7 Days in Himachal — Manali, the Atal Tunnel and Spiti

The Himachal Himalaya are big enough that even a 7-day trip only scratches the surface, but one classic loop combines the popular Kullu valley with a real taste of the high cold-desert country of Spiti. The route below uses the Atal Tunnel (open year-round) so it works regardless of whether the high passes are open or closed, and gets you across one of India's most spectacular landscape transitions in a manageable week.

At a glance

• Total days: 7 (6 nights)
• Distance: ~750 km (Manali → Kaza loop)
• Route: Delhi → Manali (2 nights) → Sissu/Lahaul (1 night) → Kaza (3 nights) → Manali (1 night) → Delhi
• Best season: mid-June to early October (Kunzum Pass open). Spring and autumn are ideal; July–August carries monsoon landslide risk on the Mandi approach.
• Altitude: Manali 2,050 m → Kaza 3,800 m → exploration up to ~4,500 m. Acclimatise carefully.
• Permits: none needed for Indian nationals or foreigners on this Lahaul–Spiti loop. Carry ID copies.

Day 1 — Delhi to Manali

Take an overnight Volvo bus or sleeper coach from Delhi (ISBT Kashmere Gate, around 18:00–19:00, arriving Manali next morning). Or fly to Bhuntar (Kullu) airport in the morning if reliable seats are available, then taxi to Manali (~2 hours).

Spend the afternoon walking Old Manali, the Hadimba Devi temple, and Mall Road. Stay: Manali (Old Manali area for atmosphere).

Day 2 — Manali / Solang / Vashisht

Acclimatisation day before going higher. Morning to Solang Valley for paragliding, zorbing or just the view. Afternoon to Vashisht for the hot sulphur springs and a quieter walk. Stay: Manali.

Day 3 — Manali to Sissu (Lahaul) via the Atal Tunnel

A short but stunning drive. Take the Atal Tunnel (9 km, the world's longest highway tunnel above 3,000 m) under the Pir Panjal range and emerge in Lahaul, an entirely different landscape — bare, treeless, glaciated valleys.

Stop at Sissu village (3,120 m), with the picturesque Sissu Lake and the towering Sissu Falls across the valley. Continue to Jispa (3,200 m) if you want a quieter night, or stay at Sissu. Walk in the afternoon — easy paths, big views, quiet villages.

Stay: Sissu or Jispa (basic homestays and guest houses).

Day 4 — Sissu/Jispa to Kaza via Kunzum Pass

A long, dramatic driving day (around 8–10 hours). The route: Sissu → Tandi (where the Bhaga and Chandra rivers meet to form the Chenab) → Gramphu → up the Chandra valley → over Kunzum La (4,551 m, the gateway to Spiti) → Lossar → Kaza (3,800 m).

This is one of the great Himalayan drives. The Chandra valley is bare and immense; Kunzum Pass is dotted with prayer flags and a small temple to the goddess Kunzum Devi. Hire a local driver unless you've driven mountain roads here before.

Stay: Kaza (basic but improving — guest houses and a couple of mid-range options).

Day 5 — Kaza area: Key, Kibber, Hikkim

Acclimatise and explore. The classic Spiti day from Kaza:

• Key Monastery (Ki Gompa) — the largest monastery in Spiti, perched on a hilltop at 4,166 m. Photogenic from below; accessible inside (donation, modest dress).
• Kibber village — at 4,205 m, one of the highest motorable villages in the world. Old houses, a small monastery, and the start of trails into the Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary (snow leopard country).
• Hikkim — has the world's highest post office at 4,440 m. Send a postcard.
• Komic — at 4,587 m, often called the highest village in the world that's connected by motorable road.

Stay: Kaza.

Day 6 — Kaza to Tabo, or Pin Valley

Choose one of two alternative day trips:

Option A — Tabo: 47 km south-east of Kaza, Tabo Monastery (founded 996 AD) is one of the oldest continuously functioning Buddhist monasteries in the Himalayas, often called the "Ajanta of the Himalayas" for its early murals. Photography inside is not allowed.

Option B — Pin Valley: the side valley off the main Spiti, much greener than the surrounding desert and home to Pin Valley National Park (snow leopard, ibex). The mud villages of Mudh and Sagnam are the end-of-the-road settlements.

Stay: Kaza.

Day 7 — Kaza to Manali, then Delhi

The long return — Kaza to Manali via Kunzum and the Atal Tunnel takes 9–12 hours depending on the road and stops. Arrive Manali in the evening; either overnight (recommended) or catch the night Volvo to Delhi if you're tight for time.

Practical notes

• Acclimatisation: the jump from Manali (2,050 m) to Kaza (3,800 m) in two days is significant. Drink water aggressively, avoid alcohol on Days 3–5, and watch for altitude headaches.
• Cash: ATMs in Spiti are unreliable. Carry enough cash for 4–5 days.
• Mobile signal: patchy beyond Manali. Only BSNL postpaid has consistent coverage in Spiti. Pre-paid SIMs (Jio, Airtel) work spottily and sometimes not at all.
• Driver vs self-drive: unless you have mountain-road experience, hire a local driver in Manali. Costs are reasonable and the local knowledge for road conditions is invaluable.
• Toilets and food: basic in Spiti. Carry hand sanitiser, snacks, and a roll of toilet paper.

Variations

• 5 days: skip the second Spiti day; go Manali → Sissu → Kaza → Key/Kibber day → return.
• 10 days: add Chandratal Lake (4,300 m) overnight after Kunzum Pass, plus 2 extra days for Pin Valley and a Tabo overnight.
• 2 weeks: continue from Kaza via Kinnaur and the Sangla valley back to Shimla — the Spiti–Kinnaur loop, one of the great Himalayan road trips.

Related guides

• Manali travel guide →
• Shimla travel guide → (for the alternative route in/out)
• Top 12 Hill Stations in India →