Five Hill Stations, Eleven Days — The Definitive Himachal Pradesh Journey
This is the longest and most comprehensive Himachal Pradesh tour we offer — eleven days giving genuine, unhurried time across five of the state's most rewarding destinations, designed for travellers who want to experience the full breadth of the western Himalaya without compromise.
Chandigarh's modernist architecture opens the tour, followed by two nights in Shimla for the Viceregal Lodge, Jakhu Temple, and Kufri. The route climbs through the Kullu Valley to Manali for three nights — Hadimba Devi Temple, Rohtang Pass at 3,978m, Solang Valley, and Naggar Castle with its Roerich Art Gallery.
What sets this itinerary apart is the addition of Dalhousie — a 19th-century British hill station of distinctly Scottish character spread across five hills, with the extraordinary Khajjiar meadow (the 'Switzerland of India') and the ancient temple town of Chamba nearby. Two full nights here allow proper exploration of a destination most Himachal tours skip entirely.
The journey concludes with two nights in Dharamsala — the Dalai Lama's Tsuglagkhang Complex, the Tibet Museum, and the option of the Triund Hill trek. Eleven days, five hill stations, zero rushing — this is Himachal Pradesh in full.
What makes this journey special
Your journey, unfolded
Depart Delhi for Chandigarh (250 km, ~5 hrs). Nek Chand's Rock Garden and the UNESCO Capitol Complex. Evening at Sukhna Lake.
Drive to Shimla (115 km, ~3 hrs). Check in. Evening Mall Road walk and Christ Church.
Viceregal Lodge (1888, guided tour). Jakhu Hill (2,455m) Hanuman temple and Himalayan panorama. Kufri (2,622m) snow point and views.
Drive to Manali (250 km, ~7–8 hrs) via Mandi and the Kullu Valley, stopping at Kullu town's Raghunath Temple. Arrive by evening.
Hadimba Devi Temple (1553 CE). Old Manali village. Vashisht hot springs and temple.
Morning: Rohtang Pass (3,978m) for snowfields and Himalayan views. Afternoon: Naggar Castle (15th century) and the Nicholas Roerich Art Gallery — the home of the Russian artist who lived here from 1929–1947.
Drive from Manali to Dalhousie (310 km, ~9 hrs) — a long but spectacular day descending through the Kullu and Kangra valleys before climbing back into the Chamba hills. Arrive Dalhousie (2,036m) by evening and check in. First walk on Subhash Chowk, Dalhousie's main square surrounded by Victorian buildings.
Khajjiar (22 km, 1,920m) — a circular meadow with a glacial lake, surrounded entirely by deodar cedar forest, nicknamed the 'Switzerland of India'. Drive to Chamba — one of the oldest hill towns in the western Himalaya (9th century), with the Champavati, Lakshmidevi, and Hari Rai temples showing an unbroken tradition of early Himachali temple sculpture. The Bhuri Singh Museum houses an exceptional collection of Pahari miniature paintings.
Morning: the Bakrota Hills walk — a 5 km forest circuit on Dalhousie's highest ridge with Pir Panjal views. St Andrew's and St Francis Churches. Drive to Dharamsala (95 km, ~3 hrs) through the Kangra Valley's tea gardens. Continue to McLeod Ganj for the evening.
The Tsuglagkhang Complex (Dalai Lama's residence and temple), the Tibet Museum documenting the Tibetan diaspora, and Bhagsu Waterfall — a short forest walk from McLeod Ganj. Optional half-day Triund Hill trek (9 km) through oak and rhododendron forest for panoramic Dhauladhar views.
Morning: Norbulingka Institute (7 km) — a centre for preserving Tibetan arts, with thangka painters, woodcarvers, and silk weavers working in a beautifully designed campus. Drive back to Delhi (485 km, ~9 hrs). Tour concludes at Delhi.
Inclusions & Exclusions
Included ✓
- ✓ 10 nights accommodation in handpicked heritage hotels
- ✓ Daily breakfast throughout
- ✓ Private vehicle for all transfers
- ✓ Chandigarh Capitol Complex & Rock Garden entry
- ✓ Viceregal Lodge guided tour entry
- ✓ Rohtang Pass permit (arranged by us)
- ✓ Nicholas Roerich Art Gallery entry
- ✓ Bhuri Singh Museum entry (Chamba)
- ✓ Tsuglagkhang Complex guided visit
- ✓ Tibet Museum entry
- ✓ All applicable taxes
Not Included ✗
- ✗ Flights / trains to / from Delhi
- ✗ Travel insurance
- ✗ Lunches & dinners
- ✗ Snow/adventure activities at Rohtang/Solang (payable locally)
- ✗ Triund trek guide (optional)
- ✗ Norbulingka Institute workshop donations
- ✗ Personal expenses & gratuities
Your questions, answered
Dalhousie is genuinely one of Himachal's most underrated destinations — a 19th-century hill station with a distinctly Scottish character, spread across five hills, with significantly fewer crowds than Shimla or Manali. The nearby Khajjiar meadow (the 'Switzerland of India') and the ancient temple town of Chamba (with some of the finest early Himachali temple sculpture in India) are exceptional and rarely visited by travellers who only do the standard Shimla-Manali circuit. We include it in this longer tour specifically because most operators skip it, and we believe it rewards the extra two days significantly.
Not if you want to properly experience the state rather than rush through it. Most Himachal tours compress 4-5 hill stations into 6-7 days, which means almost every day involves checking out of one hotel and into another — exhausting and unsatisfying. This 11-day version gives 2-3 nights at every destination, meaning you actually get to settle in, explore without rushing, and have leisure time. If you have the days available, we genuinely believe this is the better way to see Himachal Pradesh. If 11 days isn't feasible, our 7-day Shimla & Manali or 9-day Explore Himachal tours are excellent shorter alternatives.
March–June: apple blossom, spring flowers, comfortable temperatures. September–November: post-monsoon clarity, golden apple harvest, crisp air. December–February: heavy snow in Manali/Rohtang, perfect for winter sports. Avoid July–August (monsoon) for hill driving.
Absolutely — every tour is fully private. We can adjust duration, swap destinations, or add Spiti Valley, Kasol, or Kinnaur. Enquire at no obligation.
All our Himachal tours include private vehicle transfers throughout from Delhi (or your specified start point) and back. We can also combine train travel — the Kalka–Shimla Toy Train, or overnight trains from Delhi to Chandigarh/Pathankot/Amritsar — into the itinerary.
60+ days: full refund minus admin fee. 30–59 days: 75% refund. 15–29 days: 50%. Under 15 days: no refund. Travel insurance strongly recommended.
