Planning your Spiti valley tour in October, worry not we got you covered. From complete Spiti valley circuit to winter Spiti tour, you can find all the details regarding your Spiti valley tour in October in our blog.Â
Complete Spiti valley tour in October
In October, as holiday season approaches, families, friends, and loved ones eagerly plan their tours. The Spiti Valley circuit consistently remains a must-visit destination for all travelers. A complete Spiti Valley tour including Chandertaal Lake is akin to the perfect cake with a cherry on top.
However, access to the complete circuit is only guaranteed until October 8th or 10th; after this period, camps at Chandertaal will be dismantled. Travelers intending to visit Chandertaal after these dates should confirm road conditions with a local travel company or Lahaul and Spiti Administration.
Please note, there are no accommodation options available between Kunzum Pass and Koksar. Therefore, it’s advisable to depart early from Kaza towards Chandertaal and proceed onwards to Manali or Koksar for an overnight stay.
Best route for Complete Spiti Valley tour in Ocotber
There is two routes AcCessible for Complete Spiti Valley Circuit valid till 10th of October
1) SHIMLA – KINNAUR – KAZA – CHANDERTAAL – MANALIÂ
2) MANALI – KAZA – CHANDERTAAL – MANALI
SHIMLA KINNAUR KAZA CHANDERTAAL MANALI ROUTE
To travel on this route, start by reaching Shimla first. From there, continue your journey towards Spiti Valley via Kalpa, entering Spiti Valley and then Chandertaal, finally reaching Manali via Kunzum Pass.Â
Travelers typically cover this route in 5 nights and 6 days with an overnight Volvo journey from Delhi, or in 7 nights and 8 days via cab from Delhi or Chandigarh. For those with extra time, consider adding Sangla and Chitkul to enrich your tour.
MANALI KAZA CHANDERTAAL MANALI ROUTE
This is the quickest route to reach Kaza. Starting from Manali, it’s recommended to spend a day acclimatizing there. Proceed to Kaza via the Losar-Gramphu road. This journey typically takes 5 nights and 6 days with an overnight Volvo journey from Delhi, or 6 nights and 7 days via cab from Delhi or Chandigarh.Â
Travelers opting for this route should be mindful of altitude sickness and carry oxygen cans as a precaution. It’s not suitable for senior citizens or children under 5 years old
Road Conditions for Complete Spiti Valley tour in October
Water crossings pose the primary challenge for travelers on the Complete Spiti Circuit journey. However, in October, water levels at crossings and Pagalnallahs are typically at their lowest, following the melting of glaciers during summer and the remainder during monsoon months like July and August.
Traffic volume in October is moderate but can vary depending on the holiday season, as Spiti Valley has gained popularity in recent years, largely due to social media and YouTubers.
The road to Chandertaal requires caution, as it is completely off-road with no accommodation options until you reach Chandertaal camps (available only until October 10th).
While black ice is generally not a major concern, temperatures are cold, and snowfall is possible at higher elevations.
Type of Vehicle to take for Complete spiti valley tour in October
Whether you plan to travel to Spiti Valley via Shimla or Manali, you will need an MUV or SUV cab. Available options include the Ertiga, Marazzo, Xylo, Innova, or Innova Crysta. Sedans are not suitable for this route due to their low ground clearance.
Budget for Spiti Valley tour in October
If you’re on a tight budget, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. To reduce the cost of your Spiti Valley tour, consider traveling overnight by Volvo bus and staying in hostels or homestays.
Winter Spiti Valley tour in October
If you’re planning a Spiti Valley tour in late October, the safest route is via Shimla and back the same way. After October 15th, snow can fall at any time on the high-altitude Kunzum Pass connecting Manali with Spiti Valley.
Given the region’s cold desert climate, sparse mobile signals, and remote tribal areas, getting stuck there is highly undesirable. Therefore, the best route during this period is Shimla – Kinnaur – Kaza – Shimla.
Best Route for winter Spiti Valley tour in October
SHIMLA - KINNAUR - KAZA - SHIMLA
If you’re going to Spiti Valley after October 10th, the best route is via the Hindustan-Tibet Road (NH05) and returning the same way. You won’t be able to visit Chandertaal after this date due to extreme cold, as all camps move out, leaving no stay options.
Additionally, there’s a high possibility of Kunzum Pass closing due to snowfall, which disconnects Manali from Spiti Valley.
The minimum tour duration for this route is 4 nights and 5 days with an overnight Volvo journey from Shimla, or 6 nights and 7 days with a cab from Delhi/Chandigarh.
Road Conditions for Winter Spiti Valley tour in October
After the second week of October, the chances of snow in Spiti Valley increase, and black ice may appear on the roads in Kaza. However, the roads remain safe for travel. They are well-maintained by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) due to the valley’s proximity to the China border. You’ll also see many ITBP camps along the route from Kinnaur to Kaza.
Type of Vehicle to take for winter Spiti valley tour in Ocotber
As Kunzum Pass closes in late October, there are no bad roads or water crossings to worry about, making it possible to take a sedan for a winter Spiti Valley tour. Despite the road’s beauty, if you’re hiring a cab, ensure it’s a local Himachal cab with a local driver. Spiti’s terrain is challenging with many curves.
Budget for Winter Spiti Valley tour in October
In late October, you can use a sedan instead of an SUV or MUV, reducing the cost of your Spiti Valley tour. For accommodation, homestays or hostels are the best options as they are cozier and warmer than hotels during this time.
Temperature of Spiti valley in October
In early October, as snow begins in the higher ranges of Spiti Valley, temperatures start to drop and may reach below freezing at night. However, days are warm and sunny. If it’s clear, use sunscreen with UV 90+ protection.
Thing to carry for Spiti valley tour in October
As mentioned above Spiti valley is situated at an altitude of 11,500ft, So there are many essential thing to pack for survival in Spiti valley.Â
Here’s a list of things to carry for Spiti valley tour in October :
- Three layer clothing : you’ll be requiring three layers of clothing during your Spiti valley tour in october i.e one warmer – one overshirt – one puffer jacket.
- Also pack some warm socks and head warmer to cover your ears for incase it drops to minus temperature in evening.
- One thermas bottle.
- Uv protected sunglasses during the day.
- Dry fruits – protien bars and Chocolates
- oxygen cans incase youre travelling with childrens
- 90+ spf sunscreen
