Packing List for Spiti: What to Carry in Every Season

Sun and cold arrive together in Spiti, which is what a packing list for Spiti has to deal with on top of the season. The valley sits in the rain shadow of the main Himalaya, so what you wear at 3,600 metres changes between a sunlit wall and its shadow. Carry layers for the drive, thermals for winter, and leave the single heavy coat at home.

Most of what applies anywhere in the country still applies here. The guide to preparing for travelling in India handles that part, and the altitude and the cold desert add the rest.

Packing list for Spiti, every season

The constants, whatever month you arrive in.

• Layers rather than one heavy coat. Sun and shade are different temperatures all year
• A fleece or light down, even in July
• A windproof outer layer. The valley wind is constant in the afternoons
• High-factor sunscreen, reapplied. The light at 3,600 metres burns through cloud
• Sunglasses with proper UV protection, not fashion lenses
• Lip balm and a thick moisturiser. The air is dry in every month
• A refillable bottle and a way to treat water
• Cash in small notes. Cards are close to useless outside Kaza
• A power bank, because electricity is intermittent in the villages
• A head torch. Village power cuts are routine after dark
• Dust protection for a camera, and a cloth for lenses
• Lightweight walking shoes with grip, for monastery steps and loose ground

What to wear at 3,600 metres and above

Thin air does not hold heat, so the clothing has to rather than the day. Three light layers beat one thick one in every month of the year.

• A base layer, merino or synthetic, not cotton against the skin
• A mid layer fleece you can take on and off through the day
• A windproof shell, which matters more than a waterproof one here
• Long trousers. Monastery visits, sun protection and dust all point the same way
• A warm hat and a sun hat, because you need both on the same day
• Gloves from September onwards, and liner gloves even in summer mornings
• A scarf or buff, as much for dust on the road as for cold

What to carry for the drive

Spiti is mostly road, and the road is the part people underpack for. Two long days of mountain driving sit at either end of the trip.

• Motion sickness tablets, if you are prone to it at all
• A small day bag kept within reach, so the main luggage can stay on the roof
• Snacks and water for stretches with nothing open
• Any personal medication in the cabin rather than in the boot
• A basic kit for headache, stomach upset and cuts
• Earplugs and an eye mask for homestay nights
• Downloaded maps and music. Signal disappears for hours at a time
• Soft luggage rather than a hard case, which packs better on a shared vehicle

What to carry in winter in Spiti

November to April. Dry, bright, and cold in a way the daytime sun disguises completely.

• A proper insulated jacket, rated lower than you think you need
• Thermals for sleeping as well as for the day
• A woollen hat that covers the ears, and insulated gloves
• Thick socks, and more pairs than feel necessary
• Insulated or waterproof boots, because snow melts into ordinary shoes
• A sleeping bag liner, which adds warmth to a homestay quilt without the bulk
• Hand warmers, which are small and change a morning
• Heating is a bukhari stove in most homestays, so sleep warm rather than expect warmth

What not to bring to Spiti

A short list, and the first one is the mistake most people make.

• A single heavy coat instead of layers. It is wrong for eleven hours of every day
• Hard-shell suitcases, which do not fit on a shared roof rack
• Expectations of hot water on demand. It is bucket heated in most villages
• Single-use plastic. The valley has no waste system to absorb it
• Drone equipment, unless you have cleared it in advance
• Heavy camera gear you will not carry above 4,000 metres

Nothing here is exotic and the quantities are what people get wrong. Our eleven day high-altitude journey through Spiti moves between village homestays where the room is only as warm as what you brought. Customised tours is where the packing gets matched to the month you are actually travelling in.

Also Read

1. Things to Know Before Planning a Trip to Spiti
2. Respecting Local Customs: Everyday Etiquette for Care-Based Travellers
3. Understanding the Land: How Ecology Shapes Local Life

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I wear in Spiti?

Three light layers rather than one heavy coat, in every month of the year. A base layer, a fleece and a windproof shell let you deal with a sunlit afternoon and a cold shadow an hour apart. Long trousers are the practical choice for monastery visits, sun and dust alike.

Do I need a sleeping bag for Spiti?

Not usually. Homestays and guesthouses provide heavy quilts and most travellers find them enough. A sleeping bag liner is the better compromise in winter, because it adds warmth and takes almost no space in a bag that is already full of layers.

How cold does Spiti get in winter?

Cold enough that thermals and a properly insulated jacket are not optional from November to April. The days are dry and bright and the sun is deceptive, and the temperature drops hard once it leaves the valley floor. Most homestays heat one room with a bukhari stove rather than the whole building.

What medicines should I carry to Spiti?

Whatever you normally take, in the vehicle cabin rather than in the luggage on the roof, plus a basic kit for headache, stomach upset and cuts. Anything you plan to take for altitude is worth discussing with a doctor before you travel rather than buying on the way. Pharmacies in the valley are limited to Kaza.