Siddhartha and Sunil's Complete Spiti Valley Circuit with Thrillophilia

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PNR: BKD8OOQMGAU
Rating: ★★★★
Travellers: Siddhartha K. Purkayastha & Sunil Deka
Trip Duration: 9 Days | 8 Nights
Date of Travel: 27 Sept 2025 to 05 Oct 2025
Package Booked: Spiti Valley Full Circuit From Delhi | Monasteries, Mountains & Moonscapes

Before this trip, Spiti was simply a destination Siddhartha and Sunil had been looking forward to for a long time.

By the end of nine days, it had become a collection of moments they knew they would remember. The long drives through the mountains, stopping at remote villages, exploring centuries-old monasteries, camping under clear night skies – ask them, and the list can go on and on. It wasn't just about reaching Spiti. It was about everything they experienced along the way.

Their nine-day Spiti Valley Full Circuit with Thrillophilia took them from Delhi to Shimla, through Chitkul, Nako, Kaza, Chandratal, Sissu, and Manali before bringing them back to Delhi, with every stop adding something different to the journey.

Looking back, Siddhartha summed it up simply but beautifully: "The journey was a great experience of a road trip, and we covered all the places that were mentioned in our itinerary."

From Shimla to the Last Village of India

The adventure truly began after reaching Shimla, where they met their trip leader, Parikshit Kanwar, before boarding the Tempo Traveller that would become home for the next several days.

The drive to Chitkul was a gradual introduction to the Himalayas. Pine forests slowly gave way to rugged valleys as they crossed the scenic Karcham bridge and followed the Baspa River towards India's last inhabited village near the Indo-Tibetan border.

Stopping at the famous Hindustan Ka Akhri Dhaba, soaking in views of the surrounding mountains, and spending the night in riverside camps made it feel less like a checklist of attractions and more like a proper road trip shared with fellow travellers.

The following day, the scenery became even more dramatic as they continued towards Nako through the Kinnaur Valley. They visited the confluence of the Sutlej and Spiti rivers at Khab Bridge before reaching the peaceful Nako Lake and the centuries-old monastery overlooking the village.

It was here that the landscape slowly began transforming into the stark, high-altitude beauty Spiti is famous for.

Ancient Monasteries and the Heart of Spiti

From Nako, the road climbed deeper into Spiti Valley.

On the way to Kaza, Siddhartha and Sunil explored Gue Monastery, home to the naturally preserved mummy of a Buddhist monk, before continuing to the thousand-year-old Tabo Monastery, often called the "Ajanta of the Himalayas". Perched on a cliff, Dhankar Monastery offered amazing views of the valley below, making every stop feel completely different from the last.

The following day was dedicated to exploring the villages surrounding Kaza.

At Key Monastery, monks moved quietly through ancient corridors while prayer flags fluttered against endless blue skies. In Langza, the giant Buddha statue overlooked an entire valley of fossil-rich landscapes. Hikkim gave them the chance to post a postcard from the world's highest post office, while Komik offered yet another reminder of how life flourishes even in some of India's highest inhabited villages.

The experience stayed with Siddhartha long after returning home. In fact, he later shared a detailed review on Google Maps as well on Reviews.io, highlighting what stood out most about the journey.

"We have recently completed of 9N/8D Full circuit tour of Spiti Valley. We started our journey from Delhi to Shimla on Zingbus and then our guide (Mr. Parikshit Kanwar) recieved us from the drop point and we started our journey for Spiti Valley on our Traveller. Our route......The Journey was a great experience of road trip and we covered all the places that were mentioned in our itinerary."

Check out Siddharth complete review on Reviews.io.

Check out Siddhartha complete review on Google Maps.

For a destination where mountain roads and changing weather play such an important role, that local knowledge quietly became one of the most reassuring parts of the trip.

Chandratal, Sissu and the Road to Manali

Leaving Kaza behind meant crossing one of Spiti's most memorable stretches.

The drive over Kunzum La Pass eventually led them to Chandratal Lake, where the still blue waters reflected the surrounding mountains in changing shades throughout the day. It was one of those places where conversations naturally became quieter as everyone simply took in the view.

The night spent in the mountains only added to the experience before the journey continued towards Sissu and Manali through the impressive Atal Tunnel.

Looking back, Siddhartha appreciated how every destination on the route felt different from the previous one. Snow-covered passes gradually turned into green valleys, remote villages gave way to bustling hill towns, and each day brought an entirely new landscape.

As they explored Hadimba Temple, Old Manali, Mall Road, and the Tibetan Monastery before boarding the overnight Volvo back to Delhi, it felt like the perfect conclusion to a road trip that had constantly kept changing without ever losing its charm.

How Thrillophilia Kept the Journey Smooth

A full Spiti circuit isn't just about sightseeing. It's about spending long hours on mountain roads, changing accommodations almost every day, and travelling through remote regions where local experience matters.

When reflecting on the trip, one thing both Siddhartha and Sunil appreciated was how smoothly everything unfolded behind the scenes. From the overnight Volvo journey and coordinated transfers to the stays across multiple destinations, they were able to focus on enjoying the landscapes rather than figuring out the logistics.

Siddhartha also shared another detail that reflected the overall experience, saying, "All the stays were very good… The food was also decent elsewhere. At Chitkul and Sissu we were given tents to stay… the tents at Sissu were decent, and at Chitkul (Nargu Camps), were very good.”

When the trip finally came to an end, both of them agreed on one thing that it had been everything they had hoped for. From the roads and the mountains to the people they met along the way, the complete Spiti circuit gave them the kind of travel experience that stays with you long after you've unpacked your bags.

Also Read: How Thrillophilia Turned Swati's Second Trip to Spiti into a Journey She'll Always Treasure