itinerary

  1. Day 1: Into the mountains

    Long drive up from Shimla, first night in Kalpa with Kinnaur Kailash glowing at dusk.

  2. Day 2: Villages of the sky

    Nako lake, a stop at Tabo's thousand-year-old monastery, night in Kaza acclimatising slowly.

  3. Day 3: The high hamlets

    Key Monastery at sunrise, then Kibber and Komic — some of the highest villages on earth.

  4. Day 4: Back down the valley

    A Chandratal detour, and a cold, clear night under more stars than we could count.

Budget breakdown

Total for two: ₹40,000

  • Stay: ₹10,000
  • Food: ₹7,000
  • SUV & fuel: ₹15,000
  • Permits & activities: ₹4,000
  • Shopping: ₹2,000
  • Misc: ₹2,000

Our honest tips

  • Give yourself a full day in Kaza to acclimatise — altitude is real.
  • Carry cash; ATMs are scarce past Reckong Peo.
  • Go June–September; the passes are shut the rest of the year.

Frequently asked questions

Is it safe to self-drive as a couple?

If you're a confident mountain driver, yes — otherwise hire a local SUV and driver.

How fit do we need to be?

Moderate. It's mostly driving, but the altitude asks you to take it slow.