Season guide
Best time to visit Manali
March to June suits Manali for open roads and Solang activities, with Rohtang generally opening around May. December to February is snow season. The Atal Tunnel keeps Lahaul reachable through much of the winter, which is the main change to Manali’s seasons in recent years.
- Summer
- March to June
- Snow
- December to February
- Rohtang Pass
- Usually opens around May
- Atal Tunnel
- Open most of the year
What the Atal Tunnel changed
Before it opened, Lahaul was cut off for months and Rohtang was the only way north. The tunnel now keeps Sissu and Keylong reachable through much of winter, so a February Manali trip can include a genuine high-altitude valley rather than stopping at Solang.
Peak weeks to avoid
Mid-May to mid-June and the last week of December are the two crunch periods. Rates roughly double and the Kullu–Manali road can add hours. Early March and late September give similar weather with none of that.
Questions people ask
When does Rohtang Pass open?
Typically around May, once snow clearance finishes, and it closes again with heavy winter snow. Exact dates change annually and daily vehicle numbers are capped by permit.
Can you see snow in Manali in March?
Usually yes at Solang and through the Atal Tunnel at Sissu, though the town itself is generally clear by March. It is a good compromise month: snow above, comfortable weather below.
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Tours that go there
Every one of these is run by our own team, with the drivers and the permits arranged.
Read next
- Manali travel guideManali lies at about 2,050 metres on the Beas river and is the base for Solang Valley, Rohtang Pass and the Atal Tunnel to Lahaul. Three days is the usual stay. It is the busiest hill station in Himachal, so Old Manali and Vashisht are where people go to escape the main bazaar.
- Solang Valley travel guideSolang Valley is 13 km from Manali at about 2,560 metres and is where the paragliding, ropeway, zorbing and winter snow activities are concentrated. It is a half-day trip from Manali, and in peak season the road in is the slowest part of it.
- Best time to visit Himachal PradeshMarch to June is the main season in Himachal, with clear weather and open passes. Late December to February brings snow to Shimla, Manali and Dalhousie. July to mid-September is monsoon, when landslides close hill roads without warning — it is the one window worth avoiding for a road-based trip.
- Snow trip packagesJanuary and February are the reliable snow months in Himachal and Kashmir. Kufri and Solang get snow before Shimla and Manali towns do, and Gulmarg is the most dependable of all because the gondola climbs to about 3,980 metres. December is possible but not guaranteed anywhere.
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