Himachal Highlights

DAY 1 – NEW DELHI
Welcome to Incredible India : Welcome to Incredible India! You are welcomed & picked up by our executive from the International airport and transferred to the hotel in your private car. (Our executive will be waiting outside the custom area with a placard of your name) We will have a welcome briefing covering the various aspects of the tour (ensuring that you have the best of the Indian holiday) and you will be handed over the India travel kit containing all relevant documents of your trip (air/rail tickets, hotel vouchers, transport, guide, sightseeing vouchers, writing pads with other travel related documents). No pre-planned activities for the day but the car & the driver will be at your disposal.

DAY 2 – SHIMLA
Scenic journey uphill : Check out early in the morning to board Shatabdi train departing for Kalka from New Delhi railway station at 0740 hrs. It’s is a modern train equipped with state of the art facilities for a very comfortable journey. Morning tea and breakfast will be served on board. On reaching Kalka by 1200 hrs you will take a toy train to chug uphill to Shimla through a very picturesque route. This toy train is about a century old and it passes through a good 103 tunnels and over numerous old bridges on its way to Shimla.

On reaching there you check in at the hotel for an overnight stay.

DAY 3 – SHIMLA
The Summer Capital of Colonial India : After breakfast you will go for an excursion to Kufri and Chail. Kufri offers the opportunity of skiing (subject to weather conditions). Here you see the Himalayan nature park. Later move to Chail. It has thick woods, several good walks, a venerated Sidh Baba’s temple & the world’s highest cricket ground – definitely a thing you can brag back home.

Return back to Shimla. The evening is free to have a stroll on the famous Mall road that abounds in restaurants and the stylish shops of the city.

DAY 5 – SHIMLA > MANALI (260 km/ 6-7 hrs)
An Oversubscribed Tourist Destination : Drive northwards to reach Manali, an Eden of nature buffs (for its beauty) and a paradise for adventure junkies. During most of your journey you travel along the river Beas – a long but wonderful drive indeed.

Evening is free at leisure. You can do shopping on the mall road or just roam around in the town.

DAY 6 – MANALI
Town of Sage Manu – The Indian Noah :  The day is kept for local sightseeing of the town. Start by visiting Naggar, the former capital of Kullu kings to see the 500 yr old castle, Tripura Sundari temple and a Russian artist Nicholas Roerich’s art gallery. You get to see the temples of Hadimba (sister of a demon but wife of Bhim-the mightiest of the Pandav brothers in the Indian epic Mahabharat) and Manu who saved all species of earth after a fatal flood. Also visit the monasteries and hot water sulphur spring at Vashisht.

DAY 7 – MANALI
Contrasting Landscapes :After breakfast you will travel on NH-21, world’s second highest road to reach Rohtang pass, the gateway to the valley of Lahaul and Spiti. The pass remains snowbound for most part of the year and opens only between June and October. It once served as a crucial trade route and is now a popular tourist spot offering awesome views of Sonapani glacier, twin peaks of Gyephang and various ravines. On one side is lush green Kullu valley and on the other the bare brown mountains of Lahaul – isn’t it an amazing contrast.

DAY 8 – MANALI > PALAMPUR (201 km/ 5.5 hrs)
The land of Tea Estates : Drive Southwest towards Palampur, a small hill station established by the British rule in India. En route visit the ancient Baijnath temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. The legend says that it has the same lingam (symbol of Shiva) that Lord Shiva had given to the demon king Ravana on being pleased by his sacrifice. But Ravana could not carry it to his kingdom, as he could not lift it from here.

Evening is free for your personal activities. You can visit Tashijong Monastery or ramble in the tea gardens or nearby village.

DAY 9 – PALAMPUR > MC LEODGANJ (45 km/1.5 hrs)
The Little Lhasa : Begin with a visit to Andretta pottery village. Later drive towards Mc Leodganj, a town checkered with a number of Tibetan rehabilitations and educational centers. En route visit the Norbulinka Institute, an endeavour to keep alive the Tibetan arts.

Mc Leodganj is also the official residence of His Holiness the Dalai Lama – spiritual leader of Tibetans. After lunch you can visit the Bhagsunag temple and the monasteries in the town

DAY 10 – MC LEODGANJ
Residence of the Dalai Lama : The sightseeing list for the day includes a visit to St John Church and Masrur, the proud owner of the only rock cut temples in North India.

If you are interested in bird sighting you can visit Maharana Pratap Sagar reservoir where you can see them in a good variety and number.

DAY 11-MC LEODGANJ >DALHOUSIE (150 km / 4 hrs)
Cool Retreat : Drive northwest towards Dalhousie, yet another hill station established by the British rule in India. You will see here the colonial churches, Bakrota hills, Kalatope viewpoint and other places of interest.

Evening is free for leisure activities.

DAY 12 – TOUR ENDS
Nature’s bounty :  This last day of the tour is kept for an excursion to Khajjiar and Chamba. The major attractions here are the ancient temples including the Laxmi Narayan temple and the un spoilt beauty of the place.

In the evening you will drive towards Pathankot to board the train for Delhi.