Manali

Arrive and transfer to Old Manali(1.5 hours)

From Bhuntar airport: taxi INR 1,500-2,000. From Manali bus stand: auto INR 100-150. Old Manali is 3 km uphill

Check into guesthouse(30 minutes)

Johnson's Hotel or Drifter's Inn (INR 800-2,000). Or Mall Road hotels for mid-range (INR 2,000-4,000)

Old Manali cafe crawl(2 hours)

Lazy Dog (Israeli-Indian fusion), Drifters (live music), Bob Dylan's Cafe. Walk along the Manalsu stream through apple orchards and stone houses. Meals INR 150-300

Dinner at Johnson's Cafe(1.5 hours)

Trout fish and European comfort food in a garden setting (INR 400-700)

Hadimba Temple (Dhungri Temple)(1 hour)

1553 cave temple in cedar forest. Pagoda-style wooden architecture. Free. Open 8 AM-6 PM. Watch for aggressive monkeys

Solang Valley adventure activities(3 hours)

Summer: paragliding (INR 1,500-3,000), zorbing (INR 500), horse riding (INR 300). Winter: skiing (INR 500-1,500). Cable car INR 500-800. Go on weekday mornings for fewer crowds

Lunch at a Solang dhaba(45 minutes)

Rajma chawal and maggi at a roadside stall (INR 100-200)

Vashisht Hot Springs(1.5 hours)

Natural hot sulphur springs in a temple complex, 3 km from Manali. Free. Separate bathing for men and women. The hot water after a cold mountain day is divine

Drive through Atal Tunnel (9.02 km)(30 minutes)

Free. Connects Manali to Lahaul-Spiti. Opened 2020. The landscape change on the other side is dramatic — from green to high-altitude desert

Sissu village and waterfall(1.5 hours)

First stop in Lahaul. The Sissu waterfall cascades right next to the highway. Stunning turquoise Chandra River. Photo stops everywhere

Lunch at Sissu(1 hour)

Cafe Moustache or local dhaba — Tibetan-influenced food, thukpa and momos (INR 100-200)

Drive further to Keylong (if time permits)(1 hour)

Lahaul's capital, 4 hours from Manali. Barren mountains, Buddhist monasteries, and the Bhaga River gorge

Gadhan Thekchhokling Gompa (Tibetan Monastery)(45 minutes)

Colorful Buddhist monastery on Mall Road. Free. Prayer wheels and thangka paintings. The monks' chanting schedule varies

Mall Road shopping(1.5 hours)

Kullu shawls (INR 500-5,000), Himachali caps, woolens, and apple products. Bargain at the street stalls

Lunch at Chopsticks(1 hour)

Best Chinese-Tibetan in Manali — their steamed momos and chowmein are excellent (INR 150-300)

Riverside walk along the Beas(1 hour)

Walk from Old Manali bridge along the river. Peaceful evening light on the water

Jogini Falls trek from Vashisht(3 hours)

3 km forest hike, moderate. Start from Vashisht hot springs. 150 ft waterfall with natural pool. Wear proper shoes. Best after monsoon (Sep-Oct)

Lunch at Freedom Cafe, Vashisht(1 hour)

Chill cafe with valley views — pizza and fresh juice (INR 200-400)

River rafting on the Beas(1.5 hours)

14 km from Pirdi to Jhiri, Grade II-III rapids. INR 1,000-1,500. Season: May-Jun, Sep-Oct. Life jackets and helmets provided. Thrilling but safe for beginners

Drive to Naggar(45 minutes)

Left bank road from Manali. Taxi INR 1,000-1,500 round trip

Naggar Castle(1.5 hours)

15th-century stone and wood castle, now an HPTDC heritage hotel. Entry free (hotel guests and visitors). Stunning valley views from the terrace. Rooms from INR 1,500 if you want to stay

Nicholas Roerich Art Gallery(1 hour)

Estate of the Russian painter who settled here in 1929. His Himalayan paintings glow with mystical light. Entry INR 50-100. The garden setting with Himalayan views inspired his art

Lunch at Naggar Castle restaurant(1 hour)

Dine in the castle courtyard — Himachali thali and trout (INR 300-500)

Tripura Sundari Temple near Naggar(30 minutes)

Ancient stone temple with intricate carvings. Pyramid-style Himachali architecture. Free

Last breakfast at Lazy Dog, Old Manali(1 hour)

Shakshuka and fresh apple juice (INR 200-300)

Last-minute shopping on Mall Road(45 minutes)

Kullu shawls, apple jam, and Himachali honey

Transfer to Bhuntar airport or bus stand(1.5 hours)

Flight from Bhuntar (if available) or overnight Volvo bus to Delhi (INR 1,200-1,800, book on redbus.in)

Old Manali cafe crawl(2 hours)

Lazy Dog, Drifters, Bob Dylan's. INR 150-300

Solang Valley activities(3 hours)

Paragliding, zorbing, skiing depending on season

Beas river rafting(1.5 hours)

INR 1,000-1,500. Grade II-III

Drive to Rohtang Pass(3 hours)

Apply for permit on rohtangpermits.nic.in (INR 550/person). Only 1,200 vehicles daily. Leave by 6 AM

Rohtang Pass activities(2.5 hours)

Snow play, skiing (INR 300-500), yak rides (INR 200). Snow gear rental INR 300-500. Open May-November

Photography at the pass(1 hour)

3,978m — the Pir Panjal range panorama is spectacular. Acclimatize slowly

Raghunath Temple, Kullu(45 minutes)

17th-century temple dedicated to Lord Rama. The main deity of the Kullu Dussehra festival. Free

Kullu shawl factory visit(1 hour)

Watch traditional Kullu shawls being woven on handlooms. Buy directly from weavers (INR 500-5,000). Bhutico cooperative is the most authentic

Great Himalayan National Park entrance(2.5 hours)

UNESCO World Heritage site. Short nature walk from Sairopa (Tirthan Valley entrance). Entry INR 200 foreigners. Spot Himalayan tahr, barking deer, and hundreds of bird species

Lunch in Kullu(1 hour)

Trout at a riverside dhaba — fresh from the Beas (INR 200-400)

Spa at The Himalayan hotel(2 hours)

Mountain spa with views. Treatments INR 2,000-4,000

Lunch at Il Forno, Old Manali(1.5 hours)

Wood-fired pizza and pasta (INR 300-500)

Mountain biking from Manali to Naggar(3 hours)

20 km through apple orchards and villages on the left bank road. Rent from Himalayan Trails or Extreme Biking (INR 500-800/day with gear). Mostly downhill with some climbs

Hampta Valley trek (short version)(3 hours)

6 km round trip from Jobra to Hampta meadows. Stunning wildflower meadows and river crossings. Moderate. Hire a guide at Prini village (INR 500-800)

Lunch at Prini village dhaba(45 minutes)

Himachali dham in a village setting (INR 100-200)

Drive to Manikaran via Parvati Valley(2 hours)

The Parvati Valley road is stunning — river gorge, terraced farms, and pine forests

Manikaran Sahib Gurudwara and hot springs(2 hours)

Hot springs boiling at 96°C. Sikhs cook langar (free community meals) in the spring water. Bathing pools of varying temperatures. Free entry. Cover head at the gurudwara

Free langar lunch at the gurudwara(30 minutes)

Community meal cooked in hot spring water — rice, dal, and vegetables. Free (donations welcome)

Kasol village walk(1.5 hours)

Israel-meets-Himalayas. Backpacker hub with Hebrew signs, falafel cafes, and reggae bars. Walk along the Parvati River

Himachali cooking class(3 hours)

Learn siddu, madra, and trout preparation. Book through homestays (INR 1,000-2,000)

Evening bonfire (seasonal)(1.5 hours)

Many guesthouses organize bonfires in winter. Marshmallows and rum punch

Final Mall Road shopping(1.5 hours)

Kullu shawls, apple products, Himachali honey

Drive to Rohtang(3 hours)

Permit INR 550. Leave 6 AM

Himachali cooking class(3 hours)

Siddu, madra, trout. INR 1,000-2,000

Drive to Tirthan Valley(3 hours)

Hire car or take local bus to Aut then taxi to Jibhi/Tirthan. Beautiful drive along the Beas then Tirthan River

Check into riverside camp(30 minutes)

Tirthan Valley camps and guesthouses (INR 1,500-4,000/night). River-facing cottages are magical

Tirthan River walk and fishing(2 hours)

Walk along the crystal-clear river. Trout fishing permits available (INR 200-500). The river is one of India's cleanest

Dinner at the camp(1.5 hours)

Fresh trout and Himachali cuisine cooked by the camp kitchen

GHNP Tirthan entrance trek(4 hours)

Guided trek into the park's buffer zone — temperate forests, bird watching, and river crossings. Entry INR 200 foreigners. Guide mandatory (INR 500-800)

Jibhi village walk(1.5 hours)

Charming Himachali village with wooden houses, an ancient fort tower, and a waterfall. The Jibhi Waterfall is a short hike from the village

Drive to Jalori Pass (30 km)(1.5 hours)

Narrow mountain road. Taxi INR 1,500-2,000 round trip

Serolsar Lake trek(3 hours)

5 km round trip from Jalori Pass to a sacred lake surrounded by conifers. Moderate. A small temple sits at the lakeside. Peaceful and mystical

Rent Royal Enfield from Mall Road(30 minutes)

INR 1,200-2,000/day. Check brakes and tires. International license technically required

Ride to Marhi (45 km)(2 hours)

Climb from 2,050m to 3,300m. Switchbacks through pine forests then above the treeline. Stunning landscapes. Ride slowly and carefully

Maggi and chai at Marhi(45 minutes)

Roadside stalls with snow-capped views. The classic mountain pit stop

Sethan village walk(3 hours)

Buddhist village 12 km from Manali at 2,700m. Traditional stone-and-wood houses, prayer flags, and mountain views. In winter, igloo camps operate here

Lunch at a Sethan homestay(1 hour)

Simple dal-rice with fresh sabzi cooked by the family (INR 200-300)

Photography in the orchards(1.5 hours)

Walk through apple, plum, and cherry orchards between Manali and Prini. Blossoms in spring (Mar-Apr), fruit in summer (Jul-Sep)