Atal Tunnel, Sissu or Rohtang Pass: which can you visit from Manali?
By the Trip Le team · Package facts from our published itineraries
The short answer
The Atal Tunnel and Sissu on the Lahaul side need no tourism permit, so they are part of the standard Manali day plan, but the road can close at short notice after snowfall. Rohtang Pass needs a separately issued permit, is closed in winter (roughly November to mid-May), and is an optional add-on rather than part of the base package.
Atal Tunnel and Sissu
The 9.02 km Atal Tunnel runs from near Solang Valley into the Lahaul valley, where Sissu has a riverside stretch and a waterfall viewpoint. It is about 30–40 km each way from Manali. On the Manali package it is the Day 2 trip, together with Solang Valley; on Manali – Kasol – Bir Billing it is Day 3.
- No tourism permit is needed for the Atal Tunnel or Sissu.
- The road can close at short notice after snowfall, mostly between December and March.
- Local advisories ask tourists to leave the Lahaul side before about 5:00 PM, so the day starts early.
- Travel time varies widely with traffic, snow and police checkpoints — allow most of the day.
If the tunnel road is closed, police may stop vehicles at Solang, Palchan or Nehru Kund. The day then covers Solang Valley and the highest permitted snow point instead.
Rohtang Pass
- Rohtang needs a separately issued vehicle permit (about ₹550, as listed on the Manali package).
- It is closed in winter, roughly November to mid-May, and is never part of the base package in those months.
- Some periods have a weekly closure day, so the permit portal is checked for your exact travel date.
On Trip Le packages Rohtang is an optional add-on: on the Manali trip it replaces or extends Day 2, and on Manali – Kasol – Bir Billing it is listed as "Rohtang Pass (permit-based, roughly mid-May to November)". The permit is not included in the package price.
Which one fits your travel month?
| When | Atal Tunnel & Sissu | Rohtang Pass |
|---|---|---|
| December to March | Possible, but most snow closures happen in these months | Closed |
| April to mid-May | Snow closures less common | Closed until roughly mid-May |
| Mid-May to October | Snow closures less common | Open with a permit (weekly closure day in some periods) |
| November | Snow closures less common | Closes for winter around this month — check the permit portal for your date |
These are typical patterns, not guarantees. Closures are decided locally on the day, and the itinerary follows current police and administration instructions.
Questions travellers ask
No tourism permit is needed for the Atal Tunnel or Sissu, but the road can close after snowfall.
No. Rohtang needs a separate permit and is offered as an optional add-on when the pass is open, roughly mid-May to the onset of winter.
Packages in this guide
Now Booking 2 Nights / 3 DaysManali
Snow-draped valleys, Solang, Atal Tunnel, and the roar of the Beas.
Now Booking 5 Nights / 6 DaysManali – Kasol – Bir Billing
Mountain towns, hippie hamlets and paragliding over Bir.
Sources
Prices are starting prices per person and are read from the live catalogue. Road, weather and permit conditions change; the package page and our team have the latest.