Manali Travel Guide: Things to Do & Best Time

Heading to the mountains of Himachal? Manali is the state's favourite hill town at 2,050 m — an adventure hub on the Beas river, gateway to Solang Valley, the Atal Tunnel and the roads to Spiti and Ladakh. Easy to reach and packed with things to do, it suits families, couples and backpackers alike. Here's your guide.

Top things to do

• Solang Valley — ropeway, paragliding, zorbing and winter snow.
• Atal Tunnel to Sissu and the stark Lahaul valley.
• Hadimba Temple and the cafes of Old Manali.
• Vashisht hot springs and the Jogini waterfall walk.
• Rohtang Pass (permit required) for high-mountain snow.

Best time to visit

March–June for pleasant days and blossoms; December–February for snow; the monsoon (July–August) is lush but landslide-prone. See our best time to visit Himachal and Himachal in winter guides.

Getting there

Easy access: Manali is an overnight bus or drive (~540 km) from Delhi via Chandigarh — a big reason it's Himachal's most popular base.

Manali anchors our Shimla–Manali itinerary and the things to do in Himachal. Explore Himachal tour packages, or plan a romantic trip with our Himachal honeymoon guide.