Essential Tips for a Memorable Spiti Valley Trip

We recently spent 8 days exploring the Spiti Valley with two ladies and two kids, arranged through a travel agency with our choice of accommodations. Here are some key points based on our experience:

1. Check Road Conditions: We couldn’t complete the Spiti circuit as the Manali side was closed due to weather. Since we knew this well before, we planned it accordingly. Also check the weather and road conditions before you visit the farther remote villages. Another group which went to a remote village got stuck in land slides.
2. Local Driver: Hire a driver from Himachal Pradesh who knows the local roads well. Roads can be very bad in some places, with steep climbs and falling stones.
3. Motion Sickness: If you suffer from motion sickness, eat light meals. Keep necessary medicines for the entire trip with you.
4. Hydration: Ensure kids stay hydrated, even if they are reluctant to eat. Offer them lots of fluids and keep a few ORS sachets handy.
5. Altitude Sickness: Carry medicines for altitude sickness. Symptoms can include headaches, nausea, and dizziness.
6. Layered Clothing: Weather can change rapidly in the mountains. Wear layers to stay warm and comfortable.
7. Sun Protection: Use sunscreen and wear hats and sunglasses to protect against strong mountain sun. Wearing sunglasses helps a lot if you get headaches due to bright/sunny light.
8. Snacks: Carry snacks, especially for kids. Local food may not always suit their tastes and they may not have an appetite when they are sick. We carried some dry fruit/nuts ladoo and a few healthy protein bars.
9. Cash: ATMs are scarce in remote areas. Carry enough cash for your needs. Though most of the places accept Gpay, phone network may not work at all.places.
10. Basic First Aid Kit: Include band-aids, antiseptics, and other basic first aid supplies.
11. Camera and Extra Batteries: You’ll want to capture the stunning landscapes. Ensure you have enough memory and power.
12. Portable Charger: Keep your devices charged, especially in areas with no electricity.
13. Reusable Water Bottles: Avoid plastic waste by carrying reusable water bottles. Pack at least a thermos kind bottle which can hold warm water.
14. Local Etiquette: Respect local customs and traditions. Dress modestly when visiting monasteries. Photography is strictly prohibited at many places so check before you click. In temples, ladies must cover their heads. So carrying a shawl/dupatta etc would help.
15. Mobile Network: We had Jio, Airtel and Vodafone sims with us. Vodafone was completely unavailable in Spiti/Kinnaur regions. Jio worked most of the places. Airtel was okay. None of the network worked at Pin Valley and beyond the villages. So until we returned back to the main road, we were out of network.
16. Toiletries: Carry your own toiletries to avoid the single use ones in your stays. We carried a bidet(the one here) which helped Little N to clean himself after toilet use. Also we had carried some good moisturizer and body oils, which helped us to stay moisturized.
17. Small bags :  Carry a small back pack separately which can hold clothes and other things for a day or two. It helps not to carry your bigger suitcase/back pack everywhere you stay. We stayed at places where it was difficult to carry our suitcases (we had 2 in total) hence we packed the necessary things in a small bag and carried.
18. Sustainable options: Eat local food. Maggi isn’t a local food!! And it’s not mandatory to have maggi in the mountains. Carry your own waste and dispose of it at the right place. We carried a few travel mugs so that we can avoid the so called paper glasses for tea/coffee. We also carried our own shopping bags while shopping.

By following these tips, you can ensure a safe and enjoyable trip to the beautiful Spiti Valley.