Highlight
A 9-day winter 4x4 expedition from Delhi through Shimla, Chitkul, Nako, Tabo, Kaza, Kibber and Kalpa, with a dedicated snow leopard expedition, high-altitude villages, ancient monasteries and proper Himalayan winter travel.
This is not the usual Spiti sightseeing circuit with a different jacket.
You will cross Kinnaur, enter the Spiti Valley in winter, spend three nights around Kaza, drive into Kibber and Chicham, visit Hikkim, Komic and Langza, and return through Dhankar, Gue and Kalpa. The mountain section is covered in 4x4 vehicles, with a team captain travelling with the group and an oxygen cylinder carried in the vehicle for emergencies.
Want the 4x4 seats, dates and vehicle options? Check the departure below and secure your slot with the ₹5,000 booking amount.
Itinerary
Reach the Delhi boarding point in the evening, meet the group and get ready for the first leg of the journey. The overnight Volvo takes you towards Shimla while the actual mountain expedition begins the following morning.
Keep your warm layer, medicines, charger, documents and anything you may need overnight in a small accessible bag rather than inside your main luggage.
Overnight: Volvo
Meal: Not included
Reach Shimla in the morning and switch from the Volvo to the 4x4 vehicles.
The road heads towards Rakchham and Chitkul, taking you deeper into the Baspa Valley. By evening, the landscape has changed dramatically from the plains and Shimla you left behind.
Chitkul is known as the last inhabited village near the Indo-China border, and winter gives the village a very different character. After the day's drive, settle into your stay and have dinner with the group.
Route: Shimla → Rakchham → Chitkul
Stay: Hotel in Chitkul
Meal: Dinner
After breakfast, continue towards Nako.
The route passes through Kinnaur before reaching Khab Sangam, where the Sutlej and Spiti rivers meet. From here the landscape gradually becomes more stark and high-altitude as you approach Nako.
Reach Nako by evening, check in and take some time to slow down after the drive.
Route: Chitkul → Khab Sangam → Nako
Stay: Hotel/Homestay in Nako
Meals: Breakfast + Dinner
The highlight is Tabo Monastery, a historic Buddhist monastery that the itinerary describes as around a thousand years old and popularly associated with the name “Ajanta of the Himalayas”. The route also includes Tabo Caves.
Later, continue towards Kaza with a halt at Lingti Waterfall, which takes on a distinctly winter character during the colder months.
By evening, reach Kaza, check in and head out to explore the market if conditions allow.
Route: Nako → Tabo → Lingti Waterfall → Kaza
Stay: Hotel/Homestay in Kaza
Meals: Breakfast + Dinner
Today is dedicated to the high villages around Kaza.
Visit Hikkim, home to the famous high-altitude post office. Continue to Komic, known for its exceptionally high motorable location, before heading to Langza, recognised for its giant Buddha statue and fossil-rich landscape.
Return to Kaza by evening.
This is one of the days where having the 4x4 becomes particularly relevant because the itinerary takes you into the higher villages rather than keeping you around the main Kaza market.
Route: Kaza → Hikkim → Komic → Langza → Kaza
Stay: Hotel/Homestay in Kaza
Meals: Breakfast + Dinner
Start after breakfast for one of the biggest days of the expedition.
Visit Key Monastery, one of the defining Buddhist landmarks of Spiti, followed by Kibber and Chicham Bridge.
The day also includes a snow leopard expedition guided by a local expert from Kibber. This is an experience built around searching the terrain, reading the landscape and being in the right habitat at the right time. A sighting should never be treated as guaranteed because the animal is wild and movement depends on conditions.
Return to Kaza for the night.
Route: Kaza → Key Monastery → Kibber → Chicham → Kaza
Experience: Snow Leopard Expedition
Stay: Hotel/Homestay in Kaza
Meals: Breakfast + Dinner
After an early breakfast, leave Kaza and begin the return journey towards Kalpa.
The route includes Dhankar Monastery, dramatically positioned on a cliff, followed by Gue Monastery, known for its centuries-old mummy.
Before reaching Kalpa, spend some time at Reckong Peo Market and then continue to your hotel.
Kalpa is your final mountain stay of the expedition.
Route: Kaza → Dhankar → Gue → Reckong Peo → Kalpa
Stay: Hotel in Kalpa
Meals: Breakfast + Dinner
Wake up in Kalpa with views towards the Kinner Kailash range.
After breakfast, begin the drive towards Shimla. The day is primarily a return journey, giving you one last stretch of Himalayan road time before reaching Shimla.
Board the Volvo for the overnight journey to Delhi.
Route: Kalpa → Shimla → Delhi
Stay: Overnight Volvo
Meal: Breakfast
Other Info
Delhi Arrival on Day 0 and Return to Delhi
Day 0: Plan to reach the Delhi boarding point around 6:30 PM as requested for this trip page. The group then begins the overnight journey towards Shimla.
Last Day: The journey concludes in Delhi at approximately 11 AM. If you are booking a flight or train onward, do not choose an overly tight connection. Winter road travel can take longer when conditions change.
The supplied PDF itself records Day 0 as Delhi to Shimla by overnight Volvo and Day 7 as Kalpa to Shimla followed by the overnight Volvo to Delhi.
Why does the Winter Spiti route go through Shimla?
Winter Spiti is approached differently from the familiar summer circuit.
The popular Manali side is not the route this itinerary because in winters Manali route remain closed. This 4x4 expedition enters through the Shimla and Kinnaur side, taking you through places such as Chitkul, Khab Sangam and Nako before reaching Spiti.
Read our guide to the best time to visit Spiti Valley before choosing your travel month.
Is this a normal sightseeing trip?
Not quite. The itinerary includes sightseeing, but the experience is shaped by winter road conditions, high-altitude villages and long mountain drives. Some days can feel slow because the road dictates the pace.
That is part of the deal.
If you want a comfortable holiday where every transfer happens at a predictable time, winter Spiti may not be the right choice. If you want to see Kaza, Kibber, Chicham, Langza and the Kinnaur-Spiti route when snow has changed the landscape, this is the kind of trip built for you.
What makes the 4x4 important?
The 4x4 is not simply there to make the package sound more adventurous.
The vehicle is part of the winter travel setup for the mountain section. The fixed departure uses a Jimny 4x4 with three people per car, while the PDF also provides special vehicle-on-demand options including Jimny, Thar, Scorpio and Fortuner.
Is Snow Leopard sighting guaranteed?
No.
The trip includes a dedicated snow leopard expedition around Kibber with a local guide, but wildlife is unpredictable. Weather, visibility, prey movement and the animal's location can all affect what you see.
The right reason to book this experience is the opportunity to search the winter landscape with local guidance and a chance to witness snow leopard.
What should I pack for Winter Spiti?
Pack for actual cold, not the kind of winter you experience in Delhi or Mumbai.
Carry:
- Thermal base layers
- Heavy winter jacket
- Warm fleece or mid-layer
- Woollen socks
- Insulated gloves
- Woollen cap
- Comfortable winter shoes with good grip
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Lip balm and moisturiser
- Personal medicines
- Basic personal first-aid items
- Power bank
- Charging cables
- Reusable water bottle
- Personal identification documents
- Some cash
The most important rule is simple: keep your warmest layer accessible during the journey rather than burying it inside your main luggage.
Will my phone work throughout Spiti?
Do not plan the trip assuming constant connectivity.
Remote mountain stretches can have limited or unreliable mobile coverage. Download important documents, save details offline and tell family or friends that you may be unreachable for stretches of the journey.
It is also sensible to carry a power bank because charging opportunities can be limited during long travel days.
Should I carry cash?
Yes.
Do not build your entire trip around the assumption that you can withdraw cash or use UPI whenever you want. Carry enough cash for personal purchases and contingencies before heading deep into the route.
This is especially useful in winter when local services can operate on reduced schedules.
Is Winter Spiti suitable for solo travellers?
Yes, provided you are comfortable joining a group and travelling in cold, high-altitude conditions.
You do not need to arrive with your own group of friends. The fixed departure structure means you travel with other people who have booked the same expedition.
What age group is this trip for?
If you are looking for people who loves to travel and have same taste as yours then this trip is you. The age group remains between 18 to 35 years.
What happens if there is a roadblock?
Winter mountain travel always carries an element of uncertainty.
The costs arising from natural calamities such as landslides and roadblocks are not included and are to be borne directly by the customer at the time of the disruption
- 6 nights of accommodation:
- 1 night in Chitkul
- 1 night in Nako
- 3 nights in Kaza
- 1 night in Kalpa
- Delhi to Shimla Volvo ticket
- Shimla to Shimla 4x4 transportation
- Shimla to Delhi Volvo ticket
- Entry tickets to monasteries included in the itinerary
- Team captain throughout the trip
- Walkie-talkies in each car for group communication
- Driver night charges
- Toll tax
- Parking charges
- Emergency oxygen cylinder in the car, available 24x7
- 6 breakfasts
- 6 dinners
- Forest fees for Kibber
- Local guide for the snow leopard expedition
- Medical kit
- Local tour support
- Alcoholic drinks
- Mineral water
- Lunches and refreshments on the highway
- Any food or beverage not specifically mentioned under inclusions
- Personal expenses
- Tips to drivers
- Monument or other personal entry charges not covered by the package
- Camera/video camera charges
- Laundry
- Telephone bills
- Additional expenses caused by landslides, roadblocks or other natural disruptions
- Anything not specifically mentioned under inclusions
No Refund shall be made with respect to the initial booking amount for any cancellations. However,
- If cancellations are made 30 days before the start date of the trip, 50% of the trip cost will be charged as cancellation fees.
- If cancellations are made 15-30 days before the start date of the trip, 75% of the trip cost will be charged as cancellation fees.
- If cancellations are made within 0-15 days before the start date of the trip, 100% of the trip cost will be charged as cancellation fees.
- In the case of unforeseen weather conditions or government restrictions, certain activities may be cancelled and in such cases, the operator will try his best to provide an alternate feasible activity. However, no refund will be provided for the same.
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Testimonials
Shweta Jha
I had the best experience with The Travel Story! This was my first solo trip, and from the very beginning, the entire team was incredibly supportive and cooperative. I joined the Spiti 4x4 Expedition, and it turned into the most unforgettable ending to 2025 and a beautiful beginning to 2026.
Winter Spiti 4x4 Expedition
27 December, 2025
Sanya Padmakar
Had a great experience traveling with The Travel Story for winter Spiti Expedition. Everything was well managed, and the trip was smooth and enjoyable. The group bonded really well which made this trip even better. Did both traveller and 4X4 with Kapil as our group captain, he was extremely, laid back, supportive, knowledgeable, and made sure everyone felt comfortable throughout. Would definitely recommend traveling with them!
Winter Spiti 4x4 Expedition
27 December, 2025
Divya Nautiyal
Had a great experience traveling with The Travel Story for winter Spiti Expedition. Everything was well managed, and the trip was smooth and enjoyable. The group bonded really well which made this trip even better. Did both traveller and 4X4 with Kapil as our group captain, he was extremely, laid back, supportive, knowledgeable, and made sure everyone felt comfortable throughout. Would definitely recommend traveling with them!
Winter Spiti 4x4 Expedition
27 December, 2025
Tavleen Bindra
I recently went on a 4x4 expedition to Spiti with The Travel Story, and it was an excellent experience overall. Everything was very well taken care of from the food to the stays even in extreme conditions. The planning and execution were truly top-notch. A special mention to our captain
Winter Spiti 4x4 Expedition
27 December, 2025
