Kaza: base camp for the whole of Spiti
Spiti’s only real town — hotels, homestays, cafés, a fuel pump and ATMs — on a wide bend of the Spiti river, with Key, Kibber, Langza and Dhankar all within an hour or so.
- ~3,650 m Kaza
- ~420 km from Shimla via Kinnaur
- ~200 km from Manali (summer)
- −20 °C winter nights
Photo: Timothy A. Gonsalves, CC BY-SA 4.0
Updated November 2026 · HP Tourism registered travel agent · Reg. No. DTO-MND-11-243/2022 · certificates · हिंदी में पढ़ें: काज़ा स्पीति कैसे जाएँ
Kaza is the main town of Spiti, at about 3,650 m on the Spiti river. It has most of the valley’s hotels and homestays, restaurants, ATMs, a fuel pump and a hospital, so it is the natural base for day trips to Key Monastery (~14 km), Kibber and Chicham (~18–25 km), Langza, Hikkim and Komic (~16–22 km), Dhankar (~32 km), Tabo (~47 km) and the Pin valley. Kaza is about 420 km from Shimla via Kinnaur (open all year, two days) and about 200 km from Manali over Kunzum Pass (open roughly June–October). Plan at least 3 nights in Kaza. In winter (December–February) nights fall to around −20 °C, many hotels close and water freezes, but heated homestays stay open for snow and snow leopard trips.
- HeightAbout 3,650 m — acclimatise on the way up.
- FacilitiesHotels, homestays, ATMs, fuel pump, hospital, mobile network.
- Day tripsKey, Kibber, Chicham, Langza, Hikkim, Komic, Dhankar, Tabo, Pin valley.
- RoutesShimla–Kinnaur (all year); Manali–Kunzum (about June – October).
- Stay3–4 nights for the main sights.
Kaza and Tabo weather today
Current temperature and the next days’ high, low and snow for Kaza and Tabo.
Forecast data: MET Norway (CC BY 4.0), refreshed about once a day — last update —.
Things to do in Kaza
Kaza is split by a stream into old Kaza, with whitewashed houses and the bazaar, and new Kaza, with government offices and newer hotels. The colourful Sakya Tangyud monastery in town is worth a visit in the evening, and the old lanes, chortens and willow groves along the river are good for a slow walk on your first, acclimatising day.
Kaza is also where you top up fuel, cash and supplies before heading to the villages. Mobile coverage is good in town but patchy beyond; tell family your plans before you leave for the high villages.
Day trips from Kaza
Most of Spiti’s best-known places are an easy drive from Kaza.
| Place | From Kaza | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Key Monastery | ~14 km | The great hilltop gompa — guide |
| Kibber & Chicham bridge | ~18–25 km | High village and a bridge over a gorge — guide |
| Langza, Hikkim, Komic | ~16–22 km | Fossils, the high post office, Komic monastery — guide |
| Dhankar | ~32 km | Cliff-top monastery and lake — guide |
| Tabo | ~47 km | Monastery founded in 996 CE — guide |
| Pin valley (Mudh) | ~50 km | National park and the road’s end — guide |
| Chandratal | ~95 km (summer) | The moon lake near Kunzum — read |
Kaza in winter
From December to February Kaza is deep in the cold: daytime temperatures often stay below freezing and nights drop to around −20 °C. The Manali–Kunzum road is closed, so Kaza is reached only via Shimla and Kinnaur. Many hotels shut, but a few heated homestays stay open, and this is the season for snow leopard trips from Kibber and for frozen-river landscapes. Travel with a driver experienced on ice, carry serious winter clothing and allow spare days. Read Spiti in winter and winter Spiti guide 2026-27.
How to reach Kaza
Via Shimla and Kinnaur (all year): Shimla → Narkanda → Rampur → Reckong Peo/Kalpa → Nako → Tabo → Kaza, about 420 km over two or three days. Via Manali (about June–October): Manali → Atal Tunnel → Gramphu → Batal → Kunzum Pass → Losar → Kaza, about 200 km in 7–9 hours. The Shimla route allows gradual acclimatisation. See Spiti via Shimla or Manali and the Himachal distance chart. Foreign nationals need an Inner Line Permit for the Kinnaur–Spiti border stretch.
Kaza in pictures
The Spiti river at Kaza, the town’s monastery and old houses, and autumn in the valley — real photographs, each credited to its photographer.
Planning Spiti from Kaza
Useful guides for your trip.
Our Spiti trips
Homestays or hotels, meals and a private car with a mountain driver — one written quote.
Planning Spiti with a base in Kaza?
Tell us your dates, group and route. We plan time to acclimatise, book the best homestays or hotels in Kaza and send one written quote with stays, meals and a private car. Suzu Travels is a travel agent registered with HP Tourism, based in Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh.
Kaza: frequently asked questions
How high is Kaza?
About 3,650 m above sea level.
How far is Kaza from Manali?
About 200 km over Kunzum Pass, 7–9 hours, open roughly from June to October.
How far is Kaza from Shimla?
About 420 km via Kinnaur, usually over two or three days; this route is open all year.
Are there ATMs and fuel in Kaza?
Yes, Kaza has ATMs and a fuel pump, but fill up and carry some cash before heading to the villages.
Can I visit Kaza in winter?
Yes, via Shimla and Kinnaur, but it is extremely cold; many hotels close and heated homestays are the main option.
How many days should I stay in Kaza?
At least three nights to see Key, Kibber, Langza and Dhankar without rushing.
Sources
Photo credits
The Spiti river at Kaza — Photo: Timothy A. Gonsalves, CC BY-SA 4.0 · The monastery in Kaza — Photo: Sumita Roy Dutta, CC BY-SA 4.0 · The riverbed below Kaza — Photo: Gerd Eichmann, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Chortens at Kaza — Photo: Gerd Eichmann, CC BY 4.0 · Old Kaza — Photo: Gerd Eichmann, CC BY 4.0 · A Spiti house — Photo: Gerd Eichmann, CC BY 4.0 · Autumn at Kaza — Photo: Gerd Eichmann, CC BY 4.0 · The valley above Kaza — Photo: Timothy A. Gonsalves, CC BY-SA 4.0 · The road into Kaza — Photo: Timothy Gonsalves, CC BY-SA 4.0
