One-Day Manali → Atal Tunnel → Sissu Scenic Winter Trip (15 January 2026)

Day 1: Atal Tunnel day

Manali, India on January 15, 2026

6:00am

Depart Manali — early start

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.
INR0, 0h30m

6:30am

Breakfast (hotel or packed)

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.
INR250, 0h30m

7:15am

Drive to Solang Valley (photo stop)

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.
INR0, 0h45m

8:00am

Continue to Atal Tunnel (via Gulaba)

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.
INR200, 1h30m

9:30am

Cross Atal Tunnel

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.
INR200, 0h30m

10:00am

Arrive Sissu — waterfall & village walk

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.
INR0, 1h30m

11:30am

Sissu viewpoint & village café stop

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.
INR200, 0h30m

12:00pm

Short drive to Tandi (hot springs viewpoint)

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.
INR0, 0h45m

12:45pm

Lunch — local dhaba or packed 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.
INR400, 0h45m

1:30pm

Leisurely photo stops along Chandra/Chenab valley

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.
INR0, 1h

2:30pm

Begin return drive through Atal Tunnel toward Manali

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.
INR200, 1h30m

4:00pm

Stop at Gulaba / scenic viewpoint

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.
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4:30pm

Return to Manali — optional Solang evening visit

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).
INR0, 1h

6:00pm

Dinner in Manali — recommended restaurants

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.
INR700, 1h30m

7:30pm

Return to hotel — rest and review road status for next days

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.
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