Himachal Grand Tour: Shimla, Manali, Dharamshala and Dalhousie 9 Days & 8 Nights

At a glance

The 8N/9D Himachal Grand Tour: what makes it different

This 8 nights, 9 days Himachal grand tour covers the state end to end in one trip: the colonial hill capital of Shimla with Kufri, the adventure hub of Manali with Solang, the Tibetan town of Dharamshala and McLeodganj, and the quieter Dalhousie belt with the Kalatop forest and the Khajjiar meadow in Chamba. The fare starts at Rs 35,500 per person on twin sharing, against a package list price of Rs 39,011.

Most 8N/9D Himachal itineraries stop at Shimla and Manali and turn back. This one keeps going north-west to Dalhousie and Khajjiar, so you see four distinct regions of Himachal, and it does so without the Amritsar detour some longer packages tack on. That is why it runs nine days rather than five or six: the transfers between regions are long, and squeezing in Dharamshala and Dalhousie needs the extra nights. Over the trip you move from Kufri's wildlife park and the Jakhu temple, through the Kullu valley and Solang's ropeway slopes, to Bhagsunath and the Dalai Lama temple, and finish on the deodar meadow at Khajjiar.

Every night is on a private cab, hotels are confirmed before you pay, and any day is yours to change. If you are shopping specifically by departure city rather than by itinerary, compare origin-priced options on the Himachal packages from Kolkata listing, or browse the full Himachal tour packages for other durations.

Trip highlights

• Ride out to the Kufri wildlife park, then climb to Jakhu's Hanuman temple above Shimla

• Drive the Kullu valley past Pandoh Dam, with an optional rafting stop on the Beas at Kullu

• Take the Solang ropeway and try paragliding, zorbing or a snow point in season

• Walk the cedar-grove Hidimba Devi temple and the Vashisht hot springs in old Manali

• Visit McLeodganj, the Bhagsunath temple and the Dalai Lama complex around Dharamshala

• Stand on the Khajjiar meadow, the mini Switzerland of India, after the Kalatop forest drive

Day-by-day itinerary (8 nights, 9 days)

Day 1 | Arrive Shimla, Mall Road and the Ridge

You land at Shimla and drive up past the Victorian-era ridge to your hotel. Once you have checked in, head out to the Mall Road, Lakkar Bazaar for its wooden crafts, and the Indian Institute of Advanced Study, the old Viceregal Lodge on Observatory Hill. The evening is free on the Mall. Overnight in Shimla. Included: breakfast, sightseeing, stay.

Day 2 | Kufri and Shimla sightseeing

After breakfast, drive out to Kufri. The Himalayan Nature Park here keeps antelope, the state bird the Himalayan monal, and Himalayan black bears, and the ridge above opens long views toward the higher ranges. Back in Shimla by evening, climb to the Jakhu temple for its Hanuman statue and the sunset over the town. Overnight in Shimla. Included: breakfast, sightseeing, stay.

Day 3 | Shimla to Manali down the Kullu valley

A long, scenic transfer day. You leave Shimla after breakfast and drive to Manali down the Kullu valley, stopping at Pandoh Dam, Sundar Nagar lake, and the Hanogi Mata and Kullu Vaishno Devi temples. The Kullu river-rafting point on the Beas and the shawl and handloom factories at Kullu are optional stops on the way. Check in at Manali for the night. Included: breakfast, sightseeing, stay.

Day 4 | Manali local: Hidimba Devi and Vashisht

A full day around Manali. Start at the cedar-grove Hidimba Devi temple, then Vashisht village for the natural hot-water springs and the old stone temples. Add Van Vihar by the Beas, the Tibetan monastery in town and the Mall Road. The evening is free for shopping in the Manali market. Overnight in Manali. Included: breakfast, sightseeing, stay.

Day 5 | Solang Valley adventure day

Today is the adventure day. Drive up to Solang Valley for the ropeway and, depending on season, paragliding, zorbing, horse riding and a snow point. Solang is the reliable, near year-round snow-and-activity stop on this route. The higher Rohtang Pass and the Atal Tunnel run beyond it and can be added as a customised excursion when the pass is open and permits allow, roughly May to October. Back in Manali for the night. Included: breakfast, sightseeing, stay.

Day 6 | Manali to Dharamshala

A transfer day across to the Kangra side. After breakfast you drive to Dharamshala, following the river valleys most of the way. Check in, and keep the evening free for the McLeodganj cafes and the main square above town. Overnight in Dharamshala. Included: breakfast, stay.

Day 7 | Dharamshala, McLeodganj, then Dalhousie

Sightsee around Dharamshala and McLeodganj first: St. John in the Wilderness church, the Bhagsunath temple and its waterfall, and the Dalai Lama temple complex, the Tsuglagkhang. Then drive on to Dalhousie for the night. Included: breakfast, sightseeing, stay.

Day 8 | Kalatop and Khajjiar

A full day to Kalatop and Khajjiar. The Kalatop sanctuary is a deodar-and-pine forest drive; Khajjiar is the wide green saucer of meadow ringed by cedar that gets called the mini Switzerland of India. Zorbing and short horse rides run on the meadow in season. Back to your hotel for the night. Included: breakfast, sightseeing, stay.

Day 9 | Departure

Breakfast, then the long drive back toward the plains for your onward flight or train home, ending the tour. Because the last leg is in the Dalhousie and Khajjiar belt, Pathankot or Chandigarh are usually the nearest railheads and airports for departure, so confirm your drop point with your agent when you customise. Included: breakfast, transfer.

Solang Valley or Rohtang Pass: what this tour actually covers

The set itinerary uses Solang Valley on Day 5, not Rohtang Pass, and that is deliberate. Solang sits about 13 km from Manali, stays reachable across far more of the year, and carries the ropeway, paragliding, zorbing and a dependable snow point. Rohtang Pass and the Atal Tunnel lie beyond Solang and need a permit and a clear-weather window, roughly May to October, with the pass itself shut under snow in winter. If your dates fall in that open window, a Rohtang or Atal Tunnel excursion can be added on the Manali leg as a paid customisation. A short Manikaran hot-springs and gurudwara side-trip up the Parvati valley can also be added on request; it is off the standard Shimla-to-Manali route, so it is an add-on rather than an included stop.

What is included and what is not

Hotels on this package

The standard fare puts you in comfortable mid-range hotels across all five stops, on a room-with-breakfast basis with dinner as per the itinerary. Indicative properties are the Snow Valley Resorts in Shimla, the Golden Apple Resort in Manali, the White Ridge Hotel in Dharamshala, the Grand View in Dalhousie and the Aanantham Resort in Khajjiar. These or similar hotels are confirmed against availability for your dates when you customise, so ask for the exact property list on your quote. Category upgrades or a budget downgrade can both be priced.

Price, booking and cancellation policy

From Rs 35,500 per person on twin sharing, against a list price of Rs 39,011. The fare covers 8 nights of hotel stay, daily breakfast with dinners as per the itinerary, all listed sightseeing transfers by private cab, a welcome drink, and taxes as listed. It does not cover lunches, entry fees and activity charges such as the Solang ropeway and paragliding, room heater charges, or travel insurance. The full split is in the inclusions and exclusions table above.

• How booking works: Personalise the itinerary and submit the request, get quotes from up to three verified local agents, compare, and pay in instalments once you pick one.

• Customisation: Every day is customisable, so you can swap a leisure day for an extra excursion, add Rohtang in season, or upgrade a hotel category.

• Cancellation and changes: the exact cancellation window and any non-refundable advance are written on your confirmation before you pay. Because departures are date-based and hotels are pre-booked, confirm the free-cancellation cut-off for your dates with your agent before you pay anything.

"On the Manali leg, take the Solang ropeway before 11 am; the queues and the afternoon cloud both build later in the day," advises TravelTriangle's Himachal tour desk.

Fares, hotels and inclusions on this page are checked by our Himachal desk against live agent quotes for this route before it goes live.

Ready to book your Himachal grand tour?

Lock your dates for the 8 nights 9 days Himachal grand tour, from Rs 35,500 per person, and have a verified local agent tailor every day to you. or call 1800-123-5555. Travelling as a family and want a version built around kids' pacing? Compare the 8N/9D Himachal family tour, or read the full Himachal travel guide before you book.

Edited by TravelTriangle