Key hubs
Spiti Valley airport and railway station
- Nearest airport
- Shimla (SLV) is about 260 km away, roughly 8–10 hours by road; Manali (only a landing strip) is about 220 km away, roughly 6–7 hours by road through high passes
- Railway station
- The nearest broad-gauge railheads are Shimla Junction and Manali has bus connections; no rail reaches Spiti itself
- Getting around
- A private car and driver is essential; roads are gravel above Kaza and very narrow. Public buses run from Kaza to some villages but timetables are loose. Mobile signal is poor in many areas.
How to reach Spiti Valley by air
There is no airport in Spiti; the nearest useful airstrips are at Shimla, about 260 km and 8-10 hours by road, and Manali (Bhuntar), about 220 km and 6-7 hours by road over high passes.
How to reach Spiti Valley by train
There is no railway in the region; Shimla Junction is the nearest broad-gauge railhead, well over 8 hours from Spiti by road.
How to reach Spiti Valley by road
Spiti is reached by long, high-altitude drives from either Shimla (via Kinnaur) or Manali (via Kunzum Pass), both of which are open only in the warmer months and close completely from around October to May.
Getting around Spiti Valley
A private jeep and driver is essential throughout, since roads above Kaza are gravel and narrow and public buses run to a loose, unreliable timetable; mobile signal is poor to absent in many villages.
For parents and senior travellers
Easy transfers to and in Spiti Valley
- Hire a private jeep and driver for the duration; do not rely on public buses. Driving is slow, rough and unpredictable, and a personal vehicle gives you rest breaks.
- Medical help is only at Kaza; beyond that there is nothing. Carry personal medications, pain relief and any altitude-sickness preventatives (if recommended by your doctor). Evacuation from remote villages can take many hours.
- Ask the airline or railway for wheelchair or porter assistance when you book, not on the day.
- Pre-book the pickup from the airport or station, so nobody has to negotiate with drivers after a long journey.
- Choose arrivals in daylight where you can, and keep the first afternoon free to rest.