Journal · 7 min read
Two main road routes reach Spiti — via Shimla and Kinnaur, or via Manali and Kunzum Pass — each with a different character and season.
The Shimla–Kinnaur–Kaza route is longer (roughly 2 days of driving with an overnight break) but stays open for most of the year, making it the reliable option outside peak summer.
The Manali–Kunzum–Kaza route is more dramatic and considerably shorter in distance, but Kunzum Pass (4,590m) is only open roughly June to October, and the road can close temporarily after snowfall or landslides even within that window.
Many first-time visitors do a loop — entering via one route and exiting via the other — which avoids retracing the same road and adds relatively little extra time.
Quick Reference
Shimla → Reckong Peo → Kaza, roughly 2 days with an overnight in Kinnaur; open most of the year.
Manali → Kunzum Pass → Kaza, roughly 8–10 hours; only open June–Oct, weather dependent.
Nearest airports are Shimla, Bhuntar (Kullu) or Chandigarh, followed by a road journey of 1–2 days.
Ochre is the base to turn any of this into a real itinerary.