10 Days Himachal Punjab Family Circuit
9 Nights from Chandigarh via Shimla, Manali, Dharamshala & Dalhousie ending with Golden Temple & Wagah Border ceremony— a laid-back circuit for families.
Itinerary
Day 1 / (Chandigarh to Shimla via Pinjore Garden)
Day 1: Shimla(1 Night)
Stay: Shimla
Pickup from Chandigarh and drive to Shimla. If you wish, you can stop at Pinjore Garden or Timber Trail en-route. Enjoy an evening leisure walk, check in and relax. Shimla overnight stay
Day 2 / (Kufri & Shimla)
Day 2: Kufri & Shimla(1 Night)
Stay: Kufri & Shimla
Kufri adventure park, Horse ride & snow in season. Then Jakhu Temple, the Ridge, Mall Road & Christ Church in Shimla. Night Stay in Shimla.
- Adventure Park
- Horse Ride
- Jakhu Temple
Day 3 / (Manali)
Day 3: Manali(1 Night)
Stay: Manali
Scenic drive along the Beas river through the Kullu Valley, with an optional river rafting stop, before arrival and check-in at Manali.
- Beas River
- Kullu Valley
- Optional Rafting
Day 4 / (Solang)
Day 4: Solang(1 Night)
Stay: Solang
Paragliding, ropeway and snow activities in Solang Valley. Atal Tunnel to Sissu or Rohtang Pass (permit required, subject to season). Night Stay At Manali.
- Paragliding
- Ropeway
- Atal Tunnel Or Rohtang Pass
Day 5 / (Manali Local)
Day 5: Manali Local(1 Night)
Stay: Manali Local
Hadimba Devi Temple, Vashisht's hot springs, Manu Temple, the Tibetan Monastery and Mall Road. Manali night stay.
- Hadimba
- Vashisht
- Manu Temple
Day 6 / (Scenic Kangra Valley Drive)
Day 6: Dharamshala(1 Night)
Stay: Dharamshala
Drive to Dharamshala/McLeodganj through the scenic Kangra Valley, with the evening free for leisure. Dharamshala night stay.
Day 7 / (McLeodganj)
Day 7: McLeodganj(1 Night)
Stay: McLeodganj
Dalai Lama Temple, Bhagsunag Temple and waterfall, Dal Lake and sunset point in Naddi, free time for cafes and the local market. Stay overnight at Dharamshala.
- Dalai Lama Temple
- Dal Lake
- Naddi Point
Day 8 / (Evening Mall Road Walk)
Day 8: Dalhousie(1 Night)
Stay: Dalhousie
Drive from Dharamshala to Dalhousie, check in and spend the evening on a relaxed Mall Road walk. Dalhousie night stay.
Day 9 / (Mini Switzerland)
Day 9: Khajjiar(1 Night)
Stay: Khajjiar
Leisurely day at Khajjiar with its meadow and lake ringed with pine trees – known as Mini Switzerland – then back to Dalhousie for the night.
Day 10 / (Amritsar & Drop)
Day 10: Amritsar & Drop
Drive to Amritsar with time permitting visits to Golden Temple and Jallianwala Bagh before the Wagah Border retreat ceremony in the evening. The tour concludes with your drop-off.
- Golden Temple
- Jallianwala Bagh
- Wagah Border
Choose your cab
10 Days Himachal Punjab Family Circuit Overview
The 10 Days Himachal Punjab Circuit is a round-trip style itinerary of some 1,080 km, designed for families and laid-back travellers, not the adventurous types in a hurry. Visitors are taken from Chandigarh through Shimla and Kufri, the Kullu Valley and Manali, the Kangra Valley and Dharamshala, Dalhousie and Khajjiar and end up with the Golden Temple, Jallianwala Bagh and the Wagah Border ceremony in Amritsar. Each day provides a break rather than a sprint to the next stop.
Travel Time
The pace of this itinerary is deliberate – longer days of driving are followed by a full day locally, so families and senior citizens are not back-to-back in the car.
| Route | Distance | Travel Time |
|---|---|---|
| Chandigarh to Shimla | 115 km | 4–5 Hours |
| Shimla to Manali | 250 km | 7–8 Hours |
| Manali to Dharamshala | 220 km | 7–8 Hours |
| Dharamshala to Dalhousie | 120 km | 4–5 Hours |
| Dalhousie to Amritsar | 200 km | 5–6 Hours |
Best Time To Visit
This circuit ends in the plains of Punjab, and the shoulder seasons provide the most comfortable weather across every stop, hills and plains alike.
July–September: Lush green valleys, though occasional monsoon delays are possible on the hill legs.
October–February: Clear skies and comfortable days everywhere, with snow in Kufri and Manali from December.
Brochure
at family
pace.
built for
ease.
- Kufri's snow & horse rides
- Manali's temples & snowline
- Kangra Valley & Dal Lake
- Khajjiar's meadows
- The Wagah Border finale
- Togetherness
- Wonder
- Calm
- Play
- Pride
Border
- Taxi service for 10-day route, Chandigarh to Amritsar
- Pickup at Chandigarh & drop in Amritsar
- All sightseeing by private cab as per itinerary
- Experienced local driver across all towns on the circuit
- Comfortable, well-maintained vehicle — sedan for 2–3 & SUV for 4–6 travellers
- Flexible departure dates — book for your travel window
- Direct support line throughout your journey: +91 70181 23371
- Hotel accommodation (can recommend places each night)
- Meals, unless specified in your package
- Entry fees at temples, museums and viewpoints
- Optional activities, paragliding, ropeway, river rafting, horse rides
- Rohtang Pass permit and extra vehicle charges if opted instead of the Atal Tunnel
- Personal expenses – shopping, cafes, souvenirs
- Weather related delays or road closures expenses
The Wagah Border retreat ceremony takes place in the late afternoon, before sunset; it is strongly recommended to arrive early for a good seat — our driver will schedule the Day 10 timing around the ceremony.
Rohtang Pass is a seasonal excursion that requires a permit. The Atal Tunnel route to Sissu is open year-round and doesn’t require a permit—it’s the default option if Rohtang isn’t open or if the permit quota is full for your dates.
Best months for pleasant weather in the hills and the plains of Amritsar are March to June and September to November. This is a family friendly circuit at moderate altitude and no acclimatisation is required.
stand at the border?
Weather Across The Circuit
| Month | Hill Towns (Shimla–Dalhousie) | Amritsar |
|---|---|---|
| March–April | 6°C to 20°C | 15°C to 32°C |
| May–June | 12°C to 26°C | 25°C to 42°C |
| July–September | 14°C to 23°C | 26°C to 36°C |
| October–November | 4°C to 18°C | 14°C to 30°C |
| December–February | -5°C to 10°C | 4°C to 18°C |
Road Conditions
The roads connecting Chandigarh, Shimla, Manali, Dharamshala, Dalhousie and Amritsar are well maintained, hairpin bends are to be expected on every hill stretch. Once you get off the hills, the final Dalhousie–Amritsar stretch is flat, fast highway.
How To Reach
The tour commences from Chandigarh, well connected by flights, trains and road transport from Delhi, Jaipur and other major cities and concludes in Amritsar, which has its own international airport and railway station for onward journey.
Altitude Information
| Location | Altitude |
|---|---|
| Amritsar | 234 m |
| Dharamshala | 1,457 m |
| Khajjiar | 1,920 m |
| Dalhousie | 1,970 m |
| Manali | 2,050 m |
| Shimla | 2,276 m |
| Kufri | 2,510 m |
Permits Required
No special permits are required for this circuit, except for a Rohtang Pass permit if that seasonal excursion is chosen instead of the Atal Tunnel route. A valid government-issued photo ID is required for the Wagah Border visit and is useful for hotel check-ins throughout.
Packing List For The Himachal–Punjab Circuit
- Layered clothing — warm hill wear plus lighter clothes for Amritsar
- Comfortable walking shoes for temples, lakes and viewpoints
- Heavier winter wear if travelling December–February
- Modest clothing and a head covering for Golden Temple visits
- Sunscreen and sunglasses
- Government-issued photo ID (mandatory for the Wagah Border area)
- Power bank for the long sightseeing days
Accommodation Options
Shimla, Manali, Dharamshala, Dalhousie and Amritsar are all towns on this circuit and all of them have hotels for families across all budgets, close to the main sightseeing points in each town.
Nearby Attractions
- Jakhu Temple & Kufri – Shimla’s snow point & Hanuman temple
- Manu Temple & Solang Valley — Manali
- Dal Lake & Naddi Point — Dharamshala/McLeodganj
- Khajjiar — Mini Switzerland, near Dalhousie
- Golden Temple — Harmandir Sahib, Amritsar
- Jallianwala Bagh — Amritsar's memorial garden
- Wagah Border — daily evening retreat ceremony
Mobile Network And Internet Connectivity
All major networks – Jio, Airtel and Vodafone – cater to every town on this circuit, including Amritsar and the Wagah Border area. Brief dips in coverage are expected on remote hill sections between towns.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is This Itinerary Really Paced For Families?
Yes – this circuit has been planned for families and leisurely travellers, with local sightseeing days in between the longer drives so no one spends two long days in the car back-to-back.
What Time Should We Reach For The Wagah Border Ceremony?
We suggest arriving 60–90 minutes early to get a good spot and our driver will take this into account in the Day 10 schedule.
What Happens If The Rohtang Pass Permit Quota Is Full?
The Day 4 excursion defaults to the Atal Tunnel and Sissu, which requires no permit and runs year-round, so the day is never wasted even if Rohtang isn’t available on your dates.
Is This Package Suitable For Senior Citizens?
Yep. The moderate pace, moderate altitudes and full local-sightseeing days in each town make this one of our most comfortable long circuits for older travellers.
What Is The Total Distance Covered In This Package?
This 10 day package covers around 1080 km from Chandigarh via Shimla, Manali, Dharamshala and Dalhousie ending at Amritsar.
Choose your cab
Reviews
Reviews from people who experienced this package.
(Your Review)
Why Choose Rajesh Car Rental?
We know you're here to relax, not to hassle.
No Hidden Charges
All inclusions and exclusions discussed upfront — no surprises at checkout.
Professional Drivers
15+ years on the road, including the toughest high-altitude routes in Himachal.
We Go Places
Pickup and drop available across multiple cities — wherever you are comfortable.
Comfortable Rides
Modern, air-conditioned vehicles so you arrive fresh, whether alone or with a group.
Booking & Pricing Questions
Does the price include GST and toll tax?
Yes — the price listed includes both GST and toll tax.
What types of cars are available?
Sedans, SUVs, and hatchbacks — choose based on your comfort and group size.
Are prices transparent?
No hidden charges. You see the full cost before booking.
Rajesh Car Rental is a trusted tour provider based in Shimla with 15+ years of experience serving thousands of customers across Himachal Pradesh.