Do you know, the Prominent place in India with the purest air to breathe is Kinnaur? So while traveling to Manali you can also plan your trip to Kinnaur. In this blog, we will share complete knowledge of how to reach Kinnaur from Manali through different modes.
Where is Kinnaur located?
With headquarters at Reckong Peo, Kinnaur is a District of Himachal Pradesh. It lies near the China border and along the banks of Sutlej river or its tributaries. Kinnaur is the place famous for Kinnaur Kailash peak and for its high quality apples.
Name of the Place | Kinnaur ( किन्नौर ) |
State | Himachal Pradesh |
District | Kinnaur |
Elevation of Places | Varies from 1500 m, 3700 m |
Accessibility | By road |
Best time to visit | April – June, September – October |
How to reach Kinnaur from Manali
Kinnaur is connected by road and accessible throughout the year except during heavy snowfall or during heavy rainfall. The distance between Reckong Peo, Kinnaur from Manali is around 300 Km. There are different modes by which one can reach Kinnaur.
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How to reach Kinnaur from Manali by Road
There are 3 options to reach Kinnaur by road.
OPTION – 1 Manali to Kinnaur Via Jalori Pass (Shortest one – closed in Winters)
You can refer to the below table to plan your journey to Kinnaur via Jalori Pass.
Sr. No. | Location | Distance (Km) | Elevation (ft) | Elevation (m) | Time (Hr) |
1 | Manali | 0 | 6400 | 1950 | 00:00 |
2 | Kullu | 40 | 5200 | 1575 | 01:00 |
3 | Aut | 70 | 3900 | 1200 | 01:45 |
4 | Jalori Pass | 115 | 8700 | 2650 | 03:45 |
5 | Anni | 145 | 4100 | 1250 | 05:00 |
6 | Rampur | 200 | 3300 | 1000 | 06:45 |
7 | Bhaba Nagar | 250 | 5100 | 1550 | 08:30 |
8 | Tapri | 270 | 5600 | 1700 | 09:00 |
9 | Karcham | 280 | 5900 | 1800 | 09:15 |
10 | Reckong Peo | 295 | 7900 | 2400 | 09:45 |
How to reach Kinnaur from Manali on a Bus – Option-1
There is no direct bus from Manali to Kinnaur, you need to take the bus to Kullu and the To Rampur and then to Kinnaur and then Kinnaur. You need to change 3 buses.
Bus 1 Manali to Kullu- Multiple regular busses
Bus 2 Kullu to Rampur – Following buses can be booked online.
SR. No. | SERVICE NO. | KULLU | RAMPUR | DURATION | DEPOT | TYPE | ORIGIN | DESTINATION | ONLINE BOOKING |
1 | 731 | 5:30 AM | 3:00 PM | 9:30 Hrs | KULLU | ORDINARY | KULLU | SARAHAN | YES |
2 | 862 | 7:45 AM | 5:15 PM | 9:30 Hrs | RAMPUR | ORDINARY | KULLU | RAMPUR | YES |
Bus 3 Rampur to Reckong Peo, Kinnaur:
SR. No. | SERVICE NO. | RAMPUR | RECONGPEO | DURATION | DEPOT | TYPE | ORIGIN | DESTINATION | ONLINE BOOKING |
1 | 866 | 1:15 AM | 5:30 AM | 4:15 Hrs | KEYLONG | ORDINARY | UDAIPUR | RECONGPEO | NO |
2 | 1511 | 2:45 AM | 7:00 AM | 4:15 Hrs | REC PEO | HIMMANI DELUXE 2X2 NON AC | CHANDIGARH | RECONGPEO | NO |
3 | 1512 | 4:45 AM | 9:00 AM | 4:15 Hrs | RAMPUR | ORDINARY | CHANDIGARH | Kinnaur | NO |
4 | 930 | 5:00 AM | 11:00 AM | 6:00 Hrs | REC PEO | ORDINARY | DHARAMSHALA | PANGI | NO |
5 | 633 | 8:30 AM | 1:30 PM | 5:00 Hrs | REC PEO | ORDINARY | DHARAMSHALA | THANGI | NO |
6 | 333 | 9:30 AM | 4:00 PM | 6:30 Hrs | REC PEO | ORDINARY | SHIMLA ISBT TUTIKANDI | POOH VILLAGE | NO |
7 | 556 | 10:45 AM | 3:00 PM | 4:15 Hrs | REC PEO | ORDINARY | DELHI ISBT KASHMIRI GATE | RECONGPEO | NO |
8 | 255 | 12:15 PM | 4:40 PM | 4:25 Hrs | REC PEO | ORDINARY | SOLAN | RECONGPEO | NO |
9 | 781 | 1:45 PM | 7:00 PM | 5:15 Hrs | SUNDERNAGAR | ORDINARY | MANDI | RECONGPEO | NO |
10 | 1513 | 2:45 PM | 7:00 PM | 4:15 Hrs | REC PEO | ORDINARY | CHANDIGARH | RECONGPEO | NO |
11 | CHD-RPO | 3:00 PM | 7:00 PM | 4:00 Hrs | REC PEO | HIMMANI DELUXE 2X2 NON AC | CHANDIGARH | RECONGPEO | NO |
12 | 273 | 11:00 PM | 3:30 AM | 4:30 Hrs | REC PEO | ORDINARY | SHIMLA ISBT TUTIKANDI | RECONGPEO | NO |
13 | CHD-SML-RPO | 3:00 AM | 7:00 AM | 4:00 Hrs | REC PEO | ORDINARY | CHANDIGARH | RECONGPEO | NO |
OPTION – 2 Manali to Kinnaur Via Mandi – Karsog
You can refer to the below table to plan your journey to Kinnaur via Mandi Karsog.
Sr. No. | Location | Distance (Km) | Elevation (ft) | Elevation (m) | Time (Hr) |
1 | Manali | 0 | 6400 | 1950 | 00:00 |
2 | Kullu | 40 | 5200 | 1575 | 01:00 |
3 | Aut | 70 | 3900 | 1200 | 01:45 |
4 | Mandi | 115 | 2600 | 800 | 03:00 |
5 | Sunder Nagar | 140 | 3000 | 900 | 03:30 |
6 | Karsog | 230 | 4600 | 1400 | 06:30 |
7 | Rampur | 300 | 3300 | 1000 | 09:00 |
8 | Bhaba Nagar | 350 | 5100 | 1550 | 10:45 |
9 | Tapri | 370 | 5600 | 1700 | 11:15 |
10 | Karcham | 380 | 5900 | 1800 | 11:30 |
11 | Reckong Peo | 395 | 7900 | 2400 | 12:00 |
How to reach Kinnaur from Manali on a Bus – Option-2
You need not change any bus
From Manali to Reckong Peo, Kinnaur:
SR. No. | SERVICE NO. | MANALI | RECONGPEO | DURATION | DEPOT | TYPE | ORIGIN | DESTINATION | ONLINE BOOKING |
1 | 866 | 11:27 AM | 5:30 AM | 18:03 Hrs | KEYLONG | ORDINARY | UDAIPUR | RECONGPEO | YES |
- Pros
- Open throughout the year
- Cons
- Travel time is high.
OPTION – 3 Manali to Kinnaur Via Kaza opens for 4 months only
If you are an adventure lover, this route will be the best thing to explore. You can refer to the below table to plan your journey. This route is open from mid-June to September end.
Sr. No. | Location | Distance (Km) | Elevation (ft) | Elevation (m) | Time (Hr) |
1 | Manali | 0 | 6400 | 1950 | 00:00 |
2 | Atal Tunnel | 35 | 10200 | 3100 | 01:00 |
3 | Kunzum Pass | 110 | 14800 | 4500 | 07:00 |
4 | Kaza | 185 | 12100 | 3700 | 10:00 |
5 | Tabo | 235 | 10800 | 3300 | 11:30 |
6 | Nako | 300 | 12000 | 3650 | 13:30 |
7 | Reckong Peo | 400 | 7900 | 2400 | 16:00 |
You need to change 2 buses while traveling via this route.
Bus – 1 Manali to Kaza
SR. No. | SERVICE NO. | MANALI | KAZA | DURATION | DEPOT | TYPE | ORIGIN | DESTINATION | ONLINE BOOKING |
1 | KLU-KZA | 5:30 AM | 4:30 PM | 11:00 Hrs | KEYLONG | ORDINARY | KULLU | KAZA | NO |
Bus – 2 Kaza – Reckong peo then to Kinnaur
SR. No. | SERVICE NO. | KAZA | RECONGPEO | DURATION | DEPOT | TYPE | ORIGIN | DESTINATION | ONLINE BOOKING |
1 | KZA-RPO-01 | 5:00 AM | 1:30 PM | 8:30 Hrs | REC PEO | ORDINARY | KAZA | RECONGPEO | NO |
2 | KZA-RPO-02 | 7:30 AM | 4:00 PM | 8:30 Hrs | REC PEO | ORDINARY | KAZA | RECONGPEO | NO |
- Pros
- Best for Adventure
- Cons
- Travel time is very high.
For online booking of buses on the HRTC website kindly Click here
Note: If you are planning to take an offline HRTC bus, kindly confirm the timings from the HRTC Depot office before finalization. Click here to know the phone numbers.
How to reach Kinnaur from Manali on your own Vehicle
If you can reach Manali in your own Vehicle then reaching Kinnaur is not too much difficult a task but it depends on the choice of the route you are taking
For Option -1 and Option 2
- The travel time is more than 8 hrs so please make sure you start early in the day so that you reach Kinnaur in the evening..
- Road near Kinnaur is not so okay, so having a high-ground clearance vehicle would be a good option.
- You don’t require a 4X4 vehicle there as the normal vehicle can reach there.
- The road from Rampur to Kinnaur is considered among the most dangerous road so driving should be done carefully.
- In winter there would be snow at Jalori pass so better take the route via Karsog.
- There are limited petrol pumps the way after Rampur.
For Option – 3
- The route after a few kilometers from the Atal tunnel is totally bad in shape and opens for only 4 months a year. So please make sure you are well prepared for that terrain.
- The travel time is more than 8 hrs Kaza so please make sure you start early in the day as during the rest of the day the water level in the crossing is high.
- There is no network/support on this route. Make sure you are having cold prevention set up in case you get stuck somewhere.
- Road near Kinnaur is not so okay, so having a high-ground clearance vehicle would be a good option.
- If you are having a 4X4 vehicle then this is a good option.
- The road from Kaza to Kinnaur is majorly okay but has some treacherous sections.
- Cancel or postpone your travel if there is bad weather.
- In Manali – Kaza route petrol pump is only at Kaza after Manali.
- In Kaza – Kinnaur route petrol pump near Kinnaur after Kaza.
How to reach Kinnaur from Manali on a bike
Lots of bikers every year travel to Spiti via this route. Kinnaur is also on their destination list.
Kindly consider the below points before planning a trip to Kinnaur on a bike.
- Every bike can reach Kinnaur but prefer a bike with > 150 cc engine.
- Road from Manali to Kaza is in very bad shape. Kindly plan well before traveling.
- Make your bike fully serviced.
- Ride carefully as the road is considered dangerous road
- Carry rain covers along with as there might be rain at higher reaches.
- There are many landslide-prone areas that are treacherous during the rainy season.
- Petrol pumps on this route are at Manali, Kaza, and near Kinnaur.
How to reach Kinnaur from Manali on a Taxi
Taxis can easily be hired for Kinnaur and there are many options available on online platforms. Following key things to be considered while taxing taxis to Kinnaur.
- Drivers should be experienced in traveling in these areas.
- You can add the Spiti circuit during route -3.
- Ground clearance of the Vehicle to be good.
- Negotiate well before finalization.
How to reach Kinnaur from Manali by Train
Kinnaur and Manali are not connected by train.
How to reach Kinnaur from Manali by air
Since Kinnaur is located inner in the Himalayas, there is no airport nearby. The Last airport is at Buntar Near Kullu and the other at Shimla.
Summary – “How to reach Kinnaur from Manali”
Let’s summarize what we have understood in this blog “How to reach Kinnaur from Delhi ”
- Kinnaur is a wonderful travel destination located in the Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh.
- You can reach Kinnaur by three options from Manali.
- Kinnaur can be reached throughout the year during option 2 but for Option-1 & 2 plan during summers
- Kinnaur can be reached by self-driven car, bike, taxi, and by Bus.
- Cheapest way to reach Kinnaur is by the HRTC bus and many options are available.
We hope you have got a good understanding of “How to reach Kinnaur from Manali ”. If you want to give suggestions on this blog ” please comment.
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions:
Question – Manali to Kinnaur bus
Answer – There is only one direct bus from Manali to Reckong Peo. You can take a connecting bus for Kinnaur or hire a taxi..