Short answer: Snowfall in Manali town usually starts between mid-December and late January, and the heaviest spells come in January and February. Snow is far more reliable above the town: Solang (2,560 m) from late December, and Sissu beyond the Atal Tunnel (3,100 m) from November to March. Rohtang Pass shuts to tourists for the winter, usually by late November. If you want near-certain snow, plan a December–February trip that includes a day through the Atal Tunnel.
Quick answer (checked 23 October 2026)
- Town snow: first flakes most years between mid-December and late January; good cover usually January–February (IMD normals: January mean minimum −1.1 °C, 90 mm precipitation).
- Most reliable snow: Sissu and Koksar beyond the Atal Tunnel, December to February; Solang from late December in a normal year.
- Last two winters: 2024-25 brought snow to town on 8–9 December and a heavy spell on 23 December 2024; in 2025-26 the town waited until 23 January 2026 for its first snow.
- Rohtang: closed to tourists for winter; in 2024 tourist traffic stopped on 1 December, and the pass reopened on 15 May 2026 (DC Kullu orders via local reports).
- Roads: police stop two-wheel-drive cars at Solang or Palchan after fresh snow; 4×4 with chains is the rule beyond.
- Prices: Kullu Manali honeymoon 3N/4D from ₹12,999 per person; Shimla Manali ex-Delhi from ₹14,499; 20 December–5 January costs about 25% more.
Plan this trip with a local operator
We are a Himachal-based operator with an office in Ghumarwin, Bilaspur, registered with HP Tourism (see our certificates). Tell us your dates and we will match them to the snow line, book heated rooms and arrange a driver who works these roads every winter. See our Manali packages or the Christmas and New Year Manali packages, then WhatsApp +91 70874 88961 or email info@suzutravels.com.
When does it snow in Manali? Month by month
Manali town sits at about 2,050 m, high enough for snow but not high enough for it to be certain in any given week. The snow spots are higher: Solang at 2,560 m, the Atal Tunnel portals at 3,060 m, Sissu at 3,100 m and Rohtang at 3,978 m. The table uses IMD 1991–2020 normals for Manali and the pattern of recent winters from news reports. Treat it as odds, not a promise.
| Month | Manali town (2,050 m) | Solang (2,560 m) | Atal Tunnel north portal / Sissu (3,100 m) | Rohtang (3,978 m) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| November | Rare. Days 15–18 °C, nights 2–4 °C. Dry, clear. | Occasional light snow late in the month; usually melts. | Likely some snow on the ground by late November; first falls often mid-month. | Snow on the pass; tourist access ends for winter, usually in the second half of the month or by early December. |
| December | Possible, mostly after 15 December. Nights near 0 °C. Some years stay dry all month. | Good odds of cover after the first big western disturbance, often late December. | Snow on the ground most days; road open on clear days. | Closed to tourists. |
| January | Likely. Mean minimum −1.1 °C, 90 mm precipitation, much of it snow. | Reliable; ski season runs when depth allows. | Deep snow; road closes for days after heavy falls. | Closed. |
| February | Peak month. Mean minimum 0.3 °C, 114 mm precipitation, the wettest winter month. | Best cover of the year; busiest ski weeks. | Deep snow; frequent closures after storms. | Closed. |
| March | Early-month snow possible; melting fast by mid-month. Days reach 17 °C. | Snow lingers in the first half; slushy later. | Still white; fresh falls common. | Closed; BRO snow clearance starts April. |
Sources: IMD normals for Manali (1991–2020); BRO and DC Kullu orders as reported by The Tribune; compiled 23 October 2026.
Where is snow most reliable: town, Solang, Sissu or Rohtang?
If snow is the point of the trip, plan around altitude, not the hotel address.
- Manali town, Old Manali and Vashisht: pretty when it snows, but December is a coin toss and town snow melts within a day or two unless the spell is heavy. January and February are the best months.
- Solang Valley (13 km): the standard snow-play spot, reliable from late December through February in a normal year. Skiing, snow scooters and the ropeway are here. Crowded by 10 am on weekends.
- Atal Tunnel north portal, Sissu and Koksar (about 40 km): the most dependable snow within a day trip, because you cross to the colder Lahaul side at over 3,000 m. From December to February there is almost always snow here even when Manali is dry. The catch: the road beyond Solang is the first to close after a storm.
- Rohtang Pass (51 km): has snow most of the year but is closed to tourists from the onset of winter until mid-May. Read our Rohtang permit and road status page before you build a plan around it.
Our rule for a December snow trip: Manali as base, one full day for the Atal Tunnel and Sissu, one flexible day for Solang. A dry town then cannot ruin the trip.
What did the last two winters actually look like?
Winter 2024-25. First snow at Rohtang and the Atal Tunnel south portal came on 23 November 2024 while the town saw rain. On 8–9 December the town got its first flakes and police stopped tourists beyond Solang. On Monday 23 December 2024 heavy snow left more than 1,000 vehicles stuck between Solang and the tunnel; police moved about 700 tourists to safety overnight (The Tribune, 24 December 2024). A heavy spell on 9 February 2025 covered the town and all of Lahaul, and on 28 February the tunnel road shut with BRO estimating a week to clear it.
Winter 2025-26. A late season. Rohtang had 2–3 ft of snow by 20 October 2025, but the town stayed dry through December, and the tunnel road was open to Sissu and Keylong on 22 December and 5 January. The first widespread snow, including Manali and Shimla, came on 23 January 2026 (All India Radio News), with another heavy spell on 27 January; the tunnel road then reopened only to Lahaul residents in 4×4s with chains on 30 January. Rohtang reopened to tourists on 15 May 2026.
The lesson: Christmas week can be white or brown; late January and February give the town better odds, and a tunnel day works in either kind of year. See Manali in December and Manali in January.
What are the road rules when it snows?
Snow days are managed by the Kullu administration and Manali police, and rules change with the weather. These patterns repeat every winter.
- Police barriers: after fresh snow, police stop ordinary cars at Palchan or Solang; only 4×4 vehicles with snow chains go on towards the tunnel, and some days nothing does. The Rohtang-road checkpoint moves from Gulaba down to Kothi once the upper road ices (ADM Kullu order, February 2024).
- Chains: local taxis carry them in winter. If you drive yourself, hire chains in Manali and practise fitting them. A sedan without chains on the Solang climb is the usual cause of the jams on the news.
- Rohtang permits: when the pass is open, every vehicle needs an online permit from the HP government portal (₹550 per vehicle under the 2025 rules, 1,200 vehicles a day under the NGT cap, closed Tuesdays). Irrelevant in winter because the pass is shut.
- Atal Tunnel: no permit, no fee, but the approach road closes whenever BRO is clearing snow or avalanche risk is high; two to seven days after a big storm is normal. Leave early; traffic is turned back by mid-afternoon.
Our Delhi to Manali taxi runs SUVs with chains in winter. Visitors from abroad can read our Delhi to Manali guide for foreign visitors.
What can you do in the snow?
Most of Manali’s snow activity is at Solang.
- Skiing at Solang: beginner slopes with instructors from January into February when depth allows. The Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering runs structured ski courses; day visitors hire instructors at the slope. The ropeway climbs to a higher station.
- Snow scooters, tubing and sledging: at Solang and sometimes near the tunnel’s south portal. Agree price and time before you start.
- Snow suit and boot rentals: stalls at Palchan and Solang rent suits, gumboots and gloves by the day. Check zips and soles; children’s sizes run out on busy days.
- Sissu day trip: the frozen Sissu waterfall and the open snowfield by the helipad, with far fewer stalls.
- Hamta and Sethan: the Sethan plateau above Prini hosts igloo stays and snow walks in January and February when snow is deep; access is by 4×4 and on foot.
- Vashisht hot springs: free temple baths, the right end to a cold day.
We do not print activity prices; they change weekly with snow and crowd. Ask us for the current range.
How do you check live snow conditions before you leave?
Use these, in this order.
- IMD Shimla Meteorological Centre: daily bulletin and district warnings for Kullu and Lahaul-Spiti; orange and red alerts mean closures are likely.
- IMD Manali city forecast: seven-day outlook and observed temperatures for the Manali station.
- DC Kullu and Manali police: which barrier is in force and whether 4×4s are being allowed beyond Solang.
- BRO: Atal Tunnel approach and Manali–Leh highway status during clearance.
We keep a season-long tracker at Himachal snowfall winter 2026-27 updated from these sources. Message us the night before your tunnel day.
What should you pack, and are hotels heated?
Sunny afternoons feel mild even in January; shade, wind and nights do not.
- Thermal base layer, fleece and a windproof jacket; add a down jacket for Sissu days.
- Waterproof shoes with grip; rent gumboots for Solang.
- Gloves, cap, neck warmer, sunglasses and SPF 50; snow glare burns.
- Lip balm, power bank and cash, because UPI struggles at Solang when the network is overloaded.
Most mid-range hotels have room heaters; central heating is rare outside the top end. Ask three questions: is the heater free or charged per night, is hot water round the clock, and is there a generator for the power cuts that follow heavy snow. We ask these for you when we book.
How much does a Manali snow trip cost?
Our Kullu Manali honeymoon package (3 nights, 4 days) starts at ₹12,999 per person, and the Shimla Manali package from Delhi starts at ₹14,499 per person. Both are indicative and confirmed on quote. Between 20 December and 5 January the same packages cost about 25% more because Manali hotel rates jump for Christmas and New Year. The off-season band of 1 November to 19 December is the lowest-priced window, and early December often has snow above Solang without the surcharge. For a full cost breakdown see our Himachal trip cost guide, and compare multi-destination options on the Himachal Pradesh tour package page.
A 20% deposit locks your dates and price; full refund if cancelled within 48 hours of paying; balance before the trip; pay by card via Razorpay (international cards accepted) or PayPal.
A four-day snow itinerary that works in a dry year or a white one
- Day 1: overnight drive or Volvo from Delhi; Hidimba temple and Mall Road; early night.
- Day 2: Atal Tunnel and Sissu. Leave by 7.30 am, be back by 3 pm. If the barrier is closed, swap with Day 3.
- Day 3: Solang Valley: skiing or snow scooter in the morning, Vashisht hot springs in the afternoon.
- Day 4: Naggar castle on the way down, or an extra Solang morning if snow is fresh.
Use our plan your trip form to adapt this for children, a honeymoon or a longer Shimla–Manali loop.
Frequently asked questions
When is the first snowfall in Manali each year?
In the town, first snow most years falls between mid-December and late January. In 2024-25 it came on 8–9 December; in 2025-26 it did not arrive until 23 January 2026. Higher up, Rohtang and the Atal Tunnel usually see their first snow in late October or November, well before the town does.
Is snowfall in Manali certain in December?
No. December is a toss-up in the town. Roughly half of recent Decembers had snow in Manali before Christmas and half stayed dry until January. Solang usually has cover by late December, and Sissu beyond the Atal Tunnel almost always does. Plan a tunnel day so your trip does not depend on town snow.
Can I drive my own car to Solang and the Atal Tunnel in snow?
Only with snow chains, and only if police allow it that day. After fresh snow, barriers at Palchan or Solang let through 4×4 vehicles with chains and turn back everything else. On the worst days nothing goes beyond Solang. A local taxi with a winter-experienced driver is the simpler option.
Is Rohtang Pass open for snow in winter?
No. Rohtang closes to tourists at the onset of winter, usually between mid-November and early December, and reopens around mid-May after BRO clears the snow. In 2026 it reopened on 15 May. In winter, go to Solang or through the Atal Tunnel to Sissu for snow instead.
Which is the best month to see snow in Manali town?
February, followed closely by January. IMD normals show February as the wettest winter month, with 114 mm of precipitation and a mean minimum near 0 °C, so much of it falls as snow at town level. Both months also bring road closures after storms, so keep a buffer day.
How much does a Manali snow trip cost per person?
Our Kullu Manali honeymoon package starts at ₹12,999 per person for 3 nights, and Shimla Manali from Delhi starts at ₹14,499, both indicative and confirmed on quote. Between 20 December and 5 January expect about 25% more. Activity costs at Solang change weekly, so ask us for the current range.
Plan this trip with a local operator
We are a Himachal-based operator with an office in Ghumarwin, Bilaspur, registered with HP Tourism (see our certificates). Tell us your dates and we will match them to the snow line, book heated rooms and arrange a driver who works these roads every winter. See our Manali packages or the Christmas and New Year Manali packages, then WhatsApp +91 70874 88961 or email info@suzutravels.com.
