About This Journey
Overview
The Himalayan Hill Stations Circuit is Vedantaa's most complete tour of the mountains of Himachal Pradesh, linking four celebrated hill stations in one seamless 12 night / 13 day road journey. It begins with a full day in Delhi, the capital, before the road climbs past Pinjore and the Shivalik foothills to Shimla, the former summer capital of British India, with its Mall Road, Ridge, Christ Church and the viewpoints of Kufri. The journey continues along the Beas river to Manali, framed by deodar forests and snow peaks, with an excursion to Solang Valley for paragliding, the ropeway and seasonal snow, and the Atal Tunnel route towards Sissu when weather and permits allow. From the Kullu valley the road crosses to Dharamshala, home of the Dalai Lama, for a full day in McLeod Ganj among monasteries, prayer flags, Bhagsu waterfall and Tibetan cafés. The final hill station, Dalhousie, is a colonial-era cantonment wrapped in deodar forest, with a full-day excursion to the saucer-shaped meadow of Khajjiar, known as India's Mini Switzerland, and the Kalatop wildlife sanctuary. The circuit returns through Chandigarh, Le Corbusier's planned city with its Rock Garden and Sukhna Lake, before a final evening in Delhi. Travel is by private AC car with an experienced hill driver, with handpicked hotels and daily breakfast throughout.
Duration
12 Nights / 13 Days
Tour Type
Hill Stations · Heritage · Family Road Journey
Region
Delhi · Himachal Pradesh · Chandigarh
Altitude Range
Delhi 220m · Shimla 2,200m · Manali 2,050m · Khajjiar 1,920m
Transport
Private AC Car · Expert Hill Driver · All Transfers
Best Season
March – June · September – December
Top Experiences
Highlights
Shimla · The Ridge & Mall Road
The colonial capital of the British Himalaya: Christ Church, the Viceregal Lodge, Scandal Point and evening strolls on the car-free Mall Road
Kufri & Jakhoo Views
The snow slopes and Himalayan Nature Park of Kufri, plus the giant Hanuman statue atop Jakhoo Hill overlooking the whole Shimla valley
Solang Valley Adventure
Paragliding, the ropeway and seasonal snow sports above Manali, with the Atal Tunnel route to Sissu when weather and permits allow
McLeod Ganj · Little Lhasa
The Dalai Lama Temple complex, the monks' debates, Bhagsu Nag waterfall and the Tibetan markets and cafés of Dharamshala's upper town
Khajjiar · Mini Switzerland
A saucer-shaped emerald meadow with a floating lake at its heart, ringed by deodars and snow views, with Khajji Nag temple and lakeside zorbing
Toy Train & Rock Garden
Ride the UNESCO-listed Kalka–Shimla mountain railway (optional), and end the circuit among the sculptures of Chandigarh's Rock Garden and Sukhna Lake
What's Covered
Includes / Excludes
✓ Included
- 12 nights accommodation in handpicked hotels: Delhi, Shimla, Manali, Dharamshala, Dalhousie and Chandigarh
- Daily breakfast at all hotels
- Private AC car with an experienced hill driver for the entire circuit
- All sightseeing, excursions and transfers as per the itinerary
- All tolls, parking, fuel, driver allowances and GST
- Airport / railway station pickups and drops in Delhi
- Dedicated WhatsApp support throughout the journey
✕ Not Included
- Airfare / train fare to and from Delhi
- Lunches, dinners and personal expenses
- Entry fees to monuments and gardens
- Activity charges: paragliding, ropeway, rafting, pony rides, skiing
- Kalka–Shimla toy train tickets (arranged on request)
- Rohtang / Atal Tunnel permit charges where applicable
- Heater charges levied by hotels in winter · tips & gratuities
- Anything not listed under inclusions
Day by Day
The 13-Day Circuit
Day01
Arrive Delhi
Land · meet · transfer
Overnight: Delhi
- Welcome: Met at Delhi airport or railway station by your Vedantaa representative and transferred privately to the hotel.
- Check in and rest after the journey.
- Evening at leisure: optional drive past the illuminated India Gate and Connaught Place.
- Overnight: Delhi.
Day02
Delhi: Old & New Delhi Sightseeing
Full city day
Overnight: Delhi
- Morning: Old Delhi: The Red Fort (photo stop), Jama Masjid and a rickshaw ride through the bazaars of Chandni Chowk.
- Afternoon: New Delhi: Qutub Minar, Humayun's Tomb, India Gate, the Rashtrapati Bhavan drive and the Lotus Temple.
- Overnight: Delhi.
Day03
Delhi to Shimla
~350 km · 7–8 hrs · toy train option
Overnight: Shimla
- Morning: Drive north past Pinjore Gardens and the Shivalik foothills to Shimla, the former summer capital of British India.
- Optional: Board the UNESCO-listed Kalka–Shimla toy train for the final mountain stretch: 96 tunnels and pine valleys (tickets arranged on request).
- Evening: First stroll on the Mall Road and the Ridge.
- Overnight: Shimla.
Day04
Shimla: Kufri & Local Sightseeing
Full day in the Queen of Hills
Overnight: Shimla
- Morning: Excursion to Kufri: the Himalayan Nature Park and wide mountain views, with optional pony rides and seasonal snow activities.
- Afternoon: Jakhoo Temple and its giant Hanuman statue, Christ Church, the Viceregal Lodge and Mall Road.
- Overnight: Shimla.
Day05
Shimla to Manali
~250 km · 8 hrs · via Kullu
Overnight: Manali
- Scenic drive along the Beas river through mandi valleys and pine forests to Manali.
- En route: Stops at Kullu: the river-rafting point (optional) and shawl-weaving centres.
- Evening: Arrival, check-in and rest.
- Overnight: Manali.
Day06
Manali: Solang Valley & Local Sightseeing
Adventure + culture day
Overnight: Manali
- Morning: Excursion to Solang Valley: paragliding, the ropeway and seasonal snow sports, or the Atal Tunnel route towards Sissu (subject to weather and permits).
- Afternoon: The cedar-shaded Hadimba Devi Temple, Manu Temple, the Vashisht hot springs and the cafés of Old Manali.
- Evening: Mall Road for woollens and handicrafts.
- Overnight: Manali.
Day07
Manali to Dharamshala
~240 km · 7–8 hrs · via Palampur
Overnight: Dharamshala / McLeod Ganj
- Drive out of the Kullu valley and across to Dharamshala, home of the Dalai Lama, through the tea gardens of Palampur.
- Evening: At leisure among the prayer-flag lanes and Tibetan cafés of McLeod Ganj.
- Overnight: Dharamshala / McLeod Ganj.
Day08
Dharamshala: McLeod Ganj Sightseeing
Tibetan culture day
Overnight: Dharamshala / McLeod Ganj
- Morning: The Dalai Lama Temple Complex and Tsuglagkhang, then Bhagsu Nag Temple & Waterfall and St. John in the Wilderness Church.
- Optional: The Norbulingka Institute of Tibetan arts and the HPCA Cricket Stadium viewpoint.
- Evening: The Tibetan market: thangkas, woollens and singing bowls.
- Overnight: Dharamshala / McLeod Ganj.
Day09
Dharamshala to Dalhousie
~120 km · 4 hrs
Overnight: Dalhousie
- Relaxed morning drive to Dalhousie, a colonial-era cantonment wrapped in deodar forest.
- En route: Chamunda Devi Temple or Kangra Fort (time permitting).
- Evening: A walk along Mall Road, Subhash Chowk and Gandhi Chowk.
- Overnight: Dalhousie.
Day10
Dalhousie: Khajjiar Excursion
The Mini Switzerland of India
Overnight: Dalhousie
- Full-day excursion to Khajjiar: the saucer-shaped emerald meadow with a floating lake at its heart, framed by deodars and snow views.
- At the meadow: Khajji Nag Temple, lakeside walks and seasonal zorbing or paragliding.
- Return via: Kalatop Wildlife Sanctuary and the Panchpula waterfalls.
- Overnight: Dalhousie.
Day11
Dalhousie to Chandigarh
~300 km · 7 hrs
Overnight: Chandigarh
- Descend from the hills to Chandigarh, Le Corbusier's planned modern city.
- Evening: The Rock Garden: an entire art city built from industrial waste: and the promenade at Sukhna Lake.
- Overnight: Chandigarh.
Day12
Chandigarh to Delhi
~250 km · 5 hrs
Overnight: Delhi
- Morning drive back to Delhi, with an optional stop at the terraced Pinjore Gardens en route.
- Evening free for last-minute shopping at Connaught Place or Dilli Haat.
- Overnight: Delhi.
Day13
Leave Delhi
Tour concludes
Tour Ends · Delhi
- Breakfast, then a private transfer to Delhi airport or railway station for your onward journey.
- Tour concludes: with a camera roll full of the Himalayas.
Driving times are indicative and vary with traffic, weather and season. Day plans can be re-ordered to match your arrival flight times.
Where You Stay
Overnight Towns on the Circuit
Delhi · Nights 1, 2 & 12
The capital base
Comfortable city hotels close to the airport corridor and Connaught Place
Comfortable city hotels close to the airport corridor and Connaught Place
Shimla · Nights 3 & 4
The Queen of Hills
Hotels near the Ridge and Mall Road with valley-facing rooms
Hotels near the Ridge and Mall Road with valley-facing rooms
Manali · Nights 5 & 6
The Kullu valley
Riverside and orchard-side resorts a short drive from Old Manali
Riverside and orchard-side resorts a short drive from Old Manali
Dharamshala · Nights 7 & 8
Little Lhasa
McLeod Ganj stays with monastery and Dhauladhar views
McLeod Ganj stays with monastery and Dhauladhar views
Dalhousie · Nights 9 & 10
Deodar country
Colonial-style hotels between Subhash Chowk and Gandhi Chowk
Colonial-style hotels between Subhash Chowk and Gandhi Chowk
Chandigarh · Night 11
The planned city
Modern business hotels convenient for the Rock Garden and Sector 17
Modern business hotels convenient for the Rock Garden and Sector 17
We will arrange and confirm your hotel stays as per the trip and budget: hotel options are not fixed and can be customised to your preference. Contact us for details
Good to Know
FAQs
When is the best time for this circuit?
- March to June brings clear skies and pleasant hill weather, and September to December offers crisp air, apple season and early snow. July–August is monsoon; travel is possible but landslides can delay mountain roads.
Is the altitude a concern?
- No. The circuit stays between roughly 1,900 m and 2,300 m (Shimla, Manali, Dharamshala, Dalhousie, Khajjiar): moderate Himalayan altitudes that most travellers, including children and seniors, handle comfortably. The route rises gradually with rest days built in.
Can we ride the Kalka–Shimla toy train?
- Yes: it is an optional highlight on Day 3. The car drives you to Kalka and you board the UNESCO-listed mountain railway for the final climb to Shimla (about 5–6 hours, 96 tunnels). Seats are limited, so tell us early and we will arrange the tickets.
Are permits needed for Solang or the Atal Tunnel?
- Solang Valley needs no permit. The Atal Tunnel / Sissu extension is subject to weather and any green-tax or permit rules in force that season: your driver will advise on the day, and any permit fees are excluded from the package.
How do I book this tour?
- Message us on WhatsApp with your dates and group size: we will confirm hotel categories, the toy train option and a final quote, then handle every booking end to end.
Where the Road Runs
The Himalayan Circuit Map