Manali Tour Experiences: How to Reach Manali, Places, Food, Time, and Cost

My Manali Tour experiences remind me of the beautiful picturesque city present between Pir Panjal and the Dhauladhar ranges. No doubt Manali is one of the best tourist destinations in India. Once there, you can enjoy the jaw-dropping views, green and sprawling meadows with flowers, forests, clear blue waters of Beas, and many more. It seems like you are in a wonderland. Here you will be in awe after exploring some of the best places to visit in Manali during the Manali tour.

During the Manali Tour, you will find museums, temples, little mountainous villages, rafting, trekking & hiking, shopping galore, and good food. Latest Times of India reports suggest that Manali may soon touch the 40 lakhs mark for tourists visiting each year. In 2016/17, the figure was 36,37,000.

Thus, you can say that it is one of the sought-after tourist destinations in India. This blog will share the best places to visit in Manali during the Manali tour, food, the best time to visit, cost, etc. So, let’s read the blog further.

Manali Tour: Best Places to visit in Manali

My Manali tour was for 3 nights and 4 days, which means my parents and I stayed there for 3 nights and returned on the 4th day afternoon. There are more than 30 famous to lesser tourist spots in Manali, they are:

Solan ValleyRohtang Pass
Hadimba TempleVashisht Baths
Chandratal BaralachaThe Great Himalayan National Park
ManikaranHampta Pass
KulluChandrakhani Pass & Parvati Valley
Manu TempleOld Manali
Nehru KundVan Vihar
Manali SanctuaryNaggar
MalanaGayatri Temple
Jogini WaterfallBhunter
Bhrigu LakeJana Waterfall
GulabaGadhan Thekchhokling Gompa Monastery
Himachal Culture & Folk Art MuseumSiyali Mahadev Temple
Arjun GufaRahala Falls
Himalaya Nyingmapa Buddhist TempleRozy Water Falls
Gauri Shankar TempleKeylong

So, you can plan your trip accordingly. Well, I will discuss in detail the tourist spots in Manali that we explored during our Manali tour.

Manali Tour: Best Places in Manali Which We Visited

I was travelling with my parents so I had to actually choose between places based on my stay. Here is the list of a few tourist spots visited by me during the stay.

Manali Tour: Day One

Hadimba Temple – I paid a visit to this temple and my parents on the 1st day of our trip. The temple is just 2 km away from the city centre, so it does not take much time. Perched on a serene landscape, this temple will give holy vibes all around. This is why it is one of the important tourist spots in Manali during a Manali tour.

The temple is dedicated to the wife of Bhima, Hidimba (one of the Pandava brothers in the epic Mahabharata). The temple is famous for organizing the Hidimba Devi Festival, also known as the Doongri Festival, which draws the attention of tourists all over the world. You will come across vibrant dance performances during that time.

We missed the festival, though, as it happens in May, wherein we travelled in April. But anyway, we came out of the temple with lots of positivity. So, I will recommend you visit the temple once during your Manali tour.

Others

Apart from this, we explored Mall Road and Van Vihar and explored Old Manali as well.

Day Two of the Manali Tour

Solang Valley – You will find this valley, based between the Beas Kund and Solang village. This being one of the best tourist spots in Manali is a major attraction. People know the valley as Snow Point. Also, it is well-known for glaciers and snow-covered landscapes. Along with that, there are countless adventure activities to do here during the Manali tour. Some of the activities are:

  • Parachuting
  • Paragliding
  • Horse riding
  • Driving mini-open jeeps

In the winter, you can also try out skiing during the Manali tour. I travelled in April, so it was green everywhere with clear blue skies and patches of snow on the mountaintops. As the snow melts, skiing is taken over by zorbing. The valley is open to visits between 9 am – 6 pm.

Though I did not try the adventure activities, I did try the massive transparent ball. Thus, Solang Valley is one of the best places to visit in Manali.

Rohtang Pass – If you are in Manali, you can’t miss Rohtang Pass. Thus it is among the best places to visit in Manali. Rohtang Pass is about 16 km away from Manali city and connects Manali to Spiti & Lahaul. I visited Solang Valley and Rohtang Pass on the second day of my trip as these two places are a must for anyone visiting Manali. These are the top places to visit in Manali during the Manali tour.

The pass is pitted at the height of 3978 metres and is a treat to watch. As your vehicle moves further up the Manali-Keylong road, you will be in awe of finding the beauty around you. Do you know that Rohtang Pass is home to many Bollywood Movie shootings? Yes, hit movies like – Jab We Met & Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani were shot here.

Rohtang Pass is the experience of a lifetime despite its chilly weather and your ears getting jammed due to the altitude. In April, we could travel to Snow Point during the Manali tour. The sights were breathtaking, with the greenery around, patches of snow, and crystal clear green waters of the Dashir Lake.

It is one of the ideal tourist spots in Manali to trek. Activities to do in Rohtang are:

  • Trekking
  • Hiking
  • Tobogganing
  • Skiing (During Winter)
  • Tire Drop, and Mountain Biking

During our Manali tour, I also explored a nearby lake at Snow Point near Rohtang Pass – Lake Dashir.

Manikaran – The next on our list during the Manali tour was Manikaran, a small town located between the two rivers Parvati and Beas. We enjoyed our trip to Manikaran very much. The town is about 28 km away from Manali, so we enjoyed the beautiful picturesque landscape while travelling.

The place is famous for its hot water springs and beautiful landscapes. The town has a well-known Gurudwara called Manikaran Sahib. This gurdwara is a famous pilgrimage spot for Sikhs all over the country. Hence, it is one of the places to visit during the Manali tour.

When we stepped inside, we were completely taken by the holy vibes and calmness of this place. The water of the spring is known to cure diseases because of the sulfur contents. The water is also used for langar. My parents and I took dipped our ankles in the holy water and enjoyed its warmth.

The surroundings around the gurdwara were amazing as well. So, very aptly, Manikaran is one of the places to visit during the Manali tour.

Rahala Falls – This beautiful waterfall is present on the way to Rohtang Pass. Rahala Waterfalls is 29 km away from the Manali Bus Stand. On our way to Rohtang, we decided to halt at Rahala to enjoy the beautiful spectacle.

At Rahala, you will find thick vegetation of Deodar and Silver Birch trees. You can also enjoy the visuals of snow-covered peaks from Rahala during the Manali tour. The chirping of birds complements well with the sound of the trickling water. This is one of the best tourist spots in Manali.

Vashisht Baths – This is one of the Manali tourist spots based within 6 km from the main city. We visited this place because of the hot water springs and baths. After reaching there, I did take a dip in one of these springs. The experience was soothing and refreshing!

Jogini Waterfalls – After visiting Vashisht Baths, our next stop was to explore Jogini Waterfalls. You will like the beautiful surroundings around the falls and the sound of crystal-clear water trickling downhill. The location is about 3 km from Manali and 2 km from Vashisht Baths. So, it is pretty nearby, and you can complete the trip quickly if you are travelling from Manali or moving towards Solang Valley. It is one of the places to visit during the Manali tour.

My Manali Tour: Day Three

On the 3rd day of our Manali trip, we mostly spent time inside the city and explored a few other places like the

  • Van Vihar (a natural park for family and friends to hang out)
  • Nehru Kund
  • Arjun Gufa (a legendary rocky formation)
  • Gadhan Thekchhokling Gompa Monastery, and of course Old Manali

Manali Tour: Adventure activities in Manali

Manali is well-known for various adventure activities, like rafting, trekking, hiking, paragliding, skiing, etc. So if you have a flair for all these, you can try them out. Some of the best places for adventure activities in Manali are –

  •  Beas Kund Trek
  • Chandratal Baralacha Trek
  • Hampta Pass Trek
  • Bara Bagnhal Trek
  • Geo Tibba Trek

These are some of the places to visit during the Manali tour for adventure lovers. We also spent time exploring the market on Mall Road and shopping for ourselves and our friends. A few local cuisines were also examined, especially by me. My parents also tasted a few local delicacies along with me. We will discuss food and shopping below in the blog.

Manali Tour: For Food Lovers in Manali

Well, during the Manali tour, you will come across some high-quality restaurants offering yummy food. There are Chinese, Korean, Italian, Japanese, Thai, and continental dishes. Tibetan momos are quite famous here. I tasted a few local dishes like –

  • Samosas
  • Pav Bhaji
  • Masala omelet

During the night, I had River Trout (a fish preparation with local flavours) and rice. My parents, too, enjoyed a share of it, and we enjoyed the meal. Some go-to restaurants in Manali are –

  • Khyber Restaurant
  • Ride Inn Cafe
  • The Lazy Dog
  • Taste of India
  • Tandoori Platter, etc.

These are some of the places to visit during the Manali tour for a foodie.

Places to visit during Manali Tour for Shopaholics

Well, anyone loves shopping these days, and we are no different. There are end numbers of shops on the Mall Road and other local markets. I will recommend you to explore the local market rather than the branded ones. There you will find handmade local stuff at affordable prices. I got myself a nice comfy woolen jacket for 1500 INR during the Manali tour.

My mom bought a lovely crafted stole for 1000 INR (13.5 USD), and my dad bought a sweater for 900 INR (12.14 USD). All these we got from the local Tibetan Market. Apart from this, my mother likes local handloom and handicraft products, so we also explored Himachal Emporium during the Manali tour. We got handcrafted showpieces and a pashmina at a reasonable price. Other best places to visit in Manali for shoppers are –

  • Manu Market
  • Old Manali Market
  • Mall Road
  • Bhuttico
  • Club House

When to visit Manali?

October – February is the best time to visit to enjoy all the places to visit in Manali. We stayed at the beginning of April 2018. During the Manali tour, the weather was good, and we could find snow in patches at higher altitudes.

One must avoid the monsoon and rainy seasons because Manali is prone to landslides. The temperature during April was between 14 – 16 degrees Celsius, which was quite manageable.

Manali Tour: How to reach Manali?

We did think about the flight route while planning for our Manali tour but later cancelled it as my parents were not comfortable with the break-in journey. The nearest airport is Bhuntar which is 50 km away from Manali. Also, the flights are not regular, and the options are fewer. So, we decided to travel by Volvo as there is direct connectivity by road.

We availed of the bus service from Yatra.com, which took 14 hours to reach our destination and experience the best places to visit in Manali. The bus was a deluxe one and was comfortable for my parents as well. The charges were 950 INR (12.82 USD) per person, and we departed from Delhi at 6 pm evening.

Now, the cost of travel will depend on the mode of travel and the class of services you want to avail. Flights are costly, as travelling by car, but they are the quickest modes of travel. The railway is the cheapest mode of travel, but my parents preferred the bus. So, it all depends on preferences.

Manali Tour Budget

Again, the Manali Tour budget is entirely dependent on the number of persons, preferences, and choice of activities after reaching there. Let me list the expenses that we had to bear –

  1. Travel Cost from Delhi to Manali and vice versa – 6000 INR (81 USD) approx (950 * 3 persons, 900 * 3 while returning).
  2. Hotel Charges – Booked from MakeMyTrip at 2500 INR (34 USD) per night (including breakfast).
  3. Food – Total 3500 INR (47.21 USD) for 3 nights & 4 days.
  4. Tour Package – We hired a local agent to explore the best places to visit in Manali. He charged us 4000 INR (54 USD) after some bargains from our end.
  5. Shopping – This is entirely variable. We shopped for 5000 INR (67.45 USD).

So, the entire tour cost us approximately 26,000 INR (350.75 USD) approx for the three of us, including almost everything.

Final Words on the Manali Tour

So, this was my trip to Manali, which was one of my memorable trips, and it was a family trip that made it so special. We completed the most important tourist spots out of the best places to visit in Manali during our tour, and it was an enjoyable experience. If you have similar experiences, do share them in the comment section below! For more information on the topic, comment here, and we will be happy to cater to them.

FAQs on My Manali Tour

1) When is the best time to visit Manali?

October to February is the best time to visit Manali if you want to smell snow. Otherwise, March – May can be a good time as well with temperatures ranging between 12 – 15 degrees Celsius.

2) Is 2 days enough for Manali?

Yes, 2 days are good enough to visit Manali. For that you need a proper plan. You can check out my experience here and plan accordingly.

3) Is Manali Tourism safe now?

In the current situation, it may not be safe to trip anywhere. I suggest travellers to wait for a few more months before planning for a Manali Tourism. Otherwise, Manali is extremely safe to travel for both females and males.

4) How much it cost for 1 person for a 2-3 days Manali Tourism?

It will approximately cost between 10,000 to 12,000 INR. For 3 persons it pinched us 27,000 INR.

5) Is Manali good for honeymoon?

Absolutely Yes! Young couples and newly married ones often plan for Manali Tourism for a romantic getaway.

6) Which is the nearest airport to Manali?

Bhuntar is the nearest airport to Manali. It is approximately 50 kms away from Manali. Bhuntar connects Delhi and Chandigarh via Domestic Flights.
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