Manali to Spiti by Car in Late October: Kunzum Is Open, but Plan a Kinnaur Exit

By Nitin Kanish · 21 October 2026

Yes, you can drive from Manali to Spiti by car again, but only for now and only in a proper 4x4. The Lahaul and Spiti district road report for 19 October 2026 showed the Gramphu–Batal stretch, the Manali side of Kunzum Pass, open again after the 15 October snow. That makes Manali to Kaza about 184 km by map routing, a full day's drive. The India Meteorological Department expects light rain or snow in the high hills on 24 and 25 October, and the road usually shuts for the winter in November, so keep a Kinnaur exit in your plan.

If you have been watching the news from Lahaul this month, the picture has changed quickly. This guide explains what closed, what reopened, how a late-October drive over Kunzum works in practice, and what to do if the pass shuts again while you are in Spiti. It is written for travellers planning a self-drive car rental in Manali, and it is current as of the morning of 21 October 2026.

Planning the trip already? Check 4x4 self-drive cars in Manali on Hire N Ride before you fix your dates.

What closed on 15 October, and what has reopened

Lahaul turned white in mid-October. On Thursday, 15 October 2026, heavy snow fell on Baralacha La, Shinku La and Kunzum La, and the district administration's road status report listed the Darcha–Sarchu stretch of the Manali–Leh highway, the Darcha–Shinkula road towards Zanskar and the Gramphu–Batal stretch of the Sumdo–Kaza–Gramphu highway (NH-505) as closed. Police helped tourists stranded in snow near Keylong, and vehicle movement towards the three passes was suspended. During that spell, Lahaul-Spiti police advised that anyone who had to travel in an emergency should use only a suitable 4x4 vehicle and carry snow chains.

The weather then cleared. The Tribune reported on 20 October that the district's daily road status report issued on Monday, 19 October, showed:

The same report described the weather as clear and recorded no blockages on those stretches, but it warned that frost and icy patches remain a risk, especially early in the morning and late in the afternoon. Motorists were told to keep their distance, avoid sudden braking and sharp turns, and stick to the set timings.

Two things follow from this. First, the Manali to Spiti road works again, which was not true a week ago. Second, it is a road that can change overnight. Treat any road status as a snapshot, and check again on the morning you leave.

Is it worth going this late in the season?

For the right traveller, yes. Late October in Spiti means clear blue skies on dry days, golden poplars and willows in the villages, very few other tourists and a quiet, stark landscape. It also means cold. On 21 October, IMD Shimla recorded the state's lowest minimum temperature at Tabo in Spiti: 0.1°C. Nights at Kaza and higher villages will be colder than that, and daylight is short. At Kaza, the sun sets at about 5:38 pm on 21 October and about 5:28 pm on 31 October.

Go if you are flexible, comfortable driving on gravel and ice in a 4x4, and happy to change plans at short notice. Do not go if your dates are fixed around a flight or a work deadline, if you have never driven on mountain roads, or if anyone in your group has had trouble with altitude before. Kunzum is 4,551 m (14,931 ft) high and Kaza sits at about 3,650 m, a big climb from Manali in a single day.

The route: Manali to Kaza over Kunzum

The Manali side of the Spiti road runs through the Atal Tunnel to Lahaul, east to Gramphu, then along the Chandra river to Chhatru and Batal, over Kunzum Pass and down to Losar, the first village in Spiti, before following the Spiti river to Kaza. The numbers below come from free map routing. They assume dry, clear roads, which late October will not always give you.

A simple late-October plan

1. Day 1, Manali to Kaza. Leave Manali at about 6 am (the 19 October report listed the Rohtang–North Portal stretch open from 6 am to 5 pm), and aim to be over Kunzum by early afternoon. The 19 October report shows how tightly frost can control timings on high stretches, so do not plan to cross the pass in the late afternoon.
2. Day 2, rest and short drives from Kaza. Take it easy at altitude. Key Monastery is about 14 km from Kaza by road and sits at about 4,166 m; Kibber, at about 4,270 m, is about 19 km away. Both make a calm half-day.
3. Day 3, back over Kunzum, or out through Kinnaur. Check the road report and the weather before breakfast. If Kunzum is open and the sky is clear, drive back to Manali the same way. If not, head down the Spiti valley towards Kinnaur and Shimla instead.

With the dry spell forecast to last until 23 October and light snow possible on 24 and 25 October, a trip that crosses Kunzum in both directions on dry days is the safest way to use this window. If you are reading this later in the season, use the same logic: cross the pass only on days with a clear forecast and an open road report.

What about Chandratal?

The lake is about 15 km from Batal by map routing, on a rough side road. In late October, do not plan around it. The summer camps near the lake are a seasonal operation, the side road is in poor shape even in good weather, and a detour adds time on the most exposed part of the drive. If you want to see Chandratal, come back in summer.

How long will Kunzum stay open?

No one can give you a date, and you should be wary of anyone who does. What the record shows is a pattern:

• In 2025, snow in early November blocked the Sumdo–Kaza–Gramphu road and the Manali–Leh highway between Darcha and Sarchu for a time. The Tribune reported that the District Disaster Management Authority then closed the Gramphu–Losar stretch for the winter from 25 November 2025, citing black ice and extreme cold, and said any travel after that date would be at the traveller's own risk.
• In 2026, the road has already closed once in October, after the 15 October snow, and reopened within days.

So the honest answer is that the road tends to stay usable on and off into November, with each fresh spell of snow able to close it for a few days, until the formal winter closure. Every week later in the season adds risk. If you want Spiti from Manali this year, sooner is better than later.

Your exit plan if Kunzum closes

Spiti has a second road. Kaza connects down the Spiti valley to Kinnaur and on to Shimla, a route that stays open through most of the year apart from short spells after landslides or heavy snow. When the Gramphu–Losar stretch shuts in winter, this is how Spiti stays connected to the rest of the state.

For a car rented in Manali, it is a long way round. By map routing, Kaza to Rampur is about 295 km, and the full drive from Kaza back to Manali via Rampur, Shimla and Mandi is about 660 km, roughly 12 hours of driving before stops. In practice, that means two long days. Before you commit to a late-season Spiti trip, check that you have the spare days, the budget for extra rental days and fuel, and the energy for that return if you need it.

If Kunzum closes before you leave Manali, do not try to wait it out at Gramphu or Batal. Turn the trip into a Lahaul drive instead. Our guide to Keylong and Kardang Monastery as a day drive from Manali covers a route on the other side of the Atal Tunnel that is usually reachable when Spiti is not.

Before you leave Manali

Get the e-pass

The Himachal e-Aagman portal states that anyone with a vehicle who wants to enter Lahaul and Spiti district must apply for an e-pass. It asks for one e-permit per vehicle for the Atal Tunnel–Rohtang–Koksar–Chandertal circuit and one e-ticket per vehicle for other places. Apply before you set off and keep a copy on your phone and on paper, because mobile signal is patchy beyond the tunnel.

Choose a real 4x4

The Gramphu–Batal stretch is rough at any time of year, and in late October you can meet ice in the shade on a sunny day. Ground clearance and four-wheel drive matter here. On 21 October 2026, the Hire N Ride Manali page listed several Maruti Suzuki Jimny Allgrip Pro cars marked 4WD at ₹4,299 for one day, with 300 km a day included and a ₹5,000 security deposit, and a 4WD Mahindra Thar at ₹5,399 a day. Prices and availability change, so check the page when you book.

Driving tips for this road:

• Use low range and engine braking on steep, icy descents rather than riding the brakes.
• Cross streams slowly, in the line other vehicles have used, and walk a crossing first if you are unsure of its depth.
• Keep left on blind bends and give way to trucks and army vehicles, which need the full width.
• Carry snow chains if you can, plus warm clothes, water, dry food, a torch and a basic first-aid kit.

Fuel up

Fill the tank in Manali. Plan on no fuel along the Gramphu–Batal–Losar stretch. Kaza has an IndianOil retail outlet, but remote pumps can run short, so do not arrive on the reserve light.

Paperwork and safety numbers

Carry your driving licence, ID and booking details. Our guide to documents and security for a self-drive car rental in Manali lists what to keep with you. During the 15 October snow, police asked people in trouble to call the emergency helpline 112 or the District Police Control Room at Keylong on 89880-92298. Save both numbers before you leave.

Altitude: the part people underestimate

Manali sits at about 2,050 m. Kaza is about 1,600 m higher, and Kunzum is higher still. Going from one to the other in a single day is a big jump. Drink plenty of water, avoid alcohol on the first night, keep the first day in Kaza light, and take symptoms such as a pounding headache, nausea or unusual breathlessness seriously. If symptoms get worse, the treatment is to go lower. Anyone with heart or lung conditions should speak to a doctor before the trip.

What to see in Spiti in late October

With fewer days and colder weather, keep your list short and close to Kaza:

• Losar. The first village after Kunzum, at the head of the Spiti valley. In autumn its poplars turn gold, and it makes a good first stop to stretch your legs after the pass.
• Key Monastery. The largest monastery in the Spiti valley, a Gelugpa gompa on a hill above the river, about 14 km from Kaza by road.
• Kibber. One of the highest villages in the valley at about 4,270 m, and the base for the Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary. About 19 km from Kaza.
• Kaza itself. The largest town and commercial centre of Spiti, and your base for food, fuel and a bed.

Stay flexible about where you sleep. Some guesthouses close for the winter, so call ahead rather than relying on finding a room on arrival, and pick a place in or near Kaza for easy access to fuel and help.

What about Leh?

The 19 October report also showed the Manali–Leh highway open from the Atal Tunnel's North Portal to Sarchu. But a late-October drive to Leh means several high passes and long days in freezing conditions, and the highway also closed after the 15 October snow. It is a much bigger commitment than Spiti and best left to experienced high-altitude drivers with flexible dates. For most travellers starting from Manali this late in the year, Spiti over Kunzum, or a Lahaul day drive, is the more realistic choice.

For more drives and rides around Manali, Kasol and Bhuntar, see our Himachal bike and car rental guide.

Conclusion

Kunzum reopened after the mid-October snow, so Manali to Spiti by car is possible again in late October 2026. The window is real but short. Go in a 4x4, start early, cross the pass only on clear days with an open road report, get your e-Aagman e-pass, fill up in Manali and keep a Kinnaur exit in your back pocket. Do that, and you get Spiti at its quietest, under clear autumn skies, before the road closes for the winter.

Ready to drive? Book a self-drive car rental in Manali with Hire N Ride and pick a 4x4 for the Spiti road.