Manali tour package or DIY from Delhi?
By Ganesh ·
A 5-day Manali package from Delhi costs about ₹12,000–₹25,000 per person by Volvo; doing it yourself costs about ₹10,000–₹22,000. Rohtang vs Atal Tunnel, costs and a day-by-day plan.
The short answer: a 5-day Manali tour package from Delhi usually costs about ₹12,000–₹25,000 per person with Volvo bus travel, hotel, breakfast and dinner, and a car for sightseeing, more with flights. Doing it yourself costs roughly ₹10,000–₹22,000 per person. Manali packages are cheap and convenient; DIY mainly gives you a better hotel location and a free hand with the Rohtang, Atal Tunnel and Sissu day.
All prices are approximate, per person, for two people sharing, outside peak weeks (May–June holidays and Christmas–New Year). Check the official permit site for Rohtang and Atal Tunnel rules before you go.
What a typical Manali package includes
- Overnight Volvo bus from Delhi (or Chandigarh) and back; some packages use flights to Bhuntar (Kullu) or Chandigarh instead.
- 3–4 nights in a hotel in Manali, with breakfast and dinner.
- A cab for local sightseeing (Hadimba Temple, Vashisht, Old Manali, Mall Road) and a Solang Valley trip.
- Rohtang Pass or Atal Tunnel / Sissu on an extra-charge basis, plus the vehicle permit.
- Sometimes Kullu river rafting and Manikaran on the way back.
What it costs to do it yourself
| Item | Approximate cost per person |
|---|---|
| Volvo bus Delhi–Manali return | ₹2,500–₹5,000 |
| Hotel, 3 nights (shared) | ₹3,000–₹9,000 |
| Local sightseeing cab, 1 day (shared) | ₹1,000–₹1,500 |
| Solang Valley (cab + ropeway or snow activities) | ₹1,500–₹3,500 |
| Rohtang or Atal Tunnel–Sissu day (cab + permit, shared) | ₹2,000–₹3,500 |
| Snow clothes and boots on hire (winter) | ₹300–₹600 |
| Food | ₹2,000–₹4,000 |
| Total | about ₹10,000–₹22,000 |
Package vs DIY side by side
| Package | DIY | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost, 5 days from Delhi | ₹12,000–₹25,000 | ₹10,000–₹22,000 |
| Hotel | Often on the busy highway stretch | Old Manali, Vashisht or a quieter orchard stay |
| Rohtang / Sissu | Extra charge, fixed day | Pick the day with the best weather and permit slot |
| Best for | College groups, families, first trips to the hills | Couples, workations, slower travellers |
Who should pick which
- Pick a package if you want the bus, hotel and cabs fixed in one go, especially in peak season when hotels and permits run out.
- Go DIY if you'd rather stay in Old Manali, add Kasol or Jibhi, or want to drive yourself through the Atal Tunnel to Sissu or Jispa.
A sample 5-day DIY plan
- Night 0: Overnight Volvo from Delhi.
- Day 1: Reach Manali in the morning; rest; Mall Road and Hadimba Temple in the evening.
- Day 2: Old Manali, Vashisht hot springs, Jogini Falls walk.
- Day 3: Solang Valley: ropeway, paragliding in summer, snow in winter.
- Day 4: Atal Tunnel to Sissu (or Rohtang Pass with a permit, when open).
- Day 5: Naggar Castle and the Roerich Gallery; overnight Volvo back to Delhi.
Tips
- March–June is pleasant; snow is most reliable in January–February; the monsoon (July–August) brings landslide risk on the highway.
- Rohtang permits are issued online in limited numbers per day and the pass is closed on some days. Check the official permit site before planning around it.
- Book Volvo seats early for long weekends; consider a daytime return to see the Beas valley.
- Rent snow gear in Manali rather than at Solang for better prices.
FAQ
How much does a Manali trip cost from Delhi?
About ₹10,000–₹25,000 per person for 5 days by Volvo bus, depending on hotel and season.
Rohtang or Atal Tunnel: which should I do?
Rohtang needs a permit and has seasonal closures; the Atal Tunnel to Sissu is easier and gives a similar snowy landscape for much of the year.
Is a Manali package worth it?
Yes for a quick first trip; DIY is better if you care about where you stay.
You can plan this Manali trip on Sancharees and share it with your group.
Photo: Simsa Manali East Himachal Oct22 A7C 03328 by Timothy A. Gonsalves, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
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