How to Reach Spiti Valley from Mumbai: Flight, Train & Road Trip Guide
With pictures of Spiti Valley showing the moon-like landscape and sky which seems to have a blue color in the edited image, it is pretty clear why people want to explore the Spiti Valley in Himachal Pradesh. But once it is decided to go to Spiti Valley, one gets puzzled by the question of how to reach Spiti Valley from Mumbai.
It’s only quite natural as the distance between these two cities is nearly 2,000 km and there is no easy way to get there like there is to Manali or Shimla via plane, train, or bus travel. You just have to be prepared to make an effort as journey to Spiti Valley itself can be as fascinating as Spiti Valley itself.
Why Reaching Spiti Isn’t as Simple as Other Hill Stations
Spiti Valley is an isolated area intentionally. This valley is located in the trans-Himalaya area which is bounded by Tibet. For nearly six months of the year, this valley is not connected to other parts of the country due to snowfall. There is no railway track inside this valley. Moreover, this area does not have an airport in it. All the roads leading to Spiti Valley are mountain passes and they are tough to pass. That is why Spiti Valley is different from other tourist areas. If someone asks the best way to reach this valley then the answer would be based on time and preference of the traveler.
Mumbai to Spiti Valley by Flight
If time is tight, flying is your best bet, and this is where mumbai to Spiti Valley by flight route planning starts to make sense.
There is no airport available in Spiti valley. The nearest airports for Spiti valley are:
- Bhuntar Airport (Kullu-Manali) – around 245 km away from Kaza, with seasonal flights from Delhi.
- Chandigarh Airport – approximately 420 km from Kaza, with direct flights from Mumbai and good road connectivity further on.
The travel from Mumbai would require you to take a flight to Delhi first and then to Kullu (Bhuntar), or else, take a direct flight to Chandigarh. You will have to take a taxi or bus from there to travel via Manali and then finally to reach Kaza.
Recommended flight route: Mumbai → Delhi (flight) → Chandigarh or Kullu (flight) → Manali (by road) → Kaza (by road).
The recommended route can get you to the Spiti region in 2 days instead of 4-5 days via road journey only. The journey will be costly, but if your leave time period is limited, every penny will be worth it. Remember that the flights from Kullu depend on the weather conditions and usually get cancelled/delayed.
Mumbai to Spiti Valley by Train
If one enjoys watching India go past via train, then mumbai to Spiti Valley by train would be a reasonable choice, even if it does involve some road journey in the end.
The two main train stations closest to Spiti are:
- Chandigarh Train Station – 420 km from Kaza
- Kalka Train Station – well connected train station near Shimla, around 470 km from Kaza
- Joginder Nagar – relatively small narrow gauge train station located closer to the Kangra side
Train services are available directly from Mumbai to both the above stations in 24 to 30 hours, depending on the train. Upon arrival, one needs to take the road transport – either a taxi or HRTC bus or a shared cab to travel further to Shimla, then Kinnaur, and finally Spiti.
If one wishes to save on flight costs but does not want to drive the entire route from Mumbai, the above method is a viable choice. But many people opt for a combination of train and road journey when reaching Himachal Pradesh. Let’s move on to the most popular way of reaching Spiti Valley.
Mumbai to Spiti Valley by Road
However, if you are that traveler who considers the experience along the way just as important as the destination, traveling by road from mumbai to Spiti Valley is where the adventure really begins. It’s not like a quick weekend trip – it’s more of an expedition and people normally split it up into different stages as opposed to going nonstop from Mumbai.
In reality, not many people successfully complete the journey from Mumbai to Spiti in one piece, and the most common mode of transportation is flight and train up to Delhi or Chandigarh, from where the road journey will start. Let us compare the two main modes of transportation for reaching Spiti from Himachal Pradesh.
Delhi to Spiti Valley Route
The Delhi to Spiti Valley route typically goes:
Delhi → Chandigarh → Shimla → Narkanda → Rampur → Kinnaur → Kaza
This route hugs the Sutlej River for most of the way and takes you through the dramatic Kinnaur valley before climbing into Spiti. It’s longer in distance but generally has better road conditions and is open for a longer part of the year compared to the Manali side.
Chandigarh to Spiti Valley
If you’re starting from Chandigarh (after your flight or train), the Chandigarh to Spiti Valley stretch follows the same Shimla-Kinnaur path mentioned above and usually takes 2-3 days with overnight stops, rather than attempting it in one exhausting drive.
Shimla to Spiti Valley
The Shimla to Spiti Valley leg is where the landscape really starts transforming — from green pine forests to stark, arid mountains. This stretch via Kinnaur is considered safer and more reliable than the Manali route, especially outside peak summer months.
Manali to Spiti Valley
The Manali to Spiti Valley route via Kunzum Pass is the more adventurous, scenic option, but it’s only accessible for a few months each year (typically June to October) due to snow. This route is shorter in distance but far more challenging, with rough patches, water crossings, and high-altitude driving through Rohtang and Kunzum.
Many travelers choose to enter from one side and exit from the other — say, Shimla-Kinnaur in, and Manali out — to experience both landscapes without repeating the same road.
A Quick Word on Spiti Valley Road Conditions
Regardless of which one you opt for, it would be wise to know about road conditions at Spiti in advance so that you save yourself some trouble. In Spiti, roads are quite narrow and in some places, they may not even be paved and are susceptible to landslides during the monsoon season. The Kinnaur route is relatively safer all year round, while Manali-Kunzum is only possible seasonally.
How to Reach Kaza (Once You’re Close)
Kaza serves both as the administrative headquarters and the starting point that tourists generally prefer for exploring Spiti Valley. Once you arrive in Kinnaur or reach the Kunzum Pass, then reaching Kaza is only a matter of driving a few more hours along relatively decent roads. It has been advised by most travel guides of Kaza to acclimatize yourself for one day in Kaza before moving on to other villages like Langza, Hikkim, and Komic at an altitude of more than 4000 meters above sea level.
Nearest Airport to Spiti Valley — A Quick Recap
In conclusion for the discussion regarding which airport is closer to Spiti Valley: Bhuntar (Kullu) is the closest airport geographically, while Chandigarh has more consistent flight services all throughout the year from Mumbai. The decision is dependent upon when you travel.
Final Thoughts
There is no one way that works for getting to Spiti from Mumbai, but it really depends upon how much time you have on your hands and what kind of traveler you are. With less time on your hands, you can take a flight to Chandigarh or Delhi and then proceed by road. If you like lengthy rides, a train ride followed by a road trip would be just perfect. But if you wish to explore everything the best way possible, you can opt for the road trip through Shimla and Kinnaur, or Manali.
It might be overwhelming for first timers to coordinate the permits and the routes to take, but working with an experienced india tour planner can help to eliminate much of the confusion surrounding the trip.
If the process of coordination is overwhelming you, it may help if you plan your trip with Spiti Valley Tour Packages from Mumbai, which takes care of all such details and also the acclimatization period.
