This summer I wish to visit Spiti Valley and am hoping to travel in June. I know that sometimes places in the hills are not accessible and roads are closed, so first I need to know whether Spiti Valley will be accessible in June? I would also like to know what Spiti Valley weather would be like in June, so I can pack according to the weather conditions. I am assuming that during June it would be pleasant weather and I doubt that there would be any area in Spiti Valley or around it where I would be able to see snow. If there is please mention the place name and how far it is from Spiti Valley. Some more information about Spiti Valley would also be good such as places to see and if there are any near by villages which can be visited?
Yes, Spiti Valley will be accessible during the month of June, in fact, this is the most popular time of the year when tourists visit Spiti. The roads throughout are clear and easily accessible. Weather in Spiti during June is very pleasant, it is neither too cold or too hot, in fact, perfect as compared to the weather in other parts of North India like Delhi, you would experience temperatures from 20-25 c during the day time. It is during the early mornings or late nights you would need some warm to cover up. There are very few chances of seeing snow during June, as this is when the snow begins to melt, but the weather can be unpredictable, so there may be chances to see snow if you're lucky. Kaza is not too far from Spiti. I would say around a 10-minute drive, and I think there are opportunities you can see snow there.
It can be quite beautiful. But you should take good shoes, maybe even boots, to help in walking around. One of the draws is hiking, which I assume you will want to do. If you can, get a guide book to help identify flowers and plants and mountains. It is very fun to know the things you see, especially if you take children. Be sure to bring a camera, as the views, if a little sparse, are very inspiring.
As somebody who has Spiti on his list of places to visit, can somebody suggest the best way to reach Spiti from Delhi? Also, it would be great if you could provide an estimate of expenses while staying there. Thanks!
Hello, @Shitilja! Welcome to the forum! If you're coming from Shimla, the Reckong Peo road leading to Spiti Valley is open almost all-year round, including June. This is the route that you can take: Shimla > Narkand > Rampur > Sungra > Reckong Peo > Kinnaur > Chango > Tabo > Dhankhar > Spiti Valley. This route is about 445 kms and can take 13 hours or more to cover it ideally. However, you would need to do some stopovers to acclimatise better. So on average, you can reach Spiti Valley within two to three days from Shimla. Foreigners need a permit to go through this route as well. The other route is via Manali to Spiti Valley. This route only opens during mid-May to June. The route is about 200 kms and can take you a day or two to reach. Here is the route you need to take: Manali > Solanga Valley > Rohtang Pass > Gramphu > Kunzum Pass > Spiti Valley. This route is shorter but the ascent is kind of sudden. The downside is that this route has a limited opening time and around September, the region receives heavy snowfall already. Therefore, you only have four months between May to September to go to Spiti via Manali. During June, temperatures range between 17°C to 21°C. Night time temperatures can be lower at 7°C to 10°C. Make sure you bring a jacket and sweater as the nights can get chilly. During the day, you won't have much problem especially if you come from a colder region. To see snow, you can go via the Manali route and explore places like Rohtang La and Kunzum La. During early June, it's not unusual to experience rains as well and even snowfall. However, this only occurs in the higher altitude areas like mentioned above. Here are some places to visit around Spiti Valley: Kunzum La - This high altitude pass is about 4,590 metres above sea level. If you're coming from the Manali route, you'll pass through this. However, from the Shimla side, you won't pass through it. The Kunzum La connects Spiti Valley to the Kullu and Lahaul Valley. At the top of the pass, you can view the Bara-Sigri Glacier, the second longest glacier in the world. You can also view the Chandra-Bhaga Mountain and Spiti Valley atop. There's also a temple dedicated to the Goddess Durga from the peak. Key Monastery - This is a Buddhist monastery located on top of a hill, at about 4,166 metres above sea level. It is the biggest monastery in the Spiti Valley. The monastery is believed to have been founded by Dromton during the 11th century. Since then, the monastery has been destroyed and damaged by wars and fires. The monastery has three floors, the first one is underground and mainly used for storage. The other floors have cells for monks and an assembly hall. The monastery is home to about 250 monks. Tabo Monastery - This monastery was founded by Yeshe O'd during the 996 CE. The monastery has about nine temples, four stupas and cave shrines. There are paintings here that can be traced back to the 10th century and the more recent ones can be traced to the 20th century. The monastery also has a huge collection of manuscripts and Pramana texts. Dhankar Monastery - Dhang means cliff and khar means fort, hence the monastery is also known as the Fort on a Cliff. Inside the monastery, you can find a statue of Vairocana and also a small museum. Shashur Monastery - This monastery is owned by the Drugpa Sector of Buddhism. Its name was derived from the Sha-shur or blue pines surrounding the monastery. It was built in the 17th century by Lama Deva Gyatsho. The monastery contains large thangka paintings as well as paintings of the siddhas of Buddhism. Kardang Monastery - As the name implies, this monastery can be found in Kardang, which was once the capital of Lahaul. It is believed that the monastery was built during the 12th century. It was found in ruins until Lama Norbu Rinpoche renovated it in 1912 CE. A chaitya can be found in the first room housing the relics of Lama Norbu. Other structures inside the monastery are a prayer hall and a wooden prayer wheel. Gandhola Monastery - This monastery is believed to have been founded by Padmasambhava in the 8th century. It is located on a hill above Tupchiling Village. The monastery is now connected with the Drukpa Lineage of Buddhism. You can find distinct wooden idols of Padmasambhava, Brijeshwari Devi and several other lamas inside the monastery. Tangyud Monastery - You can find this in Komic in Spiti Valley. It is one of the two remaining monasteries that can be traced back to the Sakya Sector left in Spiti. It is unsure when this monastery was built but evidences prove it to be around the 14th century. It is about 4,520 metres above sea level, making it one of the highest altitudes monasteries in the region. Tayul Monastery - You can find this in the Bhaga Valley of Spiti. It was Serzang Richen who established the monastery in the 17th century. A unique feature of the monastery is that it has over a hundred million mani wheel which would turn itself on special Buddhist occasions. According to stories, the wheel last turned by itself in 1986. The monastery also has a 12 feet statue of Padmasambhava and his two manifestations, Sighmukha and Vijravarashi. Trilokinath Temple - Trilokinath is a temple dedicated to the Lord Shiva. Trilokinath means the Lord of the Three Worlds. Locals believe though that the temple was originally a monastery, although there is no evidence proving the story. Chandra Taal - This lake is about 4,300 metres above sea level. Its name means Lake of the Moon, owing to the crescent shape of the lake. You can reach the lake by foot from the Kunzum La. It is also accessible by foot from Batal. It's best visited during summer time when the banks of the lake are carpeted with flowers and greenery. Suraj Taal - This lake is about 4,883 metres above sea level. Its name means Lake of the Sun God and is the source of the Bhaga River. You can reach it from Baralacha La, which is just three kms away from the lake. Pin Valley National Park - This park was established in the year of 1987. It is the natural habitat for the elusive snow leopard and Siberian ibex. During summer, bird such as snow finch, snow partridge and chukar partridge can be seen in the park as well. Then, here are some villages to visit near Spiti Valley: Kibber - This is a village in the Spiti Valley itself, about 4,270 metres above sea level. From Kaza, it's about 16 kms away. The unique feature of this village is that the houses here are made from stone, as compared to the other houses in Spiti Valley which are made from mud or adobe brick. There are about 80 houses and 77 families residing here. You can visit the nearby Kibber Monastery and Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary as well. Kaza - This is the subdivisional headquarters of Spiti Valley. It is about 3,650 metres above sea level. The Tangoed Monastery can be found in this village as well. It's popular amongst trekkers as they use this village as a base for trails. Langza - This is about 4,400 metres above sea level. It has an upper and lower region, with a population of about 137 people and 33 households. It's another popular trekking base for adventure seekers. I hope this helps.
