Overview
Manali is the busiest hill station in north India over Christmas and New Year, when the town fills with lights, music and visitors hoping for snow. This five-day package is priced at peak-season hotel rates, which rise sharply in the last week of December, and includes a New Year's Eve gala dinner where the hotel holds one. Days go to Solang's snow, the Atal Tunnel when open, and the cafés and celebrations of Old Manali and Mall Road. The car and driver let you leave early each morning, before the famous traffic jams.
Best for: Groups of friends and families who want to see in the new year in the mountains
- Four nights in Manali over the festive week
- Solang and the Atal Tunnel for snow
- Mall Road and Old Manali's celebrations
- New Year's Eve dinner at hotels that hold one
- Peak-season hotel rates, confirmed in advance
- Early starts to beat the traffic
Day by day
- Day1
Chandigarh to Manali
About 305 kmOvernight: Manali
Leave Chandigarh early; holiday traffic on the Kiratpur–Manali highway builds up from late morning. Arrive in Manali by evening and walk down to the decorated Mall Road.
Road guide: Chandigarh to Manali → - Day2
Solang valley
About 30 kmOvernight: Manali
We leave around 7 am to reach Solang ahead of the queues. Snow play, ski lessons, snow scooters or the ropeway, and back to town for a late lunch and a quiet afternoon.
Road guide: Manali to Solang Valley → - Day3
Atal Tunnel and Sissu, or Kothi
About 90 kmOvernight: Manali
If the tunnel road is open, drive through to Sissu for the snowy Chandra valley; if it's closed or jammed, go to Kothi or Gulaba on the old Rohtang road instead. Evening free for New Year's Eve plans in town.
Road guide: Manali to Sissu (Atal Tunnel) → - Day4
Old Manali and Hadimba
Local sightseeing, short drivesOvernight: Manali
A slow first day of the new year: Hadimba temple's snowy forest, the Manu temple and lunch in Old Manali. Many visitors spend the afternoon in the Vashisht hot springs.
- Day5
Manali to Chandigarh
About 305 km
An early departure to avoid the post-holiday rush down the valley, reaching Chandigarh by evening. Your driver helps with luggage at the station or airport, and if your train or flight leaves late we can add a lunch stop or a short detour on the way.
Road guide: Manali to Chandigarh →
What New Year in Manali is like
From about Christmas onwards, Manali is packed with families and groups of friends from Delhi, Punjab and Gujarat. Mall Road is lit up, cafés in Old Manali hold parties, and hotels put on gala dinners. It's lively and fun, but busy; this isn't the week for quiet.
How we deal with the crowds
The worst problem is traffic on the roads to Solang and the tunnel, which can be gridlocked by mid-morning. We start before 7.30 am on snow days, keep the tunnel day flexible and have quieter alternatives, such as Kothi and Gulaba, ready. Your driver will tell you the night before what time to be ready.
Booking timeline
Good hotels fill up by October for the New Year week. Once you confirm, we book the hotel with a deposit and send you the confirmation; final prices for gala dinners are often only fixed in early December.
If you'd rather avoid the crush
If crowds put you off, come in the second or third week of January instead: there's usually more snow, hotels cost much less and the roads are quiet. Our Manali snow package is priced at normal winter rates and follows the same plan without the festive premium.
Route and price at a glance
The Manali Christmas and New Year trip covers about 750 km by road over 5 days, with overnight stops in Manali. 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 ₹22,000 for 4 hotel nights with breakfast and dinner, ₹41,600 for the car and driver and a ₹9,540 service fee: ₹73,140 in all, or ₹36,500 each. Larger groups share the car and pay less per person.
- Day 1: Chandigarh to Manali (about 305 km, overnight Manali)
- Day 2: Solang valley (about 30 km, overnight Manali)
- Day 3: Atal Tunnel and Sissu, or Kothi (about 90 km, overnight Manali)
- Day 4: Old Manali and Hadimba (short local drives, overnight Manali)
- Day 5: Manali to Chandigarh (about 305 km)
Manali Christmas and New Year 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 | ₹36,500 ≈ US$430 | ₹73,000 | Innova |
| 4 | ₹24,500 ≈ US$290 | ₹98,000 | Innova |
| 6 | ₹25,500 ≈ US$300 | ₹1,53,000 | 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)₹22,000
- Private car and driver for the whole trip₹41,600
- Our service fee (15% on hotels and transport)₹9,540
- Total for both₹73,140
Included
- 4 nights in Manali, 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 Chandigarh and drop at Chandigarh
Not included
- ×Train, bus or flights to Chandigarh
- ×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
- Prices use peak-season hotel rates; gala dinners at some hotels are compulsory and charged separately, which we'll tell you before you book.
- The Atal Tunnel road is sometimes restricted to 4x4 vehicles or closed after snow.
- Police may close some roads in town to vehicles on New Year's Eve; you may need to walk to Mall Road.
When to go
The whole year at a glance
- Best time
- Snow likely, roads can close
- Monsoon, landslide risk
- Fine, check weather
Kullu, Manali and the Parvati valley
- Manali2,050 mManali: Best: Mar–Jun, Sep–Nov; Snow: Jan–Feb, Dec; Monsoon: Jul–Aug
More places
- Solang Valley2,560 mSolang Valley: Best: Apr–Jun, Sep–Nov; Snow: Jan–Feb, Dec; Monsoon: Jul–Aug
- • Snow over Christmas and New Year isn't guaranteed in Manali town, but Solang and the tunnel area usually have some by late December.
- • Hotels sell out early for 30 December to 1 January; book by October if you can.
- • Traffic jams on the Solang road can last hours on 31 December and 1 January; we plan around them.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Manali Christmas and New Year package cost?+
About ₹25,500 per person for six travellers on standard hotels, or ₹36,500 per person for a couple, for all 5 days. Comfort hotels cost more; the price table shows every option.
Why is the New Year package more expensive?+
Hotels in Manali charge peak rates in the last week of December, often double the normal price.
Is there a New Year's Eve party?+
Many hotels hold a gala dinner with music; some charge it compulsorily. We'll confirm before you book.
When should we book?+
As early as possible, ideally by October, to get good hotels.
Will we definitely see snow?+
Likely at Solang or beyond the tunnel, but not guaranteed in Manali town itself.
Which car do we get on the Manali Christmas and New Year 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: Manali, Himachal Pradesh · Wikipedia: Solang Valley · TravelTriangle: Himachal tour packages and prices · Shimla Manali Tourism: package prices by tier
