A 7-day Himachal itinerary from Delhi

Seven days from Delhi is enough for one part of Himachal done well, not for all of it. The three plans that work best are Shimla and Manali (the classic first trip), Dharamshala and Dalhousie (culture and quiet), and Manali and Kasol (snow and a riverside village). Each keeps the long drives to two or three days and leaves time to actually be somewhere.

Before you choose

• Distances are long. Delhi to Shimla is about 350 km; to Manali about 540 km; to Dharamshala about 480 km. Mountain roads average 30–40 km an hour.
• Use the night. Overnight Volvos to Manali and Dharamshala save a day each way.
• Spiti doesn’t fit. The Spiti circuit needs 8–10 days on its own.

Plan 1: Shimla and Manali (by cab)

Best for first-timers, families and anyone who wants the classic hill towns.

1. Delhi to Shimla (8 hours), evening on the Mall Road
2. Kufri, Narkanda’s orchards or Mashobra, Jakhu temple
3. Shimla to Manali (8–9 hours via Mandi)
4. Solang valley: snow in winter, paragliding the rest of the year
5. The Atal Tunnel to Sissu in Lahaul
6. Old Manali, the Hadimba temple, Vashisht, then down to Kullu
7. Back to Delhi (a long day) or drop at Chandigarh

Our Shimla and Manali trip from Delhi follows this plan, from about ₹18,999 per person with a private cab, six hotel nights and breakfast and dinner.

Plan 2: Dharamshala and Dalhousie (Volvo + cab)

Best for couples and families who want culture, views and fewer crowds.

1. Overnight Volvo from Delhi
2. Arrive in Dharamshala; Norbulingka’s gardens and studios
3. McLeod Ganj, the Dalai Lama temple complex, Bhagsu, Dharamkot
4. Drive to Dalhousie (4 hours) via Nurpur fort
5. Khajjiar’s meadow and the Kalatop forest
6. Down to Pathankot for the night train, or on to Amritsar
7. Back in Delhi

Our Dharamshala, Dalhousie and Khajjiar trip from Delhi starts from about ₹21,499 per person, with two nights at our own hotel in Dharamshala.

Plan 3: Manali and Kasol (Volvo + cab)

Best for friends and couples who want snow and a slow riverside stay.

1. Overnight Volvo to Bhuntar
2. Kasol and the walk to Chalal
3. Manikaran’s hot springs; optional Barshaini
4. Drive to Manali via Kullu and Naggar
5. Solang valley and the tunnel
6. Old Manali, then the evening Volvo
7. Back in Delhi

From about ₹15,999 per person with four nights’ stays, breakfast and dinner and a private cab in the hills. Add a night for the Kheerganga trek.

Which month?

Month	Plan 1 Shimla–Manali	Plan 2 Dharamshala–Dalhousie	Plan 3 Manali–Kasol
Mar–Jun	Very good	Very good	Very good
Jul–Aug	Rain, landslides	Heavy rain	Rain
Sep–Nov	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent
Dec–Feb	Snow in Manali, Kufri	Cold, snow on the hills	Snow in Manali

With 9–10 days instead

Combine two plans: Shimla, Manali, Dharamshala and Dalhousie is our Best of Himachal trip (10 days, ending in Amritsar). Or, from June to mid-October, do the full Spiti circuit from Delhi.

Whichever plan you choose, keep one buffer: a landslide or a snowfall will change one day, and it’s better to lose a sightseeing morning than a train.