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Voykit pocket guide · India
Kaza
Spend 2 days in Kaza, see Key Monastery and nearby villages; one night of lodging is enough.
Kaza is the largest town in Spiti Valley, at 3,800 m. It is a base for monasteries, high‑altitude villages and trekking; a short stay covers the main sights.
- Country
- India
- Best months
- May–October
- Avoid
- November–April (snow‑bound roads)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- INR
- Money
- Indian rupees (INR, ₹) in small notes for autos, street food, tips and entry tickets.
- Daily spend
- Budget ₹1,200–₹2,000 excl. bed · Mid ₹2,000–₹3,500 excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Jio, Airtel and Vi sell tourist SIMs at airport counters and their shops; passport, visa and a photo needed; activation can take a few hours.
- Emergency
- Police 112
- Plugs
- Types C, D, M · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two-pin C plugs fit most sockets; D (three round pins) is the common wall socket; hotels often have universal sockets. UK and US plugs need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Street food and dhabas: Nothing.; Restaurant: 5–10% if no service charge is on the bill.; Car and driver: ₹300–500 a day at the end of the trip.; Guide: ₹300–500 for a half day.; Hotel porter / housekeeping: ₹50–100.; Auto or Uber: Round up.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap. Buy sealed bottles (check the cap), or use RO-filtered refill stations in hotels and cafés; avoid ice from street stalls.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels, malls and airports; squat toilets with a water jug or hose in stations and villages. Carry tissue and sanitiser; paid public toilets (Sulabh) cost ₹5–10.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Thukpa noodle soup | ₹150–₹250 |
| Momos (3 pcs) | ₹80–₹150 |
| Seabuckthorn tea (cup) | ₹50–₹100 |
| Bottle of local barley beer | ₹120–₹180 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- KUU · Kullu-Manali Airport
- ≈115 km (71 mi) north, bus or shared taxi about 4 h (check)≈71 mi (115 km) north, bus or shared taxi about 4 h (check)
Typical fares
- Manali → Kaza (shared taxi, seasonally open)
- ≈₹1,500 per person, ~9 h (check)
- Kaza local taxi (monastery round‑trip)
- ≈₹2,500 total (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
The town is walkable (30 min end‑to‑end). Shared taxis or jeeps from the stand cost ~₹2,500 total for local trips; hire a taxi in winter (₹25–₹40 per km).
See and do
Known for
- Key Monastery
- Hikkim post office
- Dhankar Monastery
- Seabuckthorn tea
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Key Monastery | Shared taxi from Kaza, ~20 km (12 mi)Shared taxi from Kaza, ~12 mi (20 km) | ≈45 min |
| Hikkim village (world's highest post office) | Shared taxi, ~15 km (9.3 mi)Shared taxi, ~9.3 mi (15 km) | ≈30 min |
| Dhankar Monastery & Lake | Taxi to Dhankar (≈40 km (25 mi)) then trek 10 km (6.2 mi) or bus to Shichling then trekTaxi to Dhankar (≈25 mi (40 km)) then trek 6.2 mi (10 km) or bus to Shichling then trek | ≈2 h |
| Chandrataal Lake (camping) | Taxi to trailhead, then 3–4 h trek | ≈4 h |
Sleep
- Private hotels and guesthouses
- Book in advance for summer; winter only PWD rest houses.
- Himachal Tourism Guest House
- Government‑run, requires advance booking.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | क्षमा करेंkshama karen |
| Thank you | धन्यवादdhanyavaad |
| How much is this? | यह कितने का है?yah kitne ka hai? |
| Where is the post office? | डाकघर कहाँ है?daakghar kahaan hai? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Namaste (palms together) or a handshake between men; wait for a woman to offer her hand; avoid: Hugging or kissing strangers
- Hands and feet: Give and eat with the right hand; apologise if your foot touches someone; avoid: Pointing feet at people or shrines; touching books or food with your feet
- Temples: Shoes off, walk clockwise around shrines, accept prasad (blessed food) with the right hand; avoid: Leather in Jain temples; entering sanctums that say Hindus only
- Home visit: Bring sweets or fruit; accept tea at least once; avoid: Refusing all food; wearing shoes inside
- Questions: Expect personal questions (married? job? salary?) as friendliness; avoid: Taking offence; answer vaguely if you prefer
- Saying no: A firm, polite 'nahi, dhanyavaad' (no, thank you) and keep walking; avoid: Long explanations to touts
- Dress: Loose clothes covering shoulders and knees; kurta tops are cheap and cool; avoid: Swimwear or shorts away from Goa beaches
Scams and watch-outs
- Roads are unpaved and can be hazardous; avoid driving yourself without experience.
- Winter buses to villages stop; only taxis operate.
- Check road‑tarning updates for the Manali‑Kaza route (2024 reports).
Kaza is generally safe; altitude sickness and road conditions are the main risks.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Kaza yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Key Monastery
- Hikkim post office
- Dhankar Monastery
- Seabuckthorn tea
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Kaza, revision 5234255 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5234255
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Kaza
कृपया इस पते पर ले चलें
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police112
US consulate in Delhi; Indian visa required (e‑visa).
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/kaza). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.