Planning a Spiti Valley bike trip? Circuit options, best time to ride, altitude, fuel planning and what to see from Kaza to Chandratal.
Spiti is a high-altitude cold desert in Himachal Pradesh with ancient monasteries, tiny villages and some of the most dramatic riding in the Indian Himalayas. Heights and distances below are approximate and road conditions change with weather, so verify before you go. The classic Spiti circuit The most popular loop connects Shimla, Kinnaur, Spiti and Manali . You can ride it clockwise or anticlockwise: Shimla side: Narkanda, Sangla, Kalpa, Nako and Tabo, with a gradual climb into the valley Spiti core: Kaza (about 3,800 m) as the base for Key Monastery, Kibber, Langza, Hikkim and Komic Manali side: Kunzum La (about 4,500 m), then Chandratal and the Rohtang area, rougher and open only in summer Best time to ride Roughly May or June to October . The Kunzum La road to Manali is usually snowbound in winter, while the Kinnaur side stays accessible longer. July and August can bring landslides …