How to reach Spiti Valley from Manali – 2023 Updated

Word Spiti means middle land, the middle land between ancient India and Tibet. It is a tourist favorite destination for adventure lovers.  In this blog, we will share complete knowledge of how to reach Spiti Valley from Manali through different modes.  

Where is Spiti Valley located?

Spiti Valley is a  vast valley along the river Spiti which is a major tributary of Satluj River. Spiti is located beyond Kinnaur and Kullu district on the other side of the Himalayas.

 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	Spiti Valley  (स्पीति घाटी )
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 Spiti Valley from Manali

Spiti Valley’s headquarter, 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 Spiti Valley from Manali by Road

There are 3 options to reach Kaza by road.

OPTION – 1 Manali to 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 Spiti Valley 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 Spiti Valley 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 Spiti Valley 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 Spiti Valley 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

1. 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..
2. Road near Reckong Peo  is not so okay, so having a high-ground clearance vehicle would be a good option.
3. You don’t require a 4X4 vehicle there as the normal vehicle can reach there.
4. The road from Rampur to Kaza is considered among the most dangerous roads so driving should be done carefully.
5. In winter there would be snow at Jalori pass so better take the route via Karsog.
6. There are limited petrol pumps the way after Rampur.

For Option – 1

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.
2. 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.
3. There is no network/support on this route. Make sure you are having cold prevention set up in case you get stuck somewhere. 
4. If you are having a 4X4 vehicle then this is a good option.
5. The road from Kaza to Kaza is majorly okay but has some treacherous sections.
6. Cancel or postpone your travel if there is bad weather.
7. In Manali – Kaza route petrol pump is only at Kaza after Manali.
8. In Kaza – Kaza route petrol pump near  Reckong Peo after Kaza.

How to reach Spiti Valley 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.

1. Every bike can reach Kaza but prefer a bike with > 150 cc engine.
2. Road from Manali to Kaza is in very bad shape. Kindly plan well before traveling. 
3. Make your bike fully serviced. 
4. Ride carefully as the road is considered dangerous road
5. Carry rain covers along with as there might be rain at higher reaches.
6. There are many landslide-prone areas that are treacherous during the rainy season.
7. Petrol pumps on this route are at Manali, Kaza, and near Reckong Peo.

How to reach Spiti Valley 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.

1. Drivers should be experienced in traveling in these areas.
2. You can add the Spiti circuit during route -3. 
3. Ground clearance of the Vehicle to be good.
4. Negotiate well before finalization.

How to reach Spiti Valley from Manali by Train

Kaza and Manali are not connected by train.

How to reach Spiti Valley 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 Spiti Valley from Manali”

Let’s summarize what we have understood in this blog  “How to reach Spiti Valley 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 Spiti Valley  from Manali ”. If you want to give suggestions on this blog ” please comment.

FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions:

Question – Manali to Spiti Valley  bus

Answer – There is a direct bus from Manali to Kaza. Read this blog to know the bus details.