The rugged, barren and secluded landscape of Spiti Valley in Himachal Pradesh is one of the most sought destination in India. Every year in the peak travel season of summer months, thousands of visitors travel to Spiti Valley. Because of its geographical location, Spiti is one of the least developed region in terms of the public transport.
Although the population density of Lahul and Spiti District is the lowest (Two person per sq. km) in India, but it is in a dire need of a good public transport due to the tourist rush. It’s beneficial to travel in the region by a private car or a hired cab. It’s beneficial to travel in the region by a private car or a hired cab. This post is intended to provide some information on the road journeys from Delhi to Spiti Valley using the public transport. It also explains the public transport in the villages of Spiti Valley.
1. Delhi To Spiti Valley Road Journeys
There are two routes to reach Spiti Valley from Delhi using the public transport. The first route is via the state capital Shimla, and second one is via Manali. Spiti Valley is accessible throughout the year via Shimla and Reckong Peo. The route via Manali passes through the high altitude mountain passes Rohtang La and Kunzum La. Therefore, it is only available for few months in the summer. The best way to explore the valley is to make a complete circuit while proceeding via Shimla and return via Manali.
a) Delhi-Shimla-Reckong Peo-Kaza Route
The route is an all-weather route open throughout the year, however it is extremely prone to the landslides during the monsoon. According to the Google Maps, this route is 755 kms long and needed 13 hours and 10 mins to travel by your own car. But in reality, It takes up to 30 hours to complete this route from Delhi to Kaza if you travel by your own car. It takes up to 36 hours if you travel using the public buses without an extended break that is highly recommended on this route. The journey to Kaza from Delhi primarily involved three steps: Delhi to Shimla, Shimla to Reckong Peo and Reckong Peo to Kaza. You may also get a direct bus to Reckong Peo from Delhi ISBT as well as from Chandigarh ISBT.
Delhi-Shimla
By Road: It requires 8-12 hours by road depending on the mode of transport. There are two ways to reach Shimla:
Direct Bus From Delhi: You can travel by a direct bus (Volvo AC and Ordinary) from Delhi ISBT (Kashmiri Gate) to Shimla (Tutikandi). Volvo bus covers this journey in 9 hours, while ordinary bus in approx 10 hours. Volvo AC Bus fare is Rs.965 per person and Ordinary Bus fare is Rs 440 per person. Starting from 0500 AM till 11.30 PM, there are many ordinary and AC buses available from Delhi to Shimla. They belong to Himachal Roadways, Haryana Roadways or to Punjab Roadways. There is one bus at every hour during the daytime. In the evening from 06.30 PM to 11.30 PM, you can get a bus at every half an hour. Most of the buses (at least 10 in day) operated by Himachal Roadways are Volvo AC and few buses are ordinary.
Apart from this, Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC) also runs two Volvo AC Buses from Delhi at 8:00 AM and 20:30 PM, fare is Rs.950. The AC buses start from Himachal Bhawan, Mandi House however it is possible to board them from Delhi ISBT. In Shimla, HPTDC bus drop off point is near Victory Tunnel.
Many private operators also provide AC bus services from Delhi to Shimla. Most of these buses are available from the back side of Kashmiri Gate Metro Station. The tickets price for the private AC buses normally vary from Rs. 900 to Rs. 1200.
Delhi to Chandigarh and then Chandigarh to Shimla: Chandigarh is 250 kms away from Delhi and Shimla is further 120 kms away from Chandigarh. There are lots of ordinary as well as AC buses running between Delhi ISBT and Chandigarh at every 10-15 minutes round the clock. If you do not get a direct bus to Shimla from Delhi, you can board a bus going to Chandigarh and from there; you can travel by another bus to Shimla. Normally, you can get a bus to Shimla in every 10 minutes from Chandigarh. The ticket price is Rs. 230 for ordinary buses and Rs. 575 for AC buses from Delhi to Chandigarh. Fare is Rs. 180 for ordinary buses and Rs. 350 for AC buses to travel from Chandigarh to Shimla.
Important Note: There are two ISBTs in Chandigarh. One is in Sec.17 and another is in Sec.43. Sec.17 is the hub for the buses departing towards Delhi. Sec.43 is the hub for the buses departing towards northern side to the state of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. So if you catch a bus from Delhi to Chandigarh, it may terminate at Sec.17 ISBT. In this case, you can catch a local Chandigarh Transport Undertaking Bus to Sec.43, which is about 15 minutes away and fare is Rs.10 for AC bus. From Sec.43, you can catch a bus to Shimla. You can also catch a bus from Delhi going to the places like Mandi, Joginder Nagar, Kullu, Manali in Himachal Pradesh. These buses drop you at Sec.43 in Chandigarh.
By Air: Shimla Airport is located at Jabarhatti, approx. 22 kms away from the Mall Road. Few years ago, the airport became non-operational. Currently, there is no air connectivity between Delhi and Shimla.
By Train: Shimla is connected to Kalka with a narrow-gauge railway link. Few trains operate from Kalka to Shimla on the daily basis. This railway service is a part of the UNESCO World Heritage under the Mountain Railways of India along-with The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway and Nilgiri Railways.
To read more about Kalka-Shimla Railways, please check this post: An Unforgettable Journey on Kalka-Shimla Railways
Kalka is connected to the various parts of India by Express and Superfast Trains. The train journey from Delhi to Kalka and then Kalka to Shimla requires the same time as of the bus journey. Depending on the train connection at Kalka, it may be even more time taking. Therefore, many people opt for the bus journey from Delhi to Shimla. However, the train journey on Kalka-Shimla Railways is an experience, that must be try during a trip to Shimla.
Shimla-Reckong Peo
Shimla is a most sought, over-crowded hill station near Delhi and the honeymooner’s paradise in India. If you want to rest here, you can spend many days exploring the beauty around this hill station. From Shimla, your next stop should be at Reckong Peo. There is no railway track beyond Shimla, therefore bus journey is the only option. It takes around 8 hours to complete the journey from Shimla to Reckong Peo. During a conversation many people refer it as Peo. It is also known as Kinnaur.
There are many government as well as private buses running between Shimla and Reckong Peo at nearly every hour from 05.00 AM in the morning till 08.00 PM. Beyond these hours, there are only 2-3 buses to Peo. You can get these buses from Shimla ISBT at Tutikandi, which is 3 kms away from the old bus stand below the Mall Road. Few Buses are available from the Old Bus Stand as well. All the buses going to Peo stop for the passengers at Lakkar Bazaar Bus Stand in Shimla.
This part of the journey is very crucial to decide the total time of your travel between Delhi and Kaza. There is only one bus going away from Reckong Peo to Kaza leaving at 06.30 AM. Therefore, your arrival time at Reckong Peo and your body’s need for rest is very crucial for onwards travel beyond Peo.
Important Note: There are two government ordinary buses operate from Shimla to Kaza in the evening. First government bus departs from Shimla at 06.30 PM and second one (Hamirpur-Kaza) at 08.00 PM. But none of this bus goes up to Kaza. You get a bus ticket direct to Kaza, but you are supposed to leave these buses at Reckong Peo in the morning. The bus conductor issues the seat numbers for onward travel. After reaching Reckong Peo, you have to board another bus that is going to Kaza at 6.30 AM.
There is a private bus by Kumar Bus Service at 07.00 PM from Shimla New Bus Stand. They claim to go upto Kaza, but in my knowledge they go upto Yangthang only, one hour before Nako Village and well before Kaza. So, be sure about the destination while boarding on that bus. In peak tourist season, they may operate upto Kaza.
Alternate Bus Availabillty:
Delhi-Reckong Peo Ordinary Bus: This bus departs from Delhi ISBT at 08.10 PM in the evening and arrives Reckong Peo at 04.45 PM in the next day afternoon. Bus fare is Rs. 765 per person.
Chandigarh-Reckong Peo Deluxe Bus: There is a deluxe bus service from Chandigarh to Reckong Peo. The bus departs from Chandigarh at 05.50 PM and fare is Rs. 750 per person. One Deluxe bus service is also in the morning. I am not sure about the departure time. Ordinary buses also operate between Chandigarh to Reckong Peo (05.30 AM, 07.50 AM, 11.00 AM and 08.30 PM).
Return Buses from Reckong Peo to Shimla: In day time there are plenty of buses at hourly basis from Reckong Peo to Shimla starting from 4.30 AM. In the evening, last bus to Shimla departs at 07.00 PM.
What to do in Reckong Peo? Reckong Peo is the district headquarter of Kinnaur Valley. You can explore Kalpa, Roghi, Chitkul Villages and Sangla Valley for next 2-3 days from Reckong Peo.
Kalpa is a picturesque village full of Apple Orchards. Check this post to read about Kalpa: Wandering in Kalpa
Foreign Nationals visiting Spiti Valley has another work to complete. They need an Inner Line Permit (ILP) to travel beyond Akpa Police check post on Reckong Peo-Kaza route. This is strictly enforced. Foreign citizens can spend their time in Peo arranging for an Inner Line Permit for onwards travel to Spiti Valley.The Inner Line Permit can also be arranged at Shimla.
Reckong Peo-Kaza
The final part of the journey from Reckong Peo to Kaza takes about 11 hours depending on the weather and the road conditions. Only one ordinary bus operates from Reckong Peo to Kaza, popularly known as Kaza Bus. The bus leaves Peo Bus Stand at 06.00 AM and reaches Kaza around 05.00 PM. Fare from Reckong Peo to Kaza is Rs.650 per person. Popular tourist attractions of this route are Nako Village (Bus reaches at 12.00 PM), Tabo Village (reaches at 04.00 PM) and Schichling Village ( reaches at 04.45 PM).
It is on you to decide whether get off from the bus at any of these villages or to reach Kaza first. If you get off from the bus in any of these villages, next bus will be available only on the next day.
Alternate Bus: If you miss the Kaza Bus, then you can get another bus Rampur-Tabo bus at 09.00 AM from Reckong Peo. This bus reached Tabo Village in the evening at 07.00 PM. There is another bus operating between Reckong Peo and Chango ( 40 kms., 2 hour prior to Tabo). If you intended to go to Nako Village first, then you should try this bus. You can also take this bus upto Chango and make alternate arrangement for onward travel to Tabo at least. Departure time of this bus from Reckong Peo is about 12.00 PM.
Return Bus from Kaza to Reckong Peo: Only one ordinary bus departs from Kaza at 7.30 AM and reaches Peo at 04.30 PM. From Peo, you can get a bus at 07.00 PM to Shimla. You can buy a direct ticket to Shimla while coming back from Kaza to Peo.
b) Delhi-Manali-Kaza Route
This route is available only during the summer months from the Second week of June to the first week of October. Sometimes it may get open by first week of July. Manali to Kaza road passes through two high-altitude mountain passes of Rohtang La and Kunzum La. Because of the heavy snowfall during the winter months, the road remains out of bound for the vehicular traffic.
Manali to Kaza route is shorter than Shimla to Kaza route. Apart from Rohtang La and Kunzum La, famous Chandra Taal (Moon Lake) is also lies in the vicinity of this route. Foreign citizens don’t need an Inner Line Permit to travel on this route from Manali to Kaza. But, if they want to proceed beyond Tabo (especially between Hurling and Spillo on Kaza-Shimla Route), then they need an Inner Line Permit.
According to the Google Maps, this route length is 735 Kms from Delhi to Kaza, and it requires 12 hours 16 mins to travel by a car. But due to the high-altitude mountainous terrain, it requires about 24 hours time to complete this journey from Delhi to Kaza. This route consists of two parts of the journey: Delhi to Manali and Manali to Kaza.
Delhi-Manali
By Road: Manali is a popular hill station and also a honeymooner’s paradise. There are many ordinary as well as AC Volvo buses available between Delhi ISBT and Manali starting from 06.30 AM in the morning till 10.30 PM in the night. Delhi to Manali bus service is not as frequent as in case of Shimla. In the morning, there may be 3-4 buses between 06.30 AM and 10.30 AM. In the evening, there is a bus in every 30 minutes between 06.30 PM and 10.30 PM. Volvo AC buses are available only in the evening from 06.00 PM to 10.00 PM at every 20-30 minutes. Fare for the ordinary bus is Rs. 770 per person. For 2×2 AC bus, the ticket price is Rs. 1250 and for AC Volvo buses, it is Rs. 1675.
If you reach directly to Chandigarh by a flight or a train, then you should get a bus from Chandigarh ISBT Sec.43 to Manali. Many ordinary and Volvo AC buses operate between Chandigarh and Manali. All the buses from Delhi to Manali also pass through the Chandigarh ISBT to pick the passengers.
Many private operators provide AC bus services from Delhi to Manali. Most of these buses are available from the back side of Kashmiri Gate Metro Station or outside RK Ashram Metro Station. The tickets price for the private AC buses normally vary from Rs. 1200 to Rs. 1800.
By Train: There is no railway network towards Manali. If you prefer to travel by a train then you should get a train to either Chandigarh or Rupnagar (Ropar). After that you can travel by a bus for the onward journey to Manali.
By Air: The nearest airport to Manali is located at Bhuntar, about 52 kms away. Air India Regional (Alliance Air) operates a daily flight on small ATR aircraft from Delhi and Chandigarh. However, ticket prices on this sector mostly vary from Rs. 10000 to Rs. 15000 per passenger for one way trip. Bhuntar town is located near Kullu (11 kms) and serves as the gateway to the Parvati Valley (Kasol, Malana, Manikaran, Tosh, Kheerganga Trek etc).
Kheerganga Trek is a beautiful short trek in Parvati Valley. Read here about Kheerganga Trek: Trekking To A Himalayan Heaven Of The Restless Souls
Manali-Kaza
When the route is open in the summer months, Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) operates one ordinary bus between Manali and Kaza on the daily basis. Departure time from Manali is at 05.00 AM and the fare is Rs.350 per passenger. The bus passes through Rohtang Pass, Batal, Kunzum Pass, Losar and takes about 11 hours to reach Kaza. If you have plenty of time, you can detour at Batal or Kunzum Pass for one day each side trek to Chandra Taal, a very scenic lake at the altitude of 4300 meters. During the peak season, there may be a second bus from Manali at 05.30 AM.
The important point is that once the route is declared open by the authorities, you do not get the public buses for next 2-3 weeks. They only allow small vehicles to run on the road initially. In this period, you can get a shared sumo/jeep. A shared sumo between Manali and Kaza cost you Rs.700 and takes 9 hours to complete this trip. There are ten people in the Sumo; Two on the front seats, excluding driver, four on the middle and four on the back seats. The seats are available at first come first basis.
On the return journey, Kaza to Manali (up to Kullu actually) bus departs at 05.00 AM from Kaza.
c) Which Route is Better?
Both routes are very scenic and offer an adventurous journey through the towering mountains of the Himalayas. Manali to Kaza route may look shorter in comparison to route via Shimla, but I personally advice to reach Spit Valley from Shimla and Reckong Peo. It requires an additional day and longer bus journeys, but in turns it would be extremely useful for the purpose of sightseeing as well as acclimatization. Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) is something that we can’t neglect in the high altitude terrain and it may plays a crucial role in a pleasant journey.
If you travel via Shimla and Reckong Peo, you gain altitude gradually over an extended period of time. By the time you arrive in Kaza via Shimla, your body is fit to cop-up with the high altitude cold desert of Spiti Valley. In fact, there are many other destinations on Shimla-Kaza route where you can stop for the sightseeing. Starting from Shimla, you may visit Narkanda, Sarhan, Sangla Valley, Chitkul, Kinnaur Valley, Kalpa, Nako etc. before entering in the Spiti Valley. Whatever additional time you spend at these places supports you to acclimatize in a proper manner.
Manali to Kaza route is shorter, and it may save one day of your journey. But, it is not advisable to travel directly from Manali to Kaza without spending one or two days in Manali. Just after Manali, you gain considerable altitude to reach Rohtang Pass and then Kunzum Pass. It is not good to gain such altitude in a single day without proper acclimatization. Many people travel directly on Manali-Kaza route and they don’t get any Altitude Mountain Sickness, but it doesn’t mean everyone is safe from this. AMS can occur anytime to anybody. It’s better to be prepared.
In a nutshell,
- If you have limited time, proceed via Manali-Kaza route at the risk of AMS.
- If you have sufficient time to complete Shimla-Spiti Valley-Manali circuit, then better to proceed via Shimla route and return via Manali route.
2. Public Transport in Spiti Valley
There are few public buses to travel from one village to another village in Spiti Valley, but their frequency is limited to only one in most of the cases. It means if you travel from one place to another, then you are supposed to spend a night at that place to get the return bus the next day. Shared jeeps also operate between the villages, and you can avail their services to plan your journey in a better manner.
How to Reach Key (Kye) Monastery and Kibber Village from Kaza?
There is only one bus in the evening. It leaves at 05.00 PM from Kaza and proceeds via Kye and Kibber villages to Chicham Village. The bus returns from Chicham village on the next day at 08.00 AM. You may also find one or two shared jeeps in the evening from Kaza to Kibber village and Tashigang village. There is no shared transport available between Kibber and Tashigang.
The best way to visit Key Monastery, Kibber Village, Chicham Village and Tashigang Village is to hire a jeep from Kaza. The jeep can cover all four villages in a single day and would be a better choice. If you prefer to do it by public transport only, then get the bus or shared jeep in the evening to Chicham Village. Stay there for night and return by the public bus in the morning after spending two days. You can walk for 3 kms to Kibber village and also trek to Kanamo Peak while staying at Chicham Village. Homestays are available in Kibber and Chicham Village.
While returning from Kibber by the bus, leave that at Kye Monastery. After exploring the monastery, you can try hitchhiking to Kaza.
Read here about Kibber Village: Kibber Village in Spiti Valley
How to Reach Langza, Komik and Demul Village from Kaza?
There is only one bus departing to Komik and Demul at 05.00 PM from Kaza. You can reach Demul village in the evening by this bus. On the next day, you may trek from Demul to Komik and then to Langza before walking back to Kaza. Homestays are available in Komik and Demul Village.
How to Reach Pin Valley from Kaza?
There is one daily bus to Mud village in Pin Valley from Kaza at 04.00 PM. You may get 2-3 shared jeeps in the morning as well as in the evening for Mud Village. The distance between Mud and Sangam villages can be covered on the foot before returning to Kaza. Homestays are available in Mud village.
How to Reach Dhankar Village from Kaza?
No public bus is available between Kaza and Dhankar. However, you can get the Kaza bus to Shimla at 07.30 AM. Leave that bus at Schichling and then either hire a vehicle or try walking to Dhankar village. There is another bus at 02.30 PM from Kaza to Chango that you can board up to Schichling. Homestays are available in Dhankar Village.
How to Reach Tabo Village from Kaza?
There are two buses in a day from Kaza to Tabo. One is the Kaza bus at 07.30 AM and another one is at 02.30 PM. Both the buses drop you at Tabo village. If you are entering in Spiti Valley from Reckong Peo side, then it is better to visit Tabo (may be Dhankar also) before going to Kaza.
How to Travel to Chandra Taal from Spiti Valley?
You can catch a bus at 05.00 AM to Manali. The bus drops you at Batal. From there, either walk to Chandra Taal or arrange a hired transport. Coordinate with the bus conductor in advance, so that he could pick you the next day from the same spot, if you want to go back to Kaza. You can also get Manali bus on the next day from Batal.
Hitchhiking and walking is quite common in Spiti Valley. The bus services are limited to only one during the whole day, therefore most of the people use hired vehicle to explore the region. Shared jeeps are available, but they operate as per the needs of the local villagers. They typically bring village people in the morning to Kaza Market and return in the evening to their respective villages.
If you travel to Spiti Valley and find any information in this post as outdated, please drop a comment with the latest information. This will help us to keep it up to date for the benefits of other travellers.
Hi
Just need to know the following :
If one needs to do the entire circuit – Shimla – Kaza – Lasar – Manali in their own vehicle how much minimum days it requires (a relaxing trip)???
What should be the stop over points where a good homestay / hotels will be available for night stay ?? As wish to drive only in day time from 10 AM to 6 PM – 7 PM type with leisure.
10 days..starting from shimla side…. stop over points can be shimla.. narkanda… kalpa…nako…. kaza… manali….. check hotel sites for accurate booking information. and yes.. its adventure trip… please expect less of leisure… if you wish leisure please add more days 🙂
Hi,
I’m from Bangalore. I wish to road trip from shimla to kaza ( via kullu, manali, rohtang pass).
Journey date is from 30 June to 10 July, 2014.
I would like you to know that this is my first road trip up north and its gonna be two of us.
So gotta few queries and i would be really grateful for ur suggestions
1: Are the roads open during June- july ?? and a stupid question- are they motorable ?? weather ??
2: Which mode of transport do u suggest ?? i am not into prospect of riding a bike…. i wish to hire a jeep to drive through… is it possible ?? IF so where can i get vehicles for hire ?
3: Any places on the way or deviations to explore ?
4: After kaza im not sure whether to track back in same route or got through rekong peo, rampur and shimla
5: Are there any places for stopover except the one i mentioned before ( do i need backpacks and supplies )??
Thanx
Hi, I will be able to solve your queries:
1: Are the roads open during June- july ?? and a stupid question- are they motorable ?? weather ??
There is heavy snowfall in the area last week, so the road opening is delayed, but it is expected to open by the time of your trip. The roads are not in very good conditions, but of course, they are motorable and challenging one. You should really have a brave heart to negotiate with that. Last year, there was heavy rain in the same period, but Spiti falls in rain shadow zone, provided that you cross the Kunzum Pass without any difficulty.
2: Which mode of transport do u suggest ?? i am not into prospect of riding a bike…. i wish to hire a jeep to drive through… is it possible ?? IF so where can i get vehicles for hire ?
Yes, you can hire a vehicle (mostly Gypsy) in manali or any other vehicle from Delhi. Cost is a factor in this case.
3: Any places on the way or deviations to explore ?
Yes, while moving from Manali to Kaza, you can take one day detour to the beautiful Chandartal Lake (vehicle may or may not reach there, so it needs some trekking also), near Losar/Kunzum Pass.
4: After kaza i m not sure whether to track back in same route or got through rekong peo, rampur and shimla.
If you hire the vehicle in Manali, better to return back via Manali, but if you hire a vehicle from Delhi, then you can come via Peo, Rampur and Shimla. You will be able to cover all these beautiful places also.
5: Are there any places for stopover except the one i mentioned before ( do i need backpacks and supplies )??
Decide your rough itinerary, then we will think about the possible stop-overs.
Have a nice trip.
Hi
Thank you for sharing your travelogue. The information and the posts are very informative and helpful and I am glad it comes up as the very first search result on google!
I am planning to take benefit from a long off I have starting 10th April. I have 5 days in my hand and I was thinking of doing a solo drive till Spiti and be back by 14th evening. I plan to go completely unprepared (except a backpack, tent and a sleeping bag) and play it by the ear. Doable? I have quite an energy to drive extended hours, i just want to avoid night driving. Do you perceive any challenge/risk/safety issues (considering this will be a solo travel) ? Or would you recommend that i take public transport or do it another time?
The ides is just to be out for a few days and Spiti has been a place i had been wanting to go for a long time.
Thanks
Akhilesh
Hi Akhilesh, you can do it alone and there is no problem. But there are still lot of roads are under snow in Spiti, after Nako. Some of my friends went there last month up to Kaza on their bikes. They successfully negotiated with the snow. Assessment is now on you. Driving there is tough, as it is featured among one of the most dangerous roads in the world. But, then lot of people do this and its an ultimate fun. Have a great trip.
Thanks! A question that comes up is if there is enough traffic after Reckong Peo in the event one needs a bit of help? Or the ‘Kaza bus’ is one of the very few vehicles to be seen?
Just went through a weather forecast and it looks like it will be freezing cold in spiti over the next 7-10 days. True?
Traffic is very rare on this route. You can say 4-5 vehicles on one hour. The weather will be favorable only after the end of May.
Hello,
I appreciate your efforts, time and patience for creating this blog which gives so much information for travel enthusiasts. I am grateful.
My friend and I are planning to travel to Spiti from Delhi (May 3 to May 8)may 9th, we need to be back in Delhi. from your blog, I understand we need to take the Shimla – Kinnaur Route as the other route will be closed. After reading the contents here, we are planning to take a public transport to Shimla and then move to Reckong Peo in another public transport. We plan to stay in Reckong Peo for a night and then move to kaza next day. Any places we could cover in between? Do you think its doable starting from Delhi on May 3rd(late afternoon) and could we reach Delhi on 8th May?
Thanks so much in advance,
Naina
Hi Naina, if you start in late afternoon on May 3 from Delhi, then you can’t catch morning bus (May 4) from Reckong Peo to Kaza. So, if you reach Reckong Peo on 4th Morning, spend that day at Kalpa. Start from Peo on 5th Morning and you will be at Kaza by evening. Hire a cab and explore Kibber Village, Kye Monastery and Dhankar Village, all three on 6th May and try to reach Tabo by late evening. Its doable. On 7th Morning, explore Tabo Monastery and catch 9 AM bus to Reckong Peo. You will reach Delhi on 8th Afternoon. Its very hectic, but this is the only way to do this. Else, leave Spiti for another trip of longer duration. Try to explore Kalpa, Chhitkul, Sangla Valley, Sarhan and Narkanda in this 5-days trip.
Thanks Much. We really wanna see Spiti and nothing else :(, so now even if its gonna be hectic we are certainly gonna do it. How about the other route via Manali ? Do you think if there are chances of that being open during first week of May?
Thank you,
Naina
Manali-Kaza route will not be open by the first week of May, so only option is Shimla-Kaza route. As I told earlier, its hectic, but doable. You can go ahead. Have a great trip. 🙂
Very Informative!
I am panning a trip to Lahaul Spiti valley as under:
27th Aug 2014: Delhi to Shimla(overnight bus)
28th Aug 2014:Shimla to Reckong Peo by bus
29th Aug 2014:Reckong Peo to Tabo by bus
30th Aug 2014- 5th Sept 2014 : Spiti Left Bank trek
6th Sept 2014: drive and trek to chandratal
7th Sept 2014 :drive(bus or shared taxi) to manali, overnight Manali to Delhi
Is this doable in the time frame?
Any specific advice you would like to provide?
Thanks!
Hi, your plan looks perfect. Its very much doable. What do you mean by Spiti Left Bank trek? is it the trek from Dhankar to Kibber? If yes, then better to do in the reverse order. I didn’t trek, but I heard that from Kibber to Dhankar, its easier to trek in comparison to Dhankar-Kibber direction.
Hi SB,
Thanks for your reply.
My plan for Spiti Left Bank trek is as under:
Poh-Dhankar-Lalung-Demul-Langza-Kibber-Ladarcha-Kiato.
I decided this way to get better acclimatization Poh being at 3300m and Langza 4300m.
In case , I decide the route you have suggested, then should I take the Delhi Manali route, do the Chandratal trek and then head for Kiato for the 7 day trek?
Is it possible to do the Chandratal trek in one day from Manali and head to Kiato the same evening? What mode of transportation is available back from Chandratal to Kiato in the evening or next day early morning.
In case we need to do a camping at Chandratal lake for the night how much time will it take to rach the nearest road point to get a vehicle for Kiato?
Ending the trek we can forward to Tabo-Reckong Peo and Shimla.
Thanks in advance!
Hi, if you wish to go from Manali side, then catch the morning 5 AM bus from Manali to Kaza. It will drop you at Batal (6 hours from Manali) or Losar (30 kms further from Batal after passing Kunzum Pass). From both the places, you have to arrange a hitch-hike from local people going towards Chandratal ( vehicles go at least upto 3 kms before Chandratal). Otherwise, its a 12-kms trek from Batal and 14-kms from Losar. Next day, early morning, you can get various jeeps from Batal/Losar going towards Kiato and further onwards to Kaza.
Hi,
Thank you so much for your inputs. Your blogs are really very helpful.
Hello,
very well written. I’m going to Spiti next month (April) via Delhi – Shimla – Peo – Kaza route with overnight stays at Shimla & Peo. What is your thought on this? And also any info about bus availability in this route during April? I’m on a shoe-string budget, so I plan to take bus only. I have a small backpack with a laptop and a camera. Can this be easily carried in ordinary buses?
Thanks in advance. Keep writing dear!
Hi John, one of my friend just returned last week from Kaza after a bike ride. The road from Tabo to Kaza is covered of snow, but they were able to complete their ride. The whole Spiti Valley is covered under a layer of snow these days. Hope it will be less by April, as summer is approaching. Shimla-Kaza route is open and Buses are available on the route as mentioned in this post. Planning a night halt at Shimla and then Peo is good choice. While staying in Peo, if you have time, do visit Kalpa (6 kms), Sangla and Chhitkul (One day excursion). They are really beautiful. You can carry your backpack with a laptop and camera. Just keep them at appropriate place inside the bus to avoid discomfort. People are honest, so don’t worry about theft, but do keep a watch on your bag. Spiti is totally amazing. You will love it. Have a nice trip.
Hi Dear – this is an excellent article, stumbled up on it when researching for a trip to Spiti in late March.
I am planning to be in Kaza on the 23rd of March. I will arrive in Delhi on the 21st – was planning to take the overnight bus in to Shimla (either HP roadways or the HPTDC bus – which one would you recommend)
When I reach Shimla the next day morning (22nd, 7 AM?) will there be any buses leaving directly to Kaza through Peo? If there is one and I do take it, what time on the 23rd will I possibly reach Kaza?
My return flight from Delhi is tentatively on the 30th of March (8 PM) with an option to extend by one more day. When do you think I should plan to leave Kaza to make it in time for my flight on the 30th?
Also, what is the scene in Shimla or in Peo with regards to private taxis. Will they be available during this season and if yes, what do they typically charge?
I would be very grateful if you could respond.
Thanks!
Hi Ajith, Thanks. You can book any bus, HRTC or HPTDC. Both are good Volvo buses, but HRTC is Rs. 80 cheaper. and, I don’t think, you will be able to get a bus from Shimla to Kaza directly in the morning. Those buses from Shimla generally depart in the evening. Better to take a bus to Peo and make a night halt there (22nd Night). Then, Catch an early bus to Kaza from Peo, and you will be able to reach Kaza by 0400 PM on 23rd.
You need 24 hours to travel from Kaza to Shimla and then 12 hours to Delhi. So better to leave Kaza by 28th Morning Bus, to avoid any en-route delay. This is still a high time for the snow. You can expect road-blocks due to snow. You can also leave Kaza on 29th Morning to reach Delhi by 30th Evening. Please note down the contact number of Shimla Roadways Bus Stand (01772658765) and Reckong Peo Roadways Bus Stand (01786222444). You can speak with them to get a better idea of the bus schedule.
Direct Taxis are available from Shimla as well as from Peo, but I don’t have any idea of the charges. I didn’t use them.
Have a nice trip. 🙂
Many thanks for the response and the details 🙂
Much appreciated! I will ensure that I come back and post an update after my trip.
Cheers
wow.
i will be backpacking around northern India. i will be flying in to Kolkata next week.then work my way west then north.. i plan to go to Kaza upong seeing beautiful photos ive seen just now. i hope the plan works out though. i f you can travel earlier.maybe we can travel together..i will be there 1st or 2nd week of March =)
Hi Ayan,
From the limited knowledge I have, early March it would still be snowing up there in the hills. So please plan for a few days extra to factor in weather-related travel changes. I wish I could have joined you, but unfortunately I will not be able to make it up there any time earlier than 22nd March due to quite a lot of commitments. Avanish has already shared quite a bit of information about buses in this post and in response to my question. Hopefully they are useful for you. If I hear anything else, I will be sure to let you know. Meanwhile, have a great trip to India and keep us posted on how your trip to Kaza goes.
cheers
Ajith
Hi, as mentioned earlier, I managed to complete my trip to Kaza and am writing this from the Delhi airport. It took me all of 2 days to return from Kaza (started journey back on the morning of 28th). I got a seat on a shared taxi at Kaza as bus service was temporarily suspended. You can find taxis next to the main bus stand in Kaza. My taxi took me only until Reckong Peo (started journey at 7.30 AM and reached Peo only at 6 PM due to a 3-hr landslide delay just 20 kms short of Peo). The fare for the taxi cab was INR 1000. From Peo, managed to get a bus on the same evening to Rampur where I halted for the night. Reached Rampur at around 11.30 PM after a 5 hour journey through some of the worst roads on the planet! Bus fare – INR 300.
From Rampur onwards back to Shimla there are plenty of options. I personally took a private taxi and finished the ride to Shimla in about 4 hours.
In the mountains, its always good to have a buffer of 6-7 hours as landslides are quite common and can put a spanner in the works. The usual refrain is that it will get fixed in 1/2 hour, but very rarely does 🙂
Hope this helps.
Amazing amazing information.
I am planning to go till kaza from delhi via govt buses in 3 days. December 😀 and reside in pwd and Frh(last year i had been till kalpa and sangla valley same time by local buses). my prefer stops are : Delhi(isbt) —- Sarhan(temple, i can reach at 3 pm till here no issues) —–then problem is how to reach Nako second day—–Then to Tabo—-then to Kaza (or i am thinking to hire a car at tabo to roam full day dhakar, kaza, ki kiber and back till eveng to Tabo) —-then to Peo(if from kaza, if from tabo then to shimla)—-Shimla—-Delhi.
please please guide me fast. I have just 3 days to go. I need exact matching bus timings etc and can i able to do this.
Sunny
Hi Sunny..Do you really wish to plan this journey to Kaza and back to Delhi in 3 days only? That’s the worst thing I can imagine as a traveller. If you don’t have more time then go to another place. Very frankly, in 3 days it is not possible. You can reach Sarhan by 3 PM in a single day. But you can’t do Nako, Tabo, Kaza, Dhankar etc in a single day and again return back to Delhi on the third day. All these journeys are subjected to weather as well as road conditions, that too in this winter season. There are only one or two public buses in a day between two points and if you missed any, then you have to wait till next day. I suggest you to do it in at least 7 days. Go somewhere else in 3 days. Rest is on you. Have a nice trip.
Hi thanks for reply and pardon me for my outstanding English 🙂
I meant that I am planning to move from delhi after 3 days or so. And I would be having a week to travel.
But i have inquired about stay at Nako, and everyone is shut, pwd is not answering. Even not sure about Tabo and Kaza . So. I finally decided to move to Malana and Pulga in parvati valley.
Then its really cool..If you are now planning to go Parvti Valley, its good…Otherwise, once you will be on the road, you can always find someone to accommodate you in the night, even in Nako, Tabo or Kaza. By the way, have you been to the places like Kausani, Gwaldam and Ranikhet? They are also very nice for the winter season and can be covered in a week trip. 🙂
No I have not been to these places. Will surely try sometime. Btw thank you for lovely info 🙂
Well written , but unfortunately no time to explore Alas! may be some day i will look into your blog and plan
hi , excellent info,but i need a bit more please. in october is any bus service to pin valley?namely mud and gungri.
what about mane gogma-again from kaza, thanks mate .
Yes, you can get a shared jeep from Kaza to Pin Valley in October also, probably up to Mud village. and I didn’t see any bus going to Pin Valley from Kaza. No idea of Man Gogma. 🙂
Well written… very helpful.. this is what I was looking for. thanks brother.
But I found one point missing and that is how to travel from KAZA to spiti valley? Also I am planning to go there in september mid, is it the right time for this manali route??
Thanks for liking it Bro..regarding missing point…What do you mean by Spiti Valley? Can you tell me any specific location, where you want to travel?..Kaza is a part of the valley, in fact, most important town of Spiti Valley. Other places in valley includes Dhankar, Kibber, Kye, Tabo, Demul, Komik etc..So, these all are part of that valley only. So, if you want to know about any particular place, then let me know..I will be happy to help you. Enjoy..Take care. 🙂
Sorry for not putting up my question correctly basically I wanted to know how can one visit all the places in Spiti valley? suppose if I want to go to Dhankar or tabo or any other place in the spiti valley, what is the mode of transport? Also I am planning to go there in september mid, is it the right time for this manali route??
Mid September is a good time, no problem on that..Basic mode of transport between the villages of Spiti Valley is the private cab..Public transport is very less, only one bus goes in a day from Kaza to Kye and Kibber and that comes back next day..Similarly, two public buses between Kaza and Tabo..and so on..Alternate option is to try a hitch-hike, you may obliged easily and even you can try trek to some places to save money on private cab…Please go through my other posts on Spiti Valley. There is total 7 posts on the places in Spiti Valley.
Information provided by in the article is valuable thanks I was going to spiti but stranded at Sangla due to heavy rain Your article will help me in future
Avanish, you are doing a great job by putting this encyclopedia of information for the prospective travellers to the region..money saving tips are helpful
Thanks Pawan for your kind words..
I once took a 24 hr bus ride from Kaza to Shimla and promised myself never again.
Thanks for the info on the bus timings, going on a volvo to shimla will at least help me spend the night in peace.
khoob maje lo bhai jindgi ke.
really informative post for those who are planning a trip there.
Thanks Dear. This is the main purpose of this post.