10 remarkable how to plan a family trip to Lahaul Valley
Lahaul Valley is located in the Himalayan state of Himachal Pradesh and ever since the world famous Atal tunnel has opened travel to Lahaul has become a six hour joy ride from Manali and accessible 350 days of the year.
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When you are deciding on a family trip to Lahaul Valley, you have to keep in mind the weather which can change anytime in this part of the Himalayas. So the best is to make Manali your base and then do a road trip to Sissu in Lahaul Valley. The six hour road trip is what will give your family a complete experience of the two sides of the Himalayas. Snow and barren mountains in Lahaul Valley. While it’s either rainy and over cast or sunny and warm in Manali. But Manali has a lot of greenery so it’s a good blend when you cross the 9.1 kms Atal tunnel.
How do you reach Lahaul Valley with family ?
New Delhi and Chandigarh are the two cities from where you will get buses, taxis and self drive cars to Manali and Lahaul Valley. The travel time to Manali from Delhi is 14-16 hours while the travel time from Chandigarh is around five to seven hours.
The Volvo Bus will cost you anywhere between ₹1000-1700/pp for a seat one way. So a round trip will cost anywhere between ₹2000-3500 per person by Volvo air condition bus.
A taxi four seater will cost you around ₹6000 for a drop from Chandigarh . When it comes to a taxi, it’s better to hire one for multiple days so the cost evens out. On a family holiday, hiring a taxi from Chandigarh is the best option. If your start and end up of your trip is New Delhi, then the Volvo bus is the best option.
Self driving isn’t a good option unless you are a person who has travelled these road before and has driving experience in the Himalayas. Rookie drivers should not experiment driving on these roads. One mistake can be fatal on your holiday with your family.
How many days are needed for Lahaul Valley ?
Counting your start and end point as either New Delhi or Chandigarh then two days or nights in travel your family will need a minimum of 4N/5D to travel back and forth without getting burnt out just going long journeys from the city world.
An ideal family blueprint to Manali and Sissu in Lahaul Valley is completed in 4N/5D. We at tlow have family road trips starting from Chandigarh in a taxi and breakfast as well as dinner covered in ₹10500 per person with two nights stay at Yolo Cafe Manali.
Do you need a permit for Sissu and Atal tunnel?
Unlike travel to Rohtang which requires a vehicle permit. Travel to Sissu in Lahaul Valley via Atal tunnel has no additional cost or permit to obtain. All you need is a vehicle to get you till Sissu.
Is it possible to stay a night in Sissu?
Sissu village has plenty of night stay options, so it is possible to stay a night but then you will end up spending more on the vehicle, if it’s a taxi rented from Manali. In addition to the fact that Sissu can get extremely cold in the night. It’s not one of the places where families want to spend a night. But if your family is the kind who want an adventure and don’t mind the cold then it’s definitely worth a stay.
If a night halt in Sissu is planned then you will need to add an extra day to your blueprint and make it 5N/6D even if your self driving it’s a very long drive back from Sissu to Delhi or Chandigarh.
Is Lahaul Valley a good family destination?
Sissu is a great family destination. The infrastructure that’s been setup by the government of Himachal in Sissu along with the friendly vibe of the people from Lahaul valley. The place has everything to be called the post Covid paradise in Himachal Pradesh.
From food truck stalls to make shift caravan toilets and high speed Airtel and Jio cell phone network and 4G data. A road trip to Lahaul valley will leave your family with memories of a life time.
Where should we stay in Manali?
When you are planning with your family and know the hippie stories from Manali then Old Manali is surely not an option. New Manali is over crowded and like life back in the city. Simsa and Prini are two family resort villages in Manali. But the cost for living in these upper high end parts of Manali come with a premium. Room in any of these resorts will cost you anywhere between ₹3000-10,000 a night with dinner and breakfast. You will find more budget options but then that’s your choice as a family.
Looking for a offbeat family resort in Manali?
If your family is travelling to spend time with nature and be one with nature then Yolo Cafe Resort Manali is where your stay should be. With per person stay and meal plans starting @ ₹800/pp for adults and ₹500/pp for children between seven to 18 years.
Without doubt this is the most affordable and happy experience you possibly buy on the Internet for your family in Manali.
How much will it cost for a family of three?
Two adults and one child if traveling by bus till Delhi, your preferred option then anywhere between ₹5000-10000 is the budget you need for the bus round trip. All depends on if your child needs a seat or can manage sitting on your lap for 14-16 hours.
Taxi to Sissu (Lahaul Valley) and local sightseeing in Manali will cost you around 4-6k depending on if you take an Alto or Swift Dzire.
Night stay in Manali for two nights will cost anywhere between ₹2000-6000 per room with or without meals.
So in total you will need to keep approximately a budget of ₹20,000-25,000/- for your family trip. Keep an average of ₹10,000 for an adult and ₹5000 for a child is what your budget should be while planning a 4N/5D holiday.
What about adventure activities ??
If you want experience a bit of adventure with your family then rafting is something which you’ll as a family can consider. It will cost you’ll anywhere between ₹1000-3000 for a 7-14 km rafting experience.
Best season to visit Lahaul Valley ??
Lahaul Valley is now an all year travel destination but the two best seasons if you want the perfect weather for the perfect photos and videos then
Winter : November to March
Summer: April to June
Winter is when you will get to see the entire valley as a blanket of snow. Summer is when the same white blanket will melt off and become a brown bust bowl.
Conclusion:
If your family has decided to take an annual offbeat holiday each year then a road trip to Lahaul Valley is the great destination to start your family holiday memory book. A Lahaul Valley road trip can be used as litmus test before you embark on a road trip to Ladakh and Spiti Valley or Tawang in the future.
