Himachal Tour Package In December 2026-27 7 Days & 6 Nights

Himachal In December 2026-27 At A Glance

Everything on the ground, the Volvo, the hotels and the sightseeing cab, is arranged before you travel, so you are not sorting out cars or bookings once you reach the snow. Christmas and New Year dates are the busiest, so the earlier you lock them the better the rate.

Himachal In December: What The Snow Looks Like

December is when the Himachal hills become the season's biggest draw. Days sit around 5 to 13 C and nights drop below zero, and the first proper snowfall usually arrives in the last ten days of the month, then builds through January and February. Early December can be cold and clear with older snow only on the high peaks, so if fresh snow in town is the whole point of your trip, aim for the last week of December or January. Here is where the snow actually falls on this route, and what stays open.

•Solang Valley. The main snow-play and skiing ground above Manali, at about 2,560 m. When the slopes are covered you can ski, ride a snow tube or take the ropeway for a view over the white valley. It is the highlight of Day 3.

•Kufri. Shimla's snow point at 2,720 m, with horse rides, a small nature park and, on a good day, toboggan runs and ice skating. It anchors Day 6 of the itinerary.

•Atal Tunnel and Sissu. Rohtang Pass is snow-closed for the winter, so the high crossing is off the table. The Atal Tunnel keeps the road to the Lahaul side open instead, and Sissu, just beyond it, is a reliable spot for clean snow when conditions allow. It is an easy optional add-on from Manali.

•Narkanda and Khajjiar. For skiers and snow-lovers who want more, Narkanda (about 60 km from Shimla) has gentle ski slopes, and Khajjiar near Dalhousie turns into a wide snow meadow. Both can be built in if you extend the trip.

For a wider list of December spots across the state, see our guides to the best places to visit in Himachal in December, Shimla in December and Manali in December.

How To Reach Manali And Shimla In Winter

Chandigarh is the gateway for this trip. The overnight Volvo from Chandigarh to Manali is built into the package, so you do not arrange the main road leg yourself, and from most cities you simply fly or take a train to Chandigarh first. Here is how the winter legs work.

•By road and Volvo. Chandigarh to Manali is about 305 km, covered overnight on the included Volvo (roughly 9 to 11 hours). Manali to Shimla later in the trip is about 250 km on an included AC bus. Both roads stay open and are cleared through December.

•By the Kalka-Shimla toy train. Travellers who want the classic mountain arrival into Shimla can ride the Kalka-Shimla toy train, a UNESCO heritage line that climbs about 96 km through 102 tunnels in 5 to 6 hours. Tell us if you would like it added.

•Winter road note. After a heavy snowfall the higher stretches can see short delays or chain restrictions, so the itinerary keeps buffer time and the team tracks road conditions before each drive. Rohtang is the only major closure, and the trip is planned around it.

For a full month-by-month breakdown and things to do beyond the itinerary, see our Himachal travel guide.

Day-By-Day Itinerary: 7 Days & 6 Nights

Day 1: Chandigarh to Manali (overnight Volvo).

Your trip starts with an evening Volvo from Chandigarh, departing around 9:30 PM for the overnight run to Manali. The drive takes roughly 9 to 11 hours through the hills, and you reach Manali by about 7:30 in the morning. Settle into the hotel, warm up and take it easy for the rest of the day. Overnight stay in Manali.

Day 2: Manali arrival and local sightseeing.

After a morning pickup from the bus station and hotel check-in, spend the afternoon on the Manali circuit: the Hadimba Devi Temple among the cedars, Vashisht village with its hot water springs (a welcome soak in the December cold), the Van Vihar, the Tibetan Monastery and the buzz of Mall Road. Round off the evening shopping for shawls and woollens in the local markets. Overnight stay in Manali.

Day 3: Manali to Solang Valley snow day.

After breakfast, head up to Solang Valley by way of Kothi, the main snow ground above Manali. When the slopes are under fresh snow this is where the trip peaks: snow tubing and sledge rides, skiing for beginners with an instructor, and the ropeway for a view across the white valley (activities are weather-dependent and mostly at your own cost). Return to the hotel for dinner and an overnight stay in Manali.

Day 4: Manali excursion to Kullu, Naggar and Manikaran.

After breakfast, drive out to Kullu and Naggar. When the Beas is running you can try river rafting at your own cost, then shop for Kullu shawls and Pashmina before visiting the local Vaishno Devi temple. The day ends at Manikaran Sahib, famous for its natural hot springs, the Ramchandra temple and the Gurudwara, where the steaming water is a real treat in the winter chill. Return to Manali for dinner and an overnight stay.

Day 5: Manali to Shimla.

After breakfast and check-out, board the AC bus for the scenic transfer to Shimla, about 250 km along the Beas and then up to the old summer capital. Check in on arrival and spend the evening on The Ridge and Mall Road as the lights come on. Overnight stay in Shimla.

Day 6: Shimla and the Kufri snow point.

After breakfast, drive up to Kufri at 2,720 m, Shimla's snow point, for horse rides, the nature park and, on a good day, toboggan runs and snow play. Back in town, visit the Jakhu Temple under its towering Hanuman statue, St. Christ Church (the second-oldest church in North India), Mall Road and Lakkar Bazaar for wooden crafts. Overnight stay in Shimla.

Day 7: Shimla to Chandigarh departure.

After breakfast, keep the morning for a last walk on The Ridge or some quick shopping, then check out and transfer to the bus stand for your onward journey to Chandigarh, where the trip ends. Travellers with an extra day often add an Atal Tunnel and Sissu snow run or a night in Narkanda for skiing; just ask and we will fit it in.

Want a different length or base? Compare the full range on our Himachal tour packages.

What Is Included And What Is Not

Where You Stay

You stay four nights in Manali and two in Shimla, in 3-star hotels with daily breakfast and dinner. The listed Manali stay is Snow Country Resort on Naggar Road, on the left bank of the Beas, and in Shimla the Grace on Bharari Road, near the Radisson Jass. You stay put at one hotel in each town, so you unpack once. If you would rather upgrade the hotel band or move to a Mall Road-facing stay, tell us when you book and the quote adjusts before you pay.

Why Book This December Himachal Tour With TravelTriangle

This is a customisable package, not a fixed coach tour. Change any day, add an Atal Tunnel snow run or a Kufri ice-skating morning, upgrade the hotel or shift your dates around Christmas and New Year, and the price re-quotes before you pay. Every stay is a verified partner property, the Volvo and sightseeing cabs are arranged to your booking, and a trip coordinator stays reachable through the journey. Cancellation terms are written on your quote before payment, so there are no surprise charges later. TravelTriangle has planned trips for over 40 lakh travellers, and every package is booked through a verified local agent network.

Booking And Cancellation Policy

A part-payment holds your dates, hotels and Volvo seats, and the balance is due before you travel. Cancellations made well ahead of the trip are refunded in full less a small processing fee, a part-charge applies as the travel date gets closer, and December peak-season bookings inside the final window are largely non-refundable because hotels and transport are locked early for the Christmas and New Year rush. Your exact slab, along with any hotel-specific terms, is written on your quote before you pay, so you see the numbers before you commit.

What Our Travellers Say

"For guaranteed snow, travel in the last week of December or in January, and book the hotel four to six weeks ahead, because the Christmas and New Year slots at Manali and Shimla sell out first."

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

Ready to plan it? Share your dates and hit Get Quote, and we will send a couple of December Himachal options built around them, snow days included. To compare the wider range first, browse our Himachal tour packages or read the Himachal travel guide for more on the season.

Edited by TravelTriangle