Overview
Shimla to Kaza is roughly 410–430 km through Kinnaur, usually two days by taxi with about 14 to 16 hours of driving: over Narkanda, along the Sutlej to Reckong Peo and Kalpa for the night, then on through Pooh, Nako and Tabo into the Spiti valley and Kaza at about 3,650 m. This is the road into Spiti that's open for most of the year, and the better way to arrive, because it climbs gradually and gives your body time to adjust to the altitude. Foreign nationals need a Protected Area Permit for the stretch beyond Jangi. We pick you up in Shimla and drive you all the way with one driver.
Usual route: NH5 via Narkanda, Rampur and Reckong Peo, then Pooh, Khab, Nako, Sumdo and Tabo to Kaza
Included
- Fuel and driver allowance
- Tolls and state entry taxes
- Pickup anywhere in Shimla
- Short refreshment stops
Not included
- ×Parking at sightseeing stops
- ×Detours beyond the agreed route (quoted upfront)
- ×Night allowance on trips that need one (quoted upfront)
The climb from Shimla to Kaza
How high you go, and the stops along the way. Useful if anyone in your group gets motion sick or feels the altitude.
Start
2,376 m
Shimla
Total climb
+1,274 m
over ~420 km
Finish
3,650 m
Kaza
- Shimla
- Narkanda
- Rampur Bushahr
- Kalpa
- Nako
- Tabo
- Kaza
Illustrative profile. Start, finish altitudes are approximate; stops are shown in order, not to scale.
Shimla to Kaza taxi fare and cab rates
Starting prices for a one-way trip (~420 km), per vehicle, with fuel, driver, tolls and HP entry tax included. Your exact price is confirmed in writing on WhatsApp before you book; it can vary with dates, vehicle model and extra stops. All Himachal taxi fares
₹12,200
starting · one way
₹13,450
starting · one way
₹21,850
starting · one way
Your quote
Shimla → Kaza
SUV · one way · ~420 km
- FuelIncluded
- Driver & driver allowanceIncluded
- Highway tollsIncluded
- Himachal state entry taxIncluded
- Pickup anywhere in ShimlaIncluded
Total you pay
starting price
₹12,200
Only ever extra: parking at sightseeing stops you choose (paid at cost), and detours you add on the day (quoted before you go).
Driving tips for this route
- 1Day 1: Shimla to Kalpa or Reckong Peo, about 7½–8½ hours. Day 2: Kalpa to Kaza, about 208 km and 8–9 hours.
- 2Foreign nationals: plan a working day in Reckong Peo for the Protected Area Permit before day 2.
- 3Landslide-prone stretches, especially around Malling near Nako, can hold traffic; leave early each day.
- 4Fuel is available at Reckong Peo and Kaza, but not in between for long stretches; our drivers plan for it.
- 5Winter (December–March): the road is usually open but icy, and some days it closes after snow; ask us before booking.
Worthwhile stops on the way
Shimla
Pickup
Narkanda
Ridge town about two hours from Shimla.
Rampur Bushahr
Old Bashahr capital on the Sutlej.
Kalpa
Overnight with views of Kinner Kailash.
Nako
Village and lake at about 3,600 m.
Tabo
Ancient monastery complex, about 1½–2 hours before Kaza.
Kaza
Drop at your hotel
The Kinnaur road into Spiti
From Reckong Peo, the road follows the Sutlej through Pooh to Khab, where the Spiti river joins it, then climbs the Ka loops to Nako, a village with a small lake at about 3,600 m. After Sumdo, it enters Spiti and runs past Tabo's thousand-year-old monastery to Kaza.
It's a road of big contrasts: green orchards around Kalpa, then the bare, brown cliffs of upper Kinnaur, and finally the high desert of Spiti. The road is mostly paved, with rough patches and a few notoriously unstable slopes where slides are common.
Why enter Spiti from Shimla
Kaza is at about 3,650 m. The Kinnaur road climbs to it over two days, with a night at around 2,900 m in Kalpa, which gives your body time to adjust. The Manali road, by contrast, climbs to over 4,500 m at Kunzum La in a single day. That's why the usual advice, and our recommendation, is to enter Spiti from Shimla and leave via Manali in summer, when the Kunzum road is open.
The Kinnaur road is also open for most of the year, while the Manali road is closed by snow from about mid-October to late May or June.
- Gradual climb over two days
- Open most of the year
- Exit via Manali when Kunzum is open
Permits for foreign visitors
Foreign nationals need a Protected Area Permit for the stretch of upper Kinnaur beyond Jangi and for Spiti. Travellers report it's issued in person at the SDM office in Reckong Peo on working days, so arriving in Kalpa the evening before and visiting the office in the morning works well. Carry several photocopies for checkposts. Indian citizens don't need a permit.
Why SUVs only, and what the fare covers
We send SUVs, Innovas and Tempo Travellers on this route, not sedans, because of rough stretches and slides. The starting fare covers the distance at our per-km rate with fuel, tolls and Himachal taxes. Because this is a two-day drive, the driver's night allowance is added and quoted upfront, and so are any extra days if you'd like the same car to stay with you in Spiti.
Weather & road conditions
When to go to Kaza
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January: Snow likely, roads can close | February: Snow likely, roads can close | March: Snow likely, roads can close | April: Snow likely, roads can close | May: Fine, check weather | June: Best time | July: Best time | August: Best time | September: Best time | October: Fine, check weather | November: Snow likely, roads can close | December: Snow likely, roads can close |
- Best time
- Snow likely, roads can close
- Monsoon, landslide risk
- Fine, check weather
Pickup options
- • Shimla hotels (nearest vehicle point to the Mall)
- • Shimla ISBT and railway station
- • Shimla airport (Jubbarhatti)
Other ways to travel
HRTC buses run from Shimla to Reckong Peo and on to Kaza, taking about two days with a change. There's no railway or airport in Spiti or Kinnaur.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Shimla to Kaza cab cost?+
Starting one-way fares are SUV ₹12,200, Toyota Innova Crysta ₹13,450, Tempo Traveller ₹21,850, all-inclusive with fuel, driver, tolls and Himachal entry tax. Your exact taxi price is confirmed in writing on WhatsApp before you book.
How far is Kaza from Shimla?+
Roughly 410–430 km via Kinnaur, usually two days with about 14–16 hours of driving (approximate; verification pending).
Can we do Shimla to Kaza in one day?+
We don't recommend it. Two days with a night in Kalpa is safer and helps with the altitude.
Is this road open in winter?+
Usually, yes, but it's icy and can close for a day or two after snow. Ask us before booking a winter trip.
Do foreigners need a permit?+
Yes, a Protected Area Permit for the stretch beyond Jangi. Travellers usually get it at the SDM office in Reckong Peo.
Can we return via Manali?+
Yes, when the Kunzum La road is open, usually about June to mid-October. It makes a full Spiti circuit.
Can we visit Sangla and Chitkul on the way?+
Yes. They're up the Baspa valley from Karcham; add a day or two.
Which vehicles do you send?+
SUVs, Innovas and Tempo Travellers only; sedans aren't suitable for Spiti.
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