The best time to visit Spiti Valley depends on the kind of activities you wish to experience, although there are a few months you can avoid visiting. This high-altitude cold desert in the Himalayas is one of the most beautiful places you can visit in India. With rugged mountainscapes, pristine water bodies, ancient monasteries, and clear skies, this place feels like something out of a movie. Read on to find out the best time to visit Spiti Valley.
How to reach Spiti Valley?
The road you wish to take to Spiti Valley will also play a role in finding the best time to visit Spiti Valley. There are two main roads to reach Spiti Valley, depending on your starting point.
Via Shimla
This is the most popular route to reach Spiti Valley. Also known as the Hindustan-Tibet Highway, this road is open throughout the year via Kinnaur Valley. You can take a train or flight to Shimla and continue to Spiti Valley via NH5 and NH505.
Via Manali
This is the other popular route to reach Spiti Valley. You can take a train or flight to reach Kullu and then travel from Manali to Spiti Valley via the Rohtang Pass, which leads directly to Spiti. Traveling via this route will depend on the opening of the Rohtang Pass, and then opening of the road from Gramphu to Kunzum Pass. The road from Manali to Kaza is closed for almost six to seven months in a year. The snow starts clearing in March and continues till the beginning of June. This is when it opens. The Rohtang Pass opens up in April, while the route over Kunzum Pass to Kaza opens by the second week of June.
Read more: Spiti Travel Guide
Winter in Spiti (November to March)
The winter season begins in November in Spiti Valley. The region turns cold and the sub-zero temperatures mean that many facilities are halted. The Kunzum Pass is closed for the next 6 to 7 months in November.
It is an extreme winter in Spiti from January to March. The valley is covered in snow all around. The temperatures can dip as low as -20 degrees Celsius, so make sure you pack as many heavy woollens as required.
Water freezes in the taps and pipes. You will have to brace yourselves for the lack of running water and washroom facilities. People have to depend on hand pumps and boiled water for this season. But for adventure sports enthusiasts, this is a great time to visit. You can check out ice skating, skiing, and ice fishing in this season. Plus, there are many festivals that take place in Spiti in winter, such as Losar, Fagli, Dechhang, and Gochi.
Summer in Spiti (April to July)
In April and May, the snow starts to melt and Spiti Valley starts opening for tourism. The roads from Kaza to Losar and some other link roads start opening up and the temperatures become bearable, staying between 10 and 15 degrees Celsius. The climate in April and May is cool and mild, and the clear skies and warm climate are perfect for outdoor activities such as camping, trekking, sightseeing, and exploring. It is the best time to visit Spiti Valley if you love snow. However, the Rohtang Pass is still not open during this time.
June and July is when a large number of tourists make their way to Spiti Valley. Most roads open up during this time, and it is the best time to plan your visit to this beautiful region. Visit the beautiful villages of Hikkim, Komic, and Langza, or the magnificent monasteries of Tabo, Key, and Dhankar. Here are a few things to do in Spiti Valley.
Monsoon in Spiti (August)
Monsoon arrives full-fledged in Kinnaur Valley in August and other parts of North India. There are often heavy downpours and landslides in the area, and the roads are in a terrible condition. But despite all these issues, Spiti Valley is in the Trans Himalayan region, which is pretty much protected by the rain. However, there are still a few regular drizzles and grey skies. The temperatures range from 10 to 20 degrees Celsius.
So unless you can plan the trip keeping in mind potential delays and cancellations, we would not recommend visiting Spiti Valley during this season. Because although Spiti Valley is relatively safe from torrential rains, the roads leading to and from the region are not in a good state.
Read also: Best time to visit Himachal Pradesh
Autumn in Spiti (September to October)
September to mid-October is the autumn season in Spiti Valley. The landscape changes into a beautiful painting in hues of red, orange, and gold. Add to that the stunning blue color of the lakes and rivers, and it is a mesmerizing sight. The climate is very cold, with temperatures ranging from 5 to 15 degrees Celsius, while the nights are colder – around 2 to 3 degrees Celsius – so make sure you carry heavy woollens and thermals with you. Autumn is also the apple season, for which Spiti Valley is especially famous. Make sure you try some, or even buy some if possible.
If you are here for the snow, autumn is not a good time, since most peaks are completely rocky. However, there are many other things you can do, like camping under the stars, shopping for local souvenirs, or gorging on local cuisine such as thukpa, momos, and chhang.
So, when will you be visiting Spiti Valley? Let us know! At India Someday, we plan customized trips to India for you based on your requirements and interests. Contact us, and we will help you plan your perfect trip to India!
