Overview
Kinnaur is the valley of the Sutlej and its tributaries, between Shimla and the Tibet frontier: apple orchards, terraced villages of stone and timber, and some of the most dramatic mountain roads in India. This seven-day trip covers its highlights without crossing into Spiti, so no permits are needed and the altitude stays moderate. You stay at Sarahan for the Bhimakali temple, in Sangla, a night in Chitkul itself, the last village on the Baspa, and in Kalpa, facing the Kinnaur Kailash range, before returning via Shimla.
Best for: Travellers who want high mountains and old villages without Spiti's altitude
- Bhimakali temple at Sarahan
- Sangla's orchards and Kamru fort
- A night in Chitkul at about 3,450 m
- Kinnaur Kailash from Kalpa
- Roghi village and the cliff road
- No permits needed
Day by day
- Day1
Chandigarh to Narkanda
About 180 kmOvernight: Narkanda
Up through Shimla and Kufri along the ridge to Narkanda at about 2,700 m. Late afternoon at Hatu peak's temple if the weather is clear.
Road guide: Chandigarh to Narkanda → - Day2
Narkanda to Sarahan
About 105 kmOvernight: Sarahan
Down through orchards to the Sutlej at Rampur and up the side valley to Sarahan. Visit the Bhimakali temple at dusk, when the lamps are lit and the Shrikhand range glows across the valley.
- Day3
Sarahan to Sangla
About 95 kmOvernight: Sangla
Into Kinnaur along the Sutlej, then the cliff road from Karchham into the Baspa valley to Sangla. Walk up to Kamru village and its tower-like temple in the afternoon.
- Day4
Sangla to Chitkul
About 25 kmOvernight: Chitkul
A short drive to Rakcham and on to Chitkul, where you stay the night. Walk along the Baspa's meadows, visit the Mathi temple and watch the light fade on the peaks after the day visitors leave.
Road guide: Shimla to Chitkul → - Day5
Chitkul to Kalpa
About 75 kmOvernight: Kalpa
Back down the Baspa and up to Kalpa, above Reckong Peo. Walk to Roghi along the famous cliff road and watch the sunset on the Kinnaur Kailash range.
Road guide: Shimla to Kalpa → - Day6
Kalpa to Shimla
About 230 kmOvernight: Shimla
Sunrise on the peaks, then the long drive down the Sutlej and up to Shimla, about eight to nine hours. Evening on the Mall.
- Day7
Shimla to Chandigarh
About 115 km
The short drive down to Chandigarh after breakfast, in time for afternoon trains and flights. Your driver helps with luggage at the station or airport, and if your train or flight leaves late we can add a lunch stop or a short detour on the way.
Road guide: Shimla to Chandigarh →
The villages of Kinnaur
Kinnauri villages are built in the kath-kuni style, with alternating courses of timber and stone and slate roofs. Many have temples with pagoda-like towers and carved wooden balconies. People follow a mix of Hindu and Buddhist traditions, and the local deities, the devtas, are carried in palanquins at festivals.
The Kinnaur Kailash range
From Kalpa you face the Kinnaur Kailash range across the Sutlej, with its peak rising to about 6,050 m. A rock pillar near the summit is worshipped as a Shiva lingam, and a demanding pilgrimage, the Kinnaur Kailash parikrama, circles the mountain in summer.
Who this suits
This is a good trip for travellers who've seen Shimla and Manali and want something wilder, for photographers, and for families with older children who travel well. It's also a natural first step before Spiti, since it follows the same road for the first half.
Getting the most from Chitkul
Chitkul sits at the head of the inhabited Baspa valley, at about 3,450 m, and the last stretch of road above Rakcham runs beside the river through meadows and pine forest. The village has a wooden temple to the goddess Mathi, old granaries and houses with slate roofs, and a riverside walk upstream towards the frontier.
Staying the night means you see it at its best: the early morning, when the light comes over the peaks and smoke rises from the kitchens, and the evening, after the day visitors have gone back to Sangla.
Route and price at a glance
The Kinnaur: Sarahan, Sangla, Chitkul and Kalpa trip covers about 825 km by road over 7 days, with overnight stops in Narkanda, Sarahan, Sangla, Chitkul, Kalpa and Shimla. The car is priced on the same basis as our private car tours: 1,750 billable km (the larger of the real distance and 250 km a day) at the vehicle's per-km rate, plus 6 nights of driver allowance, with fuel, tolls and parking included.
For two travellers on standard hotels, that comes to ₹21,500 for 6 hotel nights with breakfast and dinner, ₹58,400 for the car and driver and a ₹11,985 service fee: ₹91,885 in all, or ₹46,000 each. Larger groups share the car and pay less per person.
- Day 1: Chandigarh to Narkanda (about 180 km, overnight Narkanda)
- Day 2: Narkanda to Sarahan (about 105 km, overnight Sarahan)
- Day 3: Sarahan to Sangla (about 95 km, overnight Sangla)
- Day 4: Sangla to Chitkul (about 25 km, overnight Chitkul)
- Day 5: Chitkul to Kalpa (about 75 km, overnight Kalpa)
- Day 6: Kalpa to Shimla (about 230 km, overnight Shimla)
- Day 7: Shimla to Chandigarh (about 115 km)
Kinnaur: Sarahan, Sangla, Chitkul and Kalpa price
Per person, by hotel tier and group size. Prices last calculated 21 October 2026 from current rate cards and hotel listings.
3-star hotels, standard camps and homestays
| Travellers | Per person | Group total | Vehicle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | ₹46,000 ≈ US$540 | ₹92,000 | Innova |
| 4 | ₹29,000 ≈ US$340 | ₹1,16,000 | Innova |
| 6 | ₹30,500 ≈ US$360 | ₹1,83,000 | Tempo Traveller |
Per person, twin sharing, all-inclusive of the items listed below. Dollar prices are approximate (₹85 = US$1). Your exact price is confirmed in writing before you book; it depends on dates, hotel availability and group size.
Where the money goes: 2 travellers, standard hotels
- Hotels and camps (breakfast and dinner)₹21,500
- Private car and driver for the whole trip₹58,400
- Our service fee (15% on hotels and transport)₹11,985
- Total for both₹91,885
Included
- 6 nights in Narkanda, Sarahan, Sangla, Chitkul, Kalpa and Shimla, twin sharing, with breakfast and dinner
- Private car with driver for all 7 days (sedan or Innova for two, Innova for four, Tempo Traveller for six), including fuel, tolls, parking, state taxes and the driver's allowances
- Pickup from Chandigarh and drop at Chandigarh
Not included
- ×Train, bus or flights to Chandigarh
- ×Lunches, drinks and snacks
- ×Entry fees, ropeways, activities and snow gear hire
- ×GST on the package, travel insurance and tips
Good to know: roads, permits and safety
- No permits are needed for this route; the permit area starts beyond Jangi.
- Chitkul's guesthouses are simple, with limited heating; nights are cold outside summer.
- The road above Karchham and near Kalpa is cut into cliffs; we drive it only in daylight.
When to go
The whole year at a glance
- Best time
- Snow likely, roads can close
- Monsoon, landslide risk
- Fine, check weather
Shimla and around
- Narkanda2,710 mNarkanda: Best: Mar–Jun, Sep–Nov; Snow: Jan–Feb, Dec; Monsoon: Jul–Aug
Kinnaur and Spiti
- • April to June brings blossom and clear days; September to November brings apples and autumn colours.
- • July and August are monsoon months with frequent landslides on the Kinnaur road.
- • Winter is possible but cold, with Chitkul sometimes cut off; see our winter Kinnaur package.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Kinnaur: Sarahan, Sangla, Chitkul and Kalpa package cost?+
About ₹30,500 per person for six travellers on standard hotels, or ₹46,000 per person for a couple, for all 7 days. Comfort hotels cost more; the price table shows every option.
Why stay a night in Chitkul?+
Most visitors come for an hour at midday. Staying lets you see the village and valley in the morning and evening light.
How high is Chitkul?+
About 3,450 m. Most people feel fine, but take it easy on arrival.
Can we add Spiti?+
Yes. From Kalpa, the road continues to Nako, Tabo and Kaza; see our Spiti packages.
When is the apple season in Kinnaur?+
Roughly September and October, when the orchards around Sangla and Kalpa are harvested.
Which car do we get on the Kinnaur: Sarahan, Sangla, Chitkul and Kalpa trip?+
A Toyota Innova for two travellers, an Innova for up to four and a Tempo Traveller for six, with the same driver for the whole trip.
Plan the rest of your trip
Price and route sources: Wikipedia: Kinnaur district · Wikipedia: Sangla · Wikipedia: Kinnaur Kailash · The Thrill Himalaya: Spiti package prices
