Inner Line Permits for Kinnaur – Spiti Valley

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• Hi Dheeraj,

  I am planning to go from Manali-Kaza by bus. I am a solo traveler and do not plan to use a tour agency. From Kaza I want to do the five day home stay trek to Dankhar. I assume that I will therefore need the inner line permit?
  Considering this, do you know if it would be possible for me to get the inner line permit in Kaza at the ADC without a tour agency and being a solo traveler?
  Thank you so much for your help and information,
  Micaela

• Hi Micaela, as per the rules being a foreigner, you have to come through a tour agency to apply for permit. You can get the permit and do not need to travel with the group and travel on your own. However, to get the permit, you have to go through an agent. You can get them in advance through an agent as well.

• Hi,

  I'm for Bangkok, Thailand.
  I'm about to travel to Spiti Valley next April, plan to start and end at Shimla.
  Having some questions about Inner Line Permit for foreign tourist;

  1. I'm solo traveler. Is it possible to apply ILP at Shimla without group of 4 tourists ?
  If not, can tour agent organize that for me (such as combine with other group of tourist) ?

  2. Does the DM at Shimla or Reckong Peo operate during weekend (Sat-Sun) ?

  Thanks :)

• Honey, the tour agent will be able to help you with it. Sunday for sure office is closed, second Saturday too office is closed. It is better to get it in advance through an agent if you planning over weekend.

• Hi Dheeraj,

  Thanks for reply. That's sound good to me.

  I expected to reach Shimla on Friday 5th April 2019 in the early morning (by flight from Delhi).

  I will try to apply for ILP on that day. If it isn't success, I will have one more chance on the next day (6th April) which is first Saturday of April 2019.

  One more question, can I expected crystal clear blue water in Spiti river and nearby river in the region during my visit in early April.

• Yes, April will be the time when snow melts and hence, you can expect aqua green colours of the rivers in Spiti

• Hello! Do you know if it is possible to get inner line pemit to Spiti with e-visa? Or you need one received in the embassy?

• No Alena, you have to get the inner line permits from either of the DC/SDM offices mentioned in the article above, either at Shimla or Reckong Peo or Kaza

• Hi,

  I'm from the UK and have the following plan:

  I have my own motorcycle that I purchased from an Indian, the motorcycle is in his name.
  Have all the documents.

  Shimla to Sangla
  Sangla to Kaza
  Kaza to Keylong
  Keylong to Killar
  Killar to Srinigar
  Srinigar to Kargil
  Kargil to Leh
  Leh to Kardung La
  Leh to Lake
  Leh to Keylong
  Keylong to Manali

  Sell bike > home
  (NOT DAILY - Just to show where I want to go)

  I have 3 weeks to do this. But I wondered if I can do this on my own? As it says a group of 4 or more?

  Thanks :)

• Hey Martin,

  Usually, you get people to form a group and get the permit or you can get in touch with some hotel in Reckong Peo or Kalpa who can arrange the permit for you. I hope this is not your day wise plan and you are trying to tell the route only because day wise it is too much and hectic.

  Do you need help in planning the day wise itinerary for 3 week?

• Yeah it seems it's ok to go solo if you get the permit in Reckong Peo and not in Shimla which is a bit weird! Haha no it's not my day plan.

  Wow thank you, that would be amazing if you could do that for me, as I am unsure how long it takes to get to places. Google maps isn't accurate for that region apparently :/.

  And also, do you know if Manali is a good spot to sell my bike? Or if you could suggest a place for me? It's a 2015 RE Classic 350.

  Thanks for all the help and information :)

• Selling the bike, I will try it in Manali or Leh and then New Delhi Karol Bagh area. Now regarding your three-week plan for Spiti and Sach Pass trip, I will give you more detailed sketch and you can extend it further or add days/remove days in between for rest.

  Day 1 | Chandigarh/Ambala – Narkanda/Shimla
  Day 2 | Narkanda/Shimla - Rakcham/Sangla/Chitkul
  Day 3 | Rakcham/Sangla/Chitkul – Reckong Peo - Kalpa, arrange permit
  Day 4 | Reckong Peo – Nako – Geyu Mummy – Tabo
  Day 5 | Tabo – Dhangkar – Dhangkar Lake – Pin Valley – Kaza
  Day 6 | Kaza Rest and Local Sightseeing
  — Ki, Kibber, Gette, Tashigang
  Day 7 | Kaza – Hikkim, Komik, Langza circuit – Chandratal
  Day 8 | Chandratal – Sissu / Keylong
  Day 9 | Sissu / Keylong – Killar
  Day 10 | Killar – Sach Pass – Killar
  Day 11 | Killar – Kishtwar
  Day 12 | Kishtwar – Srinagar

  Now you have two choices on Day 9, from Killar travel to Kishtwar and next day to Srinagar and then follow the plan from Srinagar as mentioned in the Most Common Itinerary for Leh – Ladakh

• Hi,
  I am from the UK but am currently living in India. I will be traveling to Spiti Vally from the 12th to the 19th of May. I will be getting my permit in Shimla on the 10th, and leaving back to Delhi on the 20th. However, my visa expires on the 24th of May. As the permit is a two-week permit, am I still eligible to get one?

• Hi again, I tried to get the permit in Shimla but they said no as I had a dependent visa. However, I have an adhaar card, and they said it’s good enough. Do you have input regarding this? Do you think it’s good enough?

• Well, that is something strange and I have not heard of it. If they are saying they will give the permit on Aadhar card, then you should get it using Adhar card. Sorry not much detail into it that I have on dependent visas.

• I believe you should be fine George with it as you can get the permit for fewer days too and up to 20th. Even if that option is not there, you should still be fine.

• Thanks so much for the quick reply! You have given me a great deal of relief before my trip :)

• Best wishes for your trip George..

• I'm Ripan from Bangladesh & planning for a spiti tour in june with 2 Indians. route is:
  Pathankot - dalhousie - Chamba - Bairagarh - Killar - keylong - Kaza - Tabo - Sangla - Shimla

  Can you/anyone hlp me exactly at which point I need to take the foreigners permit?
  Is the first point chamba/killar/Keylong/kaza?

  pls suggest if any travel agent who can arrange permit.
  thanks in advance.
  Ripan

• I am not aware of any permit requirement for Chamba or Killar, never heard of it. AFAIK, you need to permit at Kaza to go further beyond Kaza. As said on the Facebook as well, please connect with Tsering Bodh at Sakya Abode to get the permit done.

• Dheeraj, I have nothing but about gratitude on your insight of these travels. I am planning for a month in spiti in September/october.
  I am currently an OCI holder and do have PAN card. Do I still need inner line permit. It's sad that even being an Indian, I am treated as non Indian in lot of places (sikkim). Your advice will be very helpful.
  Regards

• Thank you :)

  Well, Raj, I will recommend that you apply for permits and then only travel to these places being an OCI holder.

• I am planning to go on a road trip to Spiti valley along with my 3 friends in September 2017. we are from Bangladesh, Where we have to take the inner line permits or other permits?

  would be great if you share the way out

  thanks
  Mostafiz

• You can apply the inner line permit as per the details mentioned in the article above.

• Hi Dheeraj!

  It's Urmila again :)
  As you suggested we are going to visit Chandratal lake in middle september in our quick visit to Spiti Valley before going to Ladakh region. I think we will stay around Chandratal 1-2 days and probably don't go to Kaza.
  So, do you think we will need any permit going from Manali to Chandratal lake (appart from Rothang pass permit)?

  Thanks for all the info,
  Urmila

• Hi Urmila,

  Good to see you back, Sorry for delayed reply, been busy with some stuff at the office in last few days.

  No, you do not need a permit for Chandratal lake. You will just need Beyond Rohtang Pass permit of Rs 50.

• Cool! Thanks Dheeraj!

  So, in case we change our mind and plan to visit Kaza I assume that we could get there the permit. Or do we need to get it before arriving there?

  Cheers,
  Urmila

• Ok, perfect!

  The initial plan was to get Chandratal from Manali and stay there one-two nights. But I didn't realize that Chandratal was so high in altitude.
  I was reading your advices in the "14 Mistakes People Commit on a Spiti Valley Trip" and thought ... ooops!
  Where do you think would be a better place to spend the night? Maybe in Batal? I mean, we can spend one day in Chandratal but not staying there jut to avoid AMS.

• Yes, Batal will be much better than spending the night at 14000 feet else it is more like taking a chance with AMS only.

• No you can get the permits in Kaza itself but don't travel beyond Kaza towards Tabo without permits.

• Hi Sir,
  I had a quick question regarding inner line permit for Spiti. My friend is a Bangladeshi traveling with us in a group of 5. She has her visa and tickets in place. However, there is not much information online about how to apply for ILP for Bangladeshi nationals. Our trip starts on 28th June. Could you please help us out here?

• AFAIK, the permit for Bangladeshi for an inner line of Kinnaur - Spiti Valley should be available from MEA if it is not provided as per process of above article. Lately Bangladeshi citizens have been allowed to take Inner Line Permit for Ladakh as per the process of other foreginers but I am not sure if they have been allowed the same for Spiti Valley and Kinnaur Valley or not.

• Hi Dheeraj,

  I am from Delhi and planning a trip to Spiti Valley with my family (6 adults and 5 children ) from June 15 2017- June 21, 2017. We are planning to hire a 12 seater tempo traveller for the trip and would be leaving Delhi in the night itself around 12:00AM )
  It would be a 7 day trip and it goes like this:
  Day 1- Delhi- Rampur
  Day 2 - Rampur- Kinnaur Valley/ Sangla
  Day 3 - Kinnaur Valley/ Sangla -Nago
  Day 4 - Nago - Kaza
  Day 5 - Sightseeing in Kaza
  Day 6 -Kaza - Chandratal lake
  Day 7 - Chandratal lake -Delhi

  I have been referring to your blog everytime I plan a trip. This time I seem to get confused on few things:
  1) What all permits are required for this trip (I mean from where to where) and the list of documents needed from my end?
  2) where from should I get this permit without any hassle as I cannot trust these Tempo travellers?
  3) What all costs are included to get this permit?
  4) How about the road conditions on the route I am taking?
  5) Do you have contact number of any hotel or homestay lodge where we can stay?
  6) As we are vegetarians, can we get veg food on our way? Any details where we can get good food, if you have any experience :-)
  6) We are planning to stay in Jamaica Campsite in Chandratal Lake on 20th June. Any idea or any other good campsite you are aware of?

  I know I am asking too many information. Would appreciate if you can respond to my queries asap.
  Thanks for everything again.

  Cheers,
  Priyanka

• Hi Priyanka,

  My replies below:

  1, 2, 3. No permit is required to travel on this route in case all of you are Indians
  4. Road conditions beyond Kaza to Chandratal to Manali are in bad shape as usual rest is manageable.
  5. For stay options in Kinnaur and Spiti, check the link: Some Good Options of Stays in Spiti Valley / Kinnaur Valley.
  6. You will get the veg food all over in Kinnaur and Spiti Valley. I am a vegetarian too and have survived many trips :)
  7. Parasol is the best but costly, Jamaica is good too but there is one more economic option of Tenzin too.

  PS: The plan is very very hectic considering you are going with family, not sure how it will turn out for you folks.

• Hello dheeraj jee,
  I planning a trip to spiti valley from Kinnaur shimla.on 5th June. Then head towards leh. Do I need permits? We are going my car. Can u please help me?

• No Rajveer, you do not need any permits to travel to Leh from Spiti - Keylong route. However, in Leh The environment fees of Rs 400 & Inner Line Permits (most likely as well) will again be required in Ladakh for Indian Tourists / Nationals with effect from April 1st, 2017. This has been recently announced and is available on official website of Leh administration. It is expected that a public circular should follow soon as well. Hence, like it used to happen before 2014, all Indian Nationals or Indian Tourists WILL need to pay environment fees and may need to also get the inner line permits in Leh – Ladakh region in order to visit the restricted places like Dah, Hanu Villages, Pangong Tso, Man, Merak, Tso Moriri, Nyoma, Loma Bend, Khardung La, Nubra Valley, Turtuk, Tyakshi, Digger La, Tangyar (for trekking only).
  For details on inner line permits process and to download application form read the link All you want to know about Inner Line Permits for Ladakh. Page 1 is Protected Area Permit applicable for foreigners. Fill in Page 2, 3 for Inner Line Permit applicable for Indians, got to DC office in Leh and submit the application with valid Photo ID nationality proof and pay the required fee of Rs 400 + Rs 20 x number of days you will be in Ladakh.

• Hello Dheeraj,
  You mentioned domestic residents need to carry Valid ID proof. So is driving license counted as a valid id proof in those areas?

  Thank you in advance for helping!

• Yes Aditya, a valid DL is always an ID proof.

• Hello Dheeraj,

  Could you please let me know if the information regarding the opening hours and days of the offices is up to date?
  I got little confused with the following “These offices open up By 10 AM in the morning” you mean they work “From” 10:00AM? What time do they close? I am mostly interested in the Recong Peo office.
  Thank you very much!

• Boii, yes, the offices open at 10:00 and they close mostly at around 4:00 PM. Saturdays may have different timing.

• Hi Dheeraj, If the travel company running trip to Spiti is based in Delhi, are their sponsorship letters still valid at DC Office in Shimla?

• I do not think so Gaurav. They will allow permits from local travel agent only.

• Thanks Deepak, do you have a contact number of any local agent in Shimla who can help them with the permits at DC office?

• No Gaurav, sorry on that front.