Winter Spiti Self Drive Expedition

Yes. Spiti stays reachable all winter through Kinnaur on NH 5 (Shimla – Reckong Peo – Kaza). The Manali side over Kunzum La and Rohtang closes from about November to May. Short closures of a day or two after heavy snowfall happen, and we build buffer into the plan.

No. ₹65,000 per person covers stays, meals, guide, lead and backup cars, radios, permits, oxygen and the snow leopard spotter. Most drivers bring their own 4×4; a Jimny or Thar can be hired from our fleet at a daily rate.

Yes. A 4×4 or AWD with good ground clearance is mandatory. Packed snow, black ice and drifts on the high-village roads above Kaza are not for a 2WD car. City hatchbacks and sedans are not accepted.

Kaza in January averages -5°C by day and -15°C to -25°C at night. It is the coldest inhabited valley you can drive to in India. Kinnaur is milder, 0°C to 8°C.

With a convoy, yes. The dangers are black ice on shaded bends, snow drifts on the high-village roads, and rock fall in Kinnaur. The lead car reads the road, the radio tells you where the ice is, the backup car carries chains and recovery gear, and we never drive after dark. Most winter incidents involve solo cars without support.

Possibly. Kibber and Chicham, which we visit on Day 6, are India's most reliable snow leopard spotting area, and February–March is peak season as leopards follow blue sheep to lower slopes. We work with local spotters. Sightings are common but never guaranteed.

The Manali–Kaza road over Kunzum La (4,551 m) is closed under snow in winter. Kinnaur is the only open road, so the expedition is a Shimla-to-Shimla loop. It also gives four days of gradual climb before sleeping at Kaza, which is the safest way to acclimatise.

Standard diesel begins to wax below about -10°C, which can stall a car. Use winter diesel where available or an anti-gel additive, keep the tank full, and park facing the morning sun. Petrol cars have no gelling issue.

The last reliable pump before Spiti is Reckong Peo / Powari in Kinnaur; the only pump inside Spiti Valley is at Kaza. There is nothing between Powari and Kaza (±200 km) and nothing beyond Kaza in winter. Fill up at both, every time. A 10–20 litre jerry can is sensible.

Coolant mixed for -30°C, a battery under 3 years old, tyres with 4 mm+ tread (all-terrain preferred), snow chains for the drive wheels, cold-weather engine oil, antifreeze wiper fluid, a scraper, a tow strap and a shovel. We check every car in Shimla on Day 1.

Yes, for at least the driving wheels. We carry spare chains and fit them for you on the day they are needed, but every car should arrive with its own set.

Hotels in Shimla, Sangla and Kalpa. In Spiti (Tabo, Pin Valley, Kaza) we use heated family homestays and winter guesthouses because most hotels close. Expect bukhari heaters, dry toilets and bucket hot water.

December has the least snow and easiest roads. January is the coldest and the most dramatic. February–March is best for snow leopards and the Losar-season festivals, with deeper snow on the roads. All four work; pick by what you want.

Patchy. Kaza has BSNL and Jio (postpaid works best in tribal districts); the high villages and much of Kinnaur beyond Peo have little or none. Radios keep the convoy connected. Tell family to expect quiet days.

If you have solid everyday driving experience and stay calm, yes. You do not need off-road skills; you need to follow the lead car and the radio. First-time off-roaders complete this route every winter.

We wait. Snowfall closures on the Kinnaur road usually clear within 24–48 hours. The itinerary has buffer, and the guide re-plans daily. Extra nights caused by weather are not included in the price.

Indian nationals need no permit on this route. Foreign nationals need an Inner Line Permit for the Reckong Peo – Sumdo stretch, which we arrange after booking. Foreign drivers also need an International Driving Permit.