Day 1 – Chandigarh to Manali (8-9 hrs)

Get picked up from Chandigarh airport/ railway station this morning and head to Manali. Stop for lunch at Sundernagar or mid-way. Reach Manali and rest from your long day of travel. We start exploring Manali tomorrow.

Day 2 – In Manali – Visit Atal Tunnel, Solang Valley and Vashisht (5-6 hrs)

We leave after a leisure breakfast to Atal Tunnel – the worlds longest tunnel above 10000 ft.  Visit the tunnel and cross over. to Khoksar where you can stop at a cup of tea and some mountain maggi. On your way back you will Solang Valley and go up on the ropeway or even indulge in some paragliding and other adventure activities. On your way back visit the village of Vashisht and its famous hot springs. If time permits, you can even attempt to hike to the popular Jogni waterfall from the village.

Day 3 – In Manali – visit Hidimba and Manu temple, Old Manali, Vashisht and Mall road

Start your day after breakfast and first visit the famous Hidimba temple also known as Dhungri temple is an ancient cave temple dedicated to Hidimba Devi, wife of Bhima, a figure in the Indian epic Mahabharata. Surrounding the temple are the Dhungri forests which are also a nature sanctuary. Next we head to Manu temple which is a walk from the Old Manali bridge as that is the drop off point, due to lack of parking on the Old Manali road. The temple dedicated to sage Manu, is where Manali gets its name from. It has superb views of the original Old Manali village and a must visit for everyone.  After your visit to the temple you can walk down Old Manali road and do some souvenir shopping, stop by for lunch in one of the many cafes lining the street. Post lunch you head to Vashisht temple, famous for its sulphur hot springs believed to have healing properties. From Vashisht is a small hike to Jogni waterfall. Do the hike only if you have the time and are upto it. It will take around 2 hrs to complete the hike and come back to the parking spot. The hike is a beautiful walk through the forest leading to magical glimpses of the waterfall. You can hear the water roaring from a distance as you start your hike. The last stop for the day is on Mall Road, where you can finish your shopping or just indulge in some people watching.

Day 4 – Manali to Tirthan Valley via Naggar (4-5 hrs)

Head for Jhibi/ Sairopa today, but on your way we make a quick stop at Naggar Castle, as medieval monument in Naggar town nestled between Kullu and Manali.  Naggar used to be the ancient seat of the King of Kullu, but is now run as a heritage hotel and tourist monument. A little ahead of the castle is Roerich Art Galley, which used to be the habitation of world famous Russian artist Nicholas Roerich and his family. The place is now turned into an exhibition space by a joint venture between the Russian and Himachal Pradesh governments. It is visited by most people who come to Naggar and is an inspirational space for budding artists to see Roerich’s work on Kullu, Lahaul and Spiti Valley. You can chose to have lunch in Naggar village before heading to Jhibi/ Sairopa. Tirthan Valley is the gateway to the Great Himalayan National Park and a popular destination for trekkers and nature enthusiasts. The valley has some fascinating traditional architecture to explore and trout angling locations. Reach and rest for the evening.

Day 5 – In Tirthan – Hike to Chaini Fort OR drive to Gushaini and hike towards the Great Himalayan National Park (4-5 hrs/ 7-8 hrs)

Today will be adventurous as you will be hiking in this beautiful region. You can chose one of two hikes today. Hiking to the majestic Chaini Fort or towards the Great Himalayan National Park. Please note that you will need a guide for your hike to Chaini fort which your host can arrange for you upon request. Chaini Fort a 3-4 hr trek from Jhibi. Chaini village is known for its ancient structures inspired by Chinese art and archaeology. Sharingi Bagi temple is another major attraction which lies mid way and you can take this detour to the temple if you are upto it. The other trek you can opt for today is the 8km long trek towards the Great Himalayan National Park from a spot in Gushani. Just reaching the gate of the Great Himalayan National Park can be considered a trek in itself. If you wish to enter the GHNP you need to take a permit Only people who wish to go on multi day treks to explore the national park take permission. You can relax in the evening and go for a stroll to Jhibi waterfall nearby.

Day 6 – Tirthan Valley to Narkanda via  Jalori Pass and hike to Serolsar Lake (6-7 hrs)

After breakfast we head to Narkanda via the famous Jalori Pass. A mountain pass at 3200 mtrs, Jalori Pass is one of the favourite places for trekkers, mountain lovers and riding enthusiasts. Jalori Pass is the starting points for 2 treks and you can easily do one of these – the hike to Serolsar Lake without a guide. A 5 km trek from the top of Jalori pass brings to Sareolsar Lake, a lake with unpolluted crystal clear water. This lake is tranquil and known for being the seat of local goddess Budhi Nagin. As Jalori Pass receives a heavy amount of snowfall during the winter, it is only accessible between April and November. Move ahead to Narkanda, reach and rest. In the evening you can visit Hatu peak at 3400 mtrs and temple in time for sunset. You can see 180º views of the region from the peak. There is an ancient stove like formation of rocks nearby the temple. Locals believe that it was used by the Pandava brothers to cook their food during their Agyaat Vaas.

Day 7 – Narkanda to Shimla via Kothgarh, Thanedar and Kufri (4-5 hrs)

This morning we head to Shimla town. On the way we cross the famous apple belt of Himachal mainly the villages of Thanedaar and Kothgarh. Kothgarh the apple bowl of Himachal is home of the Stokes family. Satyanand Stokes, an American missionary, first sowed the apple seed brought from back home and pioneered the apple cultivation revolution in Himachal. Thanedaar is a picturesque region where you will be driving through apple, cherry and strawberry plantations. One is constantly treated to a bird’s-eye view of different valleys as the road twists and turns from one spur to another. Te last stop for the day is Kufri. Kufri is famous for its Amusement park which has the world highest go-kart track, if you are with children then there is a good chance you might end up spending the entire day these. Chini bungalow which is famous for its statues and architecture and the Kufri zoo are some of the main attractions. Reach Shimla and rest.

Day 8 – In Shimla – Mall Road, Ridge, Jhakhu Temple, Viceregal Lodge (4-5 hrs)

Leave for Shimla town after a leisure breakfast. You can take the day easy today and explore the town on foot as vehicles are not allowed on Mall Road. Visit the famous and most photographed, ridge in Shimla. You can even visit Vice Regal lodge ( formerly known as Rashtrapati Niwas) and the botanical gardens.  It houses some of the most ancient articles and photographs going back to the times of the British rule in India.Next we visit the famous Jakhu temple by ropeway. Dedicated to lord Hanuman the temple is a very famous tourist point and a must see. As your day comes to an end, you can indulge in shopping on Mall Road for local handicraft and stop by a cafe for some dinner.

Day 9 – Shimla to Chandigarh drop (4-5 hrs)

Head back to Chandigarh this morning after breakfast and catch your flight back home. Trip ends today.