North India Itinerary: 2 and 3-Week Routes from Delhi to the Himalayas

Short answer: The north India itinerary we plan most often runs Delhi → Agra → Jaipur → Amritsar → Dharamshala → Manali, then back to Delhi via Chandigarh, in 13–14 nights. It combines the Taj Mahal and Rajasthan’s pink city with the Golden Temple and two Himalayan valleys. With three weeks you add Shimla and either Rishikesh and Varanasi or, between June and October, Kinnaur and Spiti. One train or flight joins the plains to Punjab; everything else is by private car.

What does a north India itinerary cover?

North India for a visitor means three different worlds within a day of each other: the Mughal and Rajput plains (Delhi, Agra, Jaipur), Sikh Punjab (Amritsar) and the Himalayan foothills of Himachal Pradesh (Dharamshala, Manali, Shimla). Uttarakhand (Rishikesh, Haridwar), Varanasi and, in summer, Spiti and Ladakh are the usual additions.

The route below is the one we drive most. It moves in one direction, Delhi south to Agra and Jaipur, then north to Punjab and up into the hills, so you never double back for more than a few hours. Dollar figures use ₹95 to the US dollar (October 2026) and are approximate.

The 2-week north India itinerary, day by day

The first five days are the standard Golden Triangle; our 10 day India itinerary covers them in more detail. The Himalayan section follows our own guide to Himachal Pradesh for international travellers.

How do you get from the Golden Triangle to Amritsar?

This is the one awkward join on the route, because Jaipur and Amritsar are about 650 km apart. You have three options:

• Fly Jaipur–Amritsar. Nonstop flights exist on some days and take about 1 h 15 m; otherwise connect through Delhi. This is the fastest and what we book for most travellers.
• Train via Delhi. Take the evening train from Jaipur to Delhi, overnight in Delhi, then the 12029 Swarna Shatabdi, which leaves New Delhi at 07:20 and reaches Amritsar at 13:30, six days a week (Railyatri, checked 30 Oct 2026). The 12013 Shatabdi at 16:30 (arrives 23:05, daily) is the afternoon alternative. Our Delhi to Amritsar guide compares them.
• Drive. Jaipur to Amritsar is a long 11–12 hour day by car. We only suggest it broken with a night in Delhi or Chandigarh.

In Amritsar, time the Golden Temple for early morning and again after dark, when the temple is lit. The Wagah border ceremony runs 17:00–17:30 on the winter schedule from 16 October 2026 (18:00 in summer); it is 30 km from the city and the stands fill well before the start, so leave by 15:00. Our Wagah ceremony guide covers seating for foreign passport holders.

What is the Himalayan half of the route like?

Amritsar to Dharamshala is about 200 km and 4–5 hours on NH-54 and NH-154 via Pathankot (Savaari route guide, checked 30 Oct 2026). The road climbs gently into the Kangra Valley, and McLeod Ganj, the Tibetan town above Dharamshala, is where most visitors stay. Our Amritsar to Dharamshala guide has stop suggestions.

Dharamshala to Manali is the longest drive, about 240 km and 7–8 hours through Palampur, Mandi and the Kullu Valley on NH-3. The road is good but winding; leave by 08:00 and plan a lunch stop in Mandi. From December to February, check the forecast, since snow can briefly close the Manali approaches.

Manali earns three nights. One day for Old Manali, the Hadimba temple and Naggar castle; one for Solang Valley and the Atal Tunnel to Sissu in Lahaul, which is open year-round apart from short snow closures; and a spare day for walking or rest. Rohtang Pass is closed on Tuesdays and through the winter, and needs a permit from rohtangpermits.hp.gov.in when open. Our Manali guide for international travellers covers stays and seasons.

Back to Delhi: drive to Chandigarh (8–9 hours) and take the evening Shatabdi to Delhi, or fly from Kullu (Bhuntar) to Delhi if the weather is clear. Our Delhi to Manali guide explains why we rarely book the Kullu flight as the only option.

The 3-week north India itinerary: what do you add?

With 20–21 nights, slot in Shimla between Manali and Delhi, and then choose one of two finales depending on the season.

Winter version (November–March): Manali → Shimla 2N → Chandigarh → Rishikesh 2N → Delhi → fly Varanasi 2N → Delhi. The toy train is only running between Dharampur and Shimla while the Kalka section is closed until 30 November 2026, so the Shimla approach is by car for now; our Shimla guide for international travellers explains the alternatives.

Summer version (June–October): Manali → Shimla 2N → Kinnaur (Kalpa or Sangla) 2N → Spiti (Tabo, Kaza) 3N → back to Manali over Kunzum Pass when the Gramphu–Batal road is open, or return via Shimla. Both the Manali–Kaza and Manali–Leh roads closed for winter on 15 October 2026, so this loop reopens in late spring; our Spiti guide for international travellers covers permits and altitude.

When is the best time for this route?

The plains and the hills want different months, so the whole route is a compromise. October–November and late February–April suit everything: warm days in Delhi, Agra and Jaipur, clear skies in Amritsar, and crisp but open roads in Himachal. December and January are cold and foggy on the plains and snowy above Manali, which is beautiful but needs buffer days. May and June are very hot below the hills but ideal in Manali and Spiti. July to mid-September is the monsoon, when Himachal roads see landslides and we would not plan long mountain drives. Our month-by-month guide to north India goes into each region.

How much does a north India itinerary cost, and what do we provide?

For two people sharing, a mid-range version of the 2-week route with a private car for the road sections, 3–4 star hotels, one domestic flight and breakfast typically works out at roughly ₹1,20,000–1,80,000 per person (about US$1,260–1,900) excluding international flights and monument tickets. Luxury hotels or a larger car push it higher; guesthouses in Himachal pull it lower. Treat these as planning ranges and ask us for a fixed quote.

Our published Himachal packages give a sense of our pricing: the Incredible Himachal tour from Delhi is ₹18,999 per person (about US$200) on a Deluxe basis in the off-season band of 1 November–19 December and 6 January–14 March, with peak dates about 25% higher. For the full north India route we quote per trip. A 20% token confirms a Himachal package, refundable in full if you cancel within 48 hours of paying, and we accept international cards through Razorpay and PayPal.

What makes the mountain half easier with us is that our drivers and office are in Himachal: we know which passes are open this week, which hotels have heating in January, and when to leave Dharamshala to reach Manali before dark. A private car and driver for the whole route is the usual arrangement.

Frequently asked questions

How many days do you need for north India?

Fourteen days covers Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Amritsar, Dharamshala and Manali without rushing, with one flight or train joining Rajasthan to Punjab. Twenty-one days lets you add Shimla plus either Rishikesh and Varanasi in winter or Kinnaur and Spiti in summer. With only 10 days, stick to the Golden Triangle and one extension.

What is the best order for a north India itinerary?

Go Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, then Amritsar, Dharamshala, Manali and back to Delhi via Chandigarh or Shimla. This moves in one direction, puts the long Jaipur–Amritsar hop on a flight or train, and keeps every road day under eight hours. Doing the mountains first and Rajasthan last works too if you land in winter and want the hills early.

Can you include Ladakh or Spiti in a north India trip?

Yes, between June and September or early October. The Manali–Leh and Manali–Kaza roads closed for winter on 15 October 2026 and reopen in late spring. In winter, Spiti is reachable only via Shimla and Kinnaur, and Leh only by air. Both need acclimatisation days, so allow five to six nights for either.

Is it better to fly or drive between the cities?

Drive between Delhi, Agra and Jaipur, and for every mountain leg, because the road is the point. Fly or take the morning Shatabdi for Delhi–Amritsar, and fly for Varanasi or Leh. The Kullu–Delhi flight is useful at the end but is often cancelled in bad weather, so keep a road alternative.

When is the best time to visit north India?

October to November and late February to April suit the whole route: comfortable on the plains and clear in the hills. December and January are cold and foggy below the mountains and snowy above Manali. May and June are hot in Delhi and Rajasthan but ideal in Himachal, and July to mid-September is the monsoon, when we avoid long mountain drives.

Do I need permits for this north India itinerary?

No permits are needed for Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Amritsar, Dharamshala, Manali or Shimla. Rohtang Pass needs a daily permit when open and is closed on Tuesdays and in winter. Foreign nationals need an Inner Line Permit for the Kinnaur–Spiti stretch beyond Reckong Peo, and Protected Area Permits for parts of Ladakh; we arrange these.