Updated: November 2026
Short answer: The best Shimla Manali itinerary is 6 days from Delhi or 5 days from Chandigarh: 2 nights in Shimla (with Kufri), 3 nights in Manali (local sightseeing, Solang Valley, Atal Tunnel and Sissu), then the drive back. Delhi to Shimla is about 345 km (7–8 hours), Shimla to Manali about 250 km (7–8 hours) and Manali to Delhi about 540 km (11–13 hours), so never plan sightseeing on the long driving days. With 7 days, add Narkanda or Naggar and keep one spare day for snow or road closures.
Quick answer: Shimla Manali itinerary at a glance
- 5 days from Chandigarh: Shimla 2 nights, Manali 2 nights; tight but workable.
- 6 days from Delhi: Shimla 2 nights, Manali 3 nights; the most popular plan.
- 7 days: Shimla 2 nights, Manali 3 nights plus one night or day for Narkanda, Naggar or Kasol.
- Driving days: Delhi–Shimla about 345 km, Shimla–Manali about 250 km via Bilaspur, Mandi and Kullu, Manali–Delhi about 540 km.
- Which way round: Shimla first, Manali second. You climb gradually, and the long drive home starts from the end of the valley with the most to see.
- In winter: Rohtang is closed; the snow days are Kufri or Narkanda near Shimla, and Solang or Sissu near Manali.
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How many days do you need for Shimla and Manali?
Six days from Delhi is the sweet spot. Five days can work from Chandigarh, because the first drive to Shimla is only about 115 km (3–3.5 hours). Fewer than five days means you spend most of the holiday in the car.
| Leg | Distance | Drive time | Route |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delhi → Shimla | About 345 km | 7–8 hours | NH-44 to Chandigarh, then Parwanoo and Solan |
| Chandigarh → Shimla | About 115 km | 3–3.5 hours | Parwanoo, Dharampur, Solan |
| Shimla → Manali | About 250 km | 7–8 hours | Ghanahatti, Darlaghat, Bilaspur, Sundernagar, Mandi, Pandoh–Aut tunnels, Kullu |
| Manali → Delhi | About 540 km | 11–13 hours | Kullu, Mandi, Kiratpur–Nerchowk four-lane, Chandigarh |
| Manali → Chandigarh | About 290 km | 7–8 hours | Kullu, Mandi, Kiratpur Sahib |
Distances and times are from our live cab pages and assume a clear road. Weekends, snow and monsoon landslides can add hours. For the drive day itself, read our Shimla to Manali distance, bus and road guide.
What is the best 6-day Shimla Manali itinerary from Delhi?
| Day | Plan | Night |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Delhi to Shimla (about 345 km). Leave by 6 am, lunch around Chandigarh or Solan, evening walk on the Ridge and Mall Road. | Shimla |
| Day 2 | Kufri (16–20 km) in the morning: Green Valley viewpoint, slopes and the Himalayan Nature Park. Afternoon in Shimla: Jakhu temple, Christ Church, Lakkar Bazaar. | Shimla |
| Day 3 | Shimla to Manali (about 250 km). Leave by 7 am; tea at Sundernagar or Mandi, a stop at the Pandoh dam viewpoint, Kullu shawl outlets on the way. Reach Manali before dark. | Manali |
| Day 4 | Solang Valley (13 km) and, if the road is open, the Atal Tunnel to Sissu (about 40 km). Rohtang instead from about June to October, with a permit, not on Tuesdays in the 2026 season. | Manali |
| Day 5 | Manali local sightseeing: Hadimba temple, Old Manali and Manu temple, Vashisht hot springs, Tibetan monastery, Mall Road. | Manali |
| Day 6 | Manali to Delhi (about 540 km). Leave early; or take an evening Volvo and arrive next morning. | — |
This is the shape of our Shimla Manali tour from Delhi (6D/5N), which starts from ₹14,499 per person on its live page, and of the Shimla Manali tour package from Delhi (5N/6D), from ₹14,999 per person plus 5% GST (4-star from ₹18,699).
What is the best 5-day Shimla Manali itinerary from Chandigarh?
| Day | Plan | Night |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Chandigarh to Shimla (about 115 km). Afternoon on the Ridge, Mall Road and Jakhu. | Shimla |
| Day 2 | Kufri in the morning; afternoon at the Viceregal Lodge (closed on Mondays) or Lakkar Bazaar. | Shimla |
| Day 3 | Shimla to Manali (about 250 km), with stops at Bilaspur, Mandi and Kullu. | Manali |
| Day 4 | Solang Valley and the Atal Tunnel–Sissu run in the morning; Hadimba and Mall Road in the evening. | Manali |
| Day 5 | Vashisht and Old Manali in the morning, then Manali to Chandigarh (about 290 km). | — |
If you can add one night in Manali, the plan becomes our Shimla Manali 5N/6D from Chandigarh, which starts from ₹12,499 per person (Deluxe, off-season, twin share) on its live page.
What is the best 7-day Shimla Manali itinerary?
A seventh day is best spent on depth, not on another town. Pick one of these and slot it into the 6-day plan above.
| Add-on | Where it fits | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Narkanda (about 65 km from Shimla) | Day 3, as a day trip from Shimla | Higher than Kufri, with more reliable winter snow and Hatu Peak views. |
| Naggar and Jana | A fourth day in Manali | The 15th-century castle, the Roerich gallery and a village lunch at Jana. |
| Kasol and Manikaran | One night in Kasol after Manali | Parvati riverside, the Manikaran gurudwara and hot springs. |
| Spare snow day | Manali, December to March | Covers a day lost to a road hold at Solang or the Atal Tunnel. |
For a longer loop that includes Dharamshala or Dalhousie, see our Himachal tour package for 7 days.
Should you do Shimla first or Manali first?
Shimla first, for three reasons. First, the climb is gentler: Shimla is at about 2,200 m and the drive from Delhi or Chandigarh is shorter, so the first day is easier. Second, Manali has more to see, so it makes sense to spend your freshest days there and leave from it. Third, the drive home from Manali on the Kiratpur–Nerchowk four-lane is long but fast, while the Shimla road via Parwanoo is slower in weekend traffic.
Go Manali first only if you are flying into Bhuntar (Kullu–Manali airport) and out of Chandigarh, or if a snow forecast makes Manali the priority for the first days. Still deciding between the two towns? Read Shimla vs Manali.
How does the Shimla Manali itinerary change by season?
- November to mid-December: clear, cold and quiet, with off-season prices. Rohtang is closed; Sissu is the high point. Snow is possible but not common yet.
- Late December to February: the snow season. Kufri and Narkanda near Shimla, Solang and Sissu near Manali. Keep one day free, because police hold traffic beyond Dhalli (Shimla) or at Solang and the tunnel (Manali) after heavy snow.
- March to June: pleasant weather and peak crowds from mid-May. Start every sightseeing day early. Rohtang reopens once the road is cleared.
- July to mid-September: monsoon. The Shimla–Mandi–Kullu road can shut after landslides, so add a buffer day and check road status daily.
- Late September to October: clear skies, apple harvest and Kullu Dussehra. One of the best times for this circuit.
Heritage-railway fans should note that, as of late October 2026, only the Dharampur–Shimla section of the Kalka–Shimla toy train was running after monsoon damage, and local tourism groups were pressing for the Kalka section to be restored. Check the status before you build a day around it.
What does a Shimla Manali trip cost?
| Item | Published Suzu fare or price |
|---|---|
| Shimla Manali 6D/5N package from Delhi | From ₹14,499 per person |
| Shimla Manali 5N/6D package from Chandigarh | From ₹12,499 per person (Deluxe, off-season, twin share) |
| Delhi to Shimla taxi, one way | Sedan from ₹5,199 · Innova Crysta from ₹8,999 |
| Shimla to Manali taxi, one way | Sedan from ₹4,899 · Innova Crysta from ₹8,499 |
| Manali to Delhi taxi, one way | Sedan from ₹6,899 · Innova Crysta from ₹11,999 |
Fares are indicative starting prices from our cab pages (Delhi to Shimla taxi, Shimla to Manali taxi); tolls, parking and Himachal entry charges for outside cars are extra. For a fuller budget, see our Manali trip cost and Himachal trip cost guides.
What this means for your trip
Give the circuit six days from Delhi or five from Chandigarh, do Shimla first, and never plan sightseeing on the Delhi–Shimla, Shimla–Manali or Manali–Delhi driving days. Put your snow day in Manali and keep it flexible in winter. If you’d rather travel at your own pace with a private car for the whole trip, compare our Shimla Manali tour package by car. For more on each town, see things to do in Shimla and our Manali itinerary.
Shimla Manali itinerary: frequently asked questions
How many days are enough for Shimla and Manali?
Six days from Delhi or five from Chandigarh: two nights in Shimla and three in Manali, or two in each from Chandigarh. Seven days lets you add Narkanda, Naggar or Kasol and keep a spare day for snow.
What is the distance from Shimla to Manali?
About 250 km by road via Bilaspur, Sundernagar, Mandi and Kullu, which takes 7–8 hours on a clear day. Leave Shimla by 7 am to reach Manali before dark.
Should I visit Shimla or Manali first?
Shimla first. The first drive is shorter, the altitude gain is gradual, and you spend your freshest days in Manali, which has more to see. Go Manali first only if you fly into Bhuntar or a snow forecast makes Manali the priority.
Can I cover Shimla and Manali in 4 days?
Only from Chandigarh, and only with one night in Shimla and two in Manali. You would see Kufri or Shimla town, Solang and one Manali day. From Delhi, four days is too tight because of about 1,135 km of driving.
What is the cost of a Shimla Manali trip from Delhi?
Our Shimla Manali 6D/5N tour from Delhi starts from ₹14,499 per person on its live page, and the 5N/6D package from ₹14,999 per person plus 5% GST. Prices depend on hotel class, season and group size.
Is Rohtang Pass included in a Shimla Manali trip?
Only in summer, roughly June to October, when the pass is open; it needs a permit and is closed on Tuesdays in the 2026 season. In winter the snow day is Solang Valley or the Atal Tunnel to Sissu instead.
Is the Shimla to Manali road safe in winter?
The highway via Mandi and Kullu stays open through most of winter; the snow is higher up, at Kufri, Solang and the Atal Tunnel. After heavy snow, police may hold traffic on those roads for a few hours, so travel with a local hill driver and keep a spare day.
Plan your Shimla Manali trip with a local operator
Tell us your starting city, dates and group size. We’ll suggest the right number of nights in each town, book hotels and a hill driver, and send one clear quote.
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