5 days, 4 nights ยท Shimla and Manali
Five-day Shimla and Manali tour package: the two hill stations, driven
Shimla and Manali are the two hill stations most of north India grew up going to, and they sit about 250 kilometres apart on a mountain road that takes most of a day to drive. Five days is the shortest version that gives each of them two nights and does not turn the middle day into an ordeal. The car matters more on this circuit than on any other we publish: these are mountain roads, and who is driving is the whole question.
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The road
Why the chauffeur matters more here than anywhere else
Every other circuit we publish runs on highways where a competent driver is enough. Himachal does not. The climb from Chandigarh to Shimla gains about 1,700 metres in 115 kilometres, the Shimla-to-Manali road crosses two river valleys with long stretches of single-lane hill road, and in the wet months landslides close sections at a few hours' notice. The chauffeurs on this circuit are the ones who drive it regularly, who know which stretch of the Mandi road floods and where the last usable place to turn a vehicle around is.
That is also why the vehicle class on this circuit leads with the SUV rather than the sedan. The Toyota Fortuner, Land Cruiser or Mercedes-Benz GLS have the ground clearance and the engine for sustained climbing; an executive sedan will do the route perfectly well in dry weather and is priced below, but in March snowmelt or an August downpour the SUV is the one the desk recommends.
The road distances look modest and the times do not match them. Budget on averaging about 35 kilometres an hour once you are above Chandigarh, and the schedule below will make sense. The city-to-city page prices the individual legs if you would rather build your own route.
Where to start
Delhi or Chandigarh: the decision that shapes the week
This circuit can begin in either city, and the choice changes the driving significantly.
From Delhi — about 350 km to Shimla
Seven to eight hours on the first day, which is a long start. It suits travellers flying into Delhi anyway and wanting one car for the whole trip, and it is how most of this circuit is booked. The Delhi chauffeur page covers the airport meet.
From Chandigarh — about 115 km to Shimla
Three and a half hours, which turns day one into a half day and gives Shimla an afternoon. If you can fly or take the train to Chandigarh, this is the better start by a wide margin.
The Kalka toy train
The narrow-gauge line from Kalka to Shimla is a UNESCO-listed railway and takes about five hours for 96 km. Some travellers take it up and have the car meet them in Shimla with the luggage. The desk will arrange that; the travel desk books the tickets.
The driving
Three legs, and the one that eats a day
Distances are short by Indian standards and times are long, because all of this is mountain road.
- Delhi to Shimla — about 350 km, 7 to 8 hours Motorway to Chandigarh, then the climb through Solan. From Chandigarh it is 115 km and about 3.5 hours.
- Shimla to Manali — about 250 km, 7 to 8 hours The circuit's hard day: down to the Sutlej, across to Mandi and up the Beas valley. It is scheduled as a full charter day with an early start and a lunch stop at Sundernagar or Mandi.
- Manali to Delhi — about 540 km, 12 to 14 hours Too long for one comfortable day, which is why the five-day circuit normally ends with an overnight coach or a flight from Bhuntar, or breaks the drive at Chandigarh. The desk will tell you honestly which your dates allow.
The seasons
Snow, monsoon and the two windows that actually work
March to June is the main season. April and May are warm below and pleasant above, Rohtang generally opens somewhere between late May and early June depending on the snow, and the hill stations are busy with Indian families through the school holidays. September to November is the quieter and, for many, the better window: clear air after the rains, autumn colour in the Beas valley, and far fewer people.
July and August are the monsoon, and in Himachal that is a genuine planning problem rather than an inconvenience. Landslides close sections of the Mandi road most years, sometimes for hours and occasionally for a day. We will run the circuit in the monsoon, but the desk states plainly that a day may be lost, and the run sheet keeps a spare.
December to February brings snow to both hill stations, which is exactly why a large part of the domestic market goes then. Shimla and Manali are both reachable; Rohtang is closed and Solang becomes the snow point. Chains and a capable vehicle matter, and the desk will not send a sedan up in a snowfall — it will upgrade the class and tell you why.
Booking
How to book the five-day circuit
Book the transport direct on the booking page, fare fixed before payment, with the chauffeur's details sent the day before. Tell the desk whether you are starting in Delhi or Chandigarh — it changes the first day materially. For hotels and permits included, ask through the contact page. Cancellation is free beyond 72 hours, then 10%, 50% and 100% inside 72, 48 and 24 hours.
Day by day
The five-day itinerary, leg by leg
Times on this circuit are mountain times, not highway times. Nothing below assumes you will average more than about 35 kilometres an hour once the road starts to climb.
| Day | Where | What the day covers | On the road |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Delhi or Chandigarh to Shimla | North on the motorway to Chandigarh, then the climb through Solan into Shimla. An evening walk on the Mall and the Ridge. | Delhi-Shimla ~350 km, 7-8 hrs; Chandigarh-Shimla ~115 km, 3.5 hrs |
| Day 2 | Shimla | Jakhu temple above the town, the Viceregal Lodge, Christ Church and the Mall on foot, with Kufri or Mashobra in the afternoon. | Kufri ~16 km, Mashobra ~13 km |
| Day 3 | Shimla to Manali | The long day: an early start down to the Sutlej, across to Mandi and up the Beas valley, with lunch at Sundernagar. Into Manali in the evening. | Shimla-Manali ~250 km, 7-8 hrs; depart 07:00 |
| Day 4 | Manali | Hadimba temple, Old Manali and the Vashisht hot springs in the morning, then Solang valley for the afternoon, or Rohtang if the pass is open and the permit is in hand. | Solang ~13 km; Rohtang ~51 km when open |
| Day 5 | Manali onward | Naggar castle and the Beas valley on the way down, then Chandigarh or Bhuntar for the flight, or the start of the long drive back to Delhi. | Manali-Chandigarh ~305 km, 8 hrs; Manali-Delhi ~540 km |
What it costs
The 5-day Himachal circuit: two ways to buy it
Five charter days at the published rate, for the car rather than per person. Mountain legs run long in hours but short in kilometres, so the charter day's 300-kilometre allowance is rarely the binding limit here — the ten hours is.
Transport package — firm, published
Every kilometre of the 5-day circuit in a private chauffeured car: the chauffeur, the vehicle, fuel, and the driver's meals and accommodation on the road. Priced at the published charter-day rate × 5 days, the same figure as the rates page.
From $11,250 - $13,500 per car for the whole circuit
On the international card · Luxury SUV · GST extra · tolls, parking and state entry taxes at cost
All-inclusive — stays, meals and entries
The same itinerary with hotels, breakfasts, monument entries and a licensed guide arranged for you. Because we contract stays per departure date and per hotel category, this tier is quoted on request rather than published — we will not print a per-person figure we cannot hold.
Send the dates and the hotel category you want (3-star, 4-star, heritage or palace) through the contact page and the desk returns a written quote, itemised, within one working day.
| Vehicle class | Cars | Per charter day 10 hours / 300 km | 5-day circuit International card, USD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Luxury SUV 5 passengers, 4 bags |
Toyota Fortuner, Land Cruiser & Mercedes-Benz GLS | $2,250 - $2,700 | $11,250 - $13,500 |
| Premium MPV 6 passengers, 5 bags |
Toyota Innova Hycross & Kia Carnival | $1,950 - $2,340 | $9,750 - $11,700 |
| Executive sedan 3 passengers, 2 bags |
Mercedes-Benz E-Class & BMW 5 Series | $1,700 - $2,040 | $8,500 - $10,200 |
| Group van 12 passengers, 12 bags |
Force Urbania & Tempo Traveller (executive) | $3,200 - $3,840 | $16,000 - $19,200 |
What the transport package includes
- A private, air-conditioned vehicle of the class you book, held for the whole circuit — the same car from the first pickup to the last drop, never shared and never re-assigned.
- One professional chauffeur for the whole circuit, holding a commercial licence and a state transport badge, police-verified and background-checked, in uniform and speaking English and Hindi.
- Fuel, the chauffeur's own meals and accommodation on every outstation night, and the vehicle's permits, fitness certificate and insurance.
- All airport, railway-station and hotel transfers inside the itinerary, with the flight tracked on the arrival leg and 60 minutes of waiting included after landing.
- A named coordinator at the desk for the whole trip, reachable on one number, who holds the run sheet and moves a leg when a day runs long.
- A written confirmation before departure carrying the chauffeur's name and licence number and the vehicle registration, so a security office or a hotel can check it against the operator record.
What it does not include
- Hotels, meals and anything consumed off the road — those are the all-inclusive tier, quoted on request rather than published.
- Monument and museum entry fees, which differ for Indian, SAARC and foreign visitors and change by notification; the desk quotes the current figures with the itinerary.
- Licensed local guides, which we arrange city by city on request and bill at cost.
- Tolls, parking and state entry taxes, charged at cost against receipts rather than estimated into the fare.
- Air and rail tickets into and out of the circuit, which the travel desk books separately.
- GST, added to every figure at the applicable rate, and any night allowance where a leg runs between 10 pm and 6 am.
- Airport transfers include 60 minutes of waiting after landing and meet-and-greet at the arrivals exit.
- The charter day (10 hours, 300 km) includes fuel and the chauffeur's meals and accommodation on outstation nights.
- Night driving between 10 pm and 6 am carries the night allowance per night; a second chauffeur is added on days over 12 hours.
- Tolls, parking, state entry taxes and permits are charged at cost against receipts; monument and guide fees through the travel desk are itemised.
- No gratuity is expected. GST is shown separately on every invoice. Cancellation terms are on the cancellation policy page.
- Vintage cars and stretch limousines are quoted per event.
- GST at 5% on chauffeured hire (18% where input credit is claimed) is added to every figure. The full international card is on the rates page; the charter builder prices a circuit of any length live, and the booking page takes the payment direct.
- Cancellation is free more than 72 hours before the first pickup, then 10% inside 72 hours, 50% inside 48 hours and the full first day inside 24 hours or for a no-show — the schedule on the cancellation policy page.
Questions
The 5-day Himachal circuit: frequently asked
Should we start from Delhi or Chandigarh?
Chandigarh if you can get there — it turns a seven-to-eight hour first day into three and a half hours and gives Shimla an afternoon. Delhi works and is how most people book it, but day one is long.
How long is the Shimla to Manali drive?
About 250 km and seven to eight hours, because it drops to the Sutlej, crosses to Mandi and climbs the Beas valley. It is scheduled as a full day with an early start and a proper lunch stop.
Will Rohtang Pass be open?
Generally from late May or early June until October or November, depending on snow, and it needs a permit with a daily vehicle quota. The desk checks status and applies for the permit, but nobody can guarantee an opening date.
Is the monsoon dangerous on this route?
Landslides close sections of the Mandi road most monsoons, sometimes for hours and occasionally longer. We run the circuit but say plainly that a day may be lost, and the run sheet keeps a spare.
Which vehicle class is right for the hills?
The luxury SUV leads the table here for ground clearance and sustained climbing. An executive sedan is fine in dry weather and priced below; in snow or heavy rain the desk will upgrade and explain why.
Can we take the toy train to Shimla?
Yes — the Kalka-Shimla narrow gauge is UNESCO-listed and takes about five hours. Many travellers ride up and have the car meet them in Shimla with the luggage; the travel desk books the tickets.
Same circuit, other lengths
The Himachal: Shimla and Manali in a different number of days
On the route
Chauffeur service in the cities this circuit runs through
Other circuits
Every chauffeur-driven tour package in India
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Book
Book the five-day Himachal circuit direct
Five charter days price live by vehicle class, fare fixed before payment. Tell the desk whether you start in Delhi or Chandigarh.
Weddings, film units, multi-day chauffeur hire, outstation journeys and anything with more than one vehicle are quoted by a person: call (877) 860-3388 or send the outline and a coordinator replies with a written quote.
Offers through BookingWorldwide.net
Hotels and flights for this itinerary, through BookingWorldwide.net
The stays along this route are on BookingWorldwide.net; reserve them there or ask our desk for the all-inclusive quote, and the chauffeured legs are lined up against whichever you choose.
Flight + hotel packages
Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Goa and Kerala bundles for festival weeks, school holidays and long weekends, with the airport transfer added to the same itinerary.
See current offers on BookingWorldwide.net →Golden Triangle packages
Delhi, Agra and Jaipur hotels on one booking, and the RUTZ.IN chauffeur for the whole circuit quoted beside it.
See current offers on BookingWorldwide.net →Palace and heritage hotels
Udaipur, Jaipur, Jodhpur and Hyderabad palace hotels, chosen with the transfer distance from the airport in mind.
See current offers on BookingWorldwide.net →Goa and Kerala resorts
Beach and backwater resorts for the weeks a chauffeur is only needed at each end of the stay, with Dabolim, Mopa or Cochin airport pickups timed to the flight.
See current offers on BookingWorldwide.net →Hill-station stays
Shimla, Manali, Mussoorie, Darjeeling, Ooty, Munnar and Coorg hotels, with the SUV from the gateway airport quoted on the same plan.
See current offers on BookingWorldwide.net →Wildlife and safari lodges
Ranthambore, Jim Corbett, Kaziranga, Periyar and Bandhavgarh lodges and safari permits reserved before the car is dispatched.
See current offers on BookingWorldwide.net →Tickets and experiences
Taj Mahal entry, Kerala houseboats, Jaipur hot-air balloons, city walks and festival tickets reserved ahead so the chauffeured day runs to the plan.
See current offers on BookingWorldwide.net →International flights
Fares into every airport on the airports page, so the car is timed to a confirmed arrival rather than an estimate.
See current offers on BookingWorldwide.net →Self-drive car rental
For the middle days of a trip, returned to the airport where the RUTZ.IN chauffeur collects you again.
See current offers on BookingWorldwide.net →All offers on BookingWorldwide.net How the travel desk works
See also, and where the facts come from
On RUTZ.IN: India tour packages · 6-day Himachal tour · Chauffeur service in Delhi · City to City · Travel Desk · Charter · Rates.
Official references used on this page:
- Ministry of Tourism, Incredible India Official destination guides and tourist statistics.
- India Meteorological Department Forecasts and monsoon warnings we check before hill and coastal journeys.
- National Highways Authority of India Expressway and toll information for the intercity routes we drive.
- Ministry of Road Transport and Highways Motor Vehicles Act rules for commercial permits, licences and passenger carriage.