Spiti road safari*
Spiti: Harsh, Stark, Hypnotic
Intermediate-Advanced
A brutal beauty unfolds as you carve your way through one of the most surreal terrains in the world. The Spiti Road Safari is a true Himalayan epic — from forested hills to moonscapes, river valleys to high-altitude deserts. Cross through Thanedar, Sangla, Kalpa, Tabo, Kaza, Chandratal, and end in Manali — a route that tests your spirit, and rewards you with stillness, silence, and skies too big for memory.
One road. Many moments. Here’s how.
Day 1 – To the Orchard Heights
Leave Delhi by 5 AM and head towards Thanedar or Narkanda (approx. 11–12 hrs). Reach just before sunset, settle in, and acclimatize with a cozy bonfire and mountain chill.
Day 2 – Into the Valley
Post-breakfast, descend to the Sutlej River and drive alongside it through bustling towns and into Sangla. Refuel at Jeori if needed. Check in by sunset, breathe in the cold air, and wind down under a sky full of stars.
Day 3 – Stillness by the Baspa
Soak in the scenery. Today’s for riverside walks, packed lunches, and letting the forested valley pace your day. Go light, go slow.
Day 4 – Chitkul: The Border Beckons
Drive to Chitkul — the last inhabited village near the Indo-Tibet border. At 11,300 ft, it’s rugged, remote, and utterly magnetic. Snack on momos, meet the locals, breathe in another world.
Day 5 – Apple Town & Kinnaur Views
Move to Kalpa. At nearly 10,000 ft, you’ll catch glimpses of Kinner Kailash and visit local temples and gompas. The mountain gods loom large here.
Day 6 – Through Time in Tabo
Head to the ancient monastic town of Tabo. This is a land of stories — of cave-dwelling monks and 1,000-year-old murals. You’ll feel the age of the Himalayas here.
Day 7 – The Heart of Spiti
Kaza lies ahead. Split between the old and the new, this high-altitude town blends traditional mud homes with modern cafés. Visit Key Monastery and get a taste of Spiti’s soul.
Day 8 – The Lake from Another Realm
Drive to Chandratal — the famed moon lake. Camp 3 km away. Trek to its turquoise brilliance, listen to Spiti’s silence, and photograph the surreal.
Day 9 & 10 – The Descent to Manali
Cross back into greenery and civilization. Two nights in Manali to rest, eat, recharge — and maybe even miss the silence you just left behind.
Gallery
A journey through stone, sky, and solitude.
Breaking Down Each Location
See what they have to say.
Extreme Road conditions?
10,000 km of experience tells me what absolute essentials you should carry to this trip.
You might also like:
Choose your adventure
Scafell Pike in England
