boltQuick Facts10-sec scan
navigationHow I Did It
- check_circleBooked the HRTC Himsuta Volvo on online.hrtchp.com exactly 60 days ahead — ₹1,448 one way, 19:00 departure from ISBT Kashmere Gate.
- check_circleGrabbed a 4-bed dorm in a hostel in Old Manali (~₹500/night) for 4 nights and pre-booked the bed — March is shoulder season but weekends still fill up.
- check_circleKept one full day each for Solang Valley and the Atal Tunnel–Sissu side, plus one slow day wandering Old Manali’s cafés and the Manu temple trail.
- check_circleAte where the taxi drivers eat — dhabas and thukpa joints — and saved the café splurge for one dinner.
alt_routeMy Route
- 1Delhi, ISBT Kashmere Gate~₹1,450, 12–14HRTC Himsuta Volvo, ~₹1,450, 12–14 hrs overnight
- 2Manali bus standarrived ~8 am
- 3Local bus to Old Manali~₹20~₹20
- 4Hostel dorm, Old Manali4 nights
- 5Solang Valley day trip~₹500shared cab seat ~₹500
- 6Atal Tunnel → Sissu day trip~₹600shared cab ~₹600
- 7Return Volvo, Manali → Delhi~₹1,570~₹1,570
articleMy Experience
The 19:00 Himsuta pulled out of Kashmere Gate right on time. I took a middle-row window seat — a small decision that paid off all night. There is a dhaba dinner halt before Mandi; I ate light because every traveller I know warns about the curves after Mandi around 3 am. They are not exaggerating. Keep motion-sickness tablets handy even if you “never get sick”.
We rolled into Manali around 8 am to that cold, piney air that instantly justifies the whole trip. My hostel check-in was at 11, so I stashed my bag, found a thukpa place near the bridge, and did absolutely nothing productive for two hours. Best decision of day one.
Solang day was a shared cab from the Mall Road taxi stand — ₹500 a seat, six strangers, one very talkative driver. I did the high paragliding fly (~₹2,500) on a clear morning and it was worth every rupee. Sissu the next day was the quiet surprise: same snow walls, half the crowd of Solang, and no permit queue because the Atal Tunnel route needs none.
Last evening was Mall Road and the Tibetan market — I bargained a woollen cap down from ₹450 to ₹300 and felt disproportionately proud. Night Volvo back, slept through Mandi this time. Tablets work.
account_balance_walletWhat I Spent
| Expense | Approx Cost |
|---|---|
| Delhi → Manali Volvo (HRTC) | ₹1,450 |
| Manali → Delhi Volvo (HRTC) | ₹1,570 |
| Hostel dorm, 4 nights | ₹2,000 |
| Food, 5 days | ₹2,000 |
| Solang shared cab + paragliding | ₹3,000 |
| Sissu shared cab | ₹600 |
| Local buses, snacks, misc | ₹800 |
Prices are approximate and may vary.
Travelled: March 2026
lightbulbMoney Saver
Book on online.hrtchp.com instead of aggregators — I paid ₹1,448 while the same seat showed ~₹1,750 on redbus. That is ~₹600 saved on the round trip, basically a free day of food. And the night bus doubles as your hotel for night one.
verified_userReality Check
Booking HRTC directly, plus a dorm bed in Old Manali instead of a Mall Road hotel.
Almost skipping paragliding to save ₹2,500 — it would have been the biggest regret of the trip.
Not carrying motion-sickness tablets for the Mandi curves. I got lucky; my seatmate did not.
How cheap and crowd-free Sissu was compared to Solang — same snow, no permit hassle.
Yes — but in October next time, for clearer skies.
tips_and_updatesWhat I Wish I Knew
- Rooms are rarely ready before 11 am when the night bus lands at 8 — have a café or day-use plan.
- The last row of the Volvo bounces non-stop; middle rows are the sweet spot.
- Rohtang permits release at 10:00 and 16:00 online and the quota vanishes on summer weekends — I skipped Rohtang for Sissu and had zero regrets.
- ATMs in Old Manali run dry on long weekends; carry cash from Delhi.
- March evenings are properly cold — my “light jacket” plan was optimistic.
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.
forumFarah
Is the 19:00 Volvo really better than the 21:00 one?
For me, yes — you reach around 8 am and get a full day. The 21:00 departures I heard about landed closer to noon, which wastes day one.
Did you book paragliding in advance or on the spot at Solang?
On the spot, from the counter near the taxi stand — ~₹2,500 for the high fly. They only fly when the wind cooperates, so advance booking is pointless. Keep a buffer day instead.
How did you book the return bus? Same site?
Same site, online.hrtchp.com. One quirk: Manali→Delhi cost me ~₹120 more than Delhi→Manali. HRTC prices the uphill and downhill legs differently, so don’t panic if the fare looks slightly off.
forum Traveler discussion (0)
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