Snow, apple blossoms, paragliding at 8,000 ft & five days of Himalayan magic for three friends
Himachali feasts, Old Manali café nights,
prayer flags in the wind, and memories
you'll carry forever.
5
Days
3
Friends
Apr
Season
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The Journey
Five Days of Mountain Magic
Night Before
Board the Volvo
Travel Night
9:30 PM · Chandigarh
Board the HRTC Himsuta Volvo from ISBT Sector 43. Take motion sickness meds 30 mins before. Grab front seats. Light dinner before boarding — nothing heavy. You'll sleep through the curvy parts and wake up in the mountains.
💊Lemon candies, ginger, window seat, no phone on curvy roads. You'll sleep through the worst stretches.
Day One
Arrive & Jogini Falls Trek
Chill & Explore
Morning
Arrive Manali by 7–8 AM. Auto to your Old Manali hotel. Freshen up, rest, sip chai looking at the mountains. No rush.
Afternoon
Walk to Vashisht and start the Jogini Waterfall trek — an easy 2–3 hour walk through pine forests with stunning valley views. Dip your feet at the waterfall. On the way back, soak in Vashisht Hot Springs.
🥾No guide needed. Follow the trail from Vashisht temple. Wear comfortable shoes and carry water.
Evening
Walk around Old Manali. Cross the bridge, explore the lanes, visit Manu Temple. Find a café, settle in.
🍽️Siddu with ghee at a local dhaba + veg thukpa at a café. Finish with apple cider or honey ginger tea.
Day Two
Solang Snow & Atal Tunnel
Snow Day ❄️
Morning
Cab to Solang Valley. Play in the snow, take photos. Try the adventure combo — zipline, tube slide, yak ride, snow dress. Add an ATV ride if you're feeling it.
⛷️Negotiate activities on the spot — don't accept the first price. Be friendly but firm. It always works.
Afternoon
Drive through the Atal Tunnel — 9.02 km, one of the world's highest highway tunnels — to Sissu. The landscape completely transforms: dry, dramatic, Lahaul Valley. See the Sissu Waterfall and guaranteed snow views. Maggi + chai at a roadside stall here hits different.
Evening
Back through the tunnel. Evening at Lazy Dog or Drifter's Café — great veg pasta, pizza, and chill vibes.
🍽️Cheese momos from a street stall + wood-fire veg pizza at a café. Old Manali does these surprisingly well.
Day Three
Paragliding & Apple Orchards
Adventure 🪂
Morning
Cab to Dobhi on the Kullu-Manali highway. Jeep takes you to the take-off point at 8,000 ft. Get strapped in, run a few steps and you're flying over the entire Kullu Valley. 7–15 minutes of pure Himalayan sky.
🪂Get the GoPro video — you'll watch it a hundred times. Make sure your pilot is licensed. Morning flights have the calmest winds.
Afternoon
Head to Naggar on the opposite bank. Visit Naggar Castle — a medieval stone castle with valley views that don't feel real. Walk through apple orchards in full spring bloom 🌸. Visit the Nicholas Roerich Art Gallery.
🌸Mid-April is apple blossom season. The orchards between Naggar and Manali are gorgeous. Locals usually let you walk through — just ask.
Evening
Back to Old Manali. Try Dylan's or Johnson's Café. Walk the lanes, pick up Kullu shawls, local honey, and handicrafts.
🍽️Madra — Himachali chickpea yogurt curry + Tudkiya Bhath — local spiced rice. Ask at dhabas, not all cafés serve this.
Day Four
River Rafting & Farewell Night
Last Full Day
Morning
Cab towards Kullu for river rafting on the Beas. 30–60 minutes of white water rapids — super fun and refreshing. April water flow is perfect.
🚣Life jackets and gear provided. You WILL get wet — carry a change of clothes in the cab.
Afternoon
Option A: Explore Kullu market — shawls, caps, dry fruits. Option B: Head back for the Old Manali → Solang forest trail — a quiet walk through pine and deodar forests.
Evening
Last evening in Old Manali. Farewell dinner at your favourite café. Soak it all in — the mountain air, the sounds, the vibes. Pack up after.
🍽️Dham — traditional Himachali festive thali. Rajma, dal, rice, madra, sweet rice on a leaf plate. Pure veg feast. Ask around — some dhabas make it on request.
Night · 8–9 PM
Board the return Volvo to Chandigarh. Take your motion sickness meds. Sleep tight — you've earned it.
Day Five
Home
Return
Early Morning
Arrive Chandigarh by 6–7 AM. Head home with a phone full of photos, a bag of Kullu shawls, and memories you'll talk about for years.
Old Manali
Where to Stay
Zostel Manali
Hostel
India's most popular backpacker hostel chain. Vibrant common areas, bonfire nights, and a solid community vibe. Private rooms and dorms available — perfect for a group of 3.
A beloved Old Manali institution. Cozy wooden rooms with balcony views, and one of the best cafés in the village right downstairs. Book early — it fills up fast.
Fantastic rooftop with mountain views — one of the best vantage points in Old Manali. Board games, bonfires, and a young, helpful staff with great local tips.
Part of a trusted chain — consistently clean rooms, organized treks, and great common areas. Mountain-view terrace. Slightly uphill from the main cluster.
Pioneer rafting operator at Pirdi. Go for the 14 km stretch (Pirdi → Bajaura) — 12+ rapids, 90 mins, includes the Parvati-Beas confluence. Best thrills on the river.
⛰️Manali (2,050m) has no altitude risk. But the drive through Atal Tunnel to Sissu (3,130m) gains 1,100m fast — drink water, go slow, watch for headaches or nausea. You'll be fine if you've acclimatized a day in Manali first.