India

Manali

Mountains, and the drive to reach them

Manali sits at the head of the Kullu valley, and the approach is the thing to plan around: it is a long road journey from the plains however you do it, and the last stretch is slow. Flying to Bhuntar shortens it considerably when the weather permits, which is not always.

Old Manali and the orchards above the town are pleasant and quiet. The main bazaar is neither. Properties a few kilometres out of town are usually the better arrangement, provided you are content to need a car for dinner.

When to go

March to June for clear mountain weather and open passes. October and November are crisp and quiet. December to February brings snow, which is the attraction for some and a road closure for others. July and August are monsoon, with a real landslide risk.

Getting around

A car with a driver, arranged with the stay. Within the town, walking and autos. The high passes open and close with the season and the weather, and no itinerary should assume one is open.

Worth knowing

Altitude is modest in Manali itself but the day excursions go considerably higher. Build in a day before any high-pass trip.
Road journeys here routinely take longer than quoted. We write the realistic figure into an itinerary, not the optimistic one.
Many properties heat rooms with a single wall unit. In January that matters more than the view.
Peak-season weekends are heavily booked by domestic travellers; mid-week is cheaper and quieter.

Ask about Manali

Tell us your dates and who is travelling and we will come back with what is available.

Send a request

Stays

Where to stay in Manali

Prices below are quoted in INR, the currency the suppliers here price in. Your invoice is raised in INR.

A timber and stone lodge among bare apple trees with mountains behind

boutique

Above Old Manali, in the apple orchards

Orchard lodge above the valley

A small timber and stone lodge of six to twelve rooms set in orchards, ten minutes above the town.

Wi-Fi
Breakfast available
Restaurant
Parking

from ₹5,600indicative · per room per night, two sharing, breakfast included

View details

Packages

Itineraries that include Manali

A mountain road above a pine valley with snow on the high ridges beyond

6 nights · 7 days

manali / rishikesh

Manali and Rishikesh over six nights

Three nights in the orchards above Manali, three on the river at Rishikesh, and a long road day between them.

from ₹41,500indicative · per person, two sharing, excluding all flights

View itinerary

A sample selection

The stays and packages on this website are examples of what this desk arranges, described by standard and area rather than by hotel name. Availability, the exact property and the final price are confirmed with the supplier after you send an enquiry, and the figure you approve is the figure you pay.

Tell us where you want to go

Send the destination and the dates. We will come back with what is available, what it costs and what the terms are — before anything is charged.

Request a callback Call an agent