The Kunzum Pass, at 4,551 metres, is the higher of the two passes on the Manali-Spiti route and the dramatic entrance to the Spiti Valley from the Lahaul side. The road crests through a rocky moonscape of boulders, prayer flags, and a small temple, with views on clear days stretching across the Chandra River valley and toward the peaks of the Kullu Himalaya.
The pass is typically open from mid-June to late October, though this varies with snowfall. The road from Manali to Kaza via Rohtang and Kunzum passes takes a full day in good conditions; buses run the route but jeeps are more reliable and more comfortable. Even if you are not crossing to Manali, the drive up from Losar village at the Spiti Valley floor to the pass summit is spectacular. The Chandra Tal lake is about 14 kilometres from the pass on the Lahaul side.