Similar to Leh in Ladakh, Kaza is a tourist favorite destination for adventure lovers. In this blog, we will share complete knowledge of how to reach Kaza from Manali through different modes.
Where is Kaza located?
Kaza is a sub divisional headquarter of Spiti valley. It is a major town in the valley. This place is situated 185 Km from Manali and around 200 Km ahead of Reckong Peo.
| Name of the Place | Kaza (काजा ) |
| State | Himachal Pradesh |
| District | Lahaul & Spiti |
| Elevation | 3700 m, 12100 ft |
| Accessibility | By road |
| Best time to visit | April – June, September – October |
| Travel Distance by road | 185 Km |
| Travel Time by road | 10 Hrs (approximately) |
How to reach Kaza from Manali
Kaza is connected by road and accessible during summers majorly. The shortest distance between Kaza from Manali is around 185 Km via Kaza. There are different modes by which one can reach Kaza.
How to reach Kaza from Manali by Road
There are 3 options to reach Kaza by road.
OPTION – 1 Manali to Kaza Via Kaza (Shortest one – opens for 4 months only)
If you are an adventure lover, this route will be the best thing to explore. You can refer to the below table to plan your journey. This route is open from mid-June to September end.
| Sr. No. | Location | Distance (Km) | Elevation (ft) | Elevation (m) | Time (Hr) |
| 1 | Manali | 0 | 6400 | 1950 | 00:00 |
| 2 | Atal Tunnel | 35 | 10200 | 3100 | 01:00 |
| 3 | Kunzum Pass | 110 | 14800 | 4500 | 07:00 |
| 4 | Kaza | 185 | 12100 | 3700 | 10:00 |
How to reach Kaza from Manali on a Bus – Option-1
Manali to Kaza
| SR. No. | SERVICE NO. | MANALI | KAZA | DURATION | DEPOT | TYPE | ORIGIN | DESTINATION | ONLINE BOOKING |
| 1 | KLU-KZA | 5:30 AM | 4:30 PM | 11:00 Hrs | KEYLONG | ORDINARY | KULLU | KAZA | NO |
OPTION – 2 Manali to Kaza Via Jalori Pass (Closed in Peak Winters)
You can refer to the below table to plan your journey to Kaza via Jalori Pass.
| Sr. No. | Location | Distance (Km) | Elevation (ft) | Elevation (m) | Time (Hr) |
| 1 | Manali | 0 | 6400 | 1950 | 00:00 |
| 2 | Kullu | 40 | 5200 | 1575 | 01:00 |
| 3 | Aut | 70 | 3900 | 1200 | 01:45 |
| 4 | Jalori Pass | 115 | 8700 | 2650 | 03:45 |
| 5 | Anni | 145 | 4100 | 1250 | 05:00 |
| 6 | Rampur | 200 | 3300 | 1000 | 06:45 |
| 7 | Bhaba Nagar | 250 | 5100 | 1550 | 08:30 |
| 8 | Tapri | 270 | 5600 | 1700 | 09:00 |
| 9 | Karcham | 280 | 5900 | 1800 | 09:15 |
| 10 | Reckong Peo | 295 | 7900 | 2400 | 09:45 |
| 11 | Khab | 370 | 8500 | 2600 | 11:30 |
| 12 | Nako | 405 | 12000 | 3650 | 12:10 |
| 13 | Tabo | 470 | 10800 | 3300 | 13:55 |
| 14 | Kaza | 500 | 12100 | 3700 | 15:25 |
How to reach Kaza from Manali on a Bus – Option-2
There is no direct bus from Manali to Kaza, you need to take the bus to Kullu and To Rampur and then to Reckong Peo and then Kaza. You need to change 4 buses.
Bus 1 Manali to Kullu- Multiple regular buses
Bus 2 Kullu to Rampur – Following buses can be booked online.
| SR. No. | SERVICE NO. | KULLU | RAMPUR | DURATION | DEPOT | TYPE | ORIGIN | DESTINATION | ONLINE BOOKING |
| 1 | 731 | 5:30 AM | 3:00 PM | 9:30 Hrs | KULLU | ORDINARY | KULLU | SARAHAN | YES |
| 2 | 862 | 7:45 AM | 5:15 PM | 9:30 Hrs | RAMPUR | ORDINARY | KULLU | RAMPUR | YES |
Bus 3 Rampur to Reckong Peo:
| SR. No. | SERVICE NO. | RAMPUR | RECONGPEO | DURATION | DEPOT | TYPE | ORIGIN | DESTINATION | ONLINE BOOKING |
| 1 | 866 | 1:15 AM | 5:30 AM | 4:15 Hrs | KEYLONG | ORDINARY | UDAIPUR | RECONGPEO | NO |
| 2 | 1511 | 2:45 AM | 7:00 AM | 4:15 Hrs | REC PEO | HIMMANI DELUXE 2X2 NON AC | CHANDIGARH | RECONGPEO | NO |
| 3 | 1512 | 4:45 AM | 9:00 AM | 4:15 Hrs | RAMPUR | ORDINARY | CHANDIGARH | KALPA | NO |
| 4 | 930 | 5:00 AM | 11:00 AM | 6:00 Hrs | REC PEO | ORDINARY | DHARAMSHALA | PANGI | NO |
| 5 | 633 | 8:30 AM | 1:30 PM | 5:00 Hrs | REC PEO | ORDINARY | DHARAMSHALA | THANGI | NO |
| 6 | 333 | 9:30 AM | 4:00 PM | 6:30 Hrs | REC PEO | ORDINARY | SHIMLA ISBT TUTIKANDI | POOH VILLAGE | NO |
| 7 | 556 | 10:45 AM | 3:00 PM | 4:15 Hrs | REC PEO | ORDINARY | DELHI ISBT KASHMIRI GATE | RECONGPEO | NO |
| 8 | 255 | 12:15 PM | 4:40 PM | 4:25 Hrs | REC PEO | ORDINARY | SOLAN | RECONGPEO | NO |
| 9 | 781 | 1:45 PM | 7:00 PM | 5:15 Hrs | SUNDERNAGAR | ORDINARY | MANDI | RECONGPEO | NO |
| 10 | 1513 | 2:45 PM | 7:00 PM | 4:15 Hrs | REC PEO | ORDINARY | CHANDIGARH | RECONGPEO | NO |
| 11 | CHD-RPO | 3:00 PM | 7:00 PM | 4:00 Hrs | REC PEO | HIMMANI DELUXE 2X2 NON AC | CHANDIGARH | RECONGPEO | NO |
| 12 | 273 | 11:00 PM | 3:30 AM | 4:30 Hrs | REC PEO | ORDINARY | SHIMLA ISBT TUTIKANDI | RECONGPEO | NO |
| 13 | CHD-SML-RPO | 3:00 AM | 7:00 AM | 4:00 Hrs | REC PEO | ORDINARY | CHANDIGARH | RECONGPEO | NO |
Bus 4 : From Reckong Peo to Kaza.
You can take a bus for Kaza from Reckong Peo.
| SR. No. | SERVICE NO. | RECONGPEO | KAZA | DURATION | DEPOT | TYPE | ORIGIN | DESTINATION | ONLINE BOOKING |
| 1 | RPO-KZA-01 | 5:30 AM | 3:00 PM | 9:30 Hrs | REC PEO | ORDINARY | RECONGPEO | KAZA | NO |
| 2 | RPO-KZA-02 | 7:30 AM | 5:00 PM | 9:30 Hrs | REC PEO | ORDINARY | RECONGPEO | KAZA | NO |
OPTION – 3 Manali to Kaza Via Mandi – Karsog ( Longest one Open Throughout the year)
You can refer to the below table to plan your journey to Kaza via Mandi Karsog.
| Sr. No. | Location | Distance (Km) | Elevation (ft) | Elevation (m) | Time (Hr) |
| 1 | Manali | 0 | 6400 | 1950 | 00:00 |
| 2 | Kullu | 40 | 5200 | 1575 | 01:00 |
| 3 | Aut | 70 | 3900 | 1200 | 01:45 |
| 4 | Mandi | 115 | 2600 | 800 | 03:00 |
| 5 | Sunder Nagar | 140 | 3000 | 900 | 03:30 |
| 6 | Karsog | 230 | 4600 | 1400 | 06:30 |
| 7 | Rampur | 300 | 3300 | 1000 | 09:00 |
| 8 | Bhaba Nagar | 350 | 5100 | 1550 | 10:45 |
| 9 | Tapri | 370 | 5600 | 1700 | 11:15 |
| 10 | Karcham | 380 | 5900 | 1800 | 11:30 |
| 11 | Reckong Peo | 395 | 7900 | 2400 | 12:00 |
| 12 | Khab | 470 | 8500 | 2600 | 13:45 |
| 13 | Nako | 505 | 12000 | 3650 | 14:25 |
| 14 | Tabo | 570 | 10800 | 3300 | 16:10 |
| 15 | Kaza | 600 | 12100 | 3700 | 17:40 |
How to reach Kaza from Manali on a Bus – Option-3
You need to change the minimum 2 buses for reaching Kaza by this option. Below are the bus details you can choose
From Manali to Reckong Peo:
| SR. No. | SERVICE NO. | MANALI | RECONGPEO | DURATION | DEPOT | TYPE | ORIGIN | DESTINATION | ONLINE BOOKING |
| 1 | 866 | 11:27 AM | 5:30 AM | 18:03 Hrs | KEYLONG | ORDINARY | UDAIPUR | RECONGPEO | YES |
Bus 2 : From From Reckong Peo to Kaza.
You can take a bus for Kaza from Reckong Peo.
| SR. No. | SERVICE NO. | RECONGPEO | KAZA | DURATION | DEPOT | TYPE | ORIGIN | DESTINATION | ONLINE BOOKING |
| 1 | RPO-KZA-01 | 5:30 AM | 3:00 PM | 9:30 Hrs | REC PEO | ORDINARY | RECONGPEO | KAZA | NO |
| 2 | RPO-KZA-02 | 7:30 AM | 5:00 PM | 9:30 Hrs | REC PEO | ORDINARY | RECONGPEO | KAZA | NO |
For online booking of buses on the HRTC website kindly Click here
Note: If you are planning to take an offline HRTC bus, kindly confirm the timings from the HRTC Depot office before finalization. Click here to know the phone numbers.
How to reach Kaza from Manali on your own Vehicle
If you can reach Manali in your own Vehicle then reaching Kaza is not too much difficult a task but it depends on the choice of the route you are taking
For Option -2 and Option -3
- The travel time is more than 15 hrs so please make sure you start early in the day so that you reach Kaza in the evening..
- Road near Reckong Peo is not so okay, so having a high-ground clearance vehicle would be a good option.
- You don’t require a 4X4 vehicle there as the normal vehicle can reach there.
- The road from Rampur to Kaza is considered among the most dangerous roads so driving should be done carefully.
- In winter there would be snow at Jalori pass so better take the route via Karsog.
- There are limited petrol pumps the way after Rampur.
For Option – 1
- The route after a few kilometers from the Atal tunnel is totally bad in shape and opens for only 4 months a year. So please make sure you are well prepared for that terrain.
- The travel time is more than 10 hrs Kaza so please make sure you start early in the day as during the rest of the day the water level in the crossing is high.
- There is no network/support on this route. Make sure you are having cold prevention set up in case you get stuck somewhere.
- If you are having a 4X4 vehicle then this is a good option.
- The road from Kaza to Kaza is majorly okay but has some treacherous sections.
- Cancel or postpone your travel if there is bad weather.
- In Manali – Kaza route petrol pump is only at Kaza after Manali.
- In Kaza – Kaza route petrol pump near Reckong Peo after Kaza.
How to reach Kaza from Manali on a bike
Lots of bikers every year travel to Spiti via this route. Kaza is also on their destination list.
Kindly consider the below points before planning a trip to Kaza on a bike.
- Every bike can reach Kaza but prefer a bike with > 150 cc engine.
- Road from Manali to Kaza is in very bad shape. Kindly plan well before traveling.
- Make your bike fully serviced.
- Ride carefully as the road is considered dangerous road
- Carry rain covers along with as there might be rain at higher reaches.
- There are many landslide-prone areas that are treacherous during the rainy season.
- Petrol pumps on this route are at Manali, Kaza, and near Reckong Peo.
How to reach Kaza from Manali on a Taxi
Taxis can easily be hired for Kaza and there are many options available on online platforms. Following key things to be considered while taxing taxis to Kaza.
- Drivers should be experienced in traveling in these areas.
- You can add the Spiti circuit during route -3.
- Ground clearance of the Vehicle to be good.
- Negotiate well before finalization.
How to reach Kaza from Manali by Train
Kaza and Manali are not connected by train.
How to reach Kaza from Manali by air
Since Kaza is located deep in the Himalayas, there is no major airport nearby.
The Last airport is at Buntar Near Kullu and the other at Shimla.
Summary – “How to reach Kaza from Manali”
Let’s summarize what we have understood in this blog “How to reach Kaza from Delhi ”
- Kaza is a travel destination located in the Lahaul & Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh.
- You can reach Kaza by three options from Manali.
- Kaza can be reached throughout the year during option 3 but for Option-1 & 2 plan during summers
- Kaza can be reached by self-driven car, bike, taxi, and by Bus.
- Cheapest way to reach Kaza is by the HRTC bus and many options are available.
We hope you have got a good understanding of “How to reach Kaza from Manali ”. If you want to give suggestions on this blog ” please comment.
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions:
Question – Manali to Kaza bus
Answer – There is a direct bus from Manali to Kaza. Read this blog to know the bus details.
