How to plan a trip to Spiti Valley in Winters

Planning to make some crazy adventure trips in the coming winters? I have an answer for you, “how about planning a trip to Spiti Valley in winters and enjoy the views of the frozen cold desert of trans-Himalayas?”. Well, the answer in the form of a question is very much appropriate when you think about making some crazy adventure trip up in the Himalayas.

However, there are things you must be aware of while making a trip to Spiti Valley in winter. You do not want to repeat the common mistakes of the Spiti Valley trip in winter.

Can I make a trip to Spiti Valley in Winters?

Spiti Valley is not a region where you can land, having no clue about the place, especially when you are talking about an offseason trip to such a remote place in the Himalayas. Your habit of unplanned trips to the Himalayas could lead you to in serious trouble if you are really interested to take on the challenge of making a trip to Spiti Valley in winters.

Hence, in today’s article, I will help you go through some basic tips covering Do’s and Don’ts, what and what not to expect in Spiti Valley in winters so that you are prepared for it.

I will also suggest a recommended day by day itinerary for a trip to Spiti Valley in winters in my next article. It will help you plan your night stays in a much better way. It is important to strike the balance of basic amenities on offer, the temperature you need to deal with, and the probability of getting stuck for a few days to months in remote regions of Himalayas.

Frankly speaking, trust me, being stuck in such a remote region with limited facilities in winters is not such a good feeling. It may seem fun as you fantasize about sitting on your couch in an AC room. But, the reality is harsh. So, you must give utmost attention to a couple of articles I am dedicating for traveling to Spiti Valley in winters.

Trip to Spiti Valley in Winters – Things to Expect

You may have been to Kinnaur and Spiti Valley in summers or autumn sometime back and of course, like me, would have imagined how would it look when filled with white gold we call snow.

How these wide, beautiful valleys of Spiti surrounded by towering brown mountains will draw your attention while offering only one color around, that is, White? How will life be when everything around in Spiti Valley is frozen? Well, the answer only lies behind the adventure of taking a trip to Spiti Valley in winters.

However, before you plan such a trip full of adventure, please go through the top 15 things listed below that you should expect while on a trip to Spiti Valley in winter.

1. Expect road closures for a couple of days to few weeks to few months

This is the most probable thing that will happen. During the extreme winters, the snowfall can close the roads for a couple of days to weeks to months. A month is rare as BRO keeps the road to Spiti Valley up to Kaza open all around the year but still, monthly closure has happened at times, 2013 as an example.

Hence, go well prepared with nothing major to go back home even if you get stuck for a month and carry enough cash to survive the month. ATMs will be at mercy of electricity.

2. Expect driving on ice and snow on roads

If you are riding or driving yourself, then be careful of the ice and snow on roads that make the road conditions too much prone to skid. You should have experience of riding or driving in snow as one hard brake can lead you either flying down the gorge or crashing the car in the mountainside. Any help with the vehicle with be very scarce to find as most mechanic shops are closed.

Hence, it is very important to drive with extra caution and care on icy patches and snow-filled roads.

3. Expect basic stay and very basic food to eat along with other facilities

Most of the hotels or guest houses will be shut down along with places to eat. Stays will be available in the form of homestays, where they provide basic food. Do not expect other facilities like mechanics, groceries, fruits, filter water bottles, etc.. to be available readily as well.

You should be planning well and be prepared with anything and everything you might need in the winter adventure to Spiti Valley. Also, you should read about the tips on budget of Spiti trip.

4. Expect no water in toilets and usage restricted to on dry pits

The water in pipes freezes and hence, there will be no toilets with running water. In winters, the toilets remain locked, and only dry pits (traditional toilets) are used where there is no water available. Hence, keep your expectations straight. Along with toilets, the washrooms will also not have any running water.

You can boil water and use it quickly to wash your face and hand a couple of times a day. So, those of you who bath every day and cannot live without it, winters will not be the right time to travel to Spiti Valley 😉 …

5. Expect bone freezing temperatures as you go past lower Kinnaur Valley

Needless to say, as soon as you cross Kinnaur Valley and enter higher regions of Kinnaur such as Nako, you will experience bone freezing temperatures.

Hence, be prepared with winter gear and carry enough heavy woolens. You should protect yourself and include warm shoes as you will not feel your toes for most of the day. The feeling of freezing increases as you cross Schichiling village (base of Dhangkar) ahead of Tabo in Spiti Valley.

6. Expect bad and worse roads with shooting stones

The presence of snow and ice at times when the sun shines makes the road slushy. So, apart from snow and ice, expect to drive in slush as well. When the snow melts, especially towards the end of winters, March – April, the shooting stones are common as they come along with the dripping water. These are more common when there is light snowfall as that snow melts quickly.

7. Expect to freeze your car’s fuel in the tank and other fluids

All fluids, including diesel in your car, will mostly be frozen. The car will require starting every few hours and protect the engine with some cloth to keep it warm. You might need to wake up at night as well and keep ignition on for 15-20 minutes to keep it warm. At times, parking the car in an upright position also helps but not always. Sometimes even the oil in hose pipes also freezes.

Don’t forget to prepare and refer my list of 40 must-have things to carry on a self-drive trip to Spiti Valley.

8. Expect only a handful tourists around or no tourists & handful public transport

There won’t be many tourists around and hence, options of sharing vehicles or dependent on public transport will be limited. The HRTC buses do run between Reckong Peo and Kaza daily. However, they will park the bus on both ends in case it is not safe to travel beyond a certain danger point.

People walk the danger point on foot and exchange buses coming from either direction. This hiking is very common in winters among locals. Hence, be ready for such an adventure and make sure you are keeping your family informed on using any such transport option.

9. Expect no power (electrical) for a couple of days to a few weeks to few months

Well, when it snows heavily, the electric poles are swayed away or gets buried in a load of snow. So, carry enough spare batteries and keep them warm somewhere as batteries will also freeze to exhaust. Hence, keeping them warm is the key to run them long. This warm thing includes your phones, as well. Keep phones inside your blankets/quilts while sleeping.

Carry enough cash as ATMs might not work as well. SBI bank in Kaza does provide you money even from the POS machine they have installed in the bank in case ATM is not working. However, cash is limited to Rs 1000 in a day.

10. Expect no mobile signals for a couple of days to a few weeks to few months

Similar to electricity, you should not expect mobile signals for a few days to weeks to months. Hence, you should inform your safety back at home, friends, and relatives as soon as you see a possibility. Wifi in the bank, wifi in some hotel running a generator, use any possibility you can see available. Messages and Whatsapp work much better than calling homes. Carry only BSNL/MTNL connection.

Do read my detailed article about mobile networks in Kinnaur & Spiti Valley.

11. Expect bare minimum medical help and support in case required

Similar to other things in winters, do not expect much from the medical facilities as well when traveling to Spiti Valley in winters. At times people have to use a helicopter to be dropped off to a safe spot in case of a medical emergency. However, if the helicopter will be able to fly or not, you will still be at the mercy of weather gods. Shimla will be the nearest major help.

Carry basic and any ongoing medicines in enough stock to last long for a month or so in case required. Do not rely on anything to be procured locally. I will not recommend traveling at all in winter in case you have some ongoing ailment or illness.

12. Expect most villages under hibernation & some tourist destinations being closed

Roads to most of the tourist villages in Spiti Valley including Dhangkar, Lhalung, Demul, Langza, Lhalung, etc.. will be closed and can only be reached by foot, if at all. The roads to Ki – Kibber, most of the time remain open though. Don’t make a solo backpacking trek to these high villages of Spiti Valley and always travel with some local guide or villager.

13. Expect missing Chandratal along with doing the full circuit from Shimla to Spiti to Manali

The road ahead of Kaza will remain closed for the entire winters. Hence, you cannot do the entire circuit from November to mid of June, including Chandratal lake. The road clearance from Kaza towards Chandratal – Kunzum Pass starts in March and ends by the first or second week of June connecting Kaza to Manali.

14. Expect locals being as warm & as welcoming as they are in summers

Needless to say, locals will greet you with the same warmth and hospitality as if you are visiting them in summers. They will do almost all the things to help and feel you comfortable in their homes anywhere in Himachal Pradesh.

You will enjoy the real, local life when you visit in the winter months in Spiti Valley. It helps you witness each day of harsh life in winters for the locals. Your problems back in air-conditioned rooms and cars will seem nothing, and I am sure you will return as a changed soul 😉 😉 …

15. Expect to lose your soul in frozen beauty of Spiti Valley in winters

As in summers, the frozen beauty of Spiti Valley is no less generous, and your soul will fall prey to it with the very first sight of it 🙂 🙂 … I am sure that a part of your soul will be lost forever in Spiti Valley as you live the winter experience in this remote region of the trans-Himalayas.

Spiti Valley in Winters – Detailed Travel Plan

Download your FREE high-resolution version pdf copy of this Spiti in Winters day by day plan infographic guide. If, you liked it and found it helpful, please feel free to share it with your family and friends to help them too.

Conclusion

As described in this first article of the series on traveling to Spiti Valley in Winters, I have tried to highlight what things you can expect while making such an adventure trip. I hope you will take these things as inputs to arrive at the answer to the questions like “Should I make a trip to Spiti Valley in winters?” or “What to expect on a trip to Spiti Valley in winters?”.

Have a travel question?? You can subscribe to my YouTube channel and leave a comment to ask your travel questions about traveling to the Himalayas.

This article will help you come to a fair and wise decision. Once you have arrived at a decision, I am sure that the following article in the series will help you plan the right itinerary for a trip to Spiti Valley in winters.

Feel free to share this article with any friends or family whom you know are making such a trip to Spiti Valley in winters. Also, please share your thoughts or inputs in case you feel that will add value and help other fellow travelers making a trip to Spiti Valley in winters.