Solang, near Manali
Solang valley day
Snow from late December to February; paragliding, the ropeway and green meadows the rest of the year.
Manali tour packages & travel guide
Manali sits at about 2,050 m at the head of the Kullu valley. From here you reach the snow at Solang, the Atal Tunnel to Lahaul, and the Parvati valley at Kasol. We plan trips from Delhi, Chandigarh and our hotels in Dharamshala.
- Altitude
- Manali 2,050 m · Solang 2,480 m · Sissu 3,100 m
- Best season
- March – June; Sept – Nov; snow Dec – Feb
- From Delhi
- ~540 km · 12–14 hrs · overnight Volvo
- Permits
- None for the town · online permit for Rohtang Pass
Manali at a glance
Manali is the busiest hill town in Himachal, and with reason: within an hour you can be in snow at Solang, through the 9 km Atal Tunnel into the dry mountains of Lahaul, or in the deodar forest around the Hadimba temple. Old Manali, across the Manalsu stream, is quieter, with cafés and old wooden houses.
Kasol, about 75 km away in the Parvati valley, is a different trip: riverside guesthouses, the hot springs at Manikaran and the trek to Kheerganga. Sissu, just beyond the tunnel, is the easiest taste of Lahaul.
Highlights
Solang valley
Snow play and skiing in winter; paragliding, the ropeway and zorbing the rest of the year.
Atal Tunnel
Opened in 2020 under the Rohtang range, it puts Lahaul about an hour from Manali, most of the year.
Hadimba temple
A four-tiered wooden pagoda temple in a cedar forest above town.
Old Manali & Vashisht
Old wooden houses, cafés and the Manu temple; hot sulphur springs across the river at Vashisht.
Kasol & Manikaran
Riverside village and the hot springs, gurdwara and temple at Manikaran, 4 km up the valley.
Sissu
A waterfall, a lake and the Chandra river just beyond the tunnel, with bare Lahaul peaks above.
Best time to visit Manali
- Best
March – June
Clear, mild days and blossom; Rohtang usually opens in May or June.
- Good
Sept – Nov · Dec – Feb
Crisp autumn views, then snow at Solang and in town from late December. Roads beyond Solang can shut after snowfall.
- Wet
July – August
Monsoon rain and landslides on the Kullu road. Lahaul beyond the tunnel stays drier.
Sample itinerary: Manali, Solang & Sissu: 6 days from Delhi
- Day 1
Overnight Volvo from Delhi
Night: on the Volvo - Day 2
Arrive, Old Manali and Hadimba temple
Night: Manali - Day 3
Solang valley
Night: Manali - Day 4
Atal Tunnel to Sissu
Night: Manali - Day 5
Vashisht and the Mall Road, Volvo home
Night: on the Volvo - Day 6
Arrive in Delhi
Trip ends
If snow closes the tunnel road, we swap the Sissu day for Kullu and Naggar castle.
Things to do in Manali
All experiences
Manali to Lahaul
Atal Tunnel & Sissu day
Through the 9 km Atal Tunnel to Sissu’s waterfall and lake in Lahaul, and back by evening.
Parvati valley, from Kasol
Kheerganga trek
A 12 km walk up from Barshaini to a meadow with a hot spring, and a night in camp.
Where to stay in Manali
Mall Road & Model Town
Walk to shops and restaurants; busy and noisy in May–June and at New Year. Good for a first visit and for families.
Old Manali
Guesthouses and boutique stays among apple orchards, 2 km up from the Mall. Our pick for couples.
Solang road (Palchan, Burwa)
Closer to Solang and the tunnel, with mountain views. Quiet in the evenings.
Kasol & Chalal
Riverside guesthouses and cafés; Chalal, across the river, is quieter.
We book hotels we have used before and send you their names and photos with your quote.
How to reach Manali
By Volvo or road
- Delhi ~540 km · 12–14 hrs
- Chandigarh ~310 km · 8–9 hrs
Overnight Volvos leave Delhi every evening and reach Manali by morning. A private cab takes the whole day.
By air
- Bhuntar (Kullu) Airport · ~50 km
A small airport with a few flights from Delhi, often cancelled in bad weather. Chandigarh airport is the reliable choice.
By rail
- Chandigarh or Kiratpur Sahib
No railway reaches Manali. Take a train to Chandigarh, then a cab or bus up the Beas valley.
Permits
Manali, Solang, Sissu: no permit for travellers. Vehicles crossing the Atal Tunnel carry a pass we arrange.
Rohtang Pass: an online vehicle permit with a daily quota, usually from May or June to November.
Rules change each season. We check them before you travel.
How far is Manali?
| From | Distance | Drive time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delhi | ~540 km | 12–14 hrs | Overnight Volvo daily |
| Chandigarh | ~310 km | 8–9 hrs | Via Bilaspur and Mandi |
| Shimla | ~250 km | 8–9 hrs | Via Mandi |
| Dharamshala | ~240 km | 7–8 hrs | Via Palampur and Mandi |
| Kasol | ~75 km | 3 hrs | Via Bhuntar |
| Kaza (Spiti) | ~200 km | 8–10 hrs | Over Kunzum Pass, June – mid-Oct |
Manali tour packages
All Manali tripsIndicative “from” prices per person. Your planner confirms the exact price for your dates on WhatsApp.
Manali, Solang & Sissu from Delhi
- Delhi · Manali · Solang · Atal Tunnel · Sissu
- Best: Mar – Jun, Sep – Feb
From ₹11,999 per personVolvo both ways · Manali hotel · breakfast & dinner · cab
Manali by Private Cab from Chandigarh
- Chandigarh · Kullu · Manali · Solang · Sissu
- Best: All year
From ₹13,999 per personPrivate cab · Manali hotel · breakfast & dinner · tolls
Manali & Kasol from Delhi
- Delhi · Kasol · Manikaran · Manali · Solang
- Best: Mar – Jun, Sep – Dec
From ₹15,999 per personVolvo both ways · Kasol & Manali stays · breakfast & dinner · cab
Sissu & Jispa: Lahaul Escape from Manali
- Manali · Atal Tunnel · Sissu · Keylong · Jispa
- Best: May – Oct
From ₹14,999 per personSissu & Jispa stays · breakfast & dinner · SUV
Kasol, Tosh & Kheerganga Trek
- Kasol · Barshaini · Kheerganga · Tosh
- Best: Apr – Jun, Sep – Nov
From ₹8,999 per personGuide · camp & guesthouses · meals · local cab
Chandratal Lake Short Trip from Manali
- Manali · Sissu · Batal · Chandratal
- Best: June – early Oct
From ₹9,999 per personSissu stay · lake camp · meals · SUV
Himachal Honeymoon: Manali & Dharamshala
- Chandigarh · Manali · Sissu · Dharamshala · Chandigarh
- Best: Mar – Jun, Sep – Feb
From ₹24,999 per personPrivate cab for two · better rooms · dinners · flowers & cake
Manali FAQ
What is the best time to visit Manali?
March to June for clear, mild weather; late December to February for snow at Solang and in town; September to November for crisp views. July and August bring heavy rain and landslides.
When does it snow in Manali?
Usually from late December to February, with the most at Solang and beyond. Snow in town comes and goes; Solang and the tunnel road keep it for weeks.
How do I reach Manali from Delhi?
By overnight Volvo (about 12–14 hours, the most popular way), or by private cab in a full day. There is no train to Manali; the nearest reliable airport is Chandigarh.
Do I need a permit for Rohtang Pass or the Atal Tunnel?
Rohtang Pass needs an online vehicle permit with a daily limit, and it is usually open only from May or June to November. The Atal Tunnel is open most of the year; vehicles carry a pass that we arrange.
How many days are enough for Manali?
Three nights covers Solang, the Atal Tunnel and Old Manali. Add two nights for Kasol, or two for Sissu and Jispa in Lahaul.
How much does a Manali trip cost?
Our cheapest Manali-side trip is the Kasol and Kheerganga trek, from about ₹8,999 per person. Manali itself starts from about ₹11,999 per person from Delhi by Volvo (3 hotel nights, breakfast and dinner, a cab) and about ₹13,999 by private cab from Chandigarh. Your planner confirms the exact price for your dates.
Sources
- Manali, Himachal Pradesh, Wikipedia
- Atal Tunnel, Wikipedia
- Hidimba Devi Temple, Wikipedia
- Kasol, Wikipedia
- Solang Valley, Wikipedia
Roads, weather and permit rules change. We check them before you travel; please confirm locally too.
Last updated
Manali: read before you go
All blogsDelhi to Manali: Volvo, taxi or self-drive?
Delhi to Manali is about 540 km. The overnight Volvo (12–14 hours) is cheapest and saves a day. A taxi suits families and groups of four to six. Driving yourself is fine in summer but harder in snow. Here's how to choose.
A 7-day Himachal itinerary from Delhi
In seven days from Delhi you can do one region well: Shimla and Manali, Dharamshala and Dalhousie, or Manali and Kasol. Trying to see all of Himachal in a week means living in the car. Here are three plans that work.
Kasol or Manali?
Pick Manali for snow, Solang, the Atal Tunnel and easy family sightseeing. Pick Kasol for a slow riverside stay, cafés and short treks like Kheerganga. They're three hours apart, so many people do both. Here's how they compare.
Manali in December: will there be snow?
There's almost always snow near Manali in December, but not always in town. Solang and the Atal Tunnel road are your best bet; Manali's Mall Road usually gets its first proper fall in late December or January. Here's how to plan around it.
Plan your Manali trip with a local
Tell us your dates and how many of you are travelling. We reply on WhatsApp with an itinerary and a clear price.