The Kullu–Manali valley has lured travelers for centuries—first as a caravan corridor, then as a summer retreat for artists, mystics, and mountaineers. Manali sits at roughly 2,050 m, wrapped in deodar forests and apple orchards; Kullu unfurls down-valley along the Beas, known for handloom shawls and trout streams.

Expect a blend of cedar-scented temples like 16th‑century Hadimba, lively Old Manali cafes, and alpine playgrounds such as Solang and Sissu reached via the record-breaking Atal Tunnel. In summer you’ll hike meadows and raft the Beas; in winter you’ll chase snowfields and hot soups with mountain views.

Practical notes: the best weather is April–June and September–November; December–February brings snow and road delays. Rohtang Pass may close seasonally, but Atal Tunnel keeps Lahaul access open most of the year. Carry cash for small dhabas, layer up, and try regional staples—siddu (steamed bread), dham platters, sepu vadi, and Kullu trout.

Manali

Manali is the valley’s traveler hub—a place where cedar groves meet espresso bars, and where hikes begin minutes from your hotel. Old Manali has bohemian energy by the rushing Manalsu stream; New Manali centers on Mall Road and classic eateries.

• Top sights: Hadimba Devi Temple, Manu Temple, Tibetan Monastery, Jogini Waterfall, Van Vihar, Solang Valley, Sissu (via Atal Tunnel).
• Why go: easy access to day hikes and alpine meadows, rich temple architecture, and a robust café scene for long, chatty evenings.
• Eat & drink: Johnson’s for trout, Dylan’s Toasted & Roasted for specialty coffee, Il Forno for wood‑fired pizza, Chopsticks for Tibetan plates, The Lazy Dog for riverside evenings.

Stay in Manali: Search stays on VRBO or Hotels.com. Look in Old Manali (boho riverside), Log Huts/Prini (quiet, piney), or Aleo (easy access to the highway).

Getting to Manali: Fly to Kullu–Manali (Bhuntar, code KUU) from Delhi in ~1h15m (often $60–140), then taxi 1.5 hours to Manali. Check fares on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com. Or take a train to Chandigarh (~3–3.5h from Delhi; ~$6–12) via Trip.com Trains, then drive 7–10 hours to Manali (taxi ~$80–150).

Day 1: Arrival, Cedar Groves, and Old Manali Evenings

Afternoon: Land at Kullu (Bhuntar) and transfer to Manali. Check in, then stretch your legs on Mall Road. Visit the Museum of Himachal Culture & Folk Art to meet the region’s wood-and-stone “Kath Kuni” heritage.

Evening: Wander into the deodar forest to Hadimba Devi Temple (built 1553; hand-carved wooden sanctum). For dinner, pick Johnson’s for pan-fried Kullu trout with herbed butter and baked potatoes; or go to Chopsticks for thukpa, tingmo, and momos. Coffee before or after at Dylan’s Toasted & Roasted—order a flat white and their cult chocolate-chip cookies.

Day 2: Classic Manali—Temples, Monasteries, and Village Lanes (Full-day tour)

See Manali’s essentials on the Highlights of Manali (Guided Full day Sightseeing Tour by Car)—a private 8‑hour circuit that typically covers Hadimba Temple, Manu Temple in Old Manali, the Tibetan Monastery, Vashisht village, Van Vihar, and local markets. It’s ideal on your first full day to get your bearings and stories behind each stop.

Food tips: Fuel up with shakshuka and sourdough at Fat Plate Café in Shuru (farm-to-table) before pickup. For lunch, ask your guide for a roadside dhaba with rajma‑chawal. Dinner back in town at Il Forno—wood‑fired pizza with valley views; the spinach-mushroom pizza and tiramisu hit the spot.

Day 3: Solang Valley Snow Play and Sissu via Atal Tunnel (Full-day tour)

Head north on the Atal Tunnel Sightseeing Tour Covering Sissu & Solang Valley. Drive the 9.02‑km Atal Tunnel—one of the world’s longest high-altitude road tunnels—to step into Lahaul’s stark beauty. Photograph Sissu’s cascade, sip butter tea, and on the return stop at Solang for a gondola ride, zipline, tube runs, or ATV laps (activities vary by season).

Food tips: Quick breakfast at Dylan’s (espresso + almond croissant). In Sissu, warm up with thenthuk or mutton soup at a local café; back in Manali, unwind at The Lazy Dog—good grills, live music many nights, and a patio strung with fairy lights by the river.

Day 4: Mountain Trail Day—Custom Hike with Local Guide

Morning: Lace up for the Private One Day Hiking Trip in Manali, Scenic Mountain Trail in Manali. Routes often include Lamadugh meadows or Patalsu’s lower slopes—think rhododendron, pine, and big Dhauladhar views. Start early to catch clear skies.

Afternoon: Picnic on parathas and local siddu with walnut chutney. Descend slowly; stop for a lemon soda in Old Manali and a quick look at the stone-and-wood houses.

Evening: Easy dinner: The Corner House (butter chicken, smoky tandoor kebabs, and North Indian veg curries) or Johnson’s (trout almondine). If you prefer a walk instead, add the 2‑hour Heritage & Cultural Walking Tour Manali to dive deeper into living traditions.

Kullu

Kullu is the broader valley—quieter villages, working orchards, and the Beas curling past shawl weavers and riverside resorts. It’s the place to try paragliding, browse handloom shops, or base yourself for Parvati Valley day trips.

• Top sights: Naggar Castle and Roerich Estate, Kullu market and shawl factories, Dobhi/Marhi paragliding sites, Raison riverside, Parvati Valley (Kasol–Manikaran).
• Why go: riverside downtime, craft heritage, and access to Kasol’s pine-framed trails and Manikaran’s hot springs and gurudwara.

Stay in Kullu: Browse stays near Raison/Naggar for river views and easy highway access on VRBO or Hotels.com. Riverside resorts around Raison and heritage stays in Naggar work well.

Day 5: Manali → Kullu via Naggar’s Castles and Artists

Morning: Drive Manali to Kullu (~40 km; 1–1.5 hours). En route, stop at Naggar Castle, a medieval stone-and-timber fort with panoramic balconies, and the Nicholas Roerich Art Gallery for Himalayan canvases (check hours; often closed Mondays).

Afternoon: Lunch in Naggar at Nightingale—ask for siddu with ghee and a trout curry—or try a rustic thali at a Jana Waterfall dhaba above the village. Continue to your Kullu/Raison hotel and settle in by the river.

Evening: Browse Kullu’s shawl factories for pashmina, angora, and kullu weave patterns. Dinner at your resort’s grill (many do excellent tandoori + trout); pair with a local apple cider.

Logistics: Taxi Manali→Kullu $18–30; local bus ~$1–2 but slower. Keep small bills handy.

Day 6: Pine Trails and Pilgrimage—Kasol & Manikaran (Full-day tour)

Take a full-day excursion on the Kasol & Manikaran Full Day Sightseeing Tour From Manali. Walk the Parvati River promenade in Kasol (look for deodar groves), sample Middle Eastern plates—hummus, falafel, shakshuka—then continue to Manikaran Sahib for the gurudwara, langar meal, and natural hot springs. It’s a soul-soothing circuit through the Parvati Valley.

Food tips: In Kasol, cafés like Evergreen and Jim Morrison are known for generous mezze, pancakes, and mountain tea; at Manikaran, accept the gurudwara’s langar (the community kitchen is a highlight; dress modestly and cover your head).

Day 7: Fly Like a Himalayan Bird—Paragliding and Departure

Morning: Go airborne with Paragliding in Kullu Manali at Dobhi. Tandem flights usually last 10–20 minutes with sweeping Beas Valley views—book the earliest slot for smooth air and quick turnarounds.

Afternoon: Brunch riverside (aloo parathas with curd or a trout fry) before you head to Bhuntar Airport (20–45 minutes from most Kullu/Raison resorts). Check flight options on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com. If you’re driving to Chandigarh, allow 7–10 hours depending on traffic and weather.

Evening: Travel day. If time allows pre‑airport, stop for local sweets (bal mithai, kaju katli) to take home.

Optional add-ons and alternates (any day, season permitting):

• Self-guided two-wheeler exploring: Self ride Bike Rental for Single or Multiple days for Old Manali, Vashisht, and village roads.
• Photography session in the cedar groves: Photoshoot in Manali By Professional Photographer—great for couples or families.

What to eat across the week: Kullu trout (tawa fry or almondine), siddu with ghee, dham thali (festive veg feast), sepu vadi curry, babru (Himachali kachori), Tibetan thukpa and momos, apple pie from a German bakery, and mountain honey. Pair with fresh apricot or apple juices in summer, masala chai in winter.

Safety & seasonality: Weather shifts quickly; carry layers and rain shells. Rohtang can close; Atal Tunnel keeps Lahaul accessible most of the year. Paragliding and rafting are weather‑dependent; guides may reschedule for wind or river flow. Respect temple dress norms and local wildlife—no littering in forests or streams.

Accommodation searches: Manali on VRBO or Hotels.com; Kullu on VRBO or Hotels.com. Travel searches via Trip.com Flights, Kiwi.com, and Trip.com Trains (for Delhi–Chandigarh legs).

Trip recap: In seven days you’ll trace Manali’s cedar sanctuaries, glide above the Beas, cross the Atal Tunnel to Sissu’s stark beauty, and sample the spice and warmth of Himachali kitchens. You’ll leave with shawls in your bag, mountain air in your lungs, and a reason to return when the seasons change.