boltQuick Facts10-sec scan
navigationHow I Did It
- check_circleLeft Delhi at 5 am in our petrol sedan — Manali by evening, two proper breaks (12–13 hrs, ~550 km).
- check_circleFuel math: ~1,100 km round trip at ~14 km/l came to ~₹9,000 in petrol; tolls ~₹800 plus the Manali green tax.
- check_circleFamily suite, New Manali, in-house parking (~₹4,000/night, 5 nights) — non-negotiable with kids.
- check_circleOur car for Mall Road and local runs; hired a local cab for the Rohtang day (~₹3,500) instead of wrestling the permit quota ourselves.
alt_routeMy Route
- 1Delhi~₹9,000,own car, 5 am — fuel ~₹9,000, toll ~₹800
- 2Chandigarh → Kiratpur → Mandi → Kullu12–13 hrs, with breaks
- 3Manalifamily suite, New Manali, 5 nights, parking included
- 4Rohtang day~₹3,500local cab ~₹3,500 — no self-drive permit hassle
- 5Solang Valley half-dayown car
- 6Naggar + local sightsown car
- 7Drive backdaytime, same route
articleMy Experience
With two kids (9 and 6), the journey had to be part of the plan. We left at 5 am — sounds punishing, but the kids slept through the first four hours. Breakfast near Chandigarh, lunch at a Mandi dhaba, Manali by evening. The Mandi–Manali stretch is genuinely winding; motion-sickness tablets on our pharmacist’s advice — glad we asked.
Rohtang day we outsourced to a local cab — the quota and dawn queue were too much with kids, and the driver knew the best snow point that week. Solang the next day: easy drive, kids loved the ropeway, back for lunch.
The unsung hero was the hotel’s parking. Mall Road stays tempt until you’re paying for parking elsewhere and shuttling kids around; ours was a 10-minute walk from the action, car parked.
account_balance_walletWhat I Spent
| Expense | Approx Cost |
|---|---|
| Fuel, ~1,100 km round trip | ₹9,000 |
| Tolls + Manali green tax | ₹1,100 |
| Family suite, 5 nights | ₹20,000 |
| Food, 6 days (family of four) | ₹10,800 |
| Rohtang day, local cab | ₹3,500 |
| Activities (kids’ rides, ropeway) | ₹5,000 |
| Snacks, medicines, misc | ₹3,000 |
Prices are approximate and may vary.
Travelled: June 2026
lightbulbMoney Saver
Self-driving saved ~₹10,000–₹12,000 over a six-day private taxi — and with kids, your own car (pillows, snacks, unscheduled stops) is worth more than the money. The Atal Tunnel–Sissu run needs no permit, so it doubles as a backup snow day if Rohtang plans collapse.
verified_userReality Check
Self-driving, one family suite instead of two rooms.
The Rohtang cab — ₹3,500 for a driver who handled quota, queue and mountain road while we handled the kids.
Underestimating the Mandi–Manali curves. The tablets saved us, but that stretch should’ve been in daylight.
How smooth the rest was — good roads till Mandi, and the kids rated the tunnel above Solang.
Yes — in October, not June. Fewer crowds, clearer skies.
tips_and_updatesWhat I Wish I Knew
- Speed cameras are everywhere on the Kiratpur–Sundernagar stretch — fines add up fast.
- The Pandoh–Aut section is landslide-prone in the rains; check road status before leaving Delhi in Jul–Sep.
- Carry printouts of RC, PUC and driving licence — needed for permits and checks.
- Rohtang queue brutal? Do Atal Tunnel + Sissu instead — no permit, same snow for the kids.
- Book a parking-inclusive hotel — Mall Road stays mean parking fees and shuttle headaches with children.
personAbout the Traveler
Written by the Wayfare founder — travelling the Himalayas on a budget and writing down everything, so the next traveler spends less.
Founder stories · real trips, real costs.
forumRahul
Drive doable in one day with kids, or break at Mandi?
Doable if you leave by 5 am — we did it in ~13 hours with two long breaks. Under-5s? Break at Mandi or Kullu. The last 110 km is the winding part — much better in daylight.
Did you need the Rohtang permit with a hired cab?
No — the driver handled his own permit and quota; exactly why we hired him. Self-driving? You need the ~₹550 permit booked online (quota at 10:00 and 16:00); Tuesdays closed.
forum Traveler discussion (0)
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