Kanamo Peak (5,964 m), Spiti: Access Status, Route & Season
A high Spiti walk-up with an open question: can you go?
Kanamo rises above Kibber, a Spiti village at about 4,270 m, and is climbed as a long, non-technical walk-up. Since a 2019 village restriction its access has been unclear. This page gives the dated status, the normal route from Kibber, the season and the Himachal peaks whose access is clear.
- Status unclear in 2026
- 5,964 m summit (19,567 ft)
- Kibber road-head, about 4,270 m
- Jun–Sep Spiti season
- Clear access Yunam 6,111 m
Mountains of India › Himachal Pradesh › Kanamo Peak
Last verified 23 Oct 2026
Is Kanamo Peak open, and how hard is it to climb?
Unclear. Kanamo Peak (5,964 m / 19,567 ft) above Kibber in Spiti, Himachal Pradesh, has had no published reopening order since a 2019 village restriction, although climbers reached the summit in 2026. It is a non-technical walk-up where altitude is the challenge, usually 7–9 days from Manali, climbed June–September. For clear access, look at Yunam in Lahaul or our full list of Indian peaks.
Status, checked 23 October 2026: unclear. We have found no Lahaul–Spiti district, HP Tourism, forest-department or panchayat order that reopens Kanamo to trekking groups. Climbers did reach the summit in 2026, and trips are advertised, but neither of those is an official go-ahead.
20 July 2019. Village leaders above Kibber barred all trekking groups, after a water source was contaminated and litter was left near a river campsite, according to a notice reported by trekking organisers. The season’s group departures were cancelled.
2026. On 4 July 2026 The Tribune reported that Tenzin Norden had become the first woman from Spiti to reach the summit. That shows the peak was climbed this year; it does not show that commercial groups are permitted.
What to do. Before you plan Kanamo, check with the Kibber panchayat and the administration in Kaza. Suzu does not arrange Kanamo climbs until its access is confirmed. If you want a similar summit now, choose a Himachal peak with clear access: Yunam (6,111 m) or Friendship Peak (5,289 m). Kanamo stays on our map of the mountains of India as information, and this page will change if an official order appears.
The normal route from Kibber
Most parties drive to Kaza, the Spiti headquarters, and spend a day or two there before moving up to Kibber, the road-head at about 4,270 m. A second night in Kibber with a short acclimatisation walk is common, because you start the climb already higher than most Himalayan base camps.
From Kibber the trail climbs to a base camp at about 4,800 m below the peak. Summit day is a long single push over scree and patches of snow to 5,964 m and back down to camp. Base-camp heights vary by source, so treat the table as approximate.
| Camp / point | Altitude | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Kibber | 4,270 m / 14,009 ft | Road-head village, about 4,270 m; acclimatise |
| Base camp | 4,800 m / 15,748 ft | About 4,800 m, below the peak |
| Kanamo summit | 5,964 m / 19,567 ft | Long single summit push: scree and snow patches |
How the trip usually runs (for planning, once access is clear)
- Day 1–2 · Manali to KazaDrive into Spiti and rest in Kaza to start acclimatising.
- Day 2–3 · KibberMove up to the road-head at about 4,270 m; short walk above the village.
- Day 4 · Base campTrek to base camp at about 4,800 m.
- Day 5–6 · Summit dayEarly start, long push to 5,964 m and back to base camp; a spare day covers bad weather.
- Day 6–7 · Back to KibberDescend to Kibber, then drive out towards Kaza and Manali.
Itineraries vary with the outfitter, group and weather; rest days are added when needed.
How hard is Kanamo?
Kanamo is graded a trekking peak in our dataset: in normal conditions there is no roped climbing on the usual route. The challenge is height. You sleep above 4,200 m from the second or third night, and summit day climbs more than 1,100 m from base camp to just under 6,000 m.
That makes acclimatisation the deciding factor. Plan rest days in Kaza and Kibber, turn back if symptoms build, and read our guide to altitude sickness on Indian peaks before you go.
- FitnessStrong hiking fitness for a long day on scree at altitude
- SkillsNo technical climbing in normal conditions; basic snow walking helps
- AltitudeThe main risk: sleeping above 4,200 m and summiting near 6,000 m
Best months to climb
Spiti lies in the rain shadow of the Great Himalaya, so June to September, when the monsoon soaks Kullu and Manali, is the climbing season here. Some trips run into the first half of October, when nights are colder.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
BestPossibleClosed / not advised
Permits and local permission
The open question for Kanamo is local permission, not a mountaineering permit. Until a written order clarifies access, confirm with the Kibber panchayat and the Kaza administration before you travel.
Any climb in Himachal falls under the HP Miscellaneous Adventure Activities (Amendment) Rules 2021: operators and guides must be registered with the HP Tourism Department, and the rules require pre-trek police registration and insurance for every participant.
Foreign teams arrange Himalayan peaks through the Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF). Its base fee for a team of two is US$200 for peaks on the IMF trekking-peak list and US$500 for other peaks up to 6,500 m, plus per-member charges and US$500 liaison-officer equipment hire (IMF peak-fee page, as of 1 Oct 2026). Check with the IMF which category applies to Kanamo; more in our IMF permit and peak fee guide.
History of Kanamo
Kanamo is one of the Spiti peaks above Kibber, a village of about 4,270 m in the Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary area. Our sources record no first ascent, and heights are quoted from 5,964 m to 5,974 m; we use 5,964 m, with 5,970 m and 5,974 m as the other common figures.
Its easy walking route made it a popular first high summit until July 2019, when village leaders stopped trekking groups over a contaminated water source. In July 2026 Tenzin Norden became the first woman from Spiti to stand on top.
Other Himachal Pradesh peaks of a similar height
-
Himachal Pradesh5,982 m19,626 ft
Hanuman Tibba
-
Himachal Pradesh6,001 m19,688 ft
Deo Tibba
-
Himachal Pradesh6,111 m20,049 ft
Mount Yunam
-
Himachal Pradesh6,132 m20,118 ft
Shilla
Kanamo Peak: questions climbers ask
Is Kanamo Peak open in 2026?
Unclear. A 2019 village restriction was never matched by a published reopening order, although climbers reached the summit in 2026. Check with the Kibber panchayat and the Kaza administration before planning.
Why was Kanamo closed to trekkers?
On 20 July 2019 village leaders above Kibber barred trekking groups after a water source was contaminated and litter was left near a river campsite.
How high is Kanamo Peak?
5,964 m (19,567 ft) in our dataset. Other sources quote 5,970 m or 5,974 m, so it sits just under 6,000 m.
Is Kanamo a 6,000 m peak?
No. It is a high 5,000 m peak. For a 6,000 m summit with clear access in Himachal, Yunam (6,111 m) in Lahaul is the closest match.
Where does the Kanamo trek start?
At Kibber, a village of about 4,270 m above Kaza in Spiti. Base camp is at about 4,800 m.
How many days does Kanamo take?
About 7–9 days from Manali and back, including acclimatisation in Kaza and Kibber and a long single summit push from base camp.
Is Kanamo difficult?
It is non-technical in normal conditions, with no roped climbing, but very high. Acclimatisation, not the terrain, decides most attempts.
When is the best time to climb Kanamo?
June to September. Spiti is in the rain shadow, so the monsoon matters much less here than in Manali.
Want a Kanamo-style summit with clear access?
We do not arrange Kanamo while its access is unclear. Tell us your dates, team size and experience, and we will suggest a Himachal peak that fits: Yunam (6,111 m) for a non-technical high summit, or Friendship Peak (5,289 m) for a first snow climb. We pair you with a registered Himachal outfitter and certified guides. Price: Get Quote.
Keep exploring
Sources
- The Tribune (4 Jul 2026) — Spiti teen Tenzin Norden becomes first woman from the valley to scale Kanamo
- Wikipedia — List of mountain peaks of Himachal Pradesh
- Wikipedia — Kibber
- Indian Mountaineering Foundation — peak fees for foreign expeditions
- Himachal Pradesh Miscellaneous Adventure Activities (Amendment) Rules 2021
- CDC Yellow Book — High-altitude travel and altitude illness
