Spiti in Snow: Christmas & New Year Expedition
In winter, Spiti turns white, quiet and magical, and few travellers make it here in December. You take the 3AC train from Bandra Terminus, loop up through Kinnaur to Chitkul, the last village on the Indo-Tibet road, spend two nights in Kaza for the high villages, then ring in 2027 in Kalpa facing the Kinner Kailash range and spend New Year's Day in Shimla.
- Duration
- 10 days, 9 nights
- Starts from
- Bandra Terminus, Mumbai
- Meeting time
- Fri 25 Dec, 11:00 AM
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Group size
- 15–36 travellers (minimum 12 to run)
- Best time
- December to February
Why this trip
- Chitkul, the last village on the Indo-Tibet road
- Lingti Waterfall, frozen into a wall of blue ice
- Five villages above 4,000 m in one day, up to Komic at 4,587 m
- Post a card home from Hikkim, the world's highest post office
- New Year's Eve in Kalpa, facing the Kinner Kailash range
key
chicham
hikkim
langza
komic
chitkul
kamru
sangla
nako
tabo- kaza
kalpa
narkanda
shimla
momos
thukpa
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1: Mumbai: all aboard!
- 11:00 AMBoard the 3rd AC train at Bandra Terminus
- AfternoonStrangers now, but give it one round of antakshari
- NightOvernight on the train to Ambala Cantt
Day 2: Ambala Cantt to Narkanda
- 8:47 AMArrive Ambala Cantt, hop into the Tempo Traveller
- MiddayWind up past Shimla through deodar and pine forests
- ~4:00 PMReach Narkanda (2,700 m) in apple country
- EveningSunset at Hatu Peak, a wooden temple on fresh snow, then a hot dinner and squad intro
Day 3: Narkanda to Sangla and Chitkul
- MorningRoll past Kotgarh's apple orchards and along the Sutlej, through the Kinnaur Gate
- MiddayClimb up to the 800-year-old wooden Kamru Fort
- AfternoonSnowy meadows at Rakcham, then sunset by the Baspa river
- ~5:00 PMChai at Hindustan ka Aakhri Dhaba, the last dhaba of India
Day 4: Chitkul to Nako, Gue and Tabo
- MorningStand where two rivers meet at Khab Sangam
- MiddayWalk on frozen Nako Lake and its old village lanes
- AfternoonMeet the 500-year-old Gue mummy, still sitting upright
- ~6:00 PMRoll into Tabo (3,280 m) as the stars come out
Day 5: Tabo, Lingti Falls and Kaza
- MorningTabo Monastery: 1,000+ years of murals in mud-walled halls
- Late morningFrozen Lingti Waterfall, a wall of blue ice
- ~1:00 PMReach Kaza, warm up at the winter-only Ice Café
- EveningFree evening in Kaza market and its cosy cafés
Day 6: Key, Chicham, Langza, Hikkim and Komic
- MorningPrayers and butter tea at Key Monastery (4,166 m)
- Late morningWalk across Chicham Bridge, 1,000 ft above the gorge
- MiddayHunt for sea fossils in Langza under the giant Buddha
- AfternoonMail a postcard from Hikkim, then tea at Komic (4,587 m)
- ~5:00 PMBack at the hotel in Kaza
Day 7: Kaza to Kalpa: New Year's Eve
- MorningDrive back through Tabo and Nako into Kinnaur
- ~5:00 PMReach Kalpa (2,960 m), sunset at Suicide Point
- EveningStroll through old Kalpa
- MidnightRing in 2027 with the squad, facing the snow peaks
Day 8: Kalpa to Shimla: New Year's Day
- MorningWake up to the Kinner Kailash range outside
- DayScenic drive down along the Sutlej, apple orchards all the way
- ~6:00 PMReach Shimla, Mall Road and The Ridge lit up for the holidays
- EveningPhotos at Christ Church, last big dinner with the squad
Day 9: Shimla to Ambala Cantt and the train home
- MorningJakhu Temple and its giant Hanuman statue, Lakkar Bazaar
- MiddayDrive down to Ambala Cantt
- 6:35 PMBoard the train to Mumbai
Day 10: Back in Mumbai
- 4:10 PMArrive Bandra Terminus with a head full of mountains
What's included
10Included in your price
- 3rd AC train: Bandra Terminus to Ambala Cantt and back
- Pickup and drop at Ambala Cantt station
- Tempo Traveller for the full 8-day road trip
- 7 nights in handpicked hotels and homestays, triple sharing
- 7 breakfasts and 7 dinners
- All sightseeing as per the itinerary
- Special permits and permissions
- Toll taxes
- A trip captain throughout
- Group games and a bonfire night at Narkanda
9Not included (pay as you go)
- Lunch on all days
- Meals during the train journeys
- Personal expenses and shopping
- Adventure activities
- Entry tickets and monument fees
- Room heater charges, where hotels apply them
- Weather-related route changes
- Extra day due to weather or a road block (₹2,500 per person per day)
- 5% GST
Mumbai to Mumbai, 3AC train
Per person, triple sharing + 5% GSTAmbala Cantt to Ambala Cantt (own train)
Per person, triple sharing + 5% GSTBefore you go
What to pack
- Heavy down jacket and 2 sets of thermals
- Woollen cap, gloves, socks and a muffler
- Waterproof shoes with good grip
- Sunglasses, SPF 50 sunscreen and lip balm
- Power bank and a soft duffle bag
- Personal medicines (ask your doctor about altitude)
- Original government photo ID (Aadhaar or DL)
- Some cash, since ATMs are rare in Spiti
Fitness
Mostly road days, but you sleep above 3,200 m for three nights and go up to 4,587 m at Komic. Walk 30–45 minutes a day for a few weeks before the trip, and tell us in advance about any medical condition.
Weather
−5 to −20°C. Snowfall, black ice or landslides can close roads at short notice, so the trip captain may change the order of the day for your safety.
Local etiquette
Walk clockwise around monasteries and stupas, ask before photographing people, never take fossils from Langza, and no smoking or alcohol inside the vehicle.
Cancellation and refunds
| If you cancel | You get back |
|---|---|
| 30 days or more before departure | 25% of the package cost is deducted |
| 15–29 days before departure | 50% is deducted |
| 7–14 days before departure | 75% is deducted |
| Less than 7 days, or no-show | No refund |
If we cancel a departure for weather or safety, you get a full refund or a free date change. Full cancellation policy
Questions about this trip
Which train do we take?
3rd AC from Bandra Terminus at 11:00 AM on 25 Dec, arriving Ambala Cantt at 8:47 AM on 26 Dec. The return leaves Ambala Cantt at 6:35 PM on 2 Jan and reaches Bandra Terminus at 4:10 PM on 3 Jan. Meals on the train are not included; order via IRCTC e-Catering or carry your own.
Is everything on the route guaranteed?
No. This is a December–January trip. Chitkul, Nako, Hatu Peak, Lingti and the Langza–Hikkim–Komic circuit depend on road and weather conditions. Reach times are approximate, and sightseeing missed due to weather, road or permission issues is not refunded.
What if snow blocks the road?
The trip captain and driver will reroute or reorder the day for safety. If the group has to stay an extra day, it costs ₹2,500 per person per day.
Are rooms heated?
Stays are chosen for warm rooms and snowy views, but some hotels charge extra for a room heater. Carry a hot water bottle; it is the single most useful thing at night.
Which phone network works?
Only BSNL and Jio work in most of Spiti.
How much do I pay upfront?
Your seat is confirmed once we receive the advance payment, and the balance is due before departure. The booking amount is non-refundable.
Are prices inclusive of GST?
No. Prices are shown before 5% GST, and international trips also attract TCS. Both are listed under 'Not included' on each itinerary.