Shimla Kullu Manali Tour by Volvo Bus from Delhi 6 Days & 5 Nights

You spend 2 nights in Shimla and 3 nights in Manali, with a scenic drive between the two through the Kullu valley. Days are kept unhurried, so there is time to walk The Ridge and Mall Road in Shimla and to shop Manu Market and The Mall in Manali at your own pace.

Trip highlights

• Shimla's colonial architecture, The Ridge and the walking trails around town

• Naldehra and its 18-hole golf course, a stop most Volvo packages skip

• Vashisht hot springs and the old temple village above Manali

• A full adventure day at Solang Valley, plus the drive out towards Atal Tunnel and Sissu

How to Reach Shimla and Manali by Volvo Bus from Delhi

The trip is built around the Volvo, so the long distances are covered overnight while you sleep and your days stay free for the hills. You board an air-conditioned Volvo coach in Delhi in the evening and reach Shimla the next morning, roughly a 343 km to 365 km run of about 8 to 10 hours through the night. The road climbs out of the plains via Ambala and Kalka and then up through the Shivalik range and Solan into Shimla. From Shimla you move across to Manali by road through the Kullu valley, close to 250 km and about 7 to 8 hours with sightseeing stops. On the last day you board the return Volvo from Manali back to Delhi, roughly 530 km to 570 km and around 12 to 14 hours by road.

The table below sets out each leg so you know exactly how you are travelling before you book. All distances, times and boarding points are confirmed on your trip voucher.

The Volvo runs via Ambala and Kalka, the same corridor as the Kalka to Shimla toy train (a 96 km narrow-gauge line that has been a UNESCO World Heritage route since 2008), so you get the classic approach to the hills without changing vehicles. Boarding point and departure time in Delhi are shared on your voucher. If you would rather fly one leg into Chandigarh and pick up the road from there, tell us and we will re-quote before you confirm.

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day 1: Delhi to Shimla by Volvo

Your trip begins in Delhi, where you board the Volvo coach and travel up towards the hills. On the way you stop at Pinjore Garden, a terraced Mughal-era garden near Kalka, and at the Timber Trail point before the final climb into Shimla. On arrival you are transferred to your hotel and check in. The evening is at leisure to walk down to The Ridge and Mall Road for your first taste of Shimla. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel in Shimla.

Day 2: Shimla and Naldehra Excursion

After breakfast you drive out to Naldehra, about 22 km from Shimla, set around one of the oldest and most scenic 18-hole golf courses in the country. The greens run along a cedar-lined ridge with valley views on both sides, and short pony rides and walks are available at your own expense. It is an easy, unhurried morning away from the town crowds. You return to Shimla with time to explore the local markets and The Mall in the evening. Dinner and overnight stay in Shimla.

Day 3: Shimla to Manali, Sightseeing Enroute

Check out after breakfast for the scenic drive to Manali through the Kullu valley alongside the Beas river. The day's stops include Pandoh Dam, Sunder Nagar Lake, Hanogi Mata Temple and the Kullu Vaishno Devi temple, with a stop at the Kullu river rafting point and the shawl and handloom factories for those who want to shop. You reach Manali by evening, check in to your hotel, and the rest of the day is free. Dinner and overnight stay in Manali.

Day 4: Manali Local Sightseeing

A full day in and around Manali. You visit the Hadimba Devi Temple set in a cedar forest, Van Vihar by the river, and Vashisht village with its natural hot-water springs and old stone temple. The day also covers the Tibetan Monastery and time at Manali Market and The Mall. The evening is free for Mall Road and the Ibex market. Dinner and overnight stay in Manali.

Day 5: Solang Valley and Atal Tunnel Side

The adventure day. You head up to Solang Valley, the activity hub above Manali, where zorbing, paragliding, snow scooter rides, horse and yak rides and, in the snow months, skiing are all available at your own expense. Weather and road conditions permitting, you can drive on towards the Atal Tunnel, the 9.02 km tunnel under the Rohtang ridge opened in October 2020, which reaches Sissu on the far side. Because the tunnel stays open through most of the year, it is the reliable way to touch snow country when Rohtang Pass itself is closed for the season or needs a permit. You return to Manali by evening. Dinner and overnight stay in Manali.

Day 6: Manali to Delhi Departure

After breakfast you check out of your Manali hotel. You are transferred to the Manali Volvo stand for the return overnight coach to Delhi, roughly a 530 km to 570 km road journey. The drive follows the Beas down through Kullu, Mandi and Bilaspur before the Kiratpur stretch and back into the plains, with your trip ending on arrival in Delhi.

Best Time to Visit Shimla and Manali

You can do this Volvo tour through the year, and the season decides what the trip feels like more than anything else. Spring and early summer bring clear skies and open roads for sightseeing and Solang activities. Winter trades that for snow around Manali and the Atal Tunnel side, with colder Volvo nights and the odd weather delay on the hill roads. The monsoon is greener and quieter but can slow the drives.

For snow, aim for late December to February and expect Rohtang Pass to be shut, which is exactly why the Atal Tunnel to Sissu run matters in winter. For activities and easy driving, March to June is the safe pick.

What Is Included and Excluded

Hotels on this package

You stay at hand-picked hotels in each town. Current properties are Hotel Aplin Hillden in Shimla and King's Land in Manali, or a similar category hotel if these are full on your dates. You can upgrade the hotel category at the time of booking and we will re-quote.

Cancellation and Refund Policy

Because the Volvo seats, the hotels and the sightseeing cab are all blocked in advance for your dates, cancellations are handled on a slab basis by how many days before departure you cancel. The earlier you tell us, the smaller the charge. The exact day-wise slabs and refund percentages that apply to your booking are shared in writing on your quote and voucher before you pay, so there are no surprises later. Date changes are also possible on request, subject to Volvo and hotel availability for the new dates.

Why Book This Volvo Tour with TravelTriangle

Every Shimla Manali Volvo package is planned by verified local travel agents, not a call-centre script, so the hotels, the Volvo timings and the cab are arranged by people who run this route regularly. The itinerary is fully customisable, you can add nights, change hotels or add a leg by flight, and you deal with real support on the trip, not just before it. Reviews on this package come from travellers who actually booked it, and their photos and notes are shown below the itinerary.

Ready to plan it? Send us your dates and we will tailor this Shimla Manali tour by Volvo bus from Delhi to your budget and hotel category, or browse more Himachal tour packages to compare routes and durations.

Edited by TravelTriangle