Delhi → Spiti Road Trip Guide

Spiti isn't a trip you rush. The drive from Delhi through the Kinnaur valley is one of the most dramatic in the country, and it needs to be spread over a few days, both for altitude and for your own sanity behind the wheel.

The route

The most reliable road route is Delhi → Shimla → Narkanda → Rampur → Sarahan (detour) → Karcham → Reckong Peo → Kalpa → Nako → Tabo → Kaza. Avoid the Manali–Kunzum La side unless you have confirmed the pass is open; it closes for most of the year and even in season is weather-dependent.

Fuel cost

Budget roughly ₹4,500 to ₹5,000 one-way for a hatchback or sedan, based on hill-driving mileage of around 12 km/l over 540 km. Carry extra fuel or top up fully at Rampur or Reckong Peo. Pumps get sparse and occasionally run dry beyond Kaza.

Road conditions

Smooth highway to Shimla, narrower and winding from Narkanda onward. The Kinnaur stretch has a history of landslides, especially through the monsoon months of July and August, so it is best avoided in that window. Expect some unpaved patches between Nako and Kaza depending on the season. Snow can close higher sections between October and April.

Food stops

• •Parwanoo or Solan dhabas for an early breakfast out of Delhi
• •Narkanda for apple stalls and a tea break with valley views
• •Sarahan for lunch near the Bhimakali Temple
• •Reckong Peo or Kalpa for a Kinnauri thali and an overnight stop
• •Tabo for simple meals near the monastery before the final push to Kaza

Scenic viewpoints

• •Bhimakali Temple, Sarahan, with views over the Sutlej valley
• •Sangla Valley, a worthwhile detour before Kalpa
• •Kalpa at sunrise, facing the Kinnaur Kailash range
• •Nako Lake, a quiet stop before the Spiti border
• •Tabo and the high-altitude desert landscape leading into Kaza

Hotel suggestions

Break the drive into at least two nights: Narkanda or Sarahan on night one, Kalpa or Reckong Peo on night two for a Kinnaur Kailash view room, then Kaza for your final base. Homestays in Kalpa and Kaza are widely available and often better value than hotels. Book ahead in peak season (May-June and September).

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