Overview
A two-night Shimla weekend with the car included, so you can see more than the Mall. You arrive from Chandigarh by lunch on the first day, spend a full day on Kufri and Chail, and head back down on the third day with a stop at the Viceregal Lodge. The trip suits travellers coming in on the morning Shatabdi from Delhi to Chandigarh, and families who want the hills without a long drive.
Best for: Weekenders from Chandigarh, Delhi by train, or anyone with two nights to spare
- Two nights in Shimla near the Mall
- Kufri and the Chail palace in one day
- Jakhu temple and the Ridge
- The Viceregal Lodge on the way down
- Short drives: no more than four hours
- Easy to pair with the Delhi–Chandigarh train
Day by day
- Day1
Chandigarh to Shimla
About 115 kmOvernight: Shimla
Pickup at Chandigarh station, airport or hotel and the climb to Shimla in three to four hours. After check-in, take the lift up to the Mall and spend the evening on the Ridge.
Road guide: Chandigarh to Shimla → - Day2
Kufri and Chail
About 110 kmOvernight: Shimla
Kufri first, for the views across to the snow ranges and the nature park. Then a scenic forest road to Chail, the former summer retreat of the Maharaja of Patiala, with its palace hotel and a cricket ground set among deodars. Back to Shimla for dinner.
Road guide: Shimla to Chail → - Day3
Viceregal Lodge and back to Chandigarh
About 120 km
A morning at the Viceregal Lodge, a grey stone mansion of 1888 that now houses the Indian Institute of Advanced Study, with guided tours of the main rooms. After lunch, the drive back to Chandigarh.
Road guide: Shimla to Chandigarh →
A weekend that isn't just the Mall
Most Shimla weekends never leave the Mall, which is lovely but crowded. Having a car lets you spend a day out on the ridges to Kufri and Chail, where the forest is thicker and the views wider.
Chail sits on three hills and was laid out as a summer retreat by the Maharaja of Patiala after he fell out with the British in Shimla, or so the local story goes. Its palace is now a state-run heritage hotel, and its cricket ground, cut into a hilltop at about 2,400 m, is often described as one of the highest in the world. The forest road between Kufri and Chail passes through deodar and oak woods with very little traffic, and makes a good place to stop for a short walk.
On the way down, the Viceregal Lodge gives the trip a historical close: India's partition plans were discussed in its rooms in 1945 and 1947.
Hotels for a weekend
Standard hotels are a short walk below the Mall; comfort hotels include heritage properties and resorts on the forested ridges around town.
Getting around Shimla on foot
Most of central Shimla is closed to private cars, so you'll walk between the main sights. The Mall runs roughly from Scandal Point and the Ridge west to the Gaiety Theatre and the old Town Hall, and east towards Lakkar Bazaar. A public lift connects Cart Road, where cars can stop, with the Mall; it saves a stiff climb, especially with luggage.
Jakhu temple is a steep 20–30 minute walk up from the Ridge; a ropeway and taxis also go most of the way. Watch out for the temple's monkeys, which snatch glasses, phones and food. Comfortable shoes matter more than anything else in Shimla, because the town is built on slopes and stairs.
Adding a third night
With one more night, go up the ridge to Narkanda for Hatu peak and the apple orchards, or come down via Kasauli. Both keep the drives short and the pace slow.
Visitors from Delhi can combine this package with the morning Shatabdi train to Chandigarh and the evening train back, which makes a Friday-to-Sunday trip without a long car day.
Route and price at a glance
The Shimla Weekend trip covers about 345 km by road over 3 days, with overnight stops in Shimla. The car is priced on the same basis as our private car tours: 750 billable km (the larger of the real distance and 250 km a day) at the vehicle's per-km rate, plus 2 nights of driver allowance, with fuel, tolls and parking included.
For two travellers on standard hotels, that comes to ₹8,000 for 2 hotel nights with breakfast and dinner, ₹18,050 for the car and driver and a ₹3,908 service fee: ₹29,957 in all, or ₹15,000 each. Larger groups share the car and pay less per person.
- Day 1: Chandigarh to Shimla (about 115 km, overnight Shimla)
- Day 2: Kufri and Chail (about 110 km, overnight Shimla)
- Day 3: Viceregal Lodge and back to Chandigarh (about 120 km)
Shimla Weekend 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 | ₹15,000 ≈ US$175 | ₹30,000 | Sedan |
| 4 | ₹11,500 ≈ US$135 | ₹46,000 | Innova |
| 6 | ₹12,000 ≈ US$140 | ₹72,000 | 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)₹8,000
- Private car and driver for the whole trip₹18,050
- Our service fee (15% on hotels and transport)₹3,908
- Total for both₹29,957
Included
- 2 nights in Shimla, twin sharing, with breakfast and dinner
- Private car with driver for all 3 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 Chandigarh
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.
- The Viceregal Lodge is usually closed on Mondays; check opening days before you go.
- Kufri gets very crowded on winter weekends; we go early.
When to go
The whole year at a glance
- Best time
- Snow likely, roads can close
- Monsoon, landslide risk
- Fine, check weather
- • Pleasant from March to June and October to November.
- • Snow falls in Shimla on a few days most winters; Kufri sees more.
- • Monsoon months bring fog and rain, but the forests are at their greenest.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Shimla Weekend package cost?+
About ₹12,000 per person for six travellers on standard hotels, or ₹15,000 per person for a couple, for all 3 days. Comfort hotels cost more; the price table shows every option.
Can we start from Delhi?+
Yes. Take the morning train to Chandigarh and we meet you there, or we can start from Delhi by car for an extra cost.
Is Chail worth the detour?+
Yes if you like quiet forests and history; it's about 45 km from Shimla through deodar woods.
Is there snow in Shimla in January?+
Sometimes, in short spells. Kufri and Narkanda have more reliable snow.
Can we add a night in Kasauli?+
Yes, on the way down. It turns this into a four-day trip.
Which car do we get on the Shimla Weekend 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
Price and route sources: Wikipedia: Shimla · Wikipedia: Chail, Himachal Pradesh · Wikipedia: Rashtrapati Niwas · Shimla Manali Tourism: package prices by tier
