Customised holidayTRHP9S
Amritsar to ManaliHimachal & Amritsar in 9 nights
- 10 Days · 9 Nights
- India · 4 Cities
- Signature pace
- Any date you choose
Amritsar (2N)Dalhousie (2N)Dharamshala (2N)Manali (3N)
View day-wise itinerary →Holiday includes
- Hotel
- Meals
- Sightseeing
- Transport
- FlightsOptional
Private car and driver throughout. Prafull plans and answers every message himself.
Holiday highlights
- The Golden Temple at night for the palki ceremony, and again at dawn
- Beating Retreat ceremony at the Attari–Wagah border
- Jallianwala Bagh and the Partition Museum
- The deodar-ringed meadow at Khajjiar
- The Dalai Lama temple complex in McLeodganj and the Norbulingka Institute
- Solang Valley, the Atal Tunnel and Naggar Castle near Manali
Itinerary (day wise)
Nine nights from the plains of Punjab into the high mountains, following the hills north and east so every drive moves you forward. Two nights at the Golden Temple in Amritsar, two in the quiet colonial town of Dalhousie with Khajjiar, two in Dharamshala and McLeodganj, and three in Manali. It suits families, parents and pilgrims who want faith, history and mountains in one unhurried journey.
Day 1Arrive in Amritsar (2 Nights)
About 11 km · 30 minutes from the airport
Welcome to Punjab. Your driver meets you at Amritsar airport and takes you to your hotel. After a rest and an early dinner, we take you to the Golden Temple at night. Leave your shoes at the counter, cover your head, and walk around the sarovar as the gilded Harmandir Sahib glows on the water and the kirtan carries across the marble. Late in the evening, watch the palki ceremony, when the Guru Granth Sahib is carried in procession to the Akal Takht for the night. Overnight in Amritsar.
- Golden Temple (Harmandir Sahib)
- Sarovar
- Akal Takht
- Palki ceremony
- Note: The Golden Temple is open around the clock and entry is free. Cover your head (we pack scarves in your welcome kit), remove shoes and wash your feet before entering.
Prafull’s tipCarry nothing you'd mind leaving at the shoe counter, and keep your token safe. The volunteers there are quick and honest.
Dinner
Day 2Amritsar
If you're up before dawn, go back to the Golden Temple for the morning ceremony, when the Guru Granth Sahib returns to the sanctum, and share breakfast-time langar in the vast community kitchen. After breakfast, visit Jallianwala Bagh, the walled garden of the 1919 massacre, and the Partition Museum in the old Town Hall nearby. In the afternoon we drive about 30 km to the Attari–Wagah border for the Beating Retreat ceremony, with its high kicks, drums and crowds on both sides. Back in time for dinner. Overnight in Amritsar.
- Golden Temple at dawn
- Guru ka Langar
- Jallianwala Bagh
- Partition Museum
- Attari–Wagah border
- Note: The Partition Museum is closed on Mondays.
- Note: At the Wagah border, carry photo ID and leave bags in the car. Arrive about two hours before the ceremony, which starts before sunset.
Prafull’s tipTry kulcha with chole in the old city lanes for lunch. Your driver knows where the locals queue.
Breakfast & Dinner
Day 3Amritsar – Dalhousie (2 Nights)
About 190 km · 5 hours by road
After breakfast we drive north-east across the Punjab plains, through Pathankot, and start climbing into the hills. The road winds up through pine forest, with the Chamba valley below and the snow peaks of the Dhauladhar and Pir Panjal ahead. By mid-afternoon you reach Dalhousie, a quiet colonial hill town spread over five hills. After check-in, take an evening walk to Gandhi Chowk, past St John's Church and the old Mall, with views over the valley. Dinner at the hotel. Overnight in Dalhousie.
- Pathankot
- Gandhi Chowk
- St John's Church, Dalhousie
- Dalhousie Mall
Prafull’s tipBreak the drive for tea after Pathankot. The climb begins there, and it's the last good stop before Dalhousie.
Breakfast & Dinner
Day 4Dalhousie – Khajjiar – Dalhousie
About 22 km each way · 1 hour by road
After breakfast we drive through the forests of Kalatop Wildlife Sanctuary to Khajjiar, a wide green meadow with a small lake, ringed by tall deodars, at about 1,900 m. Walk around the meadow, visit the old wooden Khajji Nag temple, and try a short pony ride or zorbing if you like. On the way back, stop at Kalatop for a forest walk, and in Dalhousie visit Panchpula, a stream and small waterfalls named for its five bridges, with the memorial to Sardar Ajit Singh. Dinner at the hotel. Overnight in Dalhousie.
- Kalatop Wildlife Sanctuary
- Khajjiar meadow
- Khajji Nag temple
- Panchpula
- Note: Pony rides, zorbing and other activities at Khajjiar are paid locally.
Prafull’s tipReach Khajjiar by 10 am, before the tour groups. Take a packed lunch and eat on the meadow.
Breakfast & Dinner
Day 5Dalhousie – Dharamshala (2 Nights)
About 120 km · 4 hours by road
After breakfast we drive down from Dalhousie and east along the foothills into the Kangra valley, with the white wall of the Dhauladhar rising straight up behind the towns. On the way we pass the Kangra tea gardens, and if you like we stop at a tea estate for a walk among the bushes and a tasting. By afternoon you reach Dharamshala. After check-in, visit the HPCA cricket stadium, one of the most beautiful grounds in the world with the mountains as its backdrop. Dinner at the hotel. Overnight in Dharamshala.
- Kangra valley
- Dhauladhar range
- Kangra tea gardens
- HPCA Stadium
- Note: Kangra Fort, about 20 km from Dharamshala, can be added on the way; entry is paid locally.
- Note: Stadium visits depend on match and practice schedules.
Prafull’s tipThe Dhauladhar looks best from Dharamshala in the clear light of early morning. Ask for a mountain-facing room.
Breakfast & Dinner
Day 6Dharamshala
A day in McLeodganj, home of the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan government in exile. Start at the Tsuglagkhang temple complex, where monks debate in the courtyard and pilgrims walk the kora path below. Then walk to Bhagsunag temple and the waterfall above it, and visit St John in the Wilderness, a stone church in the deodars. In the afternoon we drive down to the Norbulingka Institute near Sidhbari, set in Japanese-style gardens, where Tibetan artists keep alive thangka painting, woodcarving and appliqué. Dinner at the hotel. Overnight in Dharamshala.
- Tsuglagkhang complex
- Bhagsunag temple
- Bhagsu waterfall
- St John in the Wilderness
- Norbulingka Institute
- Note: McLeodganj's main lanes are narrow and often one-way; parts of the day are on foot.
- Note: Norbulingka entry is paid locally.
Prafull’s tipTry Tibetan momos and thukpa for lunch in McLeodganj; there's plenty for vegetarians.
Breakfast & Dinner
Day 7Dharamshala – Manali (3 Nights)
About 230 km · 6–7 hours by road
An early start for the longest drive of the trip. We head east through Palampur's tea country and Baijnath, with its 13th-century Shiva temple, then over the hills to Mandi, where the road joins the Beas. From there it follows the river past Pandoh Dam, through the Aut tunnel and up the Kullu valley, with a stop for lunch on the way. By late afternoon you reach Manali, where three relaxed nights await. Check in and rest. Dinner at the hotel. Overnight in Manali.
- Palampur tea gardens
- Baijnath Temple
- Mandi
- Pandoh Dam
- Kullu valley
Prafull’s tipSit on the right side of the car after Mandi; that's the river side all the way to Manali.
Breakfast & Dinner
Day 8Manali
About 45 km each way to Sissu · 1.5–2 hours, longer in traffic
A day up the valley. We drive about 14 km to Solang Valley, a wide meadow below the snow peaks, for the ropeway, paragliding in season or snow play in winter and spring. Then on through the Atal Tunnel, over 9 km long under the Pir Panjal range, into Lahaul, where the landscape changes completely to bare, high mountains and the Chandra river. Stop at Sissu for its waterfall and lake before the drive back. Dinner at the hotel. Overnight in Manali.
- Solang Valley
- Solang ropeway
- Atal Tunnel
- Sissu
- Chandra river
- Note: Ropeway, paragliding, ATV and snow-gear hire at Solang are optional and paid locally.
- Note: If local rules or snow on the day require a Manali union taxi for Solang or the Atal Tunnel, we arrange it and the cost is paid locally.
Prafull’s tipLeave by 8 am. The queues at Solang and the tunnel build quickly after 10, especially on weekends.
Breakfast & Dinner
Day 9Manali
A gentler day. After breakfast we drive about 21 km down the left bank of the Beas to Naggar, the old capital of the Kullu valley. Visit Naggar Castle, a stone-and-timber building of the 1400s now run as a heritage hotel, with views across the valley, and the Nicholas Roerich Art Gallery in the Russian painter's former home just above it. Back in Manali after lunch, visit Hadimba Devi Temple in its deodar grove, then walk through Old Manali and finish at the Vashisht hot springs. Dinner at the hotel. Overnight in Manali.
- Naggar Castle
- Nicholas Roerich Art Gallery
- Hadimba Devi Temple
- Old Manali
- Vashisht hot springs
- Note: Entry to Naggar Castle and the Roerich gallery is paid locally.
- Note: The Rohtang Pass trip can replace this day, from about May to November, by permit only. Rohtang is usually closed to tourist vehicles on Tuesdays.
Prafull’s tipHave tea on Naggar Castle's veranda. It has one of the best views of the Kullu valley.
Breakfast & Dinner
Day 10Manali – Chandigarh – Departure
About 300 km · 8–9 hours by road
An early breakfast and we drive down the Kullu valley and back through Mandi and Bilaspur to Chandigarh, stopping for lunch on the way. The views fade gently from snow peaks to pine hills to the plains, and there are good dhabas for tea at Mandi and near Swarghat. Your driver drops you at Chandigarh airport in time for an evening flight home. If you'd rather avoid the long drive, we can book you a flight from Bhuntar (Kullu–Manali airport), about 50 km from Manali, on request. Your holiday ends here. Thank you for travelling with TripRoutes.
- Kullu valley
- Mandi
- Note: Book a flight from Chandigarh after 6 pm. Flights from Bhuntar are few and weather-dependent.
Prafull’s tipLeave Manali by 6.30 am to be past Kullu before the traffic.
Breakfast
Tour details
Accommodation
Choose the hotel category. The same route and sightseeing in every category.
| City | Standard hotels |
|---|---|
| Amritsar2 nights | Fairfield by Marriott Amritsar / Ramada Amritsar / Golden Sarovar Portico / or similarDeluxe room |
| Dalhousie2 nights | Hotel Mount View / Snow Valley Resorts Dalhousie / or similarDeluxe room |
| Dharamshala2 nights | Lemon Tree Hotel McLeodganj / Best Western Plus Revanta / or similarDeluxe room |
| Manali3 nights | Sterling Manali / Snow Valley Resorts & Spa, Manali / or similarDeluxe room |
| City | Deluxe hotels |
|---|---|
| Amritsar2 nights | Hyatt Regency Amritsar / Radisson Blu Hotel Amritsar / Holiday Inn Amritsar Ranjit Avenue / or similar |
| Dalhousie2 nights | Grand View Hotel / Best Western Dalhousie / or similar |
| Dharamshala2 nights | Fortune Park Moksha, McLeodganj / The Belvedere Himalayan Retreat / WelcomHeritage Grace Hotel / or similar |
| Manali3 nights | Manuallaya The Resort & Spa / Apple Country Resorts / The Orchard Greens Resort & Spa / or similar |
| City | Premium hotels |
|---|---|
| Amritsar2 nights | Taj Swarna / Welcomhotel by ITC Hotels, Raja Sansi / Ranjit's Svaasa / or similar |
| Dalhousie2 nights | Fortune Park Dalhousie / Heritage suite at Grand View Hotel / or similar |
| Dharamshala2 nights | Hyatt Regency Dharamshala Resort / Radisson Blu Resort Dharamshala / Storii by ITC Hotels Amoha Retreat / or similar |
| Manali3 nights | The Span Resort & Spa / Solang Valley Resort / Baragarh Resort & Spa / or similar |
Hotels are confirmed when you book. If a hotel is full, we give you one of the same category in the same area, and tell you before you pay.
Optional add-ons
Not in the price. Prafull can book them for you or you can pay locally.
| Experience | Approx. price |
|---|---|
| Rohtang PassIn place of the Naggar day, about May to November, by permit; usually closed to tourist vehicles on Tuesdays. | On request |
| Kangra FortA stop on the Dalhousie–Dharamshala drive; entry paid locally. | On request |
| Tea-estate walk and tasting in KangraAt a working estate near Dharamshala or Palampur. | On request |
| Paragliding at SolangShort tandem flights with licensed pilots, weather permitting; paid locally. | On request |
Tour information
Read this to prepare for your holiday.
Tour inclusions
- 2 nights in Amritsar, 2 in Dalhousie, 2 in Dharamshala and 3 in Manali in the hotels listed (or similar), twin sharing
- Daily breakfast and dinner at the hotel (buffet or set menu), from dinner on Day 1 to breakfast on Day 10
- Private Dzire/Etios for 2 guests, Innova Crysta for 3–6: arrival at Amritsar, departure from Chandigarh and all sightseeing as per the itinerary (AC switched off on steep hill climbs)
- Golden Temple visits at night and at dawn, with head scarves in your welcome kit
- Return drive to the Attari–Wagah border for the Beating Retreat ceremony
- Day trip to Khajjiar via Kalatop
- McLeodganj and Norbulingka sightseeing
- Day trip to Solang Valley and through the Atal Tunnel to Sissu
- Naggar, Old Manali and Vashisht sightseeing
- Driver allowance, tolls, parking, fuel and Punjab and Himachal entry taxes
- Ground-floor rooms for parents, on request
- Prafull's day-by-day trip notes on WhatsApp
- 24/7 helpline while you travel
Tour exclusions
- Flights or trains to Amritsar and from Chandigarh
- GST (5%) on the package
- Entry tickets: Partition Museum, Kangra Fort, Norbulingka, Naggar Castle, Roerich gallery and others
- Rohtang Pass permit and trip (on request, subject to availability)
- Manali union taxi for Solang or the Atal Tunnel if required on the day
- Ropeways, paragliding, pony rides, zorbing and other activities
- Lunches, snacks and drinks
- Guide fees unless listed
- Snow boots, jackets and gear on hire
- Tips for drivers; porterage; laundry and room heaters where charged
- Travel insurance, and extra costs from weather, landslides, roadblocks or flight changes
- Anything not listed under inclusions
Good to know
- At the Golden Temple and every gurdwara, cover your head, remove shoes and avoid tobacco and alcohol. Langar is open to everyone, free.
- Carry photo ID for the Wagah border, where bags are not allowed in the seating area. The ceremony starts before sunset, a little later in summer than in winter.
- This trip starts at Amritsar and ends at Chandigarh, so book an open-jaw flight. Both have direct flights to Mumbai.
- There are several 4–7 hour mountain drives. We break them with stops, but carry snacks, water and anything for motion sickness.
- Pure-veg food is easy everywhere, and Jain meals are possible at most hotels with advance notice. Amritsar is one of India's great vegetarian food cities.
- Good for parents: two nights in every place, a slow pace and lifts or ground-floor rooms where available. Pack warm layers for Dalhousie and Manali in every season.
When to go
March to June, and September to November. Clear, pleasant weather in spring and autumn. July and August bring heavy rain and landslides; December to February brings snow and some closed roads.
Our favourite months
Cancellation policy & payment terms
Payment terms
| To confirm your holiday | 25% of the package cost, or ₹25,000 per person, whichever is higher |
|---|---|
| 30 days before travel | Balance payment |
| Booking within 30 days of travel | Full payment at booking |
| Flights, trains and visa fees | Paid in full at booking, as the airline or authority requires |
Cancellation charges
| 45 days or more before travel | 10% of the package cost |
|---|---|
| 30–44 days before travel | 25% of the package cost |
| 15–29 days before travel | 50% of the package cost |
| 7–14 days before travel | 75% of the package cost |
| Less than 7 days, or no-show | 100% of the package cost |
- Cancellations must be sent in writing, on email or WhatsApp; the date we receive it is the cancellation date.
- Flights, trains, visa fees and non-refundable hotel or activity bookings are refunded only as their own rules allow.
- Date changes are free when made 30 days or more before travel, subject to hotel availability and any difference in price.
- Refunds are paid within 14 working days of us receiving them from the hotels and suppliers.
- No refund is possible for services not used during the holiday.
- Hotels may ask for a refundable security deposit at check-in, paid directly to the hotel.
Questions about this holiday
How much does the Amritsar to Manali trip cost?
The 9-night Amritsar to Manali journey starts at ₹36,000 per person on twin sharing in Standard hotels (about ₹48,500 in Deluxe and ₹68,500 in Premium hotels), land only. Flights are extra and quoted for your dates.
What is the best time for this Himachal & Amritsar trip?
March to June, and September to November. Clear, pleasant weather in spring and autumn. July and August bring heavy rain and landslides; December to February brings snow and some closed roads.
Can this itinerary be changed?
Yes. Every TripRoutes trip is private, so we can add or remove nights, swap Amritsar or any other stop, change hotels, or adjust the pace.
How many days do you need for Shimla and Manali?
Five nights is comfortable: two in Shimla and three in Manali, with one long drive between them. Add Amritsar or Dharamshala with eight to nine nights.
Which airport is best for Shimla and Manali from Mumbai?
Chandigarh. Shimla is about 3.5 hours away by road and Manali about 8–9 hours. Amritsar suits trips that start at the Golden Temple.
Himachal & Amritsar
Other ways to see Himachal & Amritsar
5 nightsEasyShimla & Manali
- Shimla and Kufri on the first days
- Solang Valley and the Atal Tunnel to Sissu
- Old Manali's cafés and cedar forests
6 nightsClassicShimla, Kasol & Manali
- Shimla, the Parvati valley and Manali
- Kasol's riverside cafés and Manikaran gurudwara
- Snow at Solang and the Atal Tunnel
Plan with Prafull
Make this holiday yours
Tell Prafull your dates and who is coming. He will send a revised plan and an exact price, usually within a few hours.
- WhatsApp +91 74800 66666
- Call +91 74800 66666
- prafull.pitale@triproutes.in
- 304, Kailash Plaza Business Park, Ghatkopar East