About this Winter Spiti 4x4 Expedition 7 Nights / 8 Days Package
The Winter Spiti 4x4 Expedition 7 Nights / 8 Days runs on fixed departures every 10 days from 20 December to 20 March. It is a guided self-drive convoy through snowbound Kinnaur and Spiti – frozen waterfalls, cliff-top monasteries, black ice and temperatures from −10 to −30 °C. Drive your own 4x4, take a 4x4 on rent from us (Thar, Jimny or Hilux), or take a seat in one of our expedition vehicles (₹55,000 per person). A lead car, a sweep car, walkie-talkies, mechanical support and an experienced crew stay with the convoy all the way.
Pickup is at Shimla (expedition start, own arrival) and the drop at Shimla (expedition ends). You stay Shimla (1 night), Kalpa (1 night), Tabo (1 night), Kaza (2 nights), Sangla (1 night), Shimla (1 night) in heated rooms and homestays – the entry fee is ₹45,000 per person with stay, breakfast, dinner and evening tea. Registration closes one month before each departure.
Day-wise plan – Day 1: Arrival in Shimla · Briefing & Vehicle Check; Day 2: Shimla → Narkanda → Taranda Dhank → Kalpa; Day 3: Kalpa → Khab → Frozen Nako → Moonland → Tabo; Day 4: Tabo → Dhankar → Pin Valley → Frozen Lingti Fall → Kaza; Day 5: Kaza Snow Circuit – Langza (Giant Maitreya Buddha Statue), Komic (Highest Village in the World), Hikkim (Highest Post Office in the World), Key & Chicham Bridge (Asia’s Highest Hanging Bridge); Day 6: Kaza → Snow Run towards Losar → Sangla; Day 7: Sangla → Chitkul (India’s Last Village) → Shimla; Day 8: Departure from Shimla.
Travel Himalayas is an HP Govt. approved tour operator in Manali since 2002 and has been running Spiti tours for over 20 years. See also our Leh Ladakh packages, Himachal packages and booking procedure.
🗓️ Last updated: · For adventure lovers, photographers & wildlife enthusiasts
Winter Spiti 4x4 Expedition 7 Nights / 8 Days – Short Itinerary
- DAY 1Arrival in Shimla · Briefing & Vehicle CheckIn Shimla
- DAY 2Shimla → Narkanda → Taranda Dhank → Kalpaapprox. 230 km9–10 hrs
- DAY 3Kalpa → Khab → Frozen Nako → Moonland → Taboapprox. 160 km8–9 hrs
- DAY 4Tabo → Dhankar → Pin Valley → Frozen Lingti Fall → Kazaapprox. 100 km6–7 hrs
- DAY 5Kaza Snow Circuit – Langza (Giant Maitreya Buddha Statue), Komic (Highest Village in the World), Hikkim (Highest Post Office in the World), Key & Chicham Bridge (Asia’s Highest Hanging Bridge)approx. 100 km7–8 hrs
- DAY 6Kaza → Snow Run towards Losar → Sanglaapprox. 240 km10–11 hrs
- DAY 7Sangla → Chitkul (India’s Last Village) → Shimlaapprox. 265 km10–11 hrs
- DAY 8Departure from ShimlaIn Shimla
Route Map – Winter Spiti 4x4 Expedition 7 Nights / 8 Days
🖱️ Click on the map, then scroll the mouse wheel to zoom in / out · double-click to zoom on a spot · drag to move · ＋ / － / ⟲ buttons · on mobile pinch with two fingers
🧭 Drawn from real map coordinates (north is up). Every place of the itinerary is marked; places inside one town are listed in its box. 📏 km = approx. road distance from the nearest night-stay town shown in the label. Road map style: yellow dots = places with altitude, red dots = night stay, ⊟ = mountain pass, blue = lake. Lines join the stops of each day – actual roads curve through the mountains. 🏨 = night stay. Tap a day to highlight its route.
Day-wise Detail Itinerary with Distance & Time
DAY 1Arrival in Shimla · Briefing & Vehicle Check
In Shimla▼
Arrive in Shimla and meet the convoy and crew. In the evening we hold a full briefing and inspect every vehicle against the mandatory checklist (snow chains, tow rope, spares). Welcome dinner:
- Mall Road Shimla · Shimla
Colonial-era shopping street for an evening walk, cafés and local handicrafts. - The Ridge & Christ Church · Shimla
Open square in the heart of Shimla with the yellow Christ Church (1857), the town's best-known landmark.
| Route | Distance | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Arrival & check-in in Shimla | your own drive | by afternoon |
| Briefing & vehicle inspection | at the hotel | evening |
🌙 Overnight stay at hotel in Shimla
DAY 2Shimla → Narkanda → Taranda Dhank → Kalpa
approx. 230 km9–10 hrs▼
Convoy start after breakfast. Over Narkanda and down to the Sutlej at Rampur, then into Kinnaur along the dramatic cliff-hanger road of Taranda Dhank to Kalpa:
- Narkanda · 2,708 m · approx. 62 km from Shimla
Hill town famous for apple orchards, skiing slopes in winter and a long view of the Great Himalayan range. - Rampur Bushahr · On the Sutlej · approx. 65 km
Old capital of the Bushahr kings on the banks of the Sutlej, with the Padam Palace and busy bazaars. - Taranda Dhank · Cliff-hanger road
Famous stretch of road cut into a vertical rock face high above the Sutlej, near the Taranda Mata temple. - Reckong Peo · District headquarters
Main town of Kinnaur, below Kalpa – the last place for ATMs, fuel and shopping before Spiti. - Kalpa · 2,960 m · facing Kinner Kailash
Village of apple orchards and old temples facing the Kinner Kailash range, famous for sunrise over the sacred peak.
| Route | Distance | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Shimla → Narkanda → Rampur | approx. 130 km | 4.5 hrs |
| Rampur → Taranda Dhank → Karcham | approx. 85 km | 3 hrs |
| Karcham → Reckong Peo → Kalpa | approx. 29 km | 1 hr |
🌙 Overnight stay at hotel in Kalpa
DAY 3Kalpa → Khab → Frozen Nako → Moonland → Tabo
approx. 160 km8–9 hrs▼
Watch Kinner Kailash glow at sunrise and stop at Suicide Point. Pass Khab, where the Spiti meets the Sutlej, climb to frozen Nako Lake and the icy Maling Nala, and cross the Moonland landscapes to Tabo:
- Suicide Point Kalpa · approx. 3 km from Kalpa
Steep cliff viewpoint over the deep Sutlej gorge on the road to Roghi – a thrilling photo stop. - Khab Sangam · Spiti meets Sutlej
Confluence of the Spiti and Sutlej rivers at Khab, where the landscape changes from green Kinnaur to the cold desert. - Nako Lake · 3,660 m · Nako village
Small sacred lake in Nako village with willow trees, old monasteries and mud houses, close to the Tibet border. - Maling Nala · Below Nako
Glacier stream that freezes over the road in winter – one of the toughest ice sections of the drive. - Moonland Spiti · Between Nako and Tabo
Lunar landscapes of the cold desert around Sumdo and Chango.
| Route | Distance | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Kalpa → Powari → Khab | approx. 75 km | 3–3.5 hrs |
| Khab → Maling Nala → Nako | approx. 20 km | 1–1.5 hrs |
| Nako → Sumdo → Tabo | approx. 66 km | 2.5–3 hrs |
🌙 Overnight stay at hotel in Tabo
DAY 4Tabo → Dhankar → Pin Valley → Frozen Lingti Fall → Kaza
approx. 100 km6–7 hrs▼
Visit Tabo Monastery and the cliff-top Dhankar, detour into the snow-bound Pin Valley for wildlife spotting and stop at the frozen Lingti waterfall before driving into Kaza:
- Tabo Monastery · 3,280 m · founded 996 AD
More than 1,000 years old, the Ajanta of the Himalayas, with mud temples full of ancient murals and statues. - Dhankar Monastery · 3,894 m · on a cliff
Old monastery and fort built on a crumbling cliff above the meeting point of the Spiti and Pin rivers. - Pin Valley National Park · Pin valley
Cold-desert park of the Pin river, home of the Siberian ibex and snow leopard, with colourful rock mountains. - Lingti Waterfall · Frozen waterfall · near Kaza
A tall waterfall that turns into a column of ice in winter, on the road between Dhankar and Kaza.
| Route | Distance | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Tabo → Dhankar | approx. 32 km | 1.5–2 hrs |
| Dhankar → Pin Valley (as far as the road is open) → Attargo | approx. 40 km | 2 hrs |
| Attargo → Lingti → Kaza | approx. 28 km | 1 hr |
🌙 Overnight stay at hotel in Kaza
DAY 5Kaza Snow Circuit – Langza (Giant Maitreya Buddha Statue), Komic (Highest Village in the World), Hikkim (Highest Post Office in the World), Key & Chicham Bridge (Asia’s Highest Hanging Bridge)
approx. 100 km7–8 hrs▼
A full day of snow driving to the high villages of Langza, Komic and Hikkim, home to one of the highest post offices in the world. Then Key Monastery and the soaring Chicham Bridge:
- Langza · Giant Maitreya Buddha Statue · 4,400 m
High village with a giant golden Buddha statue looking over the valley, known for marine fossils found in its fields. - Komic · Highest Village in the World · 4,587 m
One of the highest motorable villages in the world, with the old Tangyud monastery. - Hikkim Post Office · Highest Post Office in the World · 4,400 m
One of the highest post offices in the world – send a postcard home from here. - Key Monastery · 4,166 m · approx. 12 km
The biggest monastery of Spiti, built like a fort on a conical hill, with monks, prayer halls and old murals. - Chicham Bridge · Asia’s Highest Hanging Bridge
One of the highest bridges in Asia, hanging over a deep gorge between Kibber and Chicham.
| Route | Distance | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Kaza → Langza → Komic → Hikkim → Kaza | approx. 45 km | 3 hrs |
| Kaza → Key → Kibber → Chicham → Kaza | approx. 50 km | 3 hrs |
🌙 Overnight stay at hotel in Kaza
DAY 6Kaza → Snow Run towards Losar → Sangla
approx. 240 km10–11 hrs▼
An early start with a snow run towards Losar (as far as the road is open), then the long descent through Tabo, Nako and Khab to the pine-clad Sangla valley:
- Losar · 4,079 m · last village of Spiti
Last village of Spiti before Kunzum La, with green fields, a small monastery and homestays. - Tabo Monastery · 3,280 m · founded 996 AD
More than 1,000 years old, the Ajanta of the Himalayas, with mud temples full of ancient murals and statues. - Khab Sangam · Spiti meets Sutlej
Confluence of the Spiti and Sutlej rivers at Khab, where the landscape changes from green Kinnaur to the cold desert. - Sangla Valley · 2,700 m · Baspa valley
Green valley of the Baspa river with apple orchards, wooden houses, temples and snow peaks all around.
| Route | Distance | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Kaza → towards Losar → Kaza (snow run) | as the road allows | 1.5–2 hrs |
| Kaza → Tabo → Nako → Khab | approx. 135 km | 5–6 hrs |
| Khab → Powari → Karcham → Sangla | approx. 95 km | 3.5 hrs |
🌙 Overnight stay at hotel in Sangla
DAY 7Sangla → Chitkul (India’s Last Village) → Shimla
approx. 265 km10–11 hrs▼
Morning visit to snowbound Chitkul, the last village before the border, then the long drive back down the Sutlej and over Narkanda to Shimla. Farewell dinner:
- Chitkul · India’s Last Village · 3,450 m
Last inhabited village on the Indo-Tibet road, with wooden houses, the Mathi temple and the Baspa flowing through green meadows. - Rakchham · 3,050 m · Baspa valley
Village of boulders, meadows and streams between Sangla and Chitkul, one of the prettiest spots of the valley. - Karcham Dam · Karcham · on the way
Karcham Wangtoo dam at the meeting point of the Baspa and Sutlej rivers – the gateway to the Sangla valley. - Narkanda · 2,708 m · approx. 62 km from Shimla
Hill town famous for apple orchards, skiing slopes in winter and a long view of the Great Himalayan range.
| Route | Distance | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Sangla → Chitkul → Sangla | approx. 48 km | 2–2.5 hrs |
| Sangla → Karcham → Rampur | approx. 100 km | 3.5–4 hrs |
| Rampur → Narkanda → Shimla | approx. 130 km | 4.5 hrs |
🌙 Overnight stay at hotel in Shimla
DAY 8Departure from Shimla
In Shimla▼
After breakfast, check out and start your journey home with the memories of a lifetime. Expedition ends.
- Mall Road Shimla · Shimla
Colonial-era shopping street for an evening walk, cafés and local handicrafts.
| Route | Distance | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Check out & departure | Shimla | morning |
Winter Spiti 4x4 Expedition – Fixed Departures & Price
| Departure | Dates (Day 1 Shimla – Day 8 Shimla) | Registration |
|---|---|---|
| 🚙 Departure 1 | 20 Dec – 27 Dec 2026 | Open |
| 🚙 Departure 2 | 30 Dec – 6 Jan 2027 | Open |
| 🚙 Departure 3 | 10 Jan – 17 Jan 2027 | Open |
| 🚙 Departure 4 | 20 Jan – 27 Jan 2027 | Open |
| 🚙 Departure 5 | 30 Jan – 6 Feb 2027 | Open |
| 🚙 Departure 6 | 10 Feb – 17 Feb 2027 | Open |
| 🚙 Departure 7 | 20 Feb – 27 Feb 2027 | Open |
| 🚙 Departure 8 | 28 Feb – 7 Mar 2027 | Open |
| 🚙 Departure 9 | 10 Mar – 17 Mar 2027 | Open |
| 🚙 Departure 10 | 20 Mar – 27 Mar 2027 | Open |
Every departure follows the same 7N/8D route and the same fixed price of ₹45,000 per person. Registration for each departure closes one month before Day 1.
| 🎟️ Expedition entry per person (own / rented 4x4 ₹45,000 · seat in our vehicle ₹55,000) | |
| 🔑 4x4 rent (8 days, without fuel) |
💡 ₹45,000 per person (own or rented 4x4) or ₹55,000 per person with a seat in our expedition vehicle covers stay on double sharing, breakfast, dinner & evening tea, lead and sweep car, walkie-talkies, mechanical support, crew, drone & portrait coverage and stickers. Rented 4x4 (self-drive): Mahindra Thar 4x4 ₹6,000/day · Suzuki Jimny 4x4 ₹5,000/day · Toyota Hilux 4x4 ₹8,000/day for 8 days, without fuel and without driver; damage charges apply as per the rental agreement. Your own vehicle, fuel, tolls, snow chains and lunch are not included. 5% GST only if a GST invoice is required. Full payment confirms your seat; registration closes one month before departure. Cancel 30+ days before departure: 100% refund; within 29 days: non-refundable.
📝 Registration Form – Winter Spiti 4x4 Expedition
Seats are limited on every departure and registration closes one month before departure. Fill in the form – it opens WhatsApp with all your details ready to send. We confirm your seat with the payment details.
📋 Mandatory checklist – personal kit & 4x4 vehicle kit
- Passport-size photographs × 2
- Category-rated sunglasses
- Sunscreen SPF 50+
- Wet wipes & toilet paper
- Waterproof snow boots
- First-aid kit with Asthalin & Diamox
- Torch
- Snacks, chocolates & dry fruits
- Drinking water, kept handy
- Jackets, caps, mufflers, thermals, gloves
- Heavy-duty electric air pump
- Puncture repair kit
- Spare tubes for tubeless tyres × 2
- Anti-freeze coolant 1 L
- Engine oil 1 L
- M-Seal × 2 and Fevi Kwik × 5
- Zip ties × 10
- Jack, spanner set & shovel
- Snow chains & tow ropes
- Windscreen de-icer (alcohol-based)
Expedition Hotels – Shimla, Kalpa, Tabo, Kaza, Sangla
| Stay | Shimla (2N) | Kalpa (1N) | Tabo (1N) | Kaza (2N) | Sangla (1N) | Meals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Expedition hotel | Rocky Knob or similar | The Grand Shambhala or similar | Spiti Mud Huts or similar | Sakya Abode or similar | Toshim or similar | Breakfast, dinner & evening tea |
Rooms on double sharing. Hotels are "or similar" and confirmed with your registration. Rooms are heated in winter. Lunch is on your own on the way.
Inclusions – What the Package Includes
- Accommodation on double sharing for 7 nights – Shimla, Kalpa, Tabo, Kaza (2), Sangla, Shimla
- Breakfast, dinner & evening tea every day
- Lead car and sweep car with the convoy
- Walkie-talkie radio connectivity for every vehicle
- Mechanical support on the route
- Experienced crew to assist at every stage
- Drone, portrait & social-media coverage of the drive
- Official expedition stickers for your vehicle
Exclusions – Not Included
- Lunch, alcohol & other beverages
- Your vehicle and its fuel expenses (rented 4x4: rent and fuel extra)
- Tolls, green tax & entry fees
- Breakdown repairs & towing
- Snow chains (mandatory – bring your own)
- Damage charges for rented vehicles, as per the rental agreement
- Travel to Shimla before Day 1 and from Shimla after Day 8
- Medical & travel insurance
- Anything not listed under Inclusions
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Winter Spiti 4x4 Expedition?
Fixed departures every 10 days from 20 December 2026 to 20 March 2027: 20 Dec, 30 Dec, 10 Jan, 20 Jan, 30 Jan, 10 Feb, 20 Feb, 28 Feb, 10 Mar, 20 Mar. Day 1 is arrival and briefing in Shimla and the expedition ends in Shimla on Day 8. Registration closes one month before each departure.
Can I join without my own 4x4?
Yes. We can give you a self-drive 4x4 on rent – Mahindra Thar ₹6,000, Suzuki Jimny ₹5,000 or Toyota Hilux ₹8,000 per day, without fuel; damage charges apply as per the rental agreement. You can also take a seat in one of our expedition vehicles for ₹55,000 per person (₹45,000 + ₹10,000).
What does the ₹45,000 per person include?
It is a fixed price per person, the same on every departure. It includes accommodation on double sharing, breakfast, dinner and evening tea, the lead and sweep cars, walkie-talkies, mechanical support, the crew, drone and portrait coverage and expedition stickers. Your vehicle, fuel, tolls and lunch are not included.
Is it suitable for families?
Yes. Parents, spouses, ladies and children are welcome to join the convoy. Guests with serious medical conditions (heart problems, epilepsy, slipped disc) and expecting mothers cannot join.
How cold does it get?
Temperatures mostly stay between −10 °C and −30 °C, so full layered winter clothing, waterproof snow boots, gloves and caps are essential.
Do I need snow chains?
Yes. Snow chains and tow ropes are on the mandatory vehicle checklist and are not included. Every vehicle is inspected at the briefing in Shimla on Day 1.
How do I book and what is the cancellation policy?
Fill in the registration form on this page. Seats are limited – full payment confirms your place. Cancel 30 or more days before departure for a 100% refund; cancellations within 29 days are non-refundable. 5% GST applies only if a GST invoice is required.