HimTrails

🌄 Curated Trails | Himachal & Beyond 🧭 Offbeat. Youthful. Soulful. 📍Wander Where Silence Sings 🔗 DM to plan your next escape https://himtrails.in/

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Chamba, Dalhousie & Khajjiar: the “Mini Switzerland” route nobody books enough

Thousand-year-old temples, a colonial hill town spread over five ridges, and a green meadow they literally call Mini Switzerland. Perfect for families and anyone over the Manali crowds.

See:

Khajjiar meadow + its little lake

Dalhousie’s churches & Mall Road

Chamba’s ancient temples + Bhuri Singh Museum

Kalatop forest trails

When: Mar–Jun green, Sep–Nov clear, Dec–Feb snowy & magic.  Cost: ~₹15k–25k pp for 4N/5D. Chamba tour packages cover the full circuit from ~₹17,999.Hit Khajjiar early before the day-trippers. Extend to Dharamshala if you can

[himtrails]

Narkanda: Shimla’s quieter, snowier, cheaper cousin

60 km past Shimla and somehow nobody’s there. Old-school ski slopes, Hatu Peak views for days, apple orchards everywhere. The Shimla snow experience without the Shimla crowd.

Do:

Ski / snow play in peak winter

Hatu Peak (~3,400 m) for the 360° views

Tanni Jubbar lake

Stokes apple farm at Thanedar

When: Dec–Feb snow & ski, Sep–Nov harvest gold.  Cost: ~₹8k–16k pp; the 4N/5D ski circuit ~₹17,499. Narkanda tour packages with Shimla transfers.Pair it with Shimla — or sneak off toward Kinnaur next.

[himtrails]

Tirthan Valley is for people who want to do absolutely nothing (beautifully)

A clear trout river, a UNESCO national park at the doorstep, riverside cottages, zero agenda. This is the reset button you’ve been looking for.

Do (or don’t, that’s the point):

Trout fishing on the Tirthan

Guided treks into the Great Himalayan National Park

Chhoie waterfall + Jalori Pass

Long naps by the river

When: Mar–Jun & Sep–Nov.  Cost: ~₹7k–13k pp for 2–3 days. Tirthan Valley tour packages bundle the riverside stays + fishing.Do it with Jibhi (20 km away) and go fully off-grid.

[himtrails]

Bir Billing: fly off a mountain, then drink chai about it

One of the best paragliding spots on the planet, plus a sleepy café village to recover in. Run off the hill at Billing, float over the Kangra valley, land at Bir grinning like an idiot.

Flight facts:

15–30 min tandem, no experience needed

~₹2,500–3,500 (check the pilot’s certified!)

Best air: Oct–Nov & spring; no flying in monsoon

Bonus: cafés, Tibetan monasteries, forest camping

Cost: a 2–3 day trip ~₹8k–16k pp (+ the flight). Bir Billing tour packages with certified pilots from ~₹16,499 (4N/5D).Keep a buffer day — weather grounds flights and you don’t want to miss yours.

[himtrails]

Dharamshala & McLeodganj: Tibet, mountains, and one really good trek

Little Lhasa meets the Dhauladhars. Monasteries, momos, a cricket stadium with a mountain backdrop, and the Triund trek that everyone’s feed is secretly about.

Do:

The Dalai Lama’s temple + Tibet Museum

Triund trek (the famous one)

Bhagsunag falls & the Shiva Café walk

HPCA stadium + Naddi sunsets

When: Mar–Jun & Sep–Nov. (Skip peak monsoon — it RAINS here.)  Cost: ~₹10k–18k pp for 3N/4D. Dharamshala tour packages include Triund + a Dalhousie add-on.Start Triund early, carry layers, it’s 100% worth it.

[himtrails]

Kinnaur: apple orchards, snow peaks, and the last village before Tibet

Everyone speeds through Kinnaur to reach Spiti and totally misses the point. Kalpa, Sangla, Chitkul — this is one of the prettiest valleys in Himachal, full stop.

See:

Kalpa — the Kinner Kailash peak right from your window

Sangla’s riverside green

Chitkul, the last Indian village on the old Tibet road

Roghi village & the cliff viewpoints

When: Sep–Oct apple harvest is peak gorgeous; Apr–Jun for blossoms.  Cost: ~₹18k–30k pp for 5–6 days. Kinnaur tour packages — extendable into Spiti.Slow down. The orchards are the whole point.

[himtrails]

Jibhi is the cottagecore Himalayan village you didn’t know you needed

No traffic, no Mall Road, no crowds. Just a clear stream, wooden cottages, waterfalls in the pines, and the kind of quiet that genuinely fixes your brain.

Do:

Jibhi waterfall walk

Jalori Pass + Serolsar Lake

Chehni Kothi, the old tower temple

Absolutely nothing, by the stream

When: Mar–Jun lush, Sep–Nov golden, Dec–Feb cosy snow.  Cost: ~₹7k–12k pp for 2N/3D. The good cottages sell out — Jibhi tour packages grab them for you.Pair it with Tirthan and disappear for a week.

[himtrails]

Kasol: cafés, a glacial river, and a trek that ends in a hot spring above the clouds

Tiny town, massive vibe. Parvati Valley is where you go to slow all the way down — then climb to Kheerganga to earn the best soak of your life.

Do:

Café-hop in Kasol, walk to Chalal

Overnight in Tosh for the views

Manikaran hot springs

The Kheerganga trek + camp

When: Mar–Jun & Sep–Nov for trekking.  Cost: cheap & cheerful, ~₹8k–14k pp for 3N/4D. Kasol tour packages with Kheerganga from ~₹7,999.Pack actual shoes. Kheerganga is not a flip-flop situation.

[himtrails]

Spiti Valley doesn’t look like India. That’s the point.

Cold desert, ochre cliffs, monasteries older than most countries, and a moon-shaped lake at 4,300 m. Spiti is the road trip you’ll be insufferable about for years.

See:

Key Monastery on its cliff

Hikkim — the world’s highest post office (send a postcard!)

Komic & Kibber, among the highest villages on earth

Chandratal, the moon lake

Route: first-timer? Go Shimla → Kinnaur (gentle climb), out via Manali.  When: Jun–Sep for both roads.  Cost: ~₹22k–35k pp for 7N/8D. Gradual-ascent Spiti tour packages from ~₹22,999.

Carry cash, a BSNL sim, and zero expectations of phone signal.

[himtrails]

Ladakh: the trip everyone romanticises and half the people plan wrong

Yes, it’s the most beautiful place in India. Also yes — you will feel the altitude if you fly in and sprint to Pangong on day two. Respect the height and Ladakh gives you everything.

The hit list:

Leh + Shanti Stupa to ease in

Nubra Valley via Khardung La

Pangong Tso’s impossible blue

Monasteries literally everywhere

When: Jun–Sep (July–Aug is dry here while everywhere else floods).  Cost: ~₹28k–45k pp for 7N/8D incl. permits & SUV. We handle the permits + altitude-smart routing — Leh Ladakh tour packages.Day one = do nothing. Hydrate. Thank me later.

[himtrails]

Shimla, but make it more than Mall Road

Everyone does Shimla in a day and wonders what the fuss is about. Give it three and it finally clicks — toy trains, deodar ridges, snow at Kufri, and a Ridge that’s gorgeous once the crowd goes home.

Worth your time:

The UNESCO Kalka–Shimla toy train

Jakhoo Temple at sunset

Kufri snow + the quiet side: Mashobra & Naldehra

Viceregal Lodge for the colonial-era feels

When: Mar–Jun pleasant, Sep–Nov clear & calm, Dec–Feb snow.  Cost: ~₹9k–15k pp for 3N/4D. Want it sorted? Shimla tour packages from ~₹8,999.Two days is too short. Three is the sweet spot.

[himtrails]

Manali is calling (and honestly, you should go) ❄️

There’s a reason Manali never goes out of style. Snow peaks, riverside cafés, pine forests, and just enough adventure to make your camera roll completely unmanageable.

Stuff you can’t skip:

Solang Valley — snow play in winter, paragliding in summer

The Atal Tunnel drive to Sissu (do it, trust me)

Old Manali cafés + the cedar-forest Hadimba temple

Vashisht hot springs for tired legs

When: snow? Dec–Feb. Flowers + Rohtang open? Mar–Jun. Golden & empty? Sep–Nov.  Cost: ~₹15k–22k pp for 5–6 days. If you’d rather not DIY the permits and Volvo seats, we sort the whole thing — Manali tour packages from ~₹11,499.

Go for the snow. Stay for the cafés.