Overview
Lahaul lies just beyond the Atal Tunnel from Manali, but it feels like another world: bare mountains, glaciers, Buddhist monasteries and wide river valleys where the Chandra and Bhaga meet. This five-day trip starts and ends in Manali. You visit Sissu and Keylong, the district headquarters, with its Kardang and Shashur monasteries, spend a night there, and then cross to Chandratal, the crescent lake at about 4,250 m, for a night in camp before returning to Manali.
Best for: Travellers in Manali who want to see the high, dry valleys beyond the tunnel
- The Atal Tunnel into Lahaul
- Sissu waterfall and the Chandra valley
- Kardang and Shashur monasteries at Keylong
- Jispa and the Bhaga river
- A night in camp at Chandratal
- Short drives from a Manali base
Day by day
- Day1
Arrive in Manali
Local sightseeing, short drivesOvernight: Manali
Meet your driver in Manali or at Kullu airport. Afternoon free around Old Manali and Hadimba temple; rest and drink water before heading higher.
- Day2
Manali to Keylong via Sissu
About 115 kmOvernight: Keylong
Through the Atal Tunnel to Sissu's waterfall and lake, then along the Chandra to Tandi, where it meets the Bhaga, and up to Keylong. Afternoon at Kardang monastery across the river, one of the most important in Lahaul.
Road guide: Manali to Keylong → - Day3
Keylong, Jispa and on to Chandratal
About 150 kmOvernight: Chandratal
Shashur monastery above Keylong in the morning and a drive up the Bhaga to Jispa's riverside meadows, then back via Tandi and up the Chandra valley to Batal and Chandratal's camps. A long, spectacular day.
- Day4
Chandratal to Manali
About 125 kmOvernight: Manali
Sunrise at the lake, then the rough road down the Chandra valley to Gramphu and the Atal Tunnel back to Manali. Evening at leisure.
Road guide: Manali to Chandratal → - Day5
Departure from Manali
Local sightseeing, short drives
A free morning in Manali for Vashisht's hot springs or a last walk in the old village, then drop-off at the bus stand, Kullu airport or your next hotel.
Lahaul since the tunnel
Before the Atal Tunnel opened in 2020, Lahaul was cut off from Manali for six months a year by snow on Rohtang Pass. Now it's under an hour from Manali to Sissu in good conditions, and Lahaul has become one of Himachal's fastest-growing destinations. Its villages remain quiet compared with Manali.
The monasteries of Lahaul
Lahaul has many small Buddhist monasteries. Kardang, across the Bhaga from Keylong, is the largest and best known, with a library and murals; Shashur, on the hill above Keylong, is famous for its masked dance festival in summer.
Who this suits
This trip suits travellers already in Manali who want to see the dry, high side of the Himalaya without committing to the full Spiti loop. It's also a good acclimatisation trip before Spiti or Ladakh.
Keylong and Jispa
Keylong, at about 3,100 m, is the headquarters of Lahaul and Spiti district and the last real town on the road to Leh. It sits on a slope above the Bhaga river, facing the Kardang monastery on the opposite bank, with glaciers and snow peaks all around. In summer the fields of peas, potatoes and hops are bright green against the bare mountains.
Jispa, about 20 km further up the Bhaga, is a small village of riverside meadows and camps on the Manali–Leh highway. It's a pleasant place for a walk by the water, and many Ladakh-bound travellers stop here for their first night beyond the tunnel.
Stream crossings on the Chandratal road
Between Gramphu and Batal, the road along the Chandra crosses several streams fed by glaciers, the best known being at Chhatru and Pagal Nala. They are low in the morning and swell as the snow melts through the day, which is why we cross early and plan to reach Chandratal by mid-afternoon. In a heavy melt or after rain, drivers sometimes wait an hour or two for the water to drop.
Route and price at a glance
The Lahaul and Chandratal trip covers about 430 km by road over 5 days, with overnight stops in Manali, Keylong and Chandratal. The car is priced on the same basis as our private car tours: 1,250 billable km (the larger of the real distance and 250 km a day) at the vehicle's per-km rate, plus 4 nights of driver allowance, with fuel, tolls and parking included.
For two travellers on standard hotels, that comes to ₹13,500 for 4 hotel nights with breakfast and dinner, ₹41,600 for the car and driver and a ₹8,265 service fee: ₹63,365 in all, or ₹31,500 each. Larger groups share the car and pay less per person.
- Day 1: Arrive in Manali (short local drives, overnight Manali)
- Day 2: Manali to Keylong via Sissu (about 115 km, overnight Keylong)
- Day 3: Keylong, Jispa and on to Chandratal (about 150 km, overnight Chandratal)
- Day 4: Chandratal to Manali (about 125 km, overnight Manali)
- Day 5: Departure from Manali (short local drives)
Lahaul and Chandratal price
Per person, by hotel tier and group size. Prices last calculated 21 October 2026 from current rate cards and hotel listings.
3-star hotels, standard camps and homestays
| Travellers | Per person | Group total | Vehicle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | ₹31,500 ≈ US$370 | ₹63,000 | Innova |
| 4 | ₹19,500 ≈ US$230 | ₹78,000 | Innova |
| 6 | ₹20,500 ≈ US$240 | ₹1,23,000 | Tempo Traveller |
Per person, twin sharing, all-inclusive of the items listed below. Dollar prices are approximate (₹85 = US$1). Your exact price is confirmed in writing before you book; it depends on dates, hotel availability and group size.
Where the money goes: 2 travellers, standard hotels
- Hotels and camps (breakfast and dinner)₹13,500
- Private car and driver for the whole trip₹41,600
- Our service fee (15% on hotels and transport)₹8,265
- Total for both₹63,365
Included
- 4 nights in Manali, Keylong and Chandratal, twin sharing, with breakfast and dinner
- Private car with driver for all 5 days (sedan or Innova for two, Innova for four, Tempo Traveller for six), including fuel, tolls, parking, state taxes and the driver's allowances
- Pickup from Manali and drop at Manali
Not included
- ×Train, bus or flights to Manali
- ×Lunches, drinks and snacks
- ×Entry fees, ropeways, activities and snow gear hire
- ×GST on the package, travel insurance and tips
Good to know: roads, permits and safety
- Chandratal is at about 4,250 m; rest on arrival and descend if you have severe headache or breathlessness.
- No permits are needed for Lahaul or Chandratal.
- The Gramphu–Batal road is rough, with stream crossings that rise in the afternoon; we time the crossing for the morning.
When to go
Plan by month
Where to go in October
☀At their best2
•Fine, check the weather1
Off-peak: quieter and cheaper stays; check the forecast before you set out.
The whole year at a glance
- Best time
- Snow likely, roads can close
- Monsoon, landslide risk
- Fine, check weather
More places
- Sissu3,100 mSissu: Best: Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct; Snow: Jan–Mar, Dec
- Keylong3,080 mKeylong: Best: May–Oct; Snow: Jan–Mar, Dec
- Chandratal4,300 mChandratal: Best: Jun–Sep
- • Chandratal is reachable from about mid-June to mid-October, when the road from Batal is open.
- • Keylong and Sissu are reachable most of the year through the tunnel, with closures after heavy snow.
- • July and August are the peak months; September is often clearest.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Lahaul and Chandratal package cost?+
About ₹20,500 per person for six travellers on standard hotels, or ₹31,500 per person for a couple, for all 5 days. Comfort hotels cost more; the price table shows every option.
Do we need a permit for Lahaul?+
No. The Atal Tunnel and Lahaul don't need permits; Rohtang Pass does.
Can we see Chandratal as a day trip from Manali?+
It's possible but very long and tiring. A night in camp is much better.
What are the Chandratal camps like?+
Simple tents with beds and blankets, shared toilets and hot meals. Bring warm clothes.
Is Keylong worth a night?+
Yes. Its monasteries and views are lovely, and it breaks the climb to Chandratal.
Which car do we get on the Lahaul and Chandratal trip?+
A Toyota Innova for two travellers, an Innova for up to four and a Tempo Traveller for six, with the same driver for the whole trip.
Plan the rest of your trip
Price and route sources: Wikipedia: Lahaul · Wikipedia: Keylong · Wikipedia: Chandra Taal · Spiti Valley Packages: published itineraries and prices
