Leave your hotel early to make the most of daylight and road windows; request an early hot breakfast from the hotel or take a packed breakfast if your hotel cannot accommodate a 6:00am service. Check local road updates and driver/vehicle (4x4 recommended) before departure.
Have an early hotel breakfast or a hot packed breakfast (parathas, boiled eggs, hot tea) to eat en route — most cafés in Old Manali open later than 8:00am in winter, so rely on hotel or packed food for this early start.
Short scenic stop at Solang Valley for snow views and photos; winter adventure activities (paragliding/ropeway) may be closed or limited in January—check on-site for availability. A quick 30–45 minute stop is ideal to avoid crowding and preserve time for Sissu.
Drive from Solang toward the Atal Tunnel south portal; traffic and convoy controls sometimes apply, so allow extra time and follow police/traffic directions. Atal Tunnel provides year-round motorable access to Lahaul.
Pass through the Atal Tunnel (open 24/7 but occasionally closed for maintenance — check status the morning of travel). The tunnel shortens the journey to Sissu and offers dramatic engineering views at the portals.
Explore Sissu village and the famous Sissu Waterfall; in January the waterfall can be partially frozen and extremely scenic, ideal for photography and short walks. The site is a natural area with no fixed opening hours but icy surfaces demand sturdy footwear and caution.
Take tea/coffee at a local café or dhaba in Sissu; these small establishments serve simple Himachali/Indian fare and provide a chance to warm up and speak with locals. Note that small cafés may open ~9:00am–6:00pm in winter, but selections may be limited.
Drive a short distance to Tandi to see the river, bridges and the sulphur hot-spring area (hot springs are natural and visitable year-round; the pool/bathing access is variable and often not maintained for public bathing in winter). This makes a relaxing scenic stop before lunch.
Eat at a local dhaba in Tandi/Sissu serving fresh dal, sabzi, roti and rice, or have a pre-packed hot lunch if you prefer guaranteed hot food; local dhabas typically operate ~9:00am–6:00pm but choices in winter are limited — hot packed food recommended as backup.
Take short stops at scenic pullouts on the Lahaul valley road to photograph river bends, frozen stretches and Himalayan vistas — daylight is shorter in mid-January, so plan only a few stops to stay on schedule.
Return to the Atal Tunnel south portal at a comfortable pace, allowing time for any convoy or traffic controls; cross the tunnel back into the Manali side. Keep windproof layers and hot drinks ready for the drive back.
Short stop to stretch, take photos of the valley below and warm up with tea; Gulaba viewpoints are open-air and accessible any time but can be very windy and cold in January, so limit the stop to 15–30 minutes.
Arrive back in Manali mid-to-late afternoon. If conditions allow and you still have energy, revisit Solang for sunset views or short winter skiing activity if operators are open (confirm on-site; many activities run only with sufficient snow and operator availability).
Dine at a warm indoor restaurant in Manali: the Johnson's Café (Old Manali) is popular for relaxed dinner options and local ambience (usually open from 9:00am; confirm late-evening service), or choose your hotel restaurant for a hot, early dinner—many hotel restaurants will serve until 9:30pm. If you want Himachali specialities, ask for thukpa/momos and hot soups to warm up.
Relax at your hotel, change out of wet clothes and check updated road/Atal Tunnel/Weather bulletins if you plan further travel in Lahaul or beyond. Winter travel is weather-dependent — keep contingency plans ready.