Kinnaur in five days — Sarahan, Sangla, Chitkul and Kalpa
Five days in Kinnaur without going on to Spiti. Night one is at Sarahan below the Bhimakali temple. Nights two and three are in the Baspa valley at Sangla, for Kamru Fort, Chitkul and Rakchham. Night four is at Kalpa, facing Kinnaur Kailash, with the Narayan Nagini Temple and the Chandika Devi temple at Kothi. The last morning is in Reckong Peo before the road home. To carry on into Spiti, see the eight-day Spiti circuit.
Photos: UnpetitproleX (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Gerd Eichmann (CC BY 4.0) · Rahulraees (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Sapna Sony (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Sumita Roy Dutta (CC BY-SA 4.0) — via Wikimedia Commons, resized.
Who this is for
Couples and families who want Kinnaur's villages, orchards and temples at an easy pace, with a car or hired driver. The roads are long but the days are light.
Day by day
Day 1Shimla to Sarahan
1 stop
Shimla to Sarahan
The road up the Sutlej from Shimla, about 156 km and 293 min, through Narkanda and Rampur to Sarahan on its shelf above the river.
- 16:00Bhimakali Temple, SarahanThe towered temple of the old Bushahr rulers. Ask in town which parts are open while the conservation work continues.
Day 2Into the Baspa valley at Sangla
1 stop
Into the Baspa valley at Sangla
Sarahan to Sangla is about 85 km and 155 min, back down to the highway and up the side valley. An easy afternoon in the old village above the town.
- 15:00Kamru FortThe seven-storey tower at the top of Kamru village, once the seat of the Bushahr rulers. The walk up through the village is not measured on our map; allow an hour.
Day 3Chitkul and Rakchham
2 stops · 15 min on the road
Chitkul and Rakchham
Up the valley to its last village in the morning, and Rakchham on the way back for lunch by the river.
- 09:30ChitkulThe last village of the Baspa valley, with wooden houses up the slope and the river below.
- ↓ 15 min by road · 9 km12:30RakchhamThe village on the valley floor, for lunch beside the river. Its lanes are not measured on our map.
Day 4Across to Kalpa, facing Kinnaur Kailash
2 stops · 14 min on the road
Across to Kalpa, facing Kinnaur Kailash
Sangla to Kalpa is about 48 km and 81 min. The old village faces the Kinnaur Kailash range across the valley; give it the afternoon and the evening light.
- 12:30Narayan Nagini TempleThe wooden temple in the old village of Kalpa, a short walk from the road.
- ↓ 14 min by road · 6 km15:30Chandika Devi Temple, KothiThe slate-roofed temple of Chandika Devi at Kothi, between Kalpa and Reckong Peo.
Day 5Reckong Peo, and the road home
1 stop
Reckong Peo, and the road home
A morning in the district's market town, then the long road back down to Shimla, about 220 km and 396 min. Break it at Sarahan or Narkanda if you can.
- 09:00Rekong PeoThe district headquarters and its market, with the bus stand for the road down.
Getting there
Start in Shimla; see how to reach Sangla. Buses run up the Sutlej road, but a car makes the side valleys easy.
Where to stay
One night in Sarahan, two in Sangla, one in Kalpa.
Know before you go
- From December to March the valley is under snow and Chitkul empties for the winter; see Kinnaur in winter.
- Kamru Fort's tower is open only to the priest; visitors see the shrine and the grounds.
- Keep a spare day: the Kinnaur road can close for hours after rain or a slide.
Places on this route
Going together
No one has started a group going on this plan yet. Start one and other travellers can ask to come along.
Other ways to do it
All Sangla itineraries →
More places nearby
All of Sangla →
Nearby destinations
All destinations →
Questions people ask
How many days are enough for Kinnaur?
Five days from Shimla covers it at an easy pace: a night at Sarahan on the way up, two nights at Sangla for Kamru and Chitkul, and a night at Kalpa facing Kinnaur Kailash. Add three days or more to carry on to Nako, Tabo and Kaza in Spiti.
How far is Sangla from Shimla?
Sarahan, the usual first night, is about 156 km and 293 min from Shimla, and Sangla another 85 km and 155 min beyond it, on our measured routing in clear conditions. Breaking the drive at Sarahan makes the first day a comfortable one.
Should I stay in Sangla or Kalpa?
Both, if you can. Sangla puts you in the Baspa valley for Kamru Fort and Chitkul; Kalpa gives the view of Kinnaur Kailash and is close to Reckong Peo's market and buses. They are about 48 km and 81 min apart, so one night in Kalpa after two in Sangla works well.