# 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** (2,480 m · 14 km): Snow play and skiing in winter; paragliding, the ropeway and zorbing the rest of the year.
- **Atal Tunnel** (9.02 km): Opened in 2020 under the Rohtang range, it puts Lahaul about an hour from Manali, most of the year.
- **Hadimba temple** (Built 1553): A four-tiered wooden pagoda temple in a cedar forest above town.
- **Old Manali & Vashisht** (Walkable): Old wooden houses, cafés and the Manu temple; hot sulphur springs across the river at Vashisht.
- **Kasol & Manikaran** (1,580 m · Parvati valley): Riverside village and the hot springs, gurdwara and temple at Manikaran, 4 km up the valley.
- **Sissu** (3,100 m · Lahaul): 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

1. **Overnight Volvo from Delhi.** Night: on the Volvo.
2. **Arrive, Old Manali and Hadimba temple.** Night: Manali.
3. **Solang valley.** Night: Manali.
4. **Atal Tunnel to Sissu.** Night: Manali.
5. **Vashisht and the Mall Road, Volvo home.** Night: on the Volvo.
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

- **Solang valley day** (Full day · snow Dec – Feb): Snow from late December to February; paragliding, the ropeway and green meadows the rest of the year.
- **Atal Tunnel & Sissu day** (Full day · most of the year): Through the 9 km Atal Tunnel to Sissu’s waterfall and lake in Lahaul, and back by evening.
- **Kheerganga trek** (Overnight · from Kasol): 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** (Central): 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** (Quiet, cafés): Guesthouses and boutique stays among apple orchards, 2 km up from the Mall. Our pick for couples.
- **Solang road (Palchan, Burwa)** (Snow and views): Closer to Solang and the tunnel, with mountain views. Quiet in the evenings.
- **Kasol & Chalal** (Parvati valley): 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.

## 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 packages

- [Manali, Solang & Sissu from Delhi](https://www.himalayanbrothers.com/tours/manali-solang-sissu-volvo-from-delhi): Manali & Kasol, 5 nights · 6 days, road trip. From ₹11,999 per person (Volvo both ways · Manali hotel · breakfast & dinner · cab). Starts and ends: Delhi → Delhi (overnight Volvo both ways). Route: Delhi, Manali, Solang, Atal Tunnel, Sissu. Best: Mar – Jun, Sep – Feb. Overnight Volvo from Delhi, three nights in Manali, Solang valley and the Atal Tunnel to Sissu, and back the same way.
- [Manali by Private Cab from Chandigarh](https://www.himalayanbrothers.com/tours/manali-by-cab-from-chandigarh): Manali & Kasol, 4 nights · 5 days, road trip. From ₹13,999 per person (Private cab · Manali hotel · breakfast & dinner · tolls). Starts and ends: Chandigarh → Chandigarh. Route: Chandigarh, Kullu, Manali, Solang, Sissu. Best: All year. A private cab from Chandigarh for the whole trip: Kullu on the way up, then Manali, Solang and the Atal Tunnel to Sissu.
- [Manali & Kasol from Delhi](https://www.himalayanbrothers.com/tours/manali-kasol-volvo-from-delhi): Manali & Kasol, 6 nights · 7 days, road trip. From ₹15,999 per person (Volvo both ways · Kasol & Manali stays · breakfast & dinner · cab). Starts and ends: Delhi → Delhi (overnight Volvo both ways). Route: Delhi, Kasol, Manikaran, Manali, Solang. Best: Mar – Jun, Sep – Dec. Two nights by the Parvati river in Kasol, two in Manali with Solang, by overnight Volvo from Delhi.
- [Sissu & Jispa: Lahaul Escape from Manali](https://www.himalayanbrothers.com/tours/sissu-jispa-lahaul-escape): Manali & Kasol, 4 nights · 5 days, road trip. From ₹14,999 per person (Sissu & Jispa stays · breakfast & dinner · SUV). Starts and ends: Manali → Manali. Route: Manali, Atal Tunnel, Sissu, Keylong, Jispa. Best: May – Oct. Through the Atal Tunnel to two quiet nights at Sissu and two by the Bhaga river at Jispa, with Deepak Tal and Keylong.
- [Kasol, Tosh & Kheerganga Trek](https://www.himalayanbrothers.com/tours/kasol-tosh-kheerganga-trek): Manali & Kasol, 3 nights · 4 days, trek. From ₹8,999 per person (Guide · camp & guesthouses · meals · local cab). Starts and ends: Kasol → Kasol (or Bhuntar). Route: Kasol, Barshaini, Kheerganga, Tosh. Best: Apr – Jun, Sep – Nov. A night in camp at the Kheerganga meadow and its hot spring, with Kasol and Tosh on either side.
- [Chandratal Lake Short Trip from Manali](https://www.himalayanbrothers.com/tours/chandratal-kunzum-short-trip): Spiti Valley, 2 nights · 3 days, road trip. From ₹9,999 per person (Sissu stay · lake camp · meals · SUV). Starts and ends: Manali → Manali. Route: Manali, Sissu, Batal, Chandratal. Best: June – early Oct. From Manali over to the crescent lake at Chandratal, on the Manali side of Kunzum Pass.
- [Himachal Honeymoon: Manali & Dharamshala](https://www.himalayanbrothers.com/tours/himachal-honeymoon-package): Multi-destination, 6 nights · 7 days, culture. From ₹24,999 per person (Private cab for two · better rooms · dinners · flowers & cake). Starts and ends: Chandigarh → Chandigarh (or Kangra Airport). Route: Chandigarh, Manali, Sissu, Dharamshala, Chandigarh. Best: Mar – Jun, Sep – Feb. Four nights in Manali and two at our hotel in Dharamshala, by private cab for two, with a candle-lit dinner and flowers on arrival.

## Frequently asked questions

**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](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manali,_Himachal_Pradesh)
- [Atal Tunnel, Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atal_Tunnel)
- [Hidimba Devi Temple, Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hidimba_Devi_Temple)
- [Kasol, Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kasol)
- [Solang Valley, Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solang_Valley)

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