Travel Guide: Best Time to Visit Losar Village in 2024

Losar village is located adjacent to the Indo-Chinese border at an altitude of 4,085 m above sea level. The weather here is typically very windy and pleasant because of its high altitude. Due to it being nestled at the extreme end of Spiti Valley, Losar appears like a cold desert. The landscape is surrounded by magnificent mountains, stunning rivers and breathtaking vistas that make anyone visiting Losar village spellbound with its unparalleled beauty.

Being located on the border, the population of this village is only about 242 and there are a few shops, a school, a post office and a health centre in the village. This place is relatively unexplored, with various scenic spots and uniqueness of its own. This village is a delight for travellers, especially trekkers and photographers who love to explore this place because of its grandeur landscapes and unparalleled beauty. You can actually experience the sound of silence here and immerse yourself in the tranquillity. Time comes to a standstill here, with only you and nature present here. Pure Zen!!!

There are a few hotels and homestay options in the valley that offer comfortable stays to the guests. The best time to visit Losar Village in Spiti is between the months of July and September when the roads are open to the general public.

If you are keen on taking a road trip to discover a new you, a calmer you, then Spiti Trip Packages can guide you in planning your holiday.

Travellers have two options to reach Losar conveniently. They can either hire a taxi or a private vehicle from Manali via Kinnaur or Kunzum Pass to reach Kaza and then come to Losar. Or, they can even board one of the Himachal Road Transport buses that leave from Manali to reach Losar village. Either way, both journeys will be a treat to your eyes with magnificent mountains, pristine secret waterfalls and some amazing views.

the best time to visit Losar Village in Spiti Valley is usually during the summer months between June- September when all roads are accessible and travelling around the valley is possible. Once winters set in, depending on how soon or later, roads get blocked due to heavy snowfall in this part of the country. Winters generally start in early October and can last up to May with the valley still wrapped under snow until June. Winters are extreme and harsh out here and should be avoided for travelling if one is not accustomed to these extreme winters. However, if you want to experience the thrill of the winters here, then the shoulder months of October, April and May can provide you with an amazing adventure and the Best time to visit Losar Village for you.

Between June-September however, it is peak season here and almost the entire valley is brimming with tourists with places often being overbooked and non-available. Hence it is always best to book everything in advance if one is visiting Spiti Valley during the summer which is the Best time to visit Losar Village.

The weather during these months is relatively warm and pleasant, with temperatures ranging from 5°C to 20°C, perfect for exploring the Valley. The roads leading up to Spiti, including the route from Manali via Kunzum Pass and from Shimla through Kinnaur, are open and accessible. This is the ideal time for activities such as trekking, camping and long village walks and the best time to visit Losar Village. As September ends, the off-season begins and lasts until May. The village witnesses harsh winters with heavy snowfall and temperatures that can plummet to -30°C.

Suggested Read: Spiti Valley Bike Trip

We all know that you can travel to Spiti Valley by two routes. One passes along the roads from Delhi via Manali to Kaza, Spiti Valley as Manali – Rohtang Pass – Gramphu – Chattru – Kunzum Pass – Kaza (Spiti Valley). And, the other one goes from Delhi to Kaza via Shimla – Kinnaur Valley as Shimla – Kinnaur – Nako – Sumdo (Spiti Valley) – Tabo – Kaza.

The route via Shimla – Kinnaur is also commonly known as Hindustan – Tibet Highway or NH-05. The Hindustan Tibet Road remains open throughout the year via Kinnaur Valley and you can travel to Kaza or Spiti via Shimla – Kinnaur all around the year because there is no high mountain pass that is on this route which gets heavy snowfall.

It is motorable all around the year; however, travelling to Spiti Valley, especially in the winter months, is not an easy task. The road conditions during the winters on the Hindustan – Tibet highway are quite challenging and tough and not the Best time to visit Losar Village.

Hence, it is advised to avoid travelling to Spiti Valley in winter in case you do not want to try extreme winter cold conditions.

Travelling to Spiti Valley via the Manali side depends on the opening of Rohtang Pass and then the opening of the Gramphu to Kunzum Pass route and Kunzum Pass in itself. The snow clearance operations begin in March and continue till May end or June the first half when the road from Manali to Kaza opens.

This generally takes time and hence, the Manali to Kaza route remains closed for almost six to seven months a year. Rohtang Pass generally opens after April and further, the route to Kaza over Kunzum Pass opens by the second week of June.

So, there is very little time in the year (mid-June to October), in case you are interested in the entire Spiti Valley circuit that is Delhi – Shimla – Kinnaur – Kaza (Spiti Valley) – Kunzum Pass – Rohtang Pass – Manali – Delhi.

Some of the Top places to visit Losar Village in Spiti Valley are

• Chandratal Lake

Chandratal Lake is at an altitude of about 4,300 m in the Himalayas. The name ‘Chandratal’ is derived from its crescent shape resembling the moon. This emerald-green lake is a popular destination for trekkers and campers, offering mesmerising views of the surrounding snow-capped peaks and clear blue skies. 

The journey to the lake itself is an adventure, passing through rugged terrains and picturesque valleys. The lake is part of a wetland reserve and is a haven for a variety of flora and fauna. It is also believed to hold spiritual significance among locals. The tranquillity and surreal beauty of Chandratal make it an idyllic spot for nature lovers and photographers alike.

• Kunzum Pass 

Kunzum Pass is a high mountain pass in the Lahaul & Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh in the Indian Himalayas. At an altitude of 4551 m, Kunzum Pass separates the Lahaul Valley from the Spiti Valley. It is the highest motorable pass in the world.  

The pass serves as the gateway to Spiti Valley. Kunzum La top lies on the Manali – Kaza road, 128 km from Manali and 75 km from Kaza. Motorists from Keylong and Manali have to take the road to Kaza from Gramphoo junction. From Gramphoo, the road to Kunzum Pass is not paved and the road is just plain gravel & water and makes its way to Batal alongside the Chandra-Bhaga River. The journey to Kunzum Pass is definitely not an easy one, but surely the journey of a lifetime. On Kunzum Pass there is a small temple dedicated to Maa Kunzum and trekkers and bikers pray here and go on their onward journey to the Chandratal Lake & Chorten with Tibetan prayer flags.

• Chicham Bridge

A complete engineering marvel, this bridge perched at an altitude of approximately 4,000 m connects Chicham Village and Kibber Village. It has a 1000 ft deep gorge below known as Samba Lamba Nallah and it took 15 yrs to build this bridge. The Chicham Bridge has cut down the travel time between Kibber and Losar by 40 Km.

• Key Monastery

Key Monastery is an over 1000-year-old monastery. It is the oldest training centre for Llamas. It is located at a height of 4166 m above mean sea level in Lahaul Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh in north India. It is one of the most popular places in Spiti Valley after Chandratal Lake. Most importantly it is the largest monastery in Spiti Valley.

• Hikkim Village

Situated at a height of 4400 m, it is a small village with a population of only 212. With the world’s highest Post Office is situated here which has the longest-serving postmaster who has been on appointment from the time of its inception i.e.,1983. It is also one of the places in Spiti Valley where you will find fossils and go Fossil Hunting in Spiti Valley. 

• Langza Village

Langza Village is an offbeat and unexplored place situated at an altitude of 4400 m. The small village of Langza is set at the base of Chau Chau Kang Nilda mountain, also known as the Princess Mountain. This pretty village is set on two hills and is divided into upper and lower parts. The Langza Village also has a giant statue of Budha which according to local beliefs protects the village from all evil. This iconic Budha statue has become a famous landmark for Langza.

• Komic Village

Komik literally means ‘eye of a snow cock’ ( Ko – snowcock, mic – eye), is a remote village in Spiti Valley. Komic village is situated at a height of 4587 m above sea level. One of the most famous landmarks of Komic village in Spiti Valley is the iconic signboard by the public works department, which describes Komik as the ‘Highest village in the world connected with a motorable road’.