Manali Tours & Experiences

Things to do in Manali

Manali sits at the head of the Kullu valley, and its activities run along the Beas from Solang to Naggar; the Manali travel guide has the background.

Trek to Hampta Pass, Beas Kund or Bhrigu Lake

Our Manali trekking experience takes one of three routes: Hampta Pass, a camping trek of several days into Lahaul; Beas Kund, a shorter walk from the Solang valley; or Bhrigu Lake. A guide and transfers are included, with porters, tents and meals on the longer routes.

Spend a day at Solang Nullah

Solang Nullah, 13 km north of town, has a gondola ropeway, paragliding, zorbing and quad bikes, and its slopes are skied in winter. Day 4 of our Himachal Hills Tour — 7 days stops there for the views; the activities are extra.

Walk Old Manali and the Hadimba Devi temple

Old Manali has cafes and the Manu temple; nearby, the 16th-century pagoda temple of Hadimba Devi stands among deodars. The Himachal Hills Tour includes both.

Visit Vashisht and Naggar

A paved path from the market leads to the hot springs of Vashisht. Naggar, 22 km down the valley and the capital of Kullu until 1660, has a castle kept partly as a museum and the Nicholas Roerich Art Gallery.

Drive up to Rohtang Pass, with a permit

Rohtang, 51 km away, is open from about May until snow closes it in late November, and each sightseeing vehicle needs a one-day online permit from the Kullu district. The Himachal Hills Tour offers the drive on Day 5; the permit is extra.

Set off on the road to Leh

Our Manali–Leh highway trip starts here, crossing Baralacha La to a night at Sarchu and going on into Leh for a rest day, with a private vehicle and driver. Most travellers fly back.

Choosing between our tours and experiences

The Himachal Hills Tour gives Manali three nights in a week from Shimla to Dharamshala; the Manali–Leh trip starts a drive into Ladakh; the trekking experience is the one to add if you want to walk. Compare the tours on Manali tour packages and the walks under trekking experiences in Manali.

When to go for these

• Treks: about June to September.
• Rohtang: about May to late November.
• Skiing and snow: December to February, when temperatures can fall below minus 5°C.
• The hill-town tour: March to June and September to November.

Before you go

Pack layers: summer days are about 22–30°C, but mornings and evenings at altitude are cold even in June and July.