Spiti Valley Itinerary, Stay, Road condition, Petrol Pump, Mobile Network

Not everyone goes for Spiti Valley Trip, even if they visit the Leh-Ladakh. I visited there in March 2017 and February 2018 and October 2019, I experienced the valley in all white. Yes, completely covered with snow!

I have never been to this place until I forced myself last year and went for the Spiti Valley tour, adding views of huge snow-covered mountains in my index.

It was a totally unique experience for me as I have been to many places in India, especially in Himachal Pradesh. But, this Spiti road trip was totally unique and mystic. You will definitely adore the natural beauty after visiting this place.

Information about Spiti Valley Tour

Spiti could be ruthless if you visit during the Winter season, So I am going to share the best of the Spiti road trip tips and information that will help with the safety concerns and to have a mishap-free Spiti trip.

Weather and Road Conditions in Spiti Valley

How Far it is (Kaza)

First of all, let’s talk about the distance to cover for a road trip between Delhi to Spiti.

Delhi to Kaza – 740KMs via Manali, 770KMs via Shimla (According to Google but it is more than that)

Chandigarh to Kaza – 520KMs via Manali, 560KMs via Shimla

Shimla to Kaza – 450KMs

Current Road Status for Spiti Valley Trip

Shimla Route stays open throughout the year but, Manali to Kaza opens and stays accessible before the area gets covered in snow, Roads are in perfect conditions, only 40-50Kms of roads are in bad shape.

Spiti Valley Road Status

Spiti Remains cold throughout the year but, from October to March it gets very cold. There are times the Temperature touches the -40 Degree, severe cold!

During those sub-zero temperature days, everything stands still and life gets very slow. Winter Spiti road trip could be ruthless and it can test your stamina, patience and mental strength!

Best Time to Visit Spiti Valley

Not set to experience severe winter yet? Let’s talk about the best time to visit Spiti Valley!

March end to July mid – This is the best time to visit Spiti Valley. But, you can visit in July end too. Take note, due to the monsoon, there are chances of landslides and roads are full of mud. So, it’s better to avoid the July and whole August, i.e., the Monsoon period!

Sept and mid-Oct – Both Manali and Shimla routes stay open during these months but, sometimes due to heavy snowfall at Kunzum La, it gets close during that period.

November to March Mid – Winters start in October or before November ends in Spiti Valley, and due to massive snowfall, Ice on roads makes driving a challenging task. Manali to Kaza Route stays shut for the whole Winters, and only Shimla Route is accessible. Plenty of adventure junkies visit Spiti in winter. So, you are not alone buddy!

HomeStay Options for Spiti Valley Trip

If you visit Spiti then you must own and experience the Buddhist culture and their lifestyle. I will always recommend staying in a Homestay, although, there are plenty of Hotels and Guest Houses in Kaza, Dhankar, and Tabo.

Homestay options are also available in Nako, Tabo, Kaza, Kibber, Komic. You can find budget homestays in Spiti Valley easily. It will cost around 400-1200INR, depending on the timing of your visit.

Petrol Pumps in Spiti Valley

There are only a few petrol pumps in Spiti valley but, you don’t have to worry about it, like in the case of Leh-Manali trip.

The average distance between two petrol pumps is 200-230KMs, hence, a full tank can cover the distances easily, unless you choose to burn rubber furiously.

Mobile Network and Internet Connectivity in Spiti Valley

If you travel via Manali, the mobile network on your cell phone will stay put till Marhi Village. If you are visiting Spiti via Shimla then it should work till Pooh.

BSNL and Airtel both work until Pooh and beyond that only BSNL works. But, that too in central locations like Nako, Tabo, Kaza. There are payphones available and in case of an emergency, you can ask locals to make a quick phone call.

Airtel 4G – Gulaba, Rampur, Tapri, Powari, Spillow, Pooh.

BSNL- Almost all places.

Reliance JIO – Kothi, Rampur, Bhabanagar, Tapri, Spillow, Kaza.

These three are the best mobile network brands to carry during the Spiti tour.

Internet in Spiti Valley

Till Spillow, you will be able to use the Internet on Airtel, Reliance Jio, and BSNL. Beyond that only BSNL and JIO works.

Another option is satellite Internet which costs around 80INR per hour (approx) and is available in Tabo and Kaza.

Note: Weather conditions play a dominant role in mobile connectivity. During bad weather conditions network, availability might fluctuate!

Final Words

All these details about Spiti Valley are coming from my personal experience and of my fellow travelers. You can also check official website of Lahaul and Spiti valley to get more details.

As it always happens, details may change in the future but, I hope this write-up gave you a good idea of what to expect and how to prepare for Spiti Valley tour.

You can write in the comment section if you have any suggestions or you want to add any information about the Spiti Valley road trip.

Watch The Whole Series on YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOqLPW4Tmt4&list=PLZ1dsAE-ifcXLnKPGdinTaz4mpX8KUh89