Overview
The classic Shimla and Manali holiday with two nights in the Parvati valley added, so the trip ends somewhere calm rather than in a long car day. You begin with two nights in Shimla, move to Manali for three, and finish with two in Kasol, close to Manikaran's hot springs and the forest villages of Chalal and Tosh. Each move is a shorter drive than in the five-day version, and the week has a natural rhythm: colonial hill station, busy mountain resort, then riverside village.
Best for: Travellers with a week who want the classic pair plus a quieter valley
- Two nights each in Shimla and Kasol, three in Manali
- Kufri and the Mall in Shimla
- Solang, the Atal Tunnel and Sissu
- Manikaran gurdwara and hot springs
- A walk to Chalal or a drive to Tosh
- No single drive over seven hours
Day by day
- Day1
Chandigarh to Shimla
About 115 kmOvernight: Shimla
A short morning climb to Shimla through Solan, with a stop for the views at Dharampur. Afternoon at leisure, then the Ridge and the Mall at dusk, when the lights come on across the hills.
Road guide: Chandigarh to Shimla → - Day2
Kufri and Shimla
About 80 kmOvernight: Shimla
Kufri in the morning for mountain views and the Himalayan nature park, then Jakhu temple and the Viceregal Lodge, the British viceroy's summer residence of 1888. Evening free on the Mall.
Road guide: Shimla to Kufri → - Day3
Shimla to Manali
About 250 kmOvernight: Manali
Across to Mandi and up the Beas into the Kullu valley, with stops for lunch and a view of the Pandoh dam. Evening arrival in Manali.
Road guide: Shimla to Manali → - Day4
Solang, the Atal Tunnel and Sissu
About 90 kmOvernight: Manali
The big mountain day: Solang's ropeway and slopes, then the tunnel to Sissu and the Chandra valley. Back by late afternoon.
Road guide: Manali to Sissu (Atal Tunnel) → - Day5
Manali town and Naggar
About 50 kmOvernight: Manali
Hadimba temple and Old Manali in the morning; Naggar castle and the Roerich gallery after lunch. A good day for shopping for shawls in the Kullu valley on the way back.
- Day6
Manali to Kasol via Manikaran
About 80 kmOvernight: Kasol
Down the valley to Bhuntar and up the Parvati river to Manikaran for the gurdwara and hot springs, then a short hop to Kasol. Afternoon by the river.
Road guide: Manali to Kasol → - Day7
Parvati valley: Chalal and Tosh
About 50 kmOvernight: Kasol
Walk across the bridge to Chalal village through the pine forest, then drive up to Barshaini and walk the short climb to Tosh for its views of the upper valley. Back in Kasol for dinner.
- Day8
Kasol to Chandigarh
About 270 km
Breakfast by the river, then the drive out of the Parvati valley through Bhuntar, Aut and Mandi to Chandigarh, about seven to eight hours with a lunch stop near Sundernagar.
Road guide: Kasol to Chandigarh →
How this trip compares with the 5-day version
Eight days lets you stay put for longer in each place. You get a full town day in Manali on top of the Solang and Sissu day, and two quiet nights in the Parvati valley. The drives are shorter on average, and the trip ends in Chandigarh without a twelve-hour day.
- 5 days: Shimla 2 nights, Manali 2
- 8 days: Shimla 2, Manali 3, Kasol 2
Eating along the way
Shimla's Mall has old institutions for coffee and snacks; Manali is full of cafés serving trout, Tibetan momos and Himachali siddu. In Kasol, riverside cafés serve Israeli dishes as well as Indian food.
Who this suits
This is the right length for travellers from abroad who want a first taste of the Himalaya without long days in the car, and for Indian families who've done the five-day version before and want something slower.
Couples can upgrade Manali to the comfort tier and keep Kasol simple; riverside cottages there have more character than big hotels.
Route and price at a glance
The Shimla, Manali and Kasol trip covers about 985 km by road over 8 days, with overnight stops in Shimla, Manali and Kasol. The car is priced on the same basis as our private car tours: 2,000 billable km (the larger of the real distance and 250 km a day) at the vehicle's per-km rate, plus 7 nights of driver allowance, with fuel, tolls and parking included.
For two travellers on standard hotels, that comes to ₹23,500 for 7 hotel nights with breakfast and dinner, ₹48,800 for the car and driver and a ₹10,845 service fee: ₹83,145 in all, or ₹41,500 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 Shimla (about 80 km, overnight Shimla)
- Day 3: Shimla to Manali (about 250 km, overnight Manali)
- Day 4: Solang, the Atal Tunnel and Sissu (about 90 km, overnight Manali)
- Day 5: Manali town and Naggar (about 50 km, overnight Manali)
- Day 6: Manali to Kasol via Manikaran (about 80 km, overnight Kasol)
- Day 7: Parvati valley: Chalal and Tosh (about 50 km, overnight Kasol)
- Day 8: Kasol to Chandigarh (about 270 km)
Shimla, Manali and Kasol 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 | ₹41,500 ≈ US$490 | ₹83,000 | Sedan |
| 4 | ₹32,500 ≈ US$380 | ₹1,30,000 | Innova |
| 6 | ₹34,000 ≈ US$400 | ₹2,04,000 | 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)₹23,500
- Private car and driver for the whole trip₹48,800
- Our service fee (15% on hotels and transport)₹10,845
- Total for both₹83,145
Included
- 7 nights in Shimla, Manali and Kasol, twin sharing, with breakfast and dinner
- Private car with driver for all 8 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 anywhere on this route.
- Tosh is reached by a short, steep walk of about 20–30 minutes from the road end at Barshaini.
- Carry cash for Kasol and Tosh; card payments and ATMs are less reliable there.
When to go
The whole year at a glance
- Best time
- Snow likely, roads can close
- Monsoon, landslide risk
- Fine, check weather
- • Best from March to June and September to November.
- • Kasol and Tosh are cold from December to February; Manali has snow nearby.
- • Avoid July and August, when landslides are common in the Parvati valley.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Shimla, Manali and Kasol package cost?+
About ₹34,000 per person for six travellers on standard hotels, or ₹41,500 per person for a couple, for all 8 days. Comfort hotels cost more; the price table shows every option.
Why end in Kasol rather than Manali?+
It breaks the return into a shorter drive and ends the trip somewhere quiet. Kasol is closer to the main road out of the valley.
Is the walk to Tosh difficult?+
It's short but steep, about 20–30 minutes each way. Most reasonably fit travellers manage it.
Can we swap Kasol for Dharamshala?+
Yes; our Shimla, Manali and Dharamshala package does exactly that.
Can older travellers do this trip?+
Yes. The longest drive is about seven hours, and walks are optional.
Which car do we get on the Shimla, Manali and Kasol 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: Kasol · Wikipedia: Parvati Valley · Shimla Manali Tourism: package prices by tier
