Spiti Valley · Winter 2026
Winter Spiti Expedition — February 2026
Nine days into the cold desert with Kunzum La shut and Kinnaur as the only way in. Coldest recorded night was −27°C at Langza. Two vehicles ran studded tyres, all six carried chains, and we used them on four separate stretches.
By the numbers.
- Distance driven
- 980 km
- Time behind the wheel
- 48 hours
- Highest point · Langza
- 4,400 m
- Passes crossed
- 1
- Participants
- 14 guests
- Vehicles
- 5
- Crew on route
- 4
- Nationalities
- India, United Kingdom
The line we drove.
Shimla → Kalpa → Nako → Tabo → Kaza → Langza → Hikkim → Kaza → Shimla
- 01
Shimla (2,276 m)
- 02
Kalpa (2,960 m)
- 03
Nako (3,662 m)
- 04
Tabo (3,280 m)
- 05
Kaza (3,800 m)
- 06
Langza (4,400 m)
- 07
Hikkim (4,400 m)
- 08
Key (4,166 m)
Departure dates
- This report
What the mountain gave us.
Weather summary
Deep cold, low sun, black ice from 15:30 onward.
- Fresh 20 cm snowfall overnight at Tabo on Day 4
- Black ice on the Nako shadow section every morning until 10:30
- Clear, windless nights — perfect for astrophotography at Langza
- Daytime range
- −6 to +2 °C
- Night range
- −27 to −14 °C
Everything that stopped us.
| Day | Location | Issue | Action taken | Downtime |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day 03 | Nako shadow section | Rear-wheel slip on black ice, vehicle held on the inside line. | Chains fitted to two vehicles, convoy spacing doubled to 80 m. | 45 min |
| Day 05 | Kaza–Langza climb | Fresh snow over compacted ice stopped the third vehicle mid-grade. | Winch-assisted pull to the crest from the lead vehicle anchor point. | 55 min |
| Day 06 | Kaza | Battery down to 11.2 V after a −25°C night. | Jump-started and swapped for the spare battery carried in support. | 30 min |
From the lead vehicle.
Logged by
Expedition Desk, Rohru
Lead vehicle & route control
- 01
Everything stops at 16:00 in winter. Driving after dark on refrozen surfaces is the single biggest avoidable risk on this route.
- 02
Diesel needs an additive from Pooh onward. We dose every vehicle at Reckong Peo and again at Kaza.
- 03
Homestays run on bukhari heat, not central heating. Guests who bring a −20°C bag sleep well; guests who rely on blankets do not.
- 04
Water freezes inside the vehicle overnight. Bottles come indoors, or you have ice at breakfast.
Frames from the log.
Frozen falls, Day 03 
Langza climb, Day 05 
Langza, Day 06
Watch the route
as it ran.
Footage shot on this departure by the crew and guests.
Winter Spiti Expedition — Expedition Film
What they said after.
Average 5 / 5 from 2 verified participants
Cold beyond anything I had planned for
The briefing said −25°C and I did not believe it until Langza. The crew handled the chains and the ice like it was routine. Frozen waterfalls and empty roads for nine days.
Karan Bedi · Chandigarh ·
Safety first, and it showed
Every day ended before dark, no exceptions, and I was grateful for it. Homestays were warm and the food was constant. This is not a comfortable trip, but it is a superbly run one.
Emily Hart · Bristol ·
Take the report
with you.
One page: route, distances, altitude, weather, recovery log and guide notes — formatted for printing or sharing with the people you are travelling with.
Other departures
we logged.
- Read the report
Spiti Valley · Summer 2025
Summer Spiti Circuit — June 2025
The first full-circuit run of the season. Kunzum La opened five days before we rolled, so Chandratal was still ringed with old snow and the Batal stretch was pure meltwater. Eight days, twelve guests, four vehicles, no missed nights.
- Read the report
Himachal · Autumn 2025
Rohru Adventure Fest — October 2025
Four days on home ground. Twenty-two people, nine vehicles and the Chanshal trails at their autumn best — dry in the morning, greasy after the afternoon squalls, and the recovery gear earned its keep on the last day.
- Read the report
Zanskar · Autumn 2025
Explore Zanskar Expedition — September 2025
Six days in the narrowest corridor we drive. Autumn light, low water and near-empty roads made this the cleanest Zanskar run of the year — but the Shinku La descent still shed rock onto the road twice while we were on it.