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Spiti Valley Bike Trip Guide: The Shimla–Kaza–Manali Circuit

Plan a Spiti Valley bike trip: the Shimla to Manali circuit via Kinnaur and Kunzum La, best season, fuel, road conditions, acclimatisation and itinerary.

· MotoWave team · 3 min read

Spiti is Ladakh’s quieter cousin: a high-altitude desert valley in Himachal Pradesh, with ancient monasteries, villages clinging to cliffs and some of the most spectacular roads in India. Riding the full circuit is one of the great Indian motorcycle trips.

Before you go: road status in Kinnaur and over the Kunzum La changes with weather and landslides. Check before you ride, and build buffer days into your plan.

The circuit at a glance
Route Shimla → Kinnaur → Kaza → Kunzum La → Chandratal → Manali
Distance about 650–700 km
Days 7–9 recommended
Best season June to September (for the full circuit, when the Kunzum La is open)
Difficulty moderate to hard: broken roads, water crossings and high altitude

Why ride clockwise (Shimla first)?

Starting from Shimla and ending in Manali means you gain altitude slowly, which gives your body time to acclimatise. Going Manali → Kaza first takes you over the Kunzum La (about 4,500 m) very quickly.

The route

Shimla to Kinnaur

From Shimla, ride via Narkanda and Rampur into Kinnaur, following the Sutlej river. Stop at Reckong Peo or Kalpa for views of the Kinnaur Kailash range. The road here is carved into cliffs in places, with sections prone to rockfall — don’t stop under loose rock faces.

Kinnaur to Kaza

Via Nako, with its lake, and Tabo, with one of the oldest monasteries in the Himalaya, you reach Kaza, the main town of Spiti. Take a rest day here.

Around Kaza: Key Monastery, Kibber, Langza, Hikkim (known for one of the highest post offices in the world) and Komic.

Kaza to Manali via Kunzum La

The hardest and most beautiful part: over the Kunzum La, with a detour to the Chandratal lake, then along the rough stretch through Batal and Chhatru to Gramphu, and finally through the Atal Tunnel to Manali. Expect bad roads, water crossings and slow progress on this section.

Fuel

Fill up wherever you can. Kaza has a fuel station, but there’s no fuel between Kaza and Manali (roughly 200 km of slow, hard riding), and pumps in Kinnaur are also far apart. Know your bike’s range, and carry extra fuel in an approved container if needed.

Permits

Indian nationals generally don’t need a permit for Spiti. Foreign nationals need a permit for the stretch of Kinnaur near the border. Carry government photo ID, as check-posts register travellers.

Altitude

Kaza is at about 3,800 m, and the Kunzum La at about 4,500 m. Acclimatise by riding the circuit slowly, drink plenty of water, and descend if you have worsening symptoms of altitude sickness. Talk to your doctor before the trip.

Road hazards

  • Water crossings (nallahs) on the Batal–Gramphu stretch: cross early in the day when the flow is lower.
  • Landslides and shooting stones in Kinnaur, especially after rain.
  • Loose gravel and sand on bends.
  • Heavy vehicles on narrow roads: pull over and let them pass.

Sample 8-day itinerary

  1. Shimla → Sarahan or Rampur
  2. → Kalpa or Reckong Peo
  3. → Nako or Tabo
  4. → Kaza
  5. Rest and local villages around Kaza
  6. Kaza → Chandratal
  7. Chandratal → Manali (via Batal, Gramphu and the Atal Tunnel)
  8. Buffer day

Riding Spiti as a group

Spiti has long stretches with no mobile signal. Agree on regroup points, keep a sweep rider at the back, and make sure everyone has a copy of the plan offline. See our group riding rules and our motorcycle touring checklist.

Planning Ladakh too? Read our Leh-Ladakh bike trip guide.

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