McLeod Ganj, Manali and Atal Tunnel Group Trip
Duration
7 Days 6 Nights
Pickup
Chandigarh Airport or Railway Station
Drop
Chandigarh Airport or Railway Station
Type
Short-haul
Overview & Highlights
This group trip links two of Himachal's best-loved hill destinations over six nights: two in McLeod Ganj and four in Manali. In McLeod Ganj you visit the Tsuglagkhang temple complex, home of the Dalai Lama, walk to Bhagsu waterfall and enjoy the Tibetan cafes. A long but scenic drive through the Kangra and Kullu valleys then takes you to Manali. In Manali you see Hadimba Devi Temple and Old Manali, spend a day at Solang Valley and drive through the Atal Tunnel to Sissu in the Lahaul valley. A fourth day takes in Kullu and Naggar. A trip captain travels with the group, and vegetarian and Jain meal options are available on request. The drives are long on two days, so the pace on the other days is easy, which suits families, friends and senior parents.
- Tsuglagkhang temple complex, home of the Dalai Lama, in McLeod Ganj
- Bhagsu waterfall and Tibetan cafes
- Scenic drive through the Kangra and Kullu valleys
- Hadimba Devi Temple and Old Manali
- Solang Valley, with optional adventure activities
- Drive through the Atal Tunnel to Sissu in the Lahaul valley
- Kullu's Raghunath Temple and Naggar Castle
Itinerary
1Day 1: Arrival in Chandigarh | Drive to McLeod Ganj
- Arrive at Chandigarh Airport or railway station by morning and meet your trip captain.
- Drive by road to Dharamshala and McLeod Ganj, around five to six hours with a lunch stop at your own cost.
- Check in at your hotel and relax after the journey.
- Dinner at the hotel.
- Overnight stay in McLeod Ganj.
2Day 2: Tsuglagkhang Complex | Bhagsu Waterfall
- After breakfast, visit the Tsuglagkhang temple complex, the Tibetan temple beside the Dalai Lama's residence.
- Walk through McLeod Ganj for its Tibetan shops and cafes.
- Continue to the Bhagsu temple and waterfall for a short walk.
- Fit travellers can take an optional walk in the hills above town, with free time for the rest.
- Dinner at the hotel and overnight stay in McLeod Ganj.
3Day 3: McLeod Ganj to Manali
- After an early breakfast, check out and drive towards Manali through the Kangra and Kullu valleys.
- The journey takes around eight hours with tea and lunch stops at your own cost.
- Check in at your hotel in Manali and rest.
- Dinner at the hotel.
- Overnight stay in Manali.
4Day 4: Hadimba Temple | Old Manali | Mall Road
- After breakfast, visit Hadimba Devi Temple, set in a cedar forest.
- Continue to Vashisht village for its temples and hot springs.
- Walk through Old Manali for its cafes and riverside views.
- Spend the evening on Mall Road for shopping and street food.
- Dinner at the hotel and overnight stay in Manali.
5Day 5: Solang Valley | Atal Tunnel | Sissu
- After breakfast, drive to Solang Valley for its meadows and mountain views, with snow in season.
- Paragliding, ropeway and other activities are optional and paid locally.
- Continue through the Atal Tunnel to Sissu in the Lahaul valley.
- Return to Manali in the evening.
- Dinner at the hotel and overnight stay in Manali.
6Day 6: Kullu | Naggar Castle | Free Evening
- After breakfast, drive down the Kullu valley to the Raghunath Temple in Kullu.
- Continue to Naggar to see Naggar Castle and the Nicholas Roerich Art Gallery.
- Return to Manali for a free evening of shopping for shawls and caps.
- Dinner at the hotel and overnight stay in Manali.
7Day 7: Departure from Manali
- After an early breakfast, check out of the hotel.
- Drive to Chandigarh Airport or railway station, around eight to nine hours with stops.
- Book evening flights or trains, as the road journey takes most of the day.
Weather, road conditions and safety may require changes to the itinerary.
Inclusions
- 2 nights hotel accommodation in McLeod Ganj on twin sharing
- 4 nights hotel accommodation in Manali on twin sharing
- Daily breakfast and dinner at the hotel
- AC vehicle for transfers and sightseeing as per itinerary, from Chandigarh to Chandigarh
- Sightseeing in McLeod Ganj, Manali, Kullu and Naggar as per itinerary
- Day trip through the Atal Tunnel to Sissu
- Services of a trip captain throughout the tour
- Vegetarian and Jain meal options on request, subject to availability
- Assistance from our travel experts
Exclusions
- Transport to and from the destination, including flights, trains and buses to Chandigarh
- Lunches and any meals not mentioned in the itinerary
- Personal expenses, laundry, tips and porterage
- Optional activities such as paragliding, ropeway rides, rafting and ATV rides
- Camera fees and monument entry tickets not listed
- Travel insurance
- Anything not listed under inclusions
- GST as applicable
Other Info
Must carry
- Government photo ID for every adult traveller
- Return tickets from Chandigarh
- Warm layers, a jacket and a woollen cap, even in summer
- Comfortable walking shoes with good grip
- Personal medicines and travel-sickness tablets
- Sunscreen and sunglasses
- Rain jacket or umbrella
- Some cash for small purchases and local cafes
Notes
- Every adult traveller must carry a valid government photo ID, such as an Aadhaar card, passport, driving licence or voter ID.
- Standard hotel check-in is around 2 pm and check-out around 12 noon.
- The order of the itinerary may change due to weather, road or operational conditions, without reducing the sights covered.
- Rates and availability are confirmed at the time of booking.
- Cancellation and refund are as per our Terms & Conditions.
- This is a group departure and runs on minimum numbers; we will inform you in advance if a departure needs to change. A trip captain accompanies the group throughout.
- Day 3 and day 7 involve long mountain drives of 8 to 9 hours; carry travel-sickness tablets if you need them.
- Sissu and the Atal Tunnel are above 3,000 m; some travellers feel headaches or breathlessness at altitude, so go slowly and drink plenty of water.
- Landslides, snow or heavy rain can block mountain roads, especially from December to February and in July and August; the plan may then be altered for safety.
- Rohtang Pass is not part of this itinerary; it opens only in summer and needs a vehicle permit.
See our Terms & Conditions for payment and cancellation rules.