Manali, Tirthan and Shimla

An offbeat experience in the lush Tirthan Valley with hiking and fishing. A mainstream experience in the resort towns of Manali and Shimla with cafes and shopping.

Join us in exploring the 2 most popular and famous tourist destination of Himachal (Shimla and Manali) in addition to Tirthan valley- a quiet, peaceful and less explored scenic valley.

Manali- one of the most beautiful hill stations in the country which has things for people from all walks of life; adventure activities, relaxing environs, cafes and culture. Drive to Sissu via the Atal Tunnel or visit the famous Hidimba temple, hike to Jogni waterfall or explore ancient Naggar Castle. 

Tirthan- falling in the buffer zone for Great Himalayan National Park- Tirthan is a valley full of  thick forests, river streams and ancient architecture. Not being a very popular destination yet makes it a more peaceful environment as compared to Manali and Shimla and a place where you can be with the nature and just relax. This region is full of small hikes through the forests and beautiful villages, hike to some waterfalls, hike to Serulsar lake or Raghupur fort or Chaini fort, go angling or just sit next to the river and relax.

Shimla- a town full of British history and will take you back to the good old days. Here you can enjoy a ride on the toy train, operating since the British rule. Go for a stroll down  the Mall where you can indulge in some shopping, visit the historic Viceregal Lodge which is now a museum, take the ropeway to Jakhu temple, explore nearby hill stations like Kufri and Chail and sit and enjoy a wonderful time with your family over a meal  around the Ridge.

You can do this trip all round the year.

 

Places Covered

Tirthan Valley, Jhibi, Jalori Pass, Serulsar Lake, Chaini Fort, Great Himalayan National Park, Naggar, Atal Tunnel, Solang Valley, Vashisht, Hidimba and Manu Temple, Old and New Manali, Chail, Kufri, Jakhu Temple and The Ridge, Vide Regal Lodge

Best time to Visit

All year round

R

Includes

Stay

Breakfast and Dinner

Local experienced driver

Local coordinator

Day

Day Plan

Travel Time

Day 1

Drive from Chandigarh to Manali 8-9 hrs

Day2

Local Sightseeing- Solang Valley, Atal Tunnel, Vashisth 5-6 hrs

Day 3

Local sightseeing- Hidimba, Manu Temple, Mall Road 3-4 hrs

Day 4

Manali to Jibhi/ Sairopa via Naggar (Castle and Art Gallery) 4-5 hrs

Day 5

Hike to Chaini Fort or drive to Gushaini & hike towards GHNP

4-5 hrs/ 7-8  hrs

Day 6

Jhibhi/ Sairopa to Shimla via Jalori Pass, Sareulsar Lake 6-7 hrs
Day 7 Local Sightseeing- Mall Road, Ridge, Jhakhu Temple, Viceregal Lodge 4-5 hrs
Day 8 Drive to Chail and Kufri and back 3-4 hrs
Day 9 Shimla to Chandigarh- trip ends

4-5 hrs

 

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 attemp 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 Jhibi in Siraj/ Sairopa in Tirthan 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 Siraj/Trithan – 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 – Siraj/Trithan to Shimla via  Jalori Pass and hike to Serolsar Lake (6-7 hrs)

After breakfast we head to Shimla 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 Shimla, reach and rest in the evening.

Day 7 – 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 8 – In Shimla – Chail and Kufri (3-4 hrs)

Leave for Chail this morning and on your way make a stop at 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. You can spend your day in Kufri before heading for Chail. Chail is a quieter place known for its famous cricket ground, Chail Palace and for its bird sanctuary. Chail Palace has been turned into a heritage hotel by the government and is a worth visit place if you are into British architecture.

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.

Inclusions

*Breakfast and Dinner

*Transport and experienced local driver for 9 days as per the plan

*Stay at the list of hotels shared as per the plan on twin sharing basis

*Driver to act as a basic guide

*All expenses for the driver are paid for, including all tolls, fuel, meals and accommodation

*Local coordinator in Kaza and Manali

 

Exclusions

*5% GST

*Lunch, snacks and beverages (except the ones with meals)

*Any kind of insurance/ emergency  and evacuation cost

*Local Guide

*Bus ticket cost/Monument Entry fee/Cost of permits