Himachal Family Tour Package (Shimla, Manali and Rohtang) 6 Days & 5 Nights

About This 5N/6D Himachal Family Tour

This is the Himachal circuit most families come for, packed into a comfortable five nights. You base in two hill towns rather than changing hotels every night, which keeps things calm with children and older parents along. Shimla gives you the Ridge, the Mall Road and a Kufri day with a wildlife park and pony rides. Manali gives you the Beas River, Hadimba Temple and the headline snow day at Rohtang Pass. Chandigarh at the end is the easy landing: a planned city with the Rock Garden and Sukhna Lake, and the nearest airport and railway station for the whole loop.

The trip is built around Chandigarh as the gateway, which is a short 3.5-hour drive from the plains and the closest airport and rail hub to both Shimla and Manali, so families flying in from Delhi, Mumbai or Bengaluru start here. Every transfer is on a private cab reserved for your family, not a shared coach, and the whole package is customisable. If you are still comparing options, our full Himachal family tour packages cover other durations, and the Himachal tour packages hub lists the wider range. The detailed day-by-day plan is below.

Your 5 Nights 6 Days Himachal Family Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive Chandigarh, Drive to Shimla

Our representative meets your family at Chandigarh airport or railway station and drives you up to Shimla, about 113 km and roughly 3.5 hours through the foothills. Check in, freshen up, and then start easy with the Viceregal Lodge, the grand former British residence set in gardens the kids can run in, followed by the Sankat Mochan and Jakhu temples. Spend the evening on the Mall Road, the traffic-free promenade where families stroll, eat and shop. Dinner and overnight in Shimla.

Day 2: Shimla and a Day Trip to Kufri

After breakfast, drive out to Kufri, about 13 km from Shimla, and spend the morning at the Himalayan Nature Park, home to rare antelopes, the Himalayan Monal, and Himalayan bears. Kufri is where children take their first pony ride, and in winter it is the reliable snow spot near Shimla. Back in town, walk to Christ Church (built in 1857, the second-oldest church in north India), the open Ridge, Scandal Point and the Gaiety Theatre, and browse Lakkar Bazaar for wooden toys and souvenirs. Dinner and overnight in Shimla.

Day 3: Shimla to Manali via Kullu Valley

Check out after breakfast for the scenic drive to Manali, about 250 km, following the Sutlej and then the Beas through the Kullu Valley. The road hugs the river most of the way, so it is a sightseeing day in itself. Stops en route include the Pandoh Dam, Sundar Nagar Lake, the Hanogi Mata temple, the Kullu river-rafting point for families who want a short splash, and a Kullu shawl factory. Reach Manali by evening and check in. Dinner and overnight in Manali.

Day 4: Manali Day Excursion to Rohtang Pass

This is the snow day the children will talk about. After an early breakfast, drive up to Rohtang Pass, about 51 km from Manali, climbing past Gulaba, Marhi and the Rahala Falls to the snow line. At the top there is skiing, sledging, and horse, yak and snow-scooter rides, all paid for on the spot as you choose. A quick planning note for parents: Rohtang is usually shut from November to May and on Tuesdays, and it needs a vehicle permit your agent arranges in advance. When the pass is closed, the day runs to Solang Valley instead, which has ropeway rides, zorbing and snow play that suit younger kids even better. Return to Manali for dinner and overnight.

Day 5: Manali to Chandigarh

After a relaxed breakfast, check out and begin the descent to Chandigarh, about 310 km back down the Kullu Valley and out to the plains, with photo stops along the Beas. It is a long but pretty drive, so this is a gentle day by design after the altitude of Rohtang. Arrive in Chandigarh by evening and check in to relax. Dinner and overnight in Chandigarh.

Day 6: Chandigarh Sightseeing and Departure

On the last morning, after breakfast, see the two sights that make Chandigarh worth the overnight. The Rock Garden, built over 40 acres by Nek Chand entirely from recycled waste (broken bangles, tiles, ceramic and industrial offcuts), is a genuine hit with children, all courtyards, waterfalls and mosaic figures. A short hop away, Sukhna Lake is the spot for a family paddle-boat and a last cup of tea. Then it is a short transfer to Chandigarh airport or railway station for your onward journey home, with the plains and Delhi about 4 to 4.5 hours further if you are driving back.

Where Your Family Stays

You stay two nights in Shimla, two nights in Manali and one night in Chandigarh in hand-picked family-friendly hotels. On the standard band these are Greens Hotels & Resorts in Shimla, The White Stone Resorts in Manali and Sun Park Resort near Chandigarh airport in Zirakpur, or similar properties assigned on availability. Family and triple rooms and an extra bed for a child can be arranged, and if you would prefer a higher category or a valley-facing room, tell us when you book and we will match the band to your budget.

What Is Included And What Is Not

Both columns matter, so here is the full split before you book. Everything in the left column is baked into the price; the right column is what to budget separately.

Why This Package Works For Families

A lot of Himachal itineraries hop between four or five towns and wear children out. This one deliberately does not. Two nights each in Shimla and Manali mean you unpack once per base, the drives are broken by river and dam stops rather than done in one grim push, and the two big-ticket kid experiences, the Kufri wildlife park and the Rohtang or Solang snow day, sit on their own dedicated days so nobody is rushed. Chandigarh at the end turns the last day into an easy win with the Rock Garden and Sukhna Lake, and puts you at a major airport for a smooth flight home rather than a long final drive.

Best Time For A Himachal Family Trip

Himachal works for families almost year-round; the right month depends on whether your kids want green hills or snow.

• March to June. Clear, pleasant days and the most reliable window for the Rohtang road being open. This is peak family season, so book hotels a few weeks ahead.

• December to February. Snow at Kufri and Solang for the children, though Rohtang itself is usually shut. Pack heavy layers and expect higher hotel rates around the New Year dates.

• July to September. Green, quiet and the lowest prices, but expect rain, mist and the odd landslide delay on the hill roads. Fine for a low-crowd, low-cost family trip if you are flexible.

For a month-by-month breakdown and what is open, see the Himachal travel guide, the Shimla guide and the Manali guide.

Booking And Cancellation Policy

A part-payment holds your dates and hotels, and the balance is due before travel. Cancellations made well ahead of the trip are refunded in full less a small processing fee, a part-charge applies as you get closer to the travel date, and peak-season bookings inside the final window are largely non-refundable because hotels and cabs are pre-blocked. Your exact slab and any hotel-specific terms are written on your quote before you pay, so you see the numbers before you commit.

Why Book This Family Trip With TravelTriangle

This is a customisable package, not a fixed coach tour. Change any day, add a night, swap the hotel band or move your travel dates and the price re-quotes before you pay. Every stay is a verified partner hotel, the sightseeing cab is private to your family rather than shared, and a trip coordinator stays reachable through the journey. Across more than 40 lakh travellers served since 2011, the family trips that run smoothest are the ones booked a few weeks ahead with the Rohtang permit and dates confirmed early.

"For a family Rohtang day, leave Manali by 7 am and carry the vehicle permit; if the pass is shut, Solang actually works better with young kids because the ropeway and snow play are right there."

The prices, hotels and inclusions on this page are checked by our Himachal desk against live operator rates before every booking.

Ready to plan it? Hit Customize and Get Quotes with your dates and family size and we will send a couple of 5N/6D Himachal family options. To compare durations first, browse our Himachal family tour packages, or read the Himachal travel guide for trip-planning detail.

Edited by TravelTriangle