Travel guide · Himachal Pradesh
Himachal Pradesh Travel Guide
Himachal tour packages combine Shimla and Manali with Kullu, Dharamshala, Dalhousie and, on several itineraries, Amritsar and Chandigarh. Newer itineraries add Kasol, Bir, Chamba and the Kinnaur and Spiti valleys, the Barot valley, Shoja and the Jalori pass, Palampur's tea gardens, Narkanda, Parashar lake, Bharmour, Naggar, Renuka Ji and the Shakti Peeth temples of the lower hills. Our Himachal itineraries run 3 to 13 days, by road or by overnight Volvo from Delhi.
By Holiday Guru Travel · Updated 8 Oct 2026
In short: Classic hill stations, snow within reach, tibetan culture and easy to combine. Colonial Shimla, Manali in the Kullu valley, and Dalhousie among pine forests. March to June and October to November are the best times for sightseeing in Himachal; choose December to February for snow.
Himachal Pradesh quick facts
- Trip length
- 3–13 days (40 itineraries)
- Best time
- March to June and October to November are the best times for sightseeing in Himachal; choose December to February for snow.
- Key places
- Shimla, Manali, Kullu & Manikaran, Dharamshala & McLeod Ganj, Dalhousie, Amritsar
- Tours start in
- Chandigarh, Delhi, Pathankot
- Travel style
- Private cab on 8 of 40
- Hotels
- Standard / 3-star equivalent on 38 of 40; Deluxe on 2 of 40
- Meal plans
- Breakfast on 36 of 40; Breakfast & dinner on 4 of 40
- Suits
- Families, Couples, Adventure
Best places to visit in Himachal Pradesh
Shimla, Manali, Kullu & Manikaran, Dharamshala & McLeod Ganj and Dalhousie are the places our Himachal Pradesh itineraries are built around.
Shimla
The Mall, the Ridge, Jakhoo Temple and a day trip to Kufri.
Manali
Hadimba Temple, Vashisht hot springs, Old Manali and Solang Valley; Rohtang Pass is about 51 km away at 3,979 m.
Kullu & Manikaran
River rafting on the Beas and the Manikaran Gurudwara with its hot springs.
Dharamshala & McLeod Ganj
The Dalai Lama temple complex, Bhagsu waterfall and the cricket stadium.
Dalhousie
Pine-covered hills and a day trip to Khajjiar meadow.
Amritsar
The Golden Temple and the Beating the Retreat ceremony at the Wagah Border, about 30 km away.
Things to do
- Walk the Mall Road and the Ridge in Shimla
- Play in the snow or try adventure activities at Solang Valley
- Visit Hadimba Temple in Manali
- See the Dalai Lama temple in McLeod Ganj
- Watch the Wagah Border ceremony near Amritsar
- Take a dip in the hot springs at Manikaran
How many days do you need?
Five to six days covers Shimla and Manali; allow 7–9 days to add Dharamshala, Dalhousie and Amritsar, or for the Spiti circuit.
| Trip length | What it covers | Our itinerary |
|---|---|---|
| 4 days | Shimla (Volvo from Delhi) | Best of Shimla |
| 5 days | Manali by overnight Volvo | Manali Volvo Trip weekend |
| 6 days | Shimla and Manali | Shimla Manali Tour |
| 8 days | Shimla, Manali, Dalhousie and Amritsar | Shimla Manali with Dalhousie Amritsar |
| 13 days | Grand Himachal with Mata Vaishno Devi | Grand Himachal with Mata Vaishno Devi Tour |
Best time to visit Himachal Pradesh
March to June and October to November are the best times for sightseeing in Himachal; choose December to February for snow.
| Months | Season | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| March – June | Spring & summer | Pleasant days and the main holiday season; ideal for sightseeing and Solang Valley. |
| July – September | Monsoon | Green and quieter, but heavy rain can cause landslides and road delays. |
| October – November | Autumn | Clear skies and mountain views, cool evenings. |
| December – February | Winter | Cold, with snowfall in Shimla, Manali and higher areas; some roads close. |
Suggested Himachal Pradesh routes
Routes from our own Himachal Pradesh itineraries, by trip length.
- 2 Nights / 3 Days: Shimla — Best of Shimla Vacation
- 3 Nights / 4 Days: Shimla — Best of Shimla
- 4 Nights / 5 Days: Amritsar → Dalhousie → Dharamshala — Amritsar with Dalhousie Dharamshala
- 5 Nights / 6 Days: Manali → Delhi — Best of Manali with Delhi By Volvo
- 6 Nights / 7 Days: Amritsar → Dalhousie → Dharamshala → Chandigarh — Amritsar with Dalhousie Dharamshala and Chandigarh
- 7 Nights / 8 Days: Shimla → Manali → Kasol — Shimla, Manali and Kasol Tour
Things to consider
Getting there and around: Itineraries start from Chandigarh, Delhi, Pathankot, Bhuntar or Shimla, with transfers and sightseeing as specified; some use a private cab. Volvo packages include overnight Volvo seats from Delhi to Manali (about 12 hours) and back, with a cab for local sightseeing.
Where you stay: Hotels as listed in each itinerary: standard / 3-star equivalent on the standard packages, deluxe on twin sharing in several others. If a listed hotel is unavailable, the package terms provide for a similar standard.
- Rohtang Pass needs a vehicle permit and may be closed for weather; sightseeing follows what is open that day.
- Book early for May–June and Christmas–New Year.
- Carry warm clothes for Manali and Shimla evenings, even in summer.
- Mountain roads are slow — allow for long drives between Shimla, Manali and Dharamshala.
Himachal Pradesh travel questions
What is Himachal Pradesh known for?
Classic hill stations, snow within reach, tibetan culture and easy to combine. Colonial Shimla, Manali in the Kullu valley, and Dalhousie among pine forests.
How many days should I spend in Himachal Pradesh?
Five to six days covers Shimla and Manali; allow 7–9 days to add Dharamshala, Dalhousie and Amritsar, or for the Spiti circuit. Our Himachal Pradesh itineraries run 3–13 days.
What is the best time to visit Himachal Pradesh?
March to June and October to November are the best times for sightseeing in Himachal; choose December to February for snow.
Which places should I include in a Himachal Pradesh trip?
Shimla, Manali, Kullu & Manikaran, Dharamshala & McLeod Ganj, Dalhousie and Amritsar. Shimla: The Mall, the Ridge, Jakhoo Temple and a day trip to Kufri.
Which Holiday Guru Travel packages cover Himachal Pradesh?
40 itineraries: Best of Shimla Vacation (2 Nights / 3 Days); Nahan and Renuka Ji (2 Nights / 3 Days); Best of Shimla (3 Nights / 4 Days); Barot Valley and Bir (3 Nights / 4 Days); Dalhousie and Khajjiar Tour (3 Nights / 4 Days); Dharamshala and McLeod Ganj Tour (3 Nights / 4 Days); and 34 more listed below.
Can a Himachal Pradesh itinerary be customised?
Yes. Any of our Himachal Pradesh itineraries can be changed — add or remove nights, change the hotel category or add sightseeing. Tell us what you need and we send a quote for your dates.
Himachal Pradesh holiday packages
All 40 Holiday Guru Travel itineraries for Himachal Pradesh, shortest first. Each can be customised.
| Package ID | Package | Duration | Route |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0013 | Best of Shimla Vacation | 2 Nights / 3 Days | Shimla |
| 0559 | Nahan and Renuka Ji | 2 Nights / 3 Days | Chandigarh → Nahan → Renuka Lake → Trilokpur |
| 0014 | Best of Shimla | 3 Nights / 4 Days | Shimla |
| 0552 | Barot Valley and Bir | 3 Nights / 4 Days | Barot → Bir |
| 0137 | Dalhousie and Khajjiar Tour | 3 Nights / 4 Days | Dalhousie → Khajjiar |
| 0136 | Dharamshala and McLeod Ganj Tour | 3 Nights / 4 Days | Dharamshala → McLeod Ganj → Kangra |
| 0133 | Kasol and Manikaran: Parvati Valley Tour | 3 Nights / 4 Days | Kasol → Manikaran → Tosh |
| 0561 | Manali and Naggar | 3 Nights / 4 Days | Manali → Naggar |
| 0145 | Manali, Solang and Kullu Short Break | 3 Nights / 4 Days | Manali → Solang → Kullu → Manikaran |
| 0554 | Palampur Tea Gardens and Baijnath | 3 Nights / 4 Days | Pathankot → Palampur → Andretta → Baijnath → Bir |
| 0557 | Mandi and Parashar Lake | 3 Nights / 4 Days | Mandi → Parashar Lake → Mandi |
| 0560 | Himachal Shakti Peeth Yatra | 3 Nights / 4 Days | Chintpurni → Kangra |
| 0555 | Shimla and Narkanda | 3 Nights / 4 Days | Shimla → Narkanda |
| 0553 | Shoja and Jalori Pass | 3 Nights / 4 Days | Chandigarh → Jibhi → Shoja → Jalori Pass → Serolsar Lake |
| 0015 | Amritsar with Dalhousie Dharamshala | 4 Nights / 5 Days | Amritsar → Dalhousie → Dharamshala |
| 0016 | Blissful Tour to Himachal Pradesh | 4 Nights / 5 Days | Amritsar → Chandigarh → Shimla |
| 0139 | Bir Billing and Dharamshala Tour | 4 Nights / 5 Days | Dharamshala → Bir → Dharamshala |
| 0558 | Chamba and Bharmour | 4 Nights / 5 Days | Chamba → Bharmour → Chamba |
| 0143 | Chamba, Dalhousie and Khajjiar Tour | 4 Nights / 5 Days | Dalhousie → Chamba → Dalhousie |
| 0017 | Manali Volvo Trip weekend | 4 Nights / 5 Days | Manali → Delhi |
| 0132 | Manali with Solang Valley and Sissu (Atal Tunnel) | 4 Nights / 5 Days | Manali → Solang → Sissu |
| 0138 | Shimla, Chail and Kasauli Tour | 4 Nights / 5 Days | Shimla → Chail → Kasauli |
| 0018 | Manali with Manikaran | 4 Nights / 5 Days | Manali → Kullu → Manikaran |
| 0020 | Best of Manali with Delhi By Volvo | 5 Nights / 6 Days | Manali → Delhi |
| 0019 | Amritsar, Dharamshala and Dalhousie with Jwalamukhi and Chintpurni | 5 Nights / 6 Days | Amritsar → Dharamshala → Dalhousie |
| 0144 | Shimla and Manali Tour from Delhi | 5 Nights / 6 Days | Shimla → Manali |
| 0140 | Tirthan, Jibhi and Manali Tour | 5 Nights / 6 Days | Tirthan Valley → Jibhi → Manali |
| 0021 | Manali with Dharamshala and amritsar | 5 Nights / 6 Days | Manali → Dharamshala → Amritsar |
| 0022 | Shimla Manali Tour | 5 Nights / 6 Days | Shimla → Manali |
| 0023 | Shimla Manali with Chandigarh | 5 Nights / 6 Days | Shimla → Manali → Chandigarh |
| 0024 | Amritsar with Dalhousie Dharamshala and Chandigarh | 6 Nights / 7 Days | Amritsar → Dalhousie → Dharamshala → Chandigarh |
| 0025 | Best of Shimla and Manali | 6 Nights / 7 Days | Shimla → Manali |
| 0135 | Kinnaur Valley Tour: Sangla, Chitkul and Kalpa | 6 Nights / 7 Days | Shimla → Sarahan → Sangla → Kalpa → Narkanda |
| 0556 | Spiti Valley from Manali | 6 Nights / 7 Days | Manali → Kaza → Tabo → Chandratal |
| 0141 | Shimla, Manali and Kasol Tour | 7 Nights / 8 Days | Shimla → Manali → Kasol |
| 0026 | Shimla Manali with Dalhousie Amritsar | 7 Nights / 8 Days | Shimla → Manali → Dalhousie → Amritsar |
| 0134 | Spiti Valley Circuit: Shimla to Manali | 8 Nights / 9 Days | Shimla → Sarahan → Kalpa → Tabo → Kaza → Chandratal → Manali |
| 0142 | Four Hill Stations of Himachal | 8 Nights / 9 Days | Shimla → Manali → Dharamshala → Dalhousie |
| 0027 | Shimla Manali with Dharamshala Dalhousie and Amritsar | 8 Nights / 9 Days | Shimla → Manali → Dharamshala → Dalhousie → Amritsar |
| 0028 | Grand Himachal with Mata Vaishno Devi Tour | 12 Nights / 13 Days | Shimla → Manali → Dharamshala → Dalhousie → Katra → Amritsar → Chandigarh |
Related reading
Himachal Pradesh articles
- Shimla and Manali in one trip: a first-timer's plan
- Manali by overnight Volvo from Delhi: what to expect
- Amritsar, Dalhousie and Dharamshala: a 6-day circuit