The Baspa valley runs 28 km from Sangla up to Chitkul at 3,450 m, the last village you can reach on this road before the ITBP checkpost closes it off. It is Kinnaur's answer to Kullu without the crowds: slate-roofed wooden houses, three old Mathi Devi temples in Chitkul, Kamru fort above Sangla, and the river beside you all the way. It is a long day from Shimla (247 km to Chitkul, 8-10 hours) on a landslide-prone highway, so give it at least four nights: one in Sangla, two in Chitkul, one spare for the road.
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When to go
April to June and September to October are best. July and August are monsoon, with landslides on NH-5 and the Sangla road (a flash flood blocked the Sangla-Chitkul road for about 20 hours in July 2026). Snow can come by late September. The Sangla-Chitkul road usually closes by mid-December and reopens in March; winter nights reach about -20°C.
Sangla right now and the next 7 days
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Sangla on the map
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The area
Getting there
Places to see
Sangla & Chitkul · Open in Google Maps ↗
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Step 3 of 11Next: Cost↓What your trip costs
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Ballpark ranges, not live quotes. Page updated 18 October 2026. Prices move with season and demand, so check live fares before you book.
On the ground: stay, food, local travel and tickets. Pick a route above to add the journey.
Sangla & Chitkul in 3 days: a day-by-day plan
Our suggested plan, in a sensible order with times. Move things between days, remove them or add more. It saves on this device, and you can share it.
- 11:00Walk Chitkul village and its Mathi Devi temples2 h · free · Three temples, the oldest said to be over 500 years old. Follow local customs inside and ask before photographing.
- 13:30Lunch break
- 14:30Kamru fort above Sangla2 h · price to check · Wooden fort-temple above apple orchards. Short steep climb. Any fee not confirmed.
- 08:00Baspa riverside walk towards the ITBP postHalf day · free · Civilians may not go beyond the ITBP checkpost; turn back there.
- 13:00Lunch break
- 08:00Rakchham villageHalf day · free · At 3,048 m, between Sangla and Chitkul. Stop on the way up or walk part of it.
- 13:00Lunch break
How to get to Sangla
One-way prices per person. The cheapest sensible option is marked. Each button opens live times and fares for the date you picked above.
HRTC bus
Check fareOne direct bus around 6:50 am, reaching Sangla about 5 pm. Get to the stand early for a seat. Check the current fare on the HRTC site.
HRTC bus Cheapest
₹11028 km. Local bus, roughly ₹110. Last bus up leaves Sangla in the late afternoon.
HRTC bus
₹150Two buses a day, first around 9:30 am, roughly ₹150. Use this if you come via Kalpa.
Taxi for the trip Last leg
₹20,000About ₹15,000-25,000 for the whole car. Split four ways it beats the bus for comfort.
Getting around once you're there
Local taxi
₹4,250About ₹3,500-5,000 a day for the car (2025-26).
HRTC local bus
₹110Chitkul to Sangla at 6:30 am, 1:30 pm and 4 pm; the 1:30 pm runs on to Reckong Peo.
On foot
FreeChitkul to Rakchham along the river, and every walk from Sangla, are the point of coming.
Where to stay in Sangla
Price per night for the room. The buttons open live availability for your dates.
Dorm or private room
₹900/nightZostel Chitkul ₹500-1,900; heating is ₹300 extra a night in the cold months.
Homestay
₹900/night₹500-1,200 a night. Walk in outside May-June weekends.
Hotel
₹2,200/night₹1,500-3,000 in Chitkul. Sangla prices not confirmed but it has more choice.
Camp
₹1,000/night₹500-1,500 a night. Cold even in June.
What to eat, and what it costs
Dhaba thali, rajma-chawal or Maggi
₹150Dhaba meals in Chitkul run ₹100-250.
A full day's budget food
₹400₹300-500 a day if you eat at dhabas and homestays.
Homestay dinner
Check priceAsk your host; many cook for guests. Sangla's apples are in season in September-October.
Things to do in Sangla
Tap “Add to my plan” and it goes into your day-by-day plan above.
Walk Chitkul village and its Mathi Devi temples
FreeThree temples, the oldest said to be over 500 years old. Follow local customs inside and ask before photographing.
Baspa riverside walk towards the ITBP post
FreeCivilians may not go beyond the ITBP checkpost; turn back there.
Kamru fort above Sangla
Check priceWooden fort-temple above apple orchards. Short steep climb. Any fee not confirmed.
Rakchham village
FreeAt 3,048 m, between Sangla and Chitkul. Stop on the way up or walk part of it.
Rani Kanda meadows
FreeDay hike to about 3,700 m. Go with a local if you don't know the trail.
Day trips and next stops
Kalpa and Kinner Kailash views
₹150HRTC bus via Reckong Peo
Sarahan, Bhimakali temple
Check fareBus to Jeori, then local bus
Narkanda
Check fareHRTC bus
Nako and Spiti
Check fareBus via Reckong Peo; foreigners need an Inner Line Permit past Jangi
Know before you go
Mistakes to avoid
- NH-5 through Kinnaur (Nigulsari, Tapri, Maling Nala) closes for hours or days after landslides; it was shut by debris at Nigulsari in August 2026. Keep a spare day and check District Kinnaur notices before you go.
- Indian citizens need no permit for Sangla or Chitkul. For foreigners most sources say none is needed either, but one district tourism guide says the Baspa valley beyond Sangla needs a permit; check with the SDM office at Reckong Peo first.
- Chitkul is 3,450 m. Sleep a night in Sangla (2,696 m) first, and do not plan an overnight in December, when the road usually closes.
Ways to spend less
- Stay in Chitkul, not Sangla, for the second and third nights: the day-trippers leave by 3 pm and you have the village to yourself.
- Go in late September or October: apple harvest in Sangla, autumn colour, clear skies, and the monsoon landslides are over.
- Ride the HRTC bus from Sangla to Chitkul for about ₹110 instead of a ₹3,500+ taxi day. It is the same road and the same view.
Before-you-go checklist
Sangla in pictures
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Step 11 of 11Next: FAQ↓Questions people ask
When is the best time to visit Sangla & Chitkul?
May–Jun, Sep–Oct is the best time. April to June and September to October are best. July and August are monsoon, with landslides on NH-5 and the Sangla road (a flash flood blocked the Sangla-Chitkul road for about 20 hours in July 2026). Snow can come by late September. The Sangla-Chitkul road usually closes by mid-December and reopens in March; winter nights reach about -20°C.
How do I reach Sangla & Chitkul?
HRTC bus: Sangla → Chitkul, 1-1.5 h, about ₹110 one way. HRTC bus: Reckong Peo → Chitkul, 3-3.5 h, about ₹150 one way.
How much does a 3-day trip to Sangla & Chitkul cost?
On the ground (stay, food, local travel and tickets), one person spends about ₹3,600 on a shoestring, ₹9,000 mid-range or ₹15,000 in comfort over 3 days. Add the journey: the cheapest sensible option is hrtc bus (Sangla → Chitkul) at about ₹110 each way.
How many days do you need in Sangla & Chitkul?
3 days is right for most people. That covers Walk Chitkul village and its Mathi Devi temples, Kamru fort above Sangla, Baspa riverside walk towards the ITBP post, Rakchham village without rushing.
Is Sangla & Chitkul good for families or solo travellers?
Sangla & Chitkul works best for solo, couples, groups. Solo travellers find it easy and cheap.
Is vegetarian food easy to find in Sangla & Chitkul?
Easy. Dhabas and homestays serve rajma, dal, rice, roti and vegetables, and most of Kinnaur's everyday food is vegetarian. Vegan works if you skip ghee and butter tea.
Will my phone and cards work in Sangla & Chitkul?
Chitkul has only intermittent BSNL with no data. Sangla is better. Some Sangla hotels. Almost none in Chitkul. Carry plenty. Very few places in Chitkul take UPI or cards.
Guides for Sangla & Chitkul
Longer reads from our blog that cover this trip.
Sources and last check
Checked 16 October 2026. Fees, hours and rules change, so confirm on the official site before you pay.
- hpkinnaur.nic.in OfficialOfficial Kinnaur tourist guidelines: foreigners need a permit for the protected area between the Inner Line and the border; SDM Kalpa at Reckong Peo issues permits
- discoverwithdheeraj.comDistances and altitudes, HRTC times and fares (Shimla-Sangla 6:50 am; Sangla-Chitkul ~₹110; Peo-Chitkul ~₹150, 9:30 am; Chitkul departures), taxi rates, Chitkul stay prices (Zostel, homestays, hotels, camps), food and daily budgets, best months, mid-Dec to March closure, -20°C, no permit for Indians, no civilian movement past ITBP post, BSNL only, no ATM, Mathi Devi temples (updated 9 Oct 2026)
- travelcoffee.in19 July 2026 flash flood blocked Sangla-Chitkul road ~20 h; 27 Sep 2026 NH-5 disruptions at Tapri/Maling Nala; snowfall at Chitkul late Sep 2026
- amarujala.comNH-5 shut by landslide at Nigulsari, 6 August 2026
- discoverwithdheeraj.comILP needed from Jangi towards Spiti; Sangla, Chitkul, Kalpa permit-free for foreigners
- kinnaur.co.inConflicting claim that the Baspa valley beyond Sangla needs a permit
- raachotrekkers.comHRTC Reckong Peo-Chitkul service; Sangla-Chitkul late-afternoon last bus
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Set your dates and group at the top, shape the days, then book each piece directly.
Back to the planner ↑Costs are indicative ballparks for doing it yourself and change with season and demand. Always check live fares, rates and opening rules before you book. Trip Under is not a travel agency: we sell nothing, take no commission, and every booking link goes straight to the provider. Photographs come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences; see credits.
By Gokul · Updated 18 October 2026 · Photo: Vishalnagula · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · Photo: Sukanya Ray · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · Photo: Kaiho · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source · Photo: Ashish Gupta from Noida, India · CC BY 2.0 · source · Photo: Pushkar Prashar · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
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