14 Days Himalayan Special — Delhi, Shimla, Manali, Spiti and Leh

The two-week Himalayan road trip is for travellers who want the great Himalayan crossing — the slow ascent from the plains, the cold-desert middle of Spiti, the Kullu valley at Manali, and the high-altitude crescendo at Leh. The route is only possible mid-June to early October, when the high passes are open. The driving is long but the landscape is unmatched. Done in this direction (Shimla → Spiti → Manali → Leh), it also gives the best altitude profile — gradual climb, no jarring jumps.

At a glance

Total days: 14 (13 nights)
Route: Delhi → Shimla (2N) → Sangla/Kalpa (1N) → Tabo (1N) → Kaza (2N) → Sissu (1N) → Manali (2N) → Sarchu/Jispa (1N) → Leh (3N)
Distance: ~1,500 km
Best season: mid-June to early October only (Kunzum and Manali–Leh passes).
Altitude profile: Shimla 2,200 m → Kalpa 2,960 m → Kaza 3,800 m → Manali 2,050 m → Sarchu 4,290 m → Leh 3,500 m. The Shimla → Spiti approach acclimatises you gradually; the Manali → Leh stretch jumps high quickly, so build in a Manali rest day.
Permits: Inner Line Permit for Ladakh (arranged in Leh in 24 hours). Spiti needs no permits for Indian or foreign nationals. Sangla/Chitkul side trip into upper Kinnaur needs a permit for foreigners (arranged in Reckong Peo).

Day 1 — Arrive Delhi

Land in Delhi. Recover from the flight; this is the only acclimatisation buffer for the trip ahead.

Stay: Delhi.

Day 2 — Delhi to Shimla

Morning: train from Delhi (Kalka Mail or Shatabdi) to Kalka, then the Kalka–Shimla Toy Train (UNESCO, 5–6 hours through 102 tunnels) up to Shimla. Or fly Delhi–Chandigarh and drive up.
Late afternoon: arrive Shimla.
Evening: The Ridge sunset.

Stay: Shimla. (See the Shimla travel guide for the town details.)

Day 3 — Shimla to Sangla via Kinnaur

A long but spectacular drive into upper Kinnaur.

Morning: depart Shimla. The road climbs along the Sutlej through Narkanda, Rampur Bushahr, and into Kinnaur. 250 km, 8–9 hours.
Mid-afternoon: turn off at Karcham into the Sangla valley.
Evening: arrive Sangla (2,700 m). Settle in.

Stay: Sangla (basic guest houses and homestays).

Day 4 — Chitkul, drive to Kalpa

The far end of the Sangla, then up to the Kalpa balcony.

Morning: drive to Chitkul — at 3,450 m, the last village before the Tibet border on the Indian side. Brief walk around the village; the views down the valley are spectacular.
Late morning: drive back to Karcham, then up to Reckong Peo and on to Kalpa (2,960 m).
Afternoon: check in. Walk in the apple orchards.
Evening: sunset on Kinnaur Kailash (6,050 m, the sacred peak directly across the Sutlej from Kalpa).

Stay: Kalpa.

Day 5 — Kalpa to Tabo via Nako

Into Spiti proper.

Morning: drive deeper into Spiti via Pooh and Khab (the confluence of the Spiti and Sutlej rivers).
Mid-morning: stop at Nako Lake (3,662 m) for the small lake, the village walk, and the 11th-century Nako Monastery.
Lunch: in Nako or carry packed.
Afternoon: continue to Tabo (3,280 m).
Evening: Tabo Monastery (founded 996 AD, one of the oldest continuously functioning Buddhist monasteries in the Himalayas — often called the "Ajanta of the Himalayas" for its early murals). Photography inside is not allowed.

Stay: Tabo (a few simple guest houses; the monastery itself runs basic accommodation).

Day 6 — Tabo to Kaza via Dhankar

Spiti monasteries day.

Morning: drive to Dhankar Monastery (3,890 m) — perched on a knife-edge cliff above the Spiti–Pin confluence; one of the most dramatically situated monasteries anywhere. Walk up to the Dhankar Lake above (1 hour each way).
Lunch: in Dhankar.
Afternoon: continue to Kaza (3,800 m), the main town of Spiti.
Evening: Kaza market; rest. Acclimatisation continues.

Stay: Kaza.

Day 7 — Kaza area: Key, Kibber, Hikkim, Komic

Acclimatise and explore the high villages.

Morning: Key Monastery (Ki Gompa) — the largest in Spiti, perched on a hilltop at 4,166 m.
Late morning: Kibber (4,205 m, one of the highest motorable villages in the world) and Hikkim (the world's highest post office at 4,440 m — send a postcard).
Lunch: at one of the Kibber homestays.
Afternoon: Komic (4,587 m, often called the highest village in the world that's connected by motorable road) and Langza (with the giant Buddha statue overlooking the valley).
Evening: back in Kaza.

Stay: Kaza.

Day 8 — Kaza to Sissu via Kunzum and Atal Tunnel

The crossing into Lahaul.

Morning: drive Kaza → Lossar → over Kunzum La (4,551 m, the gateway pass between Spiti and Lahaul). Stop at the pass for the prayer flags and the small Kunzum Devi temple — but do not linger long at altitude.
Late morning: descend the Chandra valley to Gramphu, then through the Atal Tunnel (the world's longest highway tunnel above 3,000 m) into Lahaul.
Afternoon: arrive Sissu (3,120 m). Walk to Sissu Lake and the Sissu Falls.

Stay: Sissu (basic homestays and guest houses).

Day 9 — Sissu to Manali

A short transfer and a rest at lower altitude.

Morning: drive Sissu through the Atal Tunnel back into the Kullu valley to Manali (2,050 m). 1.5 hours.
Afternoon: drop bags. Walk Old Manali, the Hadimba Devi temple, Mall Road.
Evening: dinner at an Old Manali café — the lower altitude is welcome after the high days.

Stay: Manali. (See the Manali travel guide.)

Day 10 — Manali rest day

Crucial rest day before the Manali–Leh highway. Eat well, drink water, sleep. The next two days will be at very high altitude and the body needs reserves.

Optional, gentle: Solang Valley for paragliding, Vashisht hot springs.
Avoid: trekking, alcohol, anything that depletes you.

Stay: Manali.

Day 11 — Manali to Sarchu (or Jispa)

The Manali–Leh highway begins.

Pre-dawn: depart Manali (the Rohtang area can have traffic delays; early start is essential). Cross via the Atal Tunnel route, then climb past Keylong.
Midday: lunch at Jispa (3,200 m). If you're sensitive to altitude, stay at Jispa tonight instead of Sarchu — Jispa is significantly more comfortable for sleeping.
Afternoon: continue over Baralacha La (4,890 m) to Sarchu (4,290 m). 9–10 hours total Manali–Sarchu.
Evening: basic camp at Sarchu. Eat lightly; sleep with extra blankets.

Stay: Sarchu (basic camp) or Jispa (more comfortable, lower altitude — the safer choice).

Day 12 — Sarchu/Jispa to Leh

The dramatic high stretch — the headline drive of the entire trip.

Morning: depart early. The road climbs the Gata Loops (21 hairpin bends), crosses Nakee La (4,769 m), Lachung La (5,059 m), then drops to the Moray Plains (4,800 m, an immense empty plateau where the road runs straight for 40 km).
Late morning: climb again over Tanglang La (5,328 m) — the second-highest pass on the route.
Lunch: at Rumtse.
Afternoon: descend to the Indus valley and arrive Leh (3,500 m) by evening. Total: 11–12 hours of dramatic driving.
Evening: REST. No exertion in Leh tonight.

Stay: Leh.

Day 13 — Leh acclimatisation, sights

A slow day. After two days of altitude push, the body needs to settle.

Morning: Leh Palace (walk up slowly) and Shanti Stupa.
Lunch: Tibetan momos and thukpa.
Afternoon: Leh Bazaar and Tibetan Refugee Market. Or, if energy allows, a short drive to Shey Palace and Thiksey Monastery.
Evening: dinner.