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How to plan a Manali trip from Delhi, Mumbai or anywhere in India
Published 10 Sept 2026 · Updated 15 Oct 2026
In short
Plan 4 to 5 days including travel from Delhi or Chandigarh. Most groups take the overnight Volvo or a cab from Delhi, about 12 to 14 hours. December to February brings snow and the biggest crowds; March to June is pleasant and quieter.
How many days do you actually need
4 to 5 days including travel time is the range that works for most groups coming from Delhi or Chandigarh. That gives you a day to arrive and settle in, a day for Solang Valley, a day for local sightseeing around Old Manali, and a buffer day for either Sissu, Atal Tunnel or simply resting before the trip back.
3 days is doable if your group is tight on leave, but it turns into a lot of driving relative to time spent actually in Manali. If you can stretch to 6, adding Kasol on the way back is a common and easy extension.
Getting there from Delhi and other cities
From Delhi, an overnight Volvo or private cab is the most common route, roughly 12 to 14 hours depending on traffic and the exact route. Flying into Kullu-Bhuntar leaves about 50 km by road, usually 1.5 to 2 hours.
From Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kolkata or Jaipur, most groups fly to Delhi or Chandigarh and then drive the last stretch, or fly straight into Kullu-Bhuntar when seats are available. We usually recommend the flight-plus-drive option if your group's time is limited.
When to go
December to February is peak snow season, and also peak crowd season. If you want snow without the biggest crowds, late November or early March can work well.
March to June is underrated: pleasant weather, green valleys, and noticeably fewer tourists than the winter months.
What a group itinerary should include
At minimum: a proper day at Solang Valley, a half day covering Hidimba Temple and Old Manali's cafes, and enough free time that your group isn't sprinting between sightseeing points. The biggest mistake in self-planned itineraries is packing every single day back to back, which leaves no room for the trip to actually feel relaxing.
