Kinnaur & Spiti Valley Circuit
Enter Spiti clockwise via Kinnaur, cross Kunzum Pass to Chandratal, and finish in Manali.
Himachal's most famous off-road loop, with a gradual ascent in altitude: from Chandigarh via Narkanda, Sangla Valley to Kalpa, then into Spiti to visit Tabo, Pin Valley, and Key Monastery, crossing Kunzum to Chandratal before passing through the tunnel to Manali. Road conditions are poor and daily driving times are long, making it suitable for those who can handle a rugged journey. The trade-off is that the full circuit is only passable in summer.
Kunzum Pass is usually open from mid-June to October; the Kinnaur section is prone to landslides during the monsoon season.
Day by day
Day 1 · Chandigarh to Narkanda
Chandigarh to Narkanda via Shimla is about 175 km, taking 6–7 hours on mountain roads.
Stay: Narkanda
Day 2 · Hattu Peak to Sarahan
Narkanda to Sarahan via Rampur is about 100 km, taking about 4 hours.
Stay: Sarahan
Day 3 · Sangla Valley to Chitkul
Kinnaur (Kalpa)（Sangla Valley、Rakchham、Chitkul）
Sarahan to Chitkul via Karcham and Sangla is about 106 km, taking about 5 hours.
Foreign tourists need to obtain an Inner Line Permit in Reckong Peo, which should be arranged in advance.
Stay: Chitkul
Day 4 · Kamru Fort to Kalpa
Kinnaur (Kalpa)（Kamru Fort、Kalpa Village & Narayan-Nagini Temple、Roghi Village & Cliff Road、Kinnaur Kailash）
Chitkul back to Sangla and then to Kalpa is about 72 km, taking about 3.5 hours.
Stay: Kalpa
Day 5 · Nako to Millennial Tabo
Spiti Valley (Kaza)（Nako Village & Lake、Gue Mummy、Tabo Monastery）
Kalpa to Tabo via Nako and Gue is about 190 km, taking 8–9 hours.
Registration is required at the Sumdo checkpoint; the Maling Nallah section has loose rocks and deep water.
Stay: Tabo
Day 6 · Dhankar to Pin Valley
Spiti Valley (Kaza)（Dhankar Monastery & Dhankar Lake、Pin Valley National Park & Mudh）
Tabo to Mud Village in Pin Valley via Dhankar is about 80 km, taking about 4 hours.
Stay: Mud
Day 7 · Lower Pin Valley to Kaza
Spiti Valley (Kaza)（Lhalung Monastery、Kaza Town & Sakya Tangyud Monastery）
Mud Village back to the Spiti Valley and on to Kaza is about 55 km, taking about 3 hours.
Stay: Kaza
Day 8 · Key Monastery, Kibber & Chicham Bridge
Spiti Valley (Kaza)（Key Monastery、Chicham Bridge、Kibber Village）
Depart from Kaza for a northern loop, about 40 km round trip, taking about 3 hours of driving for the day.
Kibber is at an altitude of about 4,200 meters; high-altitude villages get very cold at night.
Stay: Langza and Kibber
Day 9 · Langza & the Highest Post Office
Spiti Valley (Kaza)（Langza Village、Komic Village、Hikkim Post Office）
A short loop between mountain villages of about 40 km, taking 3–4 hours of driving for the day, returning to Kaza in the evening.
Stay: Kaza
Day 10 · Cross Kunzum to Chandratal
Spiti Valley (Kaza)（Kunzum Pass、Chandratal Lake）
Kaza to Chandratal is about 100 km, crossing Kunzum Pass, taking 4–5 hours.
The Batal section often has streams flooding the road, requiring a high-clearance vehicle; campsites are only open in summer.
Stay: Chandratal Camp
Day 11 · Through the Tunnel to Manali
Manali（Atal Tunnel、Mall Road Manali）
Chandratal to Manali via Batal and the Atal Tunnel is about 120 km; allow 6–8 hours.
Keep a buffer day in case of landslides; flights are recommended for the following day.