Camping in Spiti Valley – Self Camping & Camp Sites

Are you planning on camping in Spiti Valley during your oncoming trip? Are you wondering where can you camp in Spiti valley and what is the best way to do so? In this article, I will provide an answer to these questions and a few other quick tips to ensure that your camping experience is both safe and fun.

Is it possible to camp in Spiti Valley? The answer to this question is a definite yes. The very image that Spiti holds is of a place where you go to have an adventurous kind of a trip. Lakes, high altitude passes, bad roads, remote areas, solitude, cold desert, motorcycling, snow, and camping is what Spiti is all about anyway.

There are several places on Spiti Circuit that are perfect for camping. Depending on your preference, you can either bring your own camping gear or stay at an available campsite. Read on to get more details.

Please note that in this article, I will only talk about camping in Spiti Valley. For other details that can help in planning your trip, please take a look at How to Plan a Trip to Spiti Valley – A Complete Travel Guide.

Camping in Spiti Valley

Camping in Spiti Valley is really an experience in itself and a must-have one in my opinion. Chandratal is the most famous spot for camping. Even if you did not want to spend too many nights in a tent, doing so at least for one day at Chandratal is highly recommended. It is one of those things that your trip to Spiti just remains incomplete without.

But it is not only Chandratal where you can have this experience. Spiti is a cold barren desert and the least populated district of Himachal. So the choices in terms of where can you camp are endless. The only determining factor will be whether you want to camp on your own or stay at campsites, and to what extent.

No matter what you chose though, you must keep in mind a few things to ensure that your experience is a memorable one and hassle-free.

Where can you camp in Spiti Valley?

Let us first talk about where can you camp in Spiti Valley? If you are looking for places where a campsite is available then the list will be as below.

•  Sangla
• Rakcham
• Chitkul
• Nako
• Tabo
• Chandratal
• Batal

These are places that are best for people who were not carrying their own gear. All of them have campsites set up where you can check-in for a night.

The list is not limited to only these spots though. I have also seen camps at other places like Chhota Dhara, Khab, and a couple of other places. But they were really more of a chadar tent rather than a proper campsite. A Chadar tent is a Dhaba in a large tent where you can get a bed to sleep for a night in exchange for a couple of hundred bucks.

Camping on request can be arranged at a lot of other places including main Kaza town as well. A few villagers in places like Kibber, Komik, Langza, Hikkim, Lhalung, etc keep campsites in their homes. If you wish to, they can set it for you at a favorable spot. In Mane Village, a homestay owner in fact has tents pitched in right in front of his house in his fields.

But on an overall basis, for someone who was not carrying their own gear, Sangla, Rakcham, Chitkul, Nako, Chandratal, and Batal will be the preferred places to stay in camps. For other places, I will recommend that you stay in hotels.

If you were carrying your own tents, then you can pretty much pitch it anywhere you like on the route. But before you do so, there are a few things that you must keep in mind that I have discussed later in the article.

Camping Places in Kinnaur and Spiti Valley

Let us first take a look at where can you hope to find a campsite and then we will discuss self-camping in Spiti valley.

Shimla – Narkanda – Sarahan: I did not notice a campsite anywhere on this route or either in Narkanda or Sarahan. You will be better off staying at a hotel.

Sangla – Rakcham – Chitkul: It is one of the best places to go camping. The entire 40 kilometers stretch between Karcham and Chitkul has several places where campsites are available on the banks of the river Baspa. Rakcham between Sangla and Chitkul will be the best place in my opinion.

Kalpa – Pooh – Khab: There are no campsites here but there is a chadar tent near Khab Bridge.

Nako – Tabo – Dhankar: There is a campsite in Nako but it is way too expensive, in the range of 2500 to 4000. If budget is not a problem, you can stay here. I noticed a campsite in Tabo as well, in the fields but it did not look inviting enough to camp.

Pin Valley: There are no campsites readily available in Pin Valley. But some gest house owners keep tents and can set those upon request.

Kaza and Nearby Villages: There are no campsites readily available but camping on request can be arranged.

Losar – Batal – Chandratal – Chhota Dhara – Gramphu: Campsites are available at all of these places. The one in Losar is not guaranteed though.

Rohtang Pass – Manali: Campsites are available as you get closer to Manali only.

Budget for Camping in Spiti Valley

At an average, Rs. 1500 – 2000 per person will be the budget for staying at a campsite. This will include both your stay and meals. This price can vary a little between different places and your time of arrival but on average, this is what they usually charge. The only place where it can be costlier than this is Nako Village.

What to Check at a Campsite?

Other than the price, there are a few other things that I will recommend checking before you decide to check into camping. Listed below are a few tips that can be of help.

Make sure the tent that you are paying for is in a good condition. There should not be any wear and tear. After you close the flap at night, there must not be any direct wind entering the tent.

Check the bedding to ensure they are clean and there is no smell. See that the blanket is thick and warm enough and the mattress is comfortable.

Some of the camps have attached washrooms and some have commonly shared ones. In both cases, take a look at the condition of the washrooms.

Most of the campsites will provide hot water but it would be wise to speak to the owner and confirm.

Talk about their menu and discuss the food that the camp will be serving for dinner and breakfast and set your expectation there. You can also take a look at their kitchen to ensure hygienic conditions.

In case you feel you may need an extra blanket or a pillow, let the campsite know before it got dark.

If you are planning to leave early the next morning, let the owner know so that he can have the breakfast ready in time.

If you need to charge your camera or phone battery, please check to make sure that your campsite is providing that option.

If you want to do a bonfire, talk to the owner about it. Check if they will charge you extra money for it. The campsite in Nako charges Rs. 1000 extra for a bonfire.

Self Camping in Spiti Valley

All of the above was for when you decide to stay at a campsite. But what if you had your own camping gear and wanted to do experience self-camping? Can you do that in Spiti?

Yes, you sure can. But there are a few things that you must keep in mind while you are deciding on the spot to camp. Let us take a look at what those are.

Self-Camping for the Entire Trip

Can you self-camp for the entire duration of the trip and at all places? It can be done but I will not recommend it. I will suggest that you mix and match. Finding a spot to pitch your tent at places like Narkanda, Sarahan, and Kalpa can be a little tricky. I have done self-camping at all these three spots and trust me, it was more trouble than fun. The same applies to Kaza as well.

A better way hence will be to rely on hotels at some places and camping at others.

Where can you do self camping in Spiti Valley?

Pretty much everywhere and on the entire circuit. But preferred places would around Sangla, Chitkul, outside Nako Village, Pin Valley, villages around Kaza, Chandratal, Batal, Chhota Dhara, and around Manali or Solang Valley.

Do not Camp near Chandratal

All the campsites around Chandratal are at least at a distance of 3 kilometers. This is required by the law and you must follow it. Chandratal Lake is a wetland reserve and camping on its banks is forbidden.

As you approach the lake, you will come across a large ground-like area where all the camps area. This is the closest your camp can also be.

Also Read: How to Plan a  Trp to Chandratal

If you want, you can also talk to any of the campsites. Pay them a little to give you a good spot to camp. This will also avoid the hassle of cooking and you can order your dinner from them. Another benefit is that in exchange for this money, you can also use their washrooms.

Do not Camp at High altitude Passes

I think this one goes without saying but I will mention it still. There are two passes on Spiti Circuit, Kunzum La and Rohtang La. You must not think about pitching your tent at the top of either of these passes. Trust me, you will not survive the cold winds, the weather, and an entire night.

Do not Camp at other Sensitive Areas

The region between Reckong Peo and Nako comes extremely close to the Tibet border. This is why the foreigners need to get an Inner line permit for traveling on this route. It would be wise to not camp anywhere on this stretch.

To be honest, this area is not even that scenic as well and you won’t even feel like camping here. This entire region is highly prone to shooting stones so in terms of safety too, it is not suitable for camping.

Beware of the Wind

If possible, do not camp in an entirely open place. Check the direction of the wind and look for a spot where you have some protection in the form of a hill, trees, or a house maybe. Check your camp and make sure that all the hooks and the ropes are secure.

Also Read: How to Handle Acute Mountain Sickness in Spiti Valley

Check the Weather

I know checking it online in Spiti is not possible at all place but you can always get a sense of the weather on your own anyway. If the skies look a little unpredictable with chances of rain or if the wind was a little too fierce, it would be best to give up the idea of camping and look for a hotel.

Make Arrangements for Water

Camping close to a water stream is not possible at all places in Spiti and you will realize it when you are there. Before you decide to camp, make sure you have plenty of water to drink, cook, and wash.

In terms of drinking water, you can refill your water bottles from a water stream but that does not always suit everyone. My recommendation will be that you keep packaged for drinking purposes. There is also the fact that the water in the streams will be really cold so drinking it directly will be tough and you may even catch a cold.

At night, keep your water bottle under the sheets and close to your body so that the water remains moderately warm to drink.

Put off any fire completely

In case you start a bonfire, please do not leave the fire lit outside. When you are done, put off the fire completely. You may even consider using water to ensure it is completely extinguished.

Analyze Yourself

It is not just the weather and the surrounding you need to take a look at but also yourself. Acute mountain sickness is one of the harsh realities of Spiti valley and it will hit hard in freezing temperatures. If you or anyone else in the group was not feeling well, then camping is not the best of the ideas.

Exhaustion, fever-like condition, nausea, headache, body ache, breathlessness are some of the signs of altitude sickness. Staying at a camp will only deteriorate the condition further and you should stay at a cemented hotel instead, preferably close to a hospital.

Even if you were all right, at a place at such high altitude with oxygen levels low, doing a job of putting up a camp can be quite exhausting. You need to ensure that you keep yourself warm and properly hydrated at all times.

Bring Appropriate Clothes

When crawled into a tent in a sleeping bag, you will not be able to sleep if you were wearing heavy woolens or your big fluffy jackets. But at the same time, you can also not just take everything off and go to sleep wearing a cotton T-Shirt and shorts because then you will be cold.

Hence you need to bring clothes that are sufficiently warm but are also light, thin and comfortable enough to wear at night. A great example of such clothes would be good quality thermals. For more details, please take a look at What Clothes should you Pack for Spiti.

Carry Essential Items

Some of the other essential items that you must bring along are a first aid kit, regular medicines, a torch, a camping knife, mosquito repellent, snacks, dry fruits, and a flask.

Keep Booze & Smoke in Check

I know, this one will be a little hard to resist. Sitting in a camp, around a bonfire, with friends will surely call for some smokes and booze but you should keep it under check because consuming alcohol or smoking too much may trigger symptoms of altitude sickness.

If your condition worsened at night, you will be stuck at the camp with nowhere to go. My honest advice would be to not booze at all but if you must, then just take a little to enjoy.

Also Read: How to Prepare your Car for Spiti Valley

Tarpaulin Sheet can Help

It is more of a personal opinion but you may even consider buying a Tarpaulin sheet or in simple words, a “Tirpaal” of good thickness that you can spread on the ground where you pitch the tent. It would be very beneficial in terms of providing insulation from the cold or moisture from the ground; and will also save the thin material of your tents from sharp rocks and pebbles.

It will also be an extra layer that will definitely prove comfortable while you are sleeping. While you are buying the tarpaulin, make sure it is at least a foot larger on all sides than the size of your tent.

A Good Sleeping Bag is a Must

You must invest in a good sleeping bag otherwise your experience of camping will just be a plain horrible one. When buying a sleeping bag, please make sure that it is capable of handling at least a -10°C temperature. Even in the months of May, June, and July, the temperature in Spiti valley at night will get close to 0 degrees.

Never leave your food out in Open

Do not leave your food out at the night. Both Kinnaur and Spiti have a lot of wildlife and leaving food outside your tent like that may attract a wild animal, posing a risk of an attack. Make sure you cook only as much as you can eat. But if there were leftovers, wrap your food items properly so that there is no smell of the food that can attract an animal.

Do not Litter

The most important tip of all, please do not litter. The valleys of Kinnaur and Spiti are beautiful and that is how we must keep them. Do not just leave all your trash in the middle of nowhere or just throw it away. If everyone did that, it will highly disturb the delicate ecological balance of the region. You should carry your trash with you and dispose of it responsibly.

I know a lot of people will tell you to carry refillable water bottles. That is OK to do that as well if your stomach is strong enough to digest water from anywhere. If that is the case, a water bottle of your own will be a great accessory and will save you the hassle of carrying empty mineral water bottles until you dispose of them.

Conclusion

Camping in Spiti Valley is great fun. Even if you have no prior experience in self-camping, this can be an amazing place to do so for the first time. Just follow the tips I mentioned above and you will be all right. I hope the information above was of help. If you have any questions or need any other details, please feel free to ask in the comments section below or at our Community Forum and I will be glad to answer.