Himachal in ten days — Shimla, Manali, Kasol, Dharamshala and Dalhousie
Ten days across Himachal's five best-known bases. One night in Shimla for the Ridge and Jakhoo. Two in Manali for Hadimba, Vashisht, Solang and Sissu. Three in Kasol for Manikaran, Tosh and Kalga. Two in Dharamshala for the Dalai Lama temple and the Tibet Museum, and the last night in Dalhousie for Khajjiar and Dainkund. For a shorter loop, see the eight-day plan.
Photos: Timothy A. Gonsalves (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Virusism (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Itsarti (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Adam Jones from Kelowna, BC, Canada (CC BY-SA 2.0) · Harvinder Chandigarh (CC BY-SA 4.0) — via Wikimedia Commons, resized.
Who this is for
First-time visitors with ten days and a car or hired driver who want the Kullu valley, the Parvati valley, the Tibetan hill town and the Chamba hills in one trip. Three days are long road days; plan rest around them.
Day by day
Day 1Shimla — the Ridge, Christ Church and Jakhoo
3 stops · 7 min on the road
Shimla — the Ridge, Christ Church and Jakhoo
Arrive in Shimla by midday and walk the old town on foot; the Mall is closed to most traffic.
- 12:00The Ridge, ShimlaThe open square at the top of the Mall.
- ↓ a short walk13:30Christ Church (Shimla)The yellow church on the Ridge.
- ↓ 6 min by road · 2 km15:30Jakhoo TempleThe Hanuman temple on Shimla's highest hill. Keep bags closed against the monkeys.
Day 2The road to Manali, by Naggar
2 stops · 33 min on the road
The road to Manali, by Naggar
About 237 km and 372 min from Shimla on our measured routing, through Mandi and the Kullu valley. Leave by seven and break at Naggar.
- 14:30Naggar CastleThe old capital's castle above the Beas, for a late lunch.
- ↓ 33 min by road · 20 km17:30Old ManaliThe lanes under the deodars, and the room for two nights.
Day 3Hadimba, Vashisht and the Mall
2 stops · 9 min on the road
Hadimba, Vashisht and the Mall
An easy day in town after the drive.
- 09:30Hadimba Devi TempleThe wooden temple in the cedar grove, quietest before ten.
- ↓ 9 min by road · 4 km14:30Vashisht TempleThe stone temple above the hot springs.
Day 4Solang and Sissu, then down to Kasol
2 stops · 33 min on the road
Solang and Sissu, then down to Kasol
An early start up the valley to Solang and through the Atal Tunnel to Sissu, then the road down the valley and up the Parvati to Kasol, about 75 km and 121 min from Manali.
- 08:30SolangThe meadow at the head of the valley; operators quote on the day for flights.
- ↓ 33 min by road · 26 km12:05SissuThe first village of Lahaul, beyond the tunnel. An hour, then back for the Kasol road.
Day 5Manikaran, and the evening by the Parvati
2 stops · 8 min on the road
Manikaran, and the evening by the Parvati
A slow day after the road: the hot springs and the gurdwara at Manikaran, and the river at Kasol.
- 10:00ManikaranThe pilgrimage town of hot springs, about 8 min up the road, with the gurdwara and its langar.
- ↓ 8 min by road · 4 km16:00KasolThe riverside paths under the pines, and the cafés.
Day 6Tosh and Kalga
2 stops · 16 min on the road
Tosh and Kalga
To the top of the valley road at Barshaini, then Tosh on its slope and the short walk up to Kalga's orchards.
- 09:30ToshThe village stacked on the slope at the top of the road, about 50 min from Kasol.
- ↓ 16 min by road · 3 km13:00KalgaThe orchard village above Barshaini; walkers report half an hour to an hour up.
Day 7The long road west to Dharamshala
1 stop
The long road west to Dharamshala
Kasol to Dharamshala is about 214 km and 384 min on our measured routing, down to Bhuntar and west through Mandi. Leave early; arrive for the evening in McLeod Ganj.
- 17:00McLeod GanjThe Tibetan town on the hill above Dharamshala, for the evening and two nights.
Day 8The temple, the museum and Bhagsu
3 stops · 10 min on the road
The temple, the museum and Bhagsu
A day on foot in McLeod Ganj.
- 09:30Dalai Lama templeThe Tsuglagkhang complex, the main temple of the Tibetan community in exile.
- ↓ a short walk11:00Tibet MuseumBeside the temple, on Tibet's history and the exile.
- ↓ 9 min by road · 4 km15:00Bhagsunag WaterfallThe short walk past the Bhagsu temple to the fall; we have no measured time for it.
Day 9Over to Dalhousie and Khajjiar
1 stop
Over to Dalhousie and Khajjiar
About 117 km and 204 min from Dharamshala to Dalhousie, leaving after breakfast, and the meadow at Khajjiar in the late afternoon if the light allows.
- 16:00Khajjiar LakeThe meadow ringed by deodars, about 38 min beyond Dalhousie. Walk the rim of the meadow; the paths are not measured on our map.
Day 10Dainkund and the road down
1 stop
Dainkund and the road down
A morning on the ridge, then the road down to Pathankot for the train or the flight.
- 09:00DainkundThe gentle ridge walk near the Air Force base above Dalhousie; the walk is not measured on our map.
Getting there
Start in Shimla from Chandigarh or Kalka; see how to reach Shimla. Finish at Pathankot for the train or the airport; see how to reach Dalhousie.
Where to stay
One night in Shimla, two in Manali, three in Kasol, two in McLeod Ganj, one in Dalhousie.
Know before you go
- The long road days are Shimla to Manali, Kasol to Dharamshala and Dharamshala to Dalhousie; leave each by seven.
- In winter, swap Sissu for whatever the snow allows and see where to see snow in Himachal.
- Run the loop the other way if you arrive by train at Pathankot.
Places on this route
Going together
No one has started a group going on this plan yet. Start one and other travellers can ask to come along.
Other ways to do it
All Shimla itineraries →
More places nearby
All of Shimla →
Nearby destinations
All destinations →
Questions people ask
Is ten days enough for Himachal?
Enough for the five best-known bases, Shimla, Manali, Kasol, Dharamshala and Dalhousie, at a steady pace. Three days go mostly to the road, because the distances are long: Kasol to Dharamshala alone is about 214 km. Spiti or Kinnaur need a separate trip of their own.
How far is Dharamshala from Kasol?
About 214 km and 384 min on our measured routing, down the Parvati to Bhuntar and west through Mandi. It fills a day, so leave early and plan nothing else. Bir lies on the way if you want to break the drive with a night.
Where should a ten-day Himachal trip start and end?
From Delhi or Chandigarh, start in Shimla, the nearest base, and end at Dalhousie, which is close to Pathankot for the train and the airport home. Flying into Gaggal near Dharamshala, run the loop from there instead; the long road days stay the same.