Best time
March to June is the main season, with pleasant days and snow still on the high points; mid-September to November is clear and quieter. December to February is for snow in Manali, Kufri and Solang, and July and August are the monsoon, when landslides can slow the hill roads.
- March to June, 10 to 28°C: The main season: pleasant days, snow still on the high points, and Rohtang usually opening around May. May and June are the busiest weeks in Shimla and Manali.
- Mid-September to November, 5 to 22°C: Clear skies and crisp air after the rain, with fewer crowds; the best time for views, and the last weeks for Spiti on the Manali side.
- December to February, -5 to 12°C: Winter: snow usually falls on Manali, Kufri and Solang, roads above Manali can close, and Christmas to New Year is busy. Winter Spiti runs through Shimla and Kinnaur only.
- July to August, 15 to 25°C: The monsoon: heavy rain on the hill roads, landslides that can hold up a drive for hours, and mist over the views. The valleys are green and the hotels quiet.
What to pack
From March to June, light woollens and a jacket for the evenings, which turn cold in Shimla and Manali even in May. From October to February, thermals, a heavy jacket, gloves and a woollen cap, and waterproof shoes with a good grip if you want the snow at Solang or Kufri. In the monsoon, a rain jacket and quick-dry clothes. Carry sunglasses and sunscreen for the snow points, comfortable walking shoes for Mall Road and the temples, a scarf or cap to cover your head at Manikaran gurudwara, and on the Spiti trips the cold-weather kit and cash the Spiti hub lists.
Getting there
From Hyderabad, fly or take the train to Delhi, where most of our Himachal trips start; a few start in Chandigarh or Amritsar. From Delhi the trip goes on by road, on an overnight AC coach or in a private cab: Shimla is about 340 km, Manali about 530 km and Dharamshala about 480 km. The flight or train to Delhi is not part of the package.
From Bengaluru, fly to Delhi or Chandigarh and join the trip there; most Himachal trips start in Delhi and go on by overnight coach or private cab, and the Chandigarh trips reach Shimla in about three to four hours by road. The flight is booked separately.
From Chennai, fly or take the train to Delhi, the start point for most of our Himachal trips, or fly to Chandigarh or Amritsar for the trips that begin there. From the start city the whole trip is by road into the hills. The journey to the start city is not part of the package.
Permits and fees
Rohtang Pass needs a vehicle permit issued online by the Kullu administration, with a limited number each day. The pass usually opens around May once the snow is cleared and closes on maintenance days, so our trips plan it as an add-on when it is open; the permit and the local vehicle to the snow point are not in the fare. Solang Valley needs no permit. Indian citizens need no Inner Line Permit anywhere in Himachal, Spiti included; foreign nationals need one for the stretch of Kinnaur near the border. The Spiti trips arrange the permits their pages list. Rules change, so confirm before you book.