Go with us: Winter Spiti 4x4 expedition (9 days, from ₹32,999)Spiti tour from Delhi (9 days, from ₹17,999)
People ask whether Spiti is open, and the answer depends on which road they mean. The road from Shimla through Kinnaur is kept open in winter, with closures during heavy snow. The road from Manali over Kunzum Pass is closed by snow for most of the year. This guide sets out both roads month by month, with the weather in Kaza, so you can see what is possible in the month you want. Snow decides the exact dates, so read the table as the usual pattern and check the road before you leave.
The two roads into Spiti
Spiti has two ways in, and they behave very differently. The road from Shimla runs through Rampur, Kalpa, Nako and Tabo to Kaza. It is kept open through winter, with closures during heavy snow, and it is the way our winter expedition goes in and out.
The road from Manali crosses Kunzum Pass at 4,551 m on its way to Kaza, and Chandratal is reached over the same pass. Snow closes it for most of the year. It is usually open from June to September, depending on snow, and the pass can close early in autumn.
Lahaul, the valley on the Manali side of Kunzum Pass, is a separate case: in winter it is usually reached through the Atal Tunnel from Manali, while Spiti is reached from the Shimla side.
Spiti roads and weather by month
The road column is the usual pattern, taken from how our own trips run through the year. The weather is averages for Kaza, at about 3,650 m, from 2015 to 2025 (ERA5 weather data through Open-Meteo, rounded to whole degrees). They are modelled, not thermometer readings, so use them to compare months and not as a forecast. Places higher up, such as Kunzum La and Chandratal, are colder.
Snow decides the exact dates each year, so treat the months at the edge of a season as flexible.
| Month | Shimla and Kinnaur road | Manali side: Kunzum Pass and Chandratal | Kaza day high and night low | In short |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Open; closed for a time in heavy snow | Closed by snow | -7°C and -15°C | The most snow of the year |
| February | Open; closed for a time in heavy snow | Closed by snow | -7°C and -14°C | Snow and very cold nights |
| March | Open; closed for a time in heavy snow | Closed by snow | -4°C and -11°C | Milder than January, still snowy |
| April | Can be open | Usually closed by snow | 1°C and -8°C | Between seasons |
| May | Open | Usually still closed; opens from late May or June, depending on snow | 6°C and -3°C | Between seasons; the first summer trips start in late May |
| June | Open | Usually open, depending on snow | 13°C and 3°C | Summer begins; Chandratal is usually reachable |
| July | Open; monsoon rain can cause landslides | Usually open | 19°C and 9°C | One of the two warmest months |
| August | Open; monsoon rain can cause landslides | Usually open | 20°C and 9°C | One of the two warmest months |
| September | Open | Usually open | 17°C and 5°C | Clear, bright days; good for the full circuit |
| October | Open | Open until the first heavy snow; can close early | 8°C and -3°C | Autumn; summer trips end and winter trips start |
| November | Open; closed for a time in heavy snow | Usually closed by snow | 1°C and -8°C | Winter has started; Shimla side only |
| December | Open; closed for a time in heavy snow | Closed by snow | -4°C and -14°C | Winter; the coldest nights are about -22°C |
Is Spiti Valley open in November?
Yes, from the Shimla side. In November the road through Kinnaur to Kaza is open, apart from closures during heavy snow, and you go in and out the same way. Kunzum Pass and the Manali side are usually closed by snow, so you cannot do the full circuit and Chandratal is out of reach.
At Kaza the day high averages about 1°C and the night low about -8°C, and the coldest night of the month averages about -15°C. October, November and March are milder than the deep winter months, when January and February have the most snow. Travel in a 4x4 with a local driver, and keep a spare day in case snow closes a road.
Our winter expedition starts in October and runs on this road. It is 8 nights and 9 days from Delhi.
Is Spiti Valley open in April and early May?
Only in part. The Shimla and Kinnaur road can be open, but Kunzum Pass and Chandratal are usually still closed by snow, so we do not run trips in April. The first summer departures start in late May, and the Chandratal leg comes near the end of the trip, which gives the snow more time to clear. At Kaza the day high averages about 1°C in April and 6°C in May.
When do Kunzum Pass and Chandratal open?
Usually in June, depending on snow, and they stay open through September. If heavy snow comes early, the pass can close in October. The date moves every year with the winter's snow, so no calendar date is safe to plan around. That is why the first summer trips of the season start in late May with Chandratal near the end of the route.
How to check before you go
A single snowfall or landslide changes the road for a day or two, so use this guide to choose the month and then check the day.
- Ask the local team, or the district administration, for the road status on the day you travel.
- Keep a spare day in your plan, in case snow or a landslide closes a road.
- Choose the side that suits the month: Shimla and Kinnaur in winter, and Manali over Kunzum Pass only from June to September.
- In winter, go in a 4x4 with a local driver.
- Carry cash and a power bank, because network and services can be limited in Kaza and the villages around it.
Questions
Is Spiti Valley open in November?
Yes, from the Shimla side. The road through Kinnaur to Kaza is open apart from closures during heavy snow, while Kunzum Pass and the Manali side are usually closed by snow, so Chandratal and the full circuit are not possible. At Kaza the day high averages about 1°C and the night low about -8°C.
Is Spiti open now?
That depends on the month and on which road you mean. In winter the Shimla and Kinnaur road is open apart from closures in heavy snow. From June to September both roads are usually open. Message us on WhatsApp for the road status for your dates.
Is Spiti Valley open for tourists in winter?
Yes, from the Shimla side, in a 4x4 with a local driver. Kunzum Pass, Chandratal and the Manali road are closed by snow. Our winter expedition is 8 nights and 9 days from Delhi.
Can we go to Spiti Valley by car?
Yes. In summer a car or tempo traveller can do the full circuit, in through Shimla and Kinnaur and out over Kunzum Pass to Manali. In winter use a 4x4 with a local driver and stay on the Shimla and Kinnaur side.
Is the Manali to Kaza road open in winter?
No. Kunzum Pass and the Manali side close with snow, so winter trips go in and out through Shimla and Kinnaur.
Is Spiti Valley open in April?
Only in part. The Shimla and Kinnaur road can be open, but Kunzum Pass and Chandratal are usually closed by snow, so we do not run trips in April.
When does Kunzum Pass open?
Usually in June, depending on snow, and it stays open through September. The date changes every year, and an early snowfall can close it in October.
Is Chandratal open in winter?
No. Chandratal is reached over Kunzum Pass, which is closed by snow in winter. It is usually reachable from June to September.
Which is the coldest month in Spiti?
January, by a small margin over December and February. At Kaza the average night is about -15°C, and the coldest nights of December and January average about -22°C.
