Solang Valley Guide: Skiing, Paragliding, Ropeway and How to Get There

Short answer: Solang Valley (Solang Nala) is a side valley 13 km north-west of Manali, at about 2,500 m, where the Beas is joined by the Solang stream below the Hanuman Tibba peaks. It is Manali’s outdoor playground: a gondola to about 3,200 m at Fatru, beginner ski slopes and sledging from late December to February, paragliding and zorbing in the drier months, and the road onward to the Atal Tunnel. A half day is enough for most visitors; a full day if you ski. Go early, avoid May–June weekends, and expect snow at the top long after Manali is green.

What is Solang Valley?

Solang is a short, steep-sided glacial valley that opens off the upper Beas about 13 km above Manali, below the 5,900 m Hanuman Tibba and the Beas Kund basin where the river rises. The floor is a grassy bowl at roughly 2,500 m with a village, a cluster of hotels and hire shops, and a wide slope facing north-east that holds snow well. The Mountaineering Institute’s ski runs were here long before the crowds, and Solang remains the only place near Manali with a lift.

It is not a destination in its own right for most international visitors, but a half day out of Manali that happens to be the most reliable snow outing in Himachal between late December and February, and a pleasant alpine meadow with a cable car in the other months. If you are deciding whether to go at all, the honest test is this: do you want a lift to 3,200 m and a go at skiing or paragliding? If yes, go. If you want quiet mountain scenery, the walk up to Beas Kund or the Hampta side valley will suit you better. Our Manali guide for international travellers sets Solang in the context of the rest of the valley.

How do you get to Solang Valley from Manali?

The road is the Manali–Rohtang road (NH-3) as far as Palchan, 10 km from Manali, then a 3 km side road up the Solang stream. There is no permit for Solang. Rohtang permits, booked at rohtangpermits.hp.gov.in, apply only if your vehicle continues past the Atal Tunnel turn-off towards the pass, and Rohtang is closed on Tuesdays and through winter; our Rohtang permit and road status page is updated weekly. In peak weeks (late December, May–June) the police sometimes restrict vehicle numbers on the Solang road after mid-morning, which is one more reason to leave Manali by 08:30.

What can you do at Solang, season by season?

Activity prices change by the week and are set by the operators’ association on the day, so we keep them on a separate page: Solang Valley activities, which lists what is running and the going rate. What follows is the planning picture.

What is the Solang ropeway like?

The gondola rises from the valley floor to Fatru, a ridge at about 3,200 m, in enclosed cabins; the ride is roughly 10 minutes each way and the operator runs it year-round subject to weather, closing in high wind, heavy snowfall or lightning (operator and local listings, checked 30 Oct 2026). At the top there is a viewing area with the Hanuman Tibba group, the Beas Kund cirque and, in winter, snow for play and short ski runs long after the lower slope has melted. Tickets are sold at the base; queues build from late morning in peak weeks, and the upper station is cold and windy in every month, so take a jacket even in June. Our ropeways in Himachal page compares it with the Jakhu, Dharamshala and Gulmarg lifts.

Is Solang a real ski resort?

By European or North American standards, no. There is one main slope with a short beginner section served by the gondola and by walking up, a ski hire industry run from huts at the base, and instructors who teach the snowplough in an hour. It is a place to try skiing for the first time or to spend a day sliding about with the family, and the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering runs beginner and intermediate courses here in January and February for those who want to learn properly. Serious skiers should look at Gulmarg in Kashmir, which has a 4,000 m gondola and off-piste terrain; our skiing in Himachal page gives an honest comparison with Narkanda, Kufri and Auli. Manali’s Winter Carnival, usually held in the first week of January, brings ski races and folk dance to Solang and the Mall; dates vary, so ask us before planning around it.

How do you combine Solang with the Atal Tunnel and Sissu?

The Atal Tunnel’s south portal at Dhundi is about 10 km beyond the Solang turn-off, and Sissu in Lahaul is 25 km from Solang through the 9 km tunnel. The usual full day from Manali is: Solang first thing (gondola, snow or paragliding), then the tunnel, Sissu’s waterfall and lake, a late lunch, and back by mid-afternoon. In winter this is the snow trip, because Sissu at about 3,100 m is white from November to April even when Solang’s floor is bare. The tunnel is open all year but closes for hours or days after heavy snowfall on the Lahaul side, and in January–February the police may stop two-wheelers and cars without chains. Our Atal Tunnel and Sissu snow trip page covers timings and what to expect; the current state of snow across the state is on our snowfall in Manali page, and the snow activities in Manali page lists what is possible each month.

Walks and treks from Solang

Solang is also a trailhead. The jeep track continues 5 km beyond the hotels to Dhundi, and from there the Beas Kund trek climbs to the glacial lake at about 3,700 m where the Beas rises: two to three days with a camp at Bakarthach, May–October, moderate. A shorter walk from the valley floor to the Anjani Mahadev shrine, about 2 km up the side valley, takes an hour and gives the same views without the crowds; in winter the shrine’s ice lingam is the local attraction. The paragliding in Manali page explains the launch sites above Solang and what a tandem involves, and zipline in Manali describes the cable ride across the valley.

Practical notes for a Solang day

• Timing: leave Manali by 08:30. Cloud and wind build after noon in every season, and the gondola and paragliding both stop in bad weather.
• Clothing: waterproof boots in winter (hire them), sunglasses and sunscreen in all months, a windproof layer for the top station.
• Money: cash for the hire shops and tea stalls; the gondola ticket office takes cards and UPI most days.
• Children: sledging and snow play suit all ages; the beginner ski slope is fine from about age six with an instructor.
• Touts: you will be approached in the car park with packages for every activity. Agree the price and the duration before paying anything, and use operators with Himachal Tourism registration; our activities page lists what the going rate should be.
• Altitude: 2,500 m at the base and 3,200 m at the top are fine for a day visit; drink water and do not rush the first steps off the gondola.
• Winter road: after a big snowfall the Palchan–Solang road can shut for a morning while it is cleared; our drivers check with the police post before setting out.

Our Manali tour from Delhi (4 nights/5 days, from ₹14,999, about US$158 per person, Deluxe, off-season band 1 November–19 December and 6 January–14 March) and the Kullu–Manali honeymoon package (from ₹12,999, about US$137) both include the Solang day with the car waiting; activities are paid on the spot so you choose on the day. Peak dates are about 25% more. A 20% token confirms a booking, refundable in full within 48 hours, and international cards are accepted through Razorpay and PayPal. For a January trip, read our Manali in January page first.

Frequently asked questions

How far is Solang Valley from Manali and how long does it take?

About 13 km by road via Palchan, 30–45 minutes by taxi or private car in normal traffic. In peak weeks the last stretch can take longer and the police sometimes limit vehicles after mid-morning, so leave by 08:30. Local buses go as far as Palchan, from where it is a 3 km uphill walk.

Is there snow in Solang Valley all year?

No. The valley floor has reliable snow from late December to February and sometimes into early March. At the gondola top station, around 3,200 m, snow often lasts into April. From May to November the floor is a green meadow. For snow in those months, go through the Atal Tunnel to Sissu, which is higher and whiter.

Can beginners ski at Solang?

Yes. Solang’s slope is gentle, skis, boots and instructors are hired on the spot, and most first-timers are sliding within an hour. It is a beginner and family slope rather than a resort; experienced skiers will find it small and should consider Gulmarg in Kashmir instead. The season runs from late December to February, with courses by the mountaineering institute in January and February.

Do you need a permit for Solang Valley?

No. Solang is on the open road from Manali and any vehicle can go. Permits are required only for Rohtang Pass, further up the same road beyond the Atal Tunnel turn-off, and are booked online at rohtangpermits.hp.gov.in. The Atal Tunnel itself needs no permit either.

Which is better in winter: Solang or Sissu?

Both, in one day. Solang has the lift, the ski hire and organised snow play; Sissu, 25 km on through the Atal Tunnel at about 3,100 m, has deeper, quieter snow and a Lahaul village setting. Our drivers do Solang first in the morning, then the tunnel and Sissu, and are back in Manali by mid-afternoon.

Is Solang Valley worth it for international travellers?

For a first go at skiing, a cable-car view of the Beas Kund peaks or a family snow day, yes. For quiet mountain scenery, no; the walk to Beas Kund or Hampta Pass gives more. Go early, skip May–June weekends, and treat it as a half day combined with the Atal Tunnel rather than the point of the trip.