People plan Spiti as a full circuit or a half circuit. The difference is simple: a full circuit is a loop that enters Spiti one way and leaves another, and a half circuit goes in and comes back out the same way. Which one you can do depends mostly on the season.
What is the Spiti full circuit?
The full circuit is a loop. You enter from the Shimla side through Kinnaur (Sangla, Kalpa, Nako and Tabo) to Kaza, then leave over Kunzum Pass past Chandratal to Manali, or ride the same loop the other way round. It covers both valleys and both of Spiti's road links, so you see the green Kinnaur gorges and the high, bare Kunzum side on one trip.
What is the Spiti half circuit?
A half circuit goes in and comes back out on the same road. There are two versions: in from Shimla through Kinnaur to Kaza and back the same way, or in from Manali over Kunzum Pass to Kaza and back. It suits shorter trips, and in winter it is the only way in.
When is each one open?
The full circuit needs Kunzum Pass, which is usually open from June to September, depending on snow. Outside those months the pass and the Manali side close, so winter trips stay on the Shimla and Kinnaur side and come back the same way. That makes every winter Spiti trip a half circuit. Road status changes every year, so confirm it before you travel.
Which of our trips is which?
Our summer and bike trips are full circuits, and our winter expedition is a half circuit on the Shimla side.
- Summer Spiti backpacking tour, full circuit: Delhi, Shimla, Sangla, Kalpa, Tabo, Kaza, Chandratal, Manali, Delhi. 8 nights, 9 days, from ₹17,999
- Spiti bike trip, full circuit with Shipki La: Delhi, Bhuntar, Sarahan, Chitkul, Kalpa, Nako, Kaza, Chandratal, Manali, Delhi. 9 nights, 10 days, from ₹32,999
- Winter Spiti 4WD expedition, winter half circuit: Delhi, Shimla, Narkanda, Kalpa, Tabo, Kaza and back the same way. 8 nights, 9 days, from ₹32,999
Which should you choose?
Choose the full circuit in summer if you want Chandratal and Kunzum Pass and the most variety on one trip. Choose the winter half circuit if you want snow, frozen rivers and quiet villages, and are comfortable with very cold nights. If you have only a few days, a half circuit is the shorter option, but it misses half the valley.
Questions
What is the difference between the Spiti half circuit and full circuit?
The full circuit is a loop that enters from the Shimla side and leaves over Kunzum Pass to Manali, or the reverse. A half circuit goes in and comes back out on the same road.
Can you do the Spiti full circuit in winter?
No. Kunzum Pass and the Manali side close with snow, so winter trips go in and out on the Shimla and Kinnaur side, which is a half circuit.
When is the Spiti full circuit open?
Usually from June to September, when Kunzum Pass is open. The exact dates depend on snow each year.
Is your winter Spiti trip a half circuit?
Yes. The winter Spiti 4WD expedition goes Delhi, Shimla, Narkanda, Kalpa, Tabo and Kaza, and comes back the same way.
Which Spiti trips cover the full circuit?
The summer Spiti backpacking tour and the Spiti bike trip both run the full circuit, from Kinnaur to Kaza and over Kunzum Pass to Manali.
