This 7-day Himachal tour package runs Delhi to Shimla, Manali and McLeod Ganj (Dharamshala) and back, about 1,480 km with one private car and chauffeur for the week. It adds the Kangra valley and the Tibetan settlement to the classic pair of hill stations. You pay a per-km car fare by class; hotels are quoted separately.
Three valleys in one week
Most short Himachal trips see two valleys: the Sutlej side around Shimla and the Beas around Manali. The seven-day version adds a third, Kangra, and that changes the character of the trip. Kangra is lower, greener and gentler, with tea terraces, old stone temples and the snow wall of the Dhauladhar standing straight up behind it. At its top edge sits McLeod Ganj, where monks in maroon robes, Tibetan kitchens and prayer flags make it feel like a different country from Shimla's colonial ridge.
The week is shaped so that no day asks too much. Long drives (days one, three, five and seven) alternate with sightseeing days that stay close to the hotel. The only really big day is the last one, and that can be split at Chandigarh if you prefer.
Who should take the 7-day package: travellers with a full week who want more than the two famous names, anyone with an interest in Tibetan culture or Buddhism, walkers who want Triund, and families who have already done Shimla and Manali once. Who should go shorter: people with only five days should take the 5-day Shimla-Manali package; those who want the easiest possible return should see the 6-day package with a Chandigarh night.
The Kangra valley: tea, temples and the Tibetan town
The Manali to Dharamshala drive is the scenic highlight of the week. After Mandi the road climbs through pine and oak to Jogindernagar and then drops into the Kangra valley at Baijnath, whose Shiva temple dates from the early 13th century and is still in worship. Palampur follows, the centre of Kangra's tea country; the estates are open to look around and there are small shops selling the local green and black teas. Andretta, an artists' village near Palampur known for its pottery, is a short detour. Our Palampur road guide has more.
In McLeod Ganj the essentials are close together. The Tsuglagkhang complex is the main temple and the residence area of the Dalai Lama; the Tibet Museum beside it explains the history of the exile. The circuit walk around the complex, lined with prayer wheels, takes about an hour. Down the hill, Norbulingka at Sidhbari preserves traditional Tibetan crafts. Bhagsu, with its temple and waterfall, and the old church of St John in the Wilderness among the deodars on the road below McLeod, are easy extras. For a deeper read, see the Dharamshala guide and McLeod Ganj guide.
Driving the Mandi to Kangra crossing
This is not a highway day but it is a good road. From Mandi, the route runs through Jogindernagar and Baijnath, with long stretches of forest and a few villages. There is less truck traffic than on the Mandi-Kullu road, but it is narrow in places and the chauffeur will drive it slowly. Fuel up in Mandi. Tea stops at Palampur break the afternoon nicely.
McLeod Ganj itself has tight one-way lanes and limited parking, so cars usually stop at the main square or at your hotel if it has space. Plan on some walking in the town. The drive between lower Dharamshala and McLeod Ganj is a steep switchback of a few kilometres; the chauffeur will handle drop-offs and pickups up and down as you need.
Group sizes and the right vehicle
For a week in the hills, the vehicle matters more than on a city trip. A compact sedan at Rs 72/km suits two travellers who pack light. An Ertiga at Rs 84/km gives three or four people more space for bags. The Innova Crysta at Rs 114/km is the most requested car for this circuit: higher seating, better suspension and space for five with luggage. Larger families and friends' groups of eight to twelve travel well in a Tempo Traveller at Rs 156/km, or the more modern Force Urbania at Rs 204/km. Starting in Delhi? The Tempo Traveller Delhi page shows seat layouts.
Where to stay across the week
- Shimla (2 nights): the Mall and Ridge area for heritage character and walkability, or the Cart Road side and Chotta Shimla for car access. Mashobra is quieter still.
- Manali (2 nights): town centre for convenience; Old Manali for cafes and a village feel; the Naggar road for orchard cottages; Solang road for snow views.
- McLeod Ganj or Dharamshala (2 nights): McLeod Ganj is lively and close to the temple; Dharamkot and Bhagsu are higher and quieter; lower Dharamshala and the Sidhbari side are calmer and have more space for cars.
Rooms in any of these categories can be arranged by our travel desk and quoted in writing alongside the car.
Season, weather and events
March to June is the main season: spring blossom, clear roads and warm days, busiest in May and June. July and August bring heavy monsoon rain, especially in Kangra, which is one of the wettest districts in Himachal; landslides are a risk, and this circuit is not recommended then. September to November is the best time for mountain views, with Kullu Dussehra in October. December to February brings snow to Manali and sometimes Shimla, cold nights in McLeod Ganj, and possible closures above Manali; the Mandi-Kangra road generally stays open. Losar, the Tibetan new year, falls around February or March and fills McLeod Ganj.
Extending or combining
Closer to hand, Kangra Fort, about 20 km below Dharamshala, is one of the oldest forts in the Himalaya, its ramparts sitting on a ridge between two rivers; it is an easy half-day by car and fits well on day six if you skip Norbulingka. The Masrur rock-cut temples, carved from a single sandstone ridge, are a longer detour to the south-west of Kangra and suit travellers who enjoy early Hindu architecture. Neither adds a night, only kilometres.
From Dharamshala it is easy to add Dalhousie and Khajjiar (Dalhousie guide, Khajjiar guide) for one or two more nights, or Bir Billing for paragliding (Bir Billing guide). Coming from or going to Punjab? The 5-day Punjab package links Amritsar with Dharamshala and can be joined to this route, turning it into a Golden Temple and Himalaya fortnight.
How the fare works
The price table on this page applies a simple formula. Distance billed is the larger of the planned kilometres (about 1,480 km) and 250 km for each of the seven days, which is 1,750 km, and that figure is multiplied by the per-km rate for your chosen class. The chauffeur's night allowance of Rs 3,000 per night is added for each night, along with tolls, Himachal entry taxes and parking at cost, then 5% GST.
Booking
Book the car and chauffeur directly through the online booker, paying by UPI or card, with a GST invoice for businesses. For an all-inclusive quote with hotels, write to the travel desk. Cancellation is free up to 72 hours before pickup; 10% within 72 hours, 50% within 48 hours, and the full amount within 24 hours or for a no-show (full policy).
