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Destination Guide·April 27, 2026·8 min read

The Ultimate Shimla & Manali Travel Guide | 6-Day Itinerary & Budget

TravelTalk24 Team

Travel Experts

The Ultimate Shimla & Manali Travel Guide | 6-Day Itinerary & Budget

Looking for the perfect mountain escape that combines British-era heritage with thrilling snow adventures? A combined trip to Shimla and Manali is the quintessential Himachal Pradesh experience. From the bustling Ridge in Shimla to the engineering marvel of the Atal Tunnel in Manali, this circuit is a bucket-list favorite.

Based on the comprehensive travel vlog by 'Kunal K Vlogs', we have crafted the ultimate 5-Night / 6-Day itinerary. Whether you are traveling via a comfortable Volvo bus from Delhi or hiring a private cab for a spectacular road trip, this guide covers everything you need to know about costs, hotels, and top tourist attractions.

Watch the Complete Shimla Manali Travel Vlog

How to Reach & Get Around

By Volvo Bus: Comfortable overnight Volvo buses run from Delhi (Kashmiri Gate, Majnu Ka Tilla) to Shimla. Tickets range from ₹1,500 to ₹2,000, and the journey takes about 8 hours.
By Train: You can take a train to Chandigarh (just 110 km from Shimla) and hire a cab or board a bus from there.
Private Taxi (Delhi to Delhi): For a hassle-free 6-day trip covering Delhi-Shimla-Manali-Delhi, hiring a dedicated private cab costs around ₹4,500 per day.
Shimla to Manali: The distance is 230 km (approx. 6 hours). If you don't have a private cab, you can take a local HRTC bus for around ₹700 per person.

Ideal 5-Night / 6-Day Itinerary

Day	Activities & Sightseeing	Notes
Day 1	Arrival in Shimla & City Tour	Check into your hotel. Visit the towering Jakhu Temple via the cable car. In the evening, stroll along the famous Mall Road and The Ridge to enjoy the heritage architecture and shopping.
Day 2	Kufri Excursion	Drive 15 km to Kufri. Hire a horse to reach the top. Enjoy snow activities like skiing and yak rides. Return to Shimla for a relaxing evening.
Day 3	Drive to Manali	Check out early and begin the 6-hour scenic drive to Manali. Check into a valley-view resort and spend the evening exploring the Manali Mall Road.
Day 4	Atal Tunnel & Solang Valley	Drive to the incredible Atal Tunnel (10,000 ft). On your way back, stop at Solang Valley for a full day of snow biking, tube rides, and paragliding.
Day 5	Manali Local Sightseeing	Visit the 4,000-year-old Vashisht Temple, the iconic Hadimba Devi Temple, and the Buddhist Monastery. Relax at the riverside cafes in Old Manali in the evening.
Day 6	Kullu Rafting & Departure	Check out and drive towards Kullu (40 km). Enjoy thrilling river rafting and a riverside snack of local Siddu before heading back to Delhi/Chandigarh.

DayDay 1

Activities & SightseeingArrival in Shimla & City Tour

NotesCheck into your hotel. Visit the towering Jakhu Temple via the cable car. In the evening, stroll along the famous Mall Road and The Ridge to enjoy the heritage architecture and shopping.

DayDay 2

Activities & SightseeingKufri Excursion

NotesDrive 15 km to Kufri. Hire a horse to reach the top. Enjoy snow activities like skiing and yak rides. Return to Shimla for a relaxing evening.

DayDay 3

Activities & SightseeingDrive to Manali

NotesCheck out early and begin the 6-hour scenic drive to Manali. Check into a valley-view resort and spend the evening exploring the Manali Mall Road.

DayDay 4

Activities & SightseeingAtal Tunnel & Solang Valley

NotesDrive to the incredible Atal Tunnel (10,000 ft). On your way back, stop at Solang Valley for a full day of snow biking, tube rides, and paragliding.

DayDay 5

Activities & SightseeingManali Local Sightseeing

NotesVisit the 4,000-year-old Vashisht Temple, the iconic Hadimba Devi Temple, and the Buddhist Monastery. Relax at the riverside cafes in Old Manali in the evening.

DayDay 6

Activities & SightseeingKullu Rafting & Departure

NotesCheck out and drive towards Kullu (40 km). Enjoy thrilling river rafting and a riverside snack of local Siddu before heading back to Delhi/Chandigarh.

Top Sights & Experiences

Location	Highlights	Details & Fees
Jakhu Temple (Shimla)	Features a massive 108-ft statue of Lord Hanuman.	Take the scenic Cable Car (₹250 per person) to the top to avoid the steep hike and snow-blocked roads.
Solang Valley (Manali)	The ultimate adventure hub for snow sports.	Enjoy Snow Biking (₹500), Tube Rides (₹100), and Paragliding (₹1,500 for low height; ₹3,500 for high altitude).
Atal Tunnel	A 9 km long engineering marvel connecting Manali to Lahaul Spiti.	The North Portal usually has massive snow walls (2-3 feet deep in winters). A must-visit for stunning photography.
Hadimba Devi Temple	An ancient wooden temple surrounded by tall Deodar forests.	Rent traditional Himachali attire for ₹100-₹150 to take memorable family photos. You can also pose on a Yak (₹50).
Old Manali Cafes	Peaceful, bohemian vibe right by the river.	The best place to unwind. Grab a cup of coffee and a bowl of Maggi while listening to the sound of the flowing river.

LocationJakhu Temple (Shimla)

HighlightsFeatures a massive 108-ft statue of Lord Hanuman.

Details & FeesTake the scenic Cable Car (₹250 per person) to the top to avoid the steep hike and snow-blocked roads.

LocationSolang Valley (Manali)

HighlightsThe ultimate adventure hub for snow sports.

Details & FeesEnjoy Snow Biking (₹500), Tube Rides (₹100), and Paragliding (₹1,500 for low height; ₹3,500 for high altitude).

LocationAtal Tunnel

HighlightsA 9 km long engineering marvel connecting Manali to Lahaul Spiti.

Details & FeesThe North Portal usually has massive snow walls (2-3 feet deep in winters). A must-visit for stunning photography.

LocationHadimba Devi Temple

HighlightsAn ancient wooden temple surrounded by tall Deodar forests.

Details & FeesRent traditional Himachali attire for ₹100-₹150 to take memorable family photos. You can also pose on a Yak (₹50).

LocationOld Manali Cafes

HighlightsPeaceful, bohemian vibe right by the river.

Details & FeesThe best place to unwind. Grab a cup of coffee and a bowl of Maggi while listening to the sound of the flowing river.

Accommodation & Budget Summary

Both Shimla and Manali offer a wide range of stays. To get the best experience, aim for resorts that offer mountain or valley views just outside the crowded city centers.

Shimla Stay: Expect to pay around ₹3,000 - ₹3,500 per night for a premium resort (like DLS Hill Crest) with breakfast included.
Manali Stay: Valley-view resorts (like La Serene Valley) cost around ₹3,500 per night. Budget options are also available starting from ₹1,500.
Kullu River Rafting: Ranges from ₹1,000 to ₹3,000 depending on the distance covered.

Package Type	Estimated Cost (Per Person)	What's Included
Complete Shimla & Manali (5N/6D)	~ ₹22,000	Delhi-Delhi private cab, 2 nights Shimla, 3 nights Manali, breakfast, and all local sightseeing.
Only Shimla Package	~ ₹10,000	Delhi-Delhi private cab, 2 nights accommodation, and local sightseeing.
Only Manali Package	~ ₹12,000	Delhi-Delhi private cab, 3 nights accommodation, and local sightseeing.

Package TypeComplete Shimla & Manali (5N/6D)

Estimated Cost (Per Person)~ ₹22,000

What's IncludedDelhi-Delhi private cab, 2 nights Shimla, 3 nights Manali, breakfast, and all local sightseeing.

Package TypeOnly Shimla Package

Estimated Cost (Per Person)~ ₹10,000

What's IncludedDelhi-Delhi private cab, 2 nights accommodation, and local sightseeing.

Package TypeOnly Manali Package

Estimated Cost (Per Person)~ ₹12,000

What's IncludedDelhi-Delhi private cab, 3 nights accommodation, and local sightseeing.

Seasonal Snow Tip: If you are traveling between March and June, Solang Valley will be green. To see heavy snow during these summer months, you will need to travel further up to Rohtang Pass or Sissu.

“Organizing your Delhi to Shimla transfers, booking the right Solang Valley adventure packages, and finding the best valley-view hotels can be tedious. Let TravelTalk24 map out your Himalayan escape seamlessly.”
— TravelTalk24 Team

Simplify Your Himachal Itinerary

Coordinating private cabs from Delhi, managing travel times to the Atal Tunnel, and booking premium resorts can be stressful. To plan your routes and itineraries effortlessly, check out the travel planning app, TravelTalk24.