Overview
Two weeks across Himachal for travellers coming from abroad, built around short drives, two- and three-night stays and the places international visitors tend to love most: colonial Shimla, the wooden villages of Jibhi, Manali and its old quarter, the paragliding town of Bir, Tibetan McLeod Ganj and quiet Dalhousie. You start in Chandigarh, which has flights from Delhi and a fast train, and finish at Pathankot for the train back. A driver who speaks English stays with you throughout, and every hotel includes breakfast and dinner.
Best for: First-time visitors from abroad with two weeks who want variety without long drives
- Shimla and the Ridge
- Jalori Pass and Jibhi's wooden villages
- Three nights in Manali
- Bir's monasteries and paragliding
- Three nights in McLeod Ganj
- Dalhousie and Khajjiar to finish
Day by day
- Day1
Chandigarh to Shimla
About 115 kmOvernight: Shimla
Meet your driver at Chandigarh airport or station and climb to Shimla. Gentle evening on the Ridge. Timings are flexible: tell your driver in the morning if you'd like to linger somewhere, skip a stop or add one along the way.
Road guide: Chandigarh to Shimla → - Day2
Shimla
About 30 kmOvernight: Shimla
Christ Church, the Mall, Jakhu temple and the Viceregal Lodge, at your own pace. Timings are flexible: tell your driver in the morning if you'd like to linger somewhere, skip a stop or add one along the way.
- Day3
Shimla to Jibhi over Jalori Pass
About 150 kmOvernight: Jibhi
Along the ridge to Narkanda and down to the Sutlej, then up over Jalori Pass at about 3,100 m into the Banjar valley and Jibhi.
- Day4
Jibhi and Serolsar lake
About 30 kmOvernight: Jibhi
Walk from Jalori Pass to Serolsar lake through oak forest, or visit Chehni Kothi's tower temple. Timings are flexible: tell your driver in the morning if you'd like to linger somewhere, skip a stop or add one along the way.
- Day5
Jibhi to Manali
About 110 kmOvernight: Manali
Down to the Beas and up the Kullu valley to Manali, with a stop at Naggar castle. Timings are flexible: tell your driver in the morning if you'd like to linger somewhere, skip a stop or add one along the way.
Road guide: Manali to Jibhi → - Day6
Solang and the Atal Tunnel
About 90 kmOvernight: Manali
Solang valley and the tunnel to Sissu for the high mountain landscape of Lahaul. Timings are flexible: tell your driver in the morning if you'd like to linger somewhere, skip a stop or add one along the way.
Road guide: Manali to Sissu (Atal Tunnel) → - Day7
Old Manali and Vashisht
Local sightseeing, short drivesOvernight: Manali
A slow day: Hadimba temple, Old Manali's cafés and the Vashisht hot springs. Timings are flexible: tell your driver in the morning if you'd like to linger somewhere, skip a stop or add one along the way.
- Day8
Manali to Bir
About 200 kmOvernight: Bir
Down to Mandi and west over the hills via Jogindernagar to Bir's Tibetan colony. Timings are flexible: tell your driver in the morning if you'd like to linger somewhere, skip a stop or add one along the way.
Road guide: Manali to Bir → - Day9
Bir to McLeod Ganj
About 70 kmOvernight: McLeod Ganj
A morning paragliding flight from Billing if you'd like one, then on to McLeod Ganj via the Norbulingka Institute. Timings are flexible: tell your driver in the morning if you'd like to linger somewhere, skip a stop or add one along the way.
Road guide: McLeod Ganj to Bir → - Day10
McLeod Ganj
Local sightseeing, short drivesOvernight: McLeod Ganj
The Tsuglagkhang, the Tibet Museum and the kora walk, and Bhagsu and Dharamkot in the afternoon. Timings are flexible: tell your driver in the morning if you'd like to linger somewhere, skip a stop or add one along the way.
- Day11
Kangra fort and Masroor temples
About 110 kmOvernight: McLeod Ganj
A day trip to Kangra fort and the rock-cut temples of Masroor, carved from a single ridge in the eighth century.
- Day12
McLeod Ganj to Dalhousie
About 130 kmOvernight: Dalhousie
West across the Kangra valley into the Chamba hills to Dalhousie. Timings are flexible: tell your driver in the morning if you'd like to linger somewhere, skip a stop or add one along the way.
Road guide: McLeod Ganj to Dalhousie → - Day13
Khajjiar and Chamba
About 100 kmOvernight: Dalhousie
Khajjiar's meadow in the morning, Chamba's temples and museum in the afternoon. Timings are flexible: tell your driver in the morning if you'd like to linger somewhere, skip a stop or add one along the way.
Road guide: Dalhousie to Chamba → - Day14
Dalhousie to Pathankot
About 80 km
Down to Pathankot for the train to Delhi or a flight, or on to Amritsar. Your driver helps with luggage at the station or airport, and if your train or flight leaves late we can add a lunch stop or a short detour on the way.
Designed for international travellers
This route skips the busiest Indian holiday spots on peak days and adds the places visitors from abroad enjoy most: small villages, monasteries, forest walks and cafés. Drives are mostly three to four hours, and you never change hotels more than once every two or three nights.
Money, SIM cards and health
Card payments work in most hotels and many cafés, but carry cash for small shops and villages. A local SIM card helps; buy one in Delhi or Chandigarh with your passport. Drink bottled or filtered water, and carry basic medicines for stomach upsets.
Adding Spiti or Ladakh
If you have a third week, add Spiti from Manali or fly to Leh at the end. Both need careful planning for altitude; ask us when you book.
Route and price at a glance
The Himachal Highlights for International Travellers trip covers about 1,240 km by road over 14 days, with overnight stops in Shimla, Jibhi, Manali, Bir, McLeod Ganj and Dalhousie. The car is priced on the same basis as our private car tours: 3,500 billable km (the larger of the real distance and 250 km a day) at the vehicle's per-km rate, plus 13 nights of driver allowance, with fuel, tolls and parking included.
For two travellers on standard hotels, that comes to ₹43,500 for 13 hotel nights with breakfast and dinner, ₹85,700 for the car and driver and a ₹19,380 service fee: ₹1,48,580 in all, or ₹74,500 each. Larger groups share the car and pay less per person.
- Day 1: Chandigarh to Shimla (about 115 km, overnight Shimla)
- Day 2: Shimla (about 30 km, overnight Shimla)
- Day 3: Shimla to Jibhi over Jalori Pass (about 150 km, overnight Jibhi)
- Day 4: Jibhi and Serolsar lake (about 30 km, overnight Jibhi)
- Day 5: Jibhi to Manali (about 110 km, overnight Manali)
- Day 6: Solang and the Atal Tunnel (about 90 km, overnight Manali)
- Day 7: Old Manali and Vashisht (short local drives, overnight Manali)
- Day 8: Manali to Bir (about 200 km, overnight Bir)
- Day 9: Bir to McLeod Ganj (about 70 km, overnight McLeod Ganj)
- Day 10: McLeod Ganj (short local drives, overnight McLeod Ganj)
- Day 11: Kangra fort and Masroor temples (about 110 km, overnight McLeod Ganj)
- Day 12: McLeod Ganj to Dalhousie (about 130 km, overnight Dalhousie)
- Day 13: Khajjiar and Chamba (about 100 km, overnight Dalhousie)
- Day 14: Dalhousie to Pathankot (about 80 km)
Himachal Highlights for International Travellers price
Per person, by hotel tier and group size. Prices last calculated 21 October 2026 from current rate cards and hotel listings.
3-star hotels, standard camps and homestays
| Travellers | Per person | Group total | Vehicle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | ₹74,500 ≈ US$875 | ₹1,49,000 | Sedan |
| 4 | ₹58,500 ≈ US$690 | ₹2,34,000 | Innova |
| 6 | ₹61,000 ≈ US$720 | ₹3,66,000 | Tempo Traveller |
Per person, twin sharing, all-inclusive of the items listed below. Dollar prices are approximate (₹85 = US$1). Your exact price is confirmed in writing before you book; it depends on dates, hotel availability and group size.
Where the money goes: 2 travellers, standard hotels
- Hotels and camps (breakfast and dinner)₹43,500
- Private car and driver for the whole trip₹85,700
- Our service fee (15% on hotels and transport)₹19,380
- Total for both₹1,48,580
Included
- 13 nights in Shimla, Jibhi, Manali, Bir, McLeod Ganj and Dalhousie, twin sharing, with breakfast and dinner
- Private car with driver for all 14 days (sedan or Innova for two, Innova for four, Tempo Traveller for six), including fuel, tolls, parking, state taxes and the driver's allowances
- Pickup from Chandigarh and drop at Pathankot
Not included
- ×Train, bus or flights to Chandigarh
- ×Lunches, drinks and snacks
- ×Entry fees, ropeways, activities and snow gear hire
- ×GST on the package, travel insurance and tips
Good to know: roads, permits and safety
- No permits are needed anywhere on this route.
- Your driver speaks English; most hotels and cafés on this route are used to international guests.
- Carry your passport: hotels are required to record foreign guests' details.
When to go
The whole year at a glance
- Best time
- Snow likely, roads can close
- Monsoon, landslide risk
- Fine, check weather
Shimla and around
- Shimla2,376 mShimla: Best: Mar–Jun, Sep–Nov; Snow: Jan–Feb, Dec; Monsoon: Jul–Aug
Kullu, Manali and the Parvati valley
Kangra valley
- McLeod Ganj2,004 mMcLeod Ganj: Best: Mar–Jun, Sep–Nov; Monsoon: Jul–Aug
- Bir1,525 mBir: Best: Mar–May, Oct–Nov; Monsoon: Jul–Aug
Dalhousie and Chamba
- Dalhousie1,970 mDalhousie: Best: Mar–Jun, Sep–Nov; Snow: Jan–Feb, Dec; Monsoon: Jul–Aug
- • March to May and late September to November are the best months for this route.
- • June is hot in the lower towns but fine in the hills.
- • Jalori Pass closes in winter, and July and August bring heavy rain.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Himachal Highlights for International Travellers package cost?+
About ₹61,000 per person for six travellers on standard hotels, or ₹74,500 per person for a couple, for all 14 days. Comfort hotels cost more; the price table shows every option.
Is this trip suitable for first-time visitors to India?+
Yes. It avoids long drives and big cities and includes everything except flights and lunches.
Does the driver speak English?+
Yes, we assign drivers who speak English for international guests.
Can we start from Delhi airport?+
Yes, with a night in Delhi or a long first day; it adds about 250 km.
Is Himachal safe for solo women?+
Generally yes, with normal precautions; see our safety guide.
Which car do we get on the Himachal Highlights for International Travellers trip?+
A sedan for two travellers, an Innova for up to four and a Tempo Traveller for six, with the same driver for the whole trip.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Himachal itinerary for first-time visitors
- Paying for taxis in India
- Manali to Bir taxi
- Himachal safety guide
Price and route sources: Wikipedia: Himachal Pradesh · Wikipedia: Jalori Pass · Wikipedia: Masroor Temples · WanderOn: Himachal tour packages
