Shimla & Manali Hill Retreat

Overview

Most Shimla–Manali itineraries try to fit both towns into four nights and end up spending half the trip in a car. This one gives you six: Kufri and the Shimla ridge first, then the Beas valley, Solang and Old Manali, with a spare afternoon because mountain roads do not always cooperate.

• Shimla ridge, Mall Road and Christ Church
• Kufri viewpoint and Himalayan Nature Park
• Solang Valley activities and the Atal Tunnel drive
• Hadimba temple and Old Manali cafés
• Riverside stay along the Beas

Gallery

Day-by-day itinerary

1. Day 1

   Chandigarh or Delhi to Shimla

   Met at Chandigarh airport or the railway station and driven up to Shimla, with a stop at the Timber Trail or Barog on the way. Evening walk on the Ridge.

   
   • Arrival pickup
   • Drive to Shimla
   • Ridge and Mall Road walk
   • Christ Church

2. Day 2

   Kufri and around Shimla

   Half day at Kufri for the viewpoint and nature park, then Jakhoo temple and the Viceregal Lodge. Afternoon free for the Lakkar Bazaar.

   
   • Kufri viewpoint
   • Himalayan Nature Park
   • Jakhoo temple
   • Viceregal Lodge

3. Day 3

   Shimla to Manali

   The long leg — roughly seven hours along the Sutlej and Beas rivers, with stops at Sundernagar lake and the Pandoh dam. Evening at leisure in Manali.

   
   • Drive to Manali
   • Sundernagar lake
   • Pandoh dam viewpoint
   • Manali check-in

4. Day 4

   Solang Valley and the Atal Tunnel

   Up the valley to Solang for snow or summer activities, and through the Atal Tunnel to Sissu if the road is open — a genuinely dramatic drive into Lahaul.

   
   • Solang Valley
   • Atal Tunnel and Sissu
   • Optional ropeway
   • Return to Manali

5. Day 5

   Manali local and Old Manali

   Hadimba temple in the cedar forest, the Vashisht hot springs, Manu temple and the Tibetan monastery, then an afternoon in Old Manali's cafés.

   
   • Hadimba temple
   • Vashisht hot springs
   • Tibetan monastery
   • Old Manali cafés

6. Day 6

   Naggar and a free afternoon

   Naggar castle and the Roerich art gallery in the morning. The afternoon is deliberately unplanned — river time, shopping or simply resting before the drive down.

   
   • Naggar castle
   • Roerich gallery
   • Riverside time
   • Mall Road shopping

7. Day 7

   Departure

   Breakfast and a transfer to Bhuntar airport, or the drive down to Chandigarh or Delhi.

   • Breakfast
   • Checkout
   • Departure transfer

Choose your stay

Where you'll stay

Pine Crest Shimla

3★

Circular Road, Shimla · Valley-view room · Breakfast and dinner included

Valley-facing rooms a ten-minute walk from the Ridge, with heating and in-house dining.

Beas Riverside Manali

4★

Left Bank, Manali · River-view room · Breakfast and dinner included

Rooms overlooking the Beas with a riverside deck, bonfire area and multi-cuisine restaurant.

Cedar Lodge Manali

5★

Log Huts Area, Manali · Premium suite · Breakfast and dinner included

Luxury wooden suites in a cedar grove with a spa, indoor pool and mountain views.

Experiences included & optional

Paragliding at Solang

Short tandem flights over the valley, weather permitting.

River rafting on the Beas

A seven-kilometre run from Pirdi, suitable for beginners.

Atal Tunnel to Sissu

Drive through the tunnel into the Lahaul valley.

Snow activities at Solang

Skiing, snow tubing and sledging in season.

Good to know