Two full days in Manali between overnight buses from Delhi: Old Manali, Hadimba and Vashisht on Day 1; Sissu via the Atal Tunnel, Solang and Jogini Falls on Day 2.
Quick summary
Manali is about 540 km and roughly 13 hours by road from Delhi, so a 2-day Manali trip works best with an overnight bus on both ends: leave Delhi on Friday evening, spend Saturday and Sunday in the valley, and take the Sunday evening bus back to reach Delhi on Monday morning. This plan covers Old Manali, Hadimba Temple, the Vashisht hot springs, a dawn run through the Atal Tunnel to Sissu, Solang Valley and the Jogini Falls walk, with timings that work around the traffic. For background on routes and seasons, see the Manali destination guide.
Before you go
- Season: this plan works from March to June and October to November. In monsoon (July to mid-September) roads close without warning and Solang activities are suspended from 15 July to 15 September; in snow season the tunnel road may be restricted to 4x4 vehicles. Check the best time to visit Manali before booking.
- Book ahead: HRTC Volvos and private overnight coaches from Delhi fill up for May, June and long weekends. Choose a return bus that leaves Manali after about 6.30 pm so the second afternoon is not cut short; departure times vary by operator, so check your ticket.
- Daylight: sunset in Manali is around 7.30 pm in late June, around 5.50 pm in mid-October and around 5.20 pm from late November to December, and the valley loses direct sun earlier than that. Plan outdoor walks to finish before dark.
- Wheels for Day 2: hire a scooter or motorcycle (only if you are confident on mountain roads and carry your licence) or book a taxi the evening before.
Friday evening: overnight bus from Delhi
Board an HRTC Volvo at Kashmere Gate ISBT or a private overnight coach in the evening. The bus runs via Chandigarh, Kiratpur, Mandi and Kullu and reaches Manali the next morning, usually between 8 and 10 am depending on departure time, traffic and road conditions.
Day 1 (Saturday): Old Manali, Hadimba and Vashisht
9.00 am: arrive and check in
Take an auto from the bus stand to your stay in Old Manali or Vashisht. Drop your bags and have breakfast. If your room is not ready, leave the bags and keep going.
10.30 am: Hadimba Temple
Walk or take an auto to Hadimba Temple, the four-tiered wooden temple built in 1553 in the Dhungri deodar forest. It is busy by late morning, but 30 to 45 minutes is enough for the carved doorway and the grove. The Ghatotkacha shrine is about 70 metres away.
11.30 am: Old Manali and the Manu Temple
Walk to Old Manali and climb through the village lanes, past old stone-and-timber houses and orchards, to the Manu Temple at the top. Allow about two hours at an easy pace, including stops.
1.30 pm: lunch and rest
Lunch in Old Manali; try siddu or a Himachali thali. Then rest for an hour or two after the night on the bus, because tomorrow starts before dawn.
4.00 pm: Vashisht village and hot springs
Take an auto across the Beas to Vashisht, about 3 km from town. Walk through the village to the temple and use the hot-spring baths, which have separate sections for men and women. Look at the start of the Jogini trail for tomorrow while it is still light.
7.30 pm: dinner and arrange transport
Dinner in Vashisht or Old Manali. Collect your scooter or confirm a taxi for a 6 am start, fill up with fuel tonight, and check the police or district advisory for the tunnel road if there has been snow or heavy rain.
Day 2 (Sunday): Atal Tunnel, Sissu, Solang and Jogini Falls
6.00 am: leave for the Atal Tunnel
Leave Manali in the early light and drive the 25 km past Solang to the tunnel's south portal. The 9.02 km tunnel needs no permit. Follow the posted speed limit and do not stop inside.
7.15 am: Sissu
The north portal opens near Sissu in the Lahaul valley, around 1,000 metres higher than Manali and noticeably colder. Spend about 1.5 hours here: tea at a roadside stall, a walk along the Chandra river and the view of the waterfall across the valley. Wear a warm jacket and gloves even in May.
9.00 am: back through the tunnel
Head back before the queue on the Manali side reaches its peak; you will be travelling against it.
10.00 am: Solang Valley
Stop at Solang on the way down. Choose one thing: the ropeway, a short paragliding flight with a registered pilot (outside the monsoon ban and only in good weather), or a walk on the meadow. Leave by 11.15 am.
12.00 pm: lunch
Lunch back in Manali or Vashisht, and return the scooter if you hired it only for the morning.
1.30 pm: Jogini Falls walk
From Vashisht temple, walk up through orchards and pine forest to Jogini Falls, roughly 150 feet high, with a small shrine near the base. Allow about 3 to 4 hours for the return walk at an easy pace. The last stretch is steeper and the rocks near the water are slippery; do not climb on the falls. From November to February, start by 1 pm so you are down well before the 5.20 pm sunset.
5.30 pm: collect bags and dinner
Pick up your bags, eat an early dinner near the bus stand and board the evening bus to Delhi, which reaches the city the next morning.
Swaps for different seasons and interests
- Rohtang Pass instead of Sissu (May to November): book a vehicle permit on rohtangpermits.hp.gov.in up to two days ahead (₹550 per car including the congestion charge; vehicles under 10 years old; printout compulsory). In 2026 the road was announced closed on Tuesdays for BRO maintenance, so check before you plan a Tuesday.
- Naggar instead of Jogini: Naggar Castle is about 22 km from Manali on the left bank. The Roerich art gallery above it opens 10 am to 6 pm from April to October and 10 am to 5 pm from November to March, and is closed on Mondays and national holidays, so do Naggar on the Saturday afternoon or on a Sunday with a late bus.
- Snow season (December to February): after fresh snow, police often allow only 4x4 vehicles beyond Solang or Nehru Kund, and Rohtang is closed. Hire a local 4x4 taxi rather than driving your own car, and keep Solang or Old Manali as the fallback.
- Driving from Delhi instead of the bus: leave Delhi by 4.30 am and expect to reach Manali in the early evening, so a self-drive version needs an extra day. Estimate fuel with the fuel calculator.
If you have a third day
Add Naggar Castle and the Roerich estate as an unhurried half-day, or spend more time in Old Manali and the forest trails around it. For a fuller list of options, see the best places to visit in Manali, and for budgets by plan, the Manali trip cost guide. You can also customise this plan in the trip planner.
What to pack
- Warm jacket, cap and gloves for Sissu in any month
- Walking shoes with grip for Jogini Falls
- A change of clothes and a towel for the Vashisht hot springs
- Sunscreen and sunglasses for the high-altitude sun
- Cash for small eateries, autos and scooter hire, plus your driving licence and ID
- A rain jacket in spring and autumn, when weather changes quickly