Bangalore to
the Himalayas.
Kasol, Kheerganga and Manali at an easy pace, with buffer days built in. Pick the Sunday-return plan or extend to Delhi until Tuesday. Built for a group of 8–9.
Two ways to finish the same trip
Everyone travels together from Fri 9 Oct to Sat 17 Oct. From Sunday 18 Oct the group splits by choice: Track A flies home from Delhi that evening, while Track B stays on for two easy Delhi days and flies home on Tue 20 Oct. The mountain part has no rushed transfers: one trek day, one long drive per travel day, and a rest day after every big effort.
All drive times and prices are estimates. Confirm road, trail and bus details before booking.
Which days do you need off?
The weekends do a lot of the work. Check the count below against your own office holiday calendar.
Track A · back on Sunday
6 leave days: Fri 9, then Mon 12 – Fri 16. Fly home Sun 18 evening and be at work on Monday 19 Oct.
If your Friday flight is a late-night one, a half day on Fri 9 may be enough.
Track B · stay until Tuesday
8 leave days: the same 6, plus Mon 19 and Tue 20. Two relaxed Delhi days and a flexible flight home on Tue 20.
Your relaxed itinerary
Bangalore → Delhi ✈
- Take an evening direct flight (about 3 hours), landing between 8 pm and 11 pm.
- Take a cab or metro to a hotel near the airport (Aerocity or Mahipalpur). Eat, sleep, no rush.
Slow Delhi day → overnight bus
- Sleep in, late check-out, then a light outing such as Humayun's Tomb or Lodhi Garden.
- Have dinner by 6 pm and reach the bus pick-up point 45 minutes early.
- Board the Volvo to Bhuntar/Kasol at 6–8 pm. Book all seats together and carry a neck pillow and a layer.
Arrive Kasol, settle in
- The bus reaches Bhuntar in the morning. Take a pre-booked cab for the last 1.5 hours up the Parvati Valley.
- Check in, nap, then stroll the riverside and Kasol cafés. Nothing else is planned.
Manikaran + Chalal
- Cab to Manikaran Sahib (about 30 minutes) for the gurdwara, langar and hot springs.
- After lunch, walk the forest trail to Chalal, an easy hour or so each way.
- Early night, because tomorrow is the trek.
Kheerganga trek · ascent
- Cab to Barshaini by 8 am and start walking by 9 am with a local guide.
- Allow 5–7 hours uphill with rest stops. Carry only a small daypack, and leave big bags at your Kasol hotel.
- Stay overnight at a camp or guesthouse only if permitted. Confirm before you go.
Sunrise → descend → rest
- Enjoy the views at sunrise, have breakfast and start down by 9 or 10 am.
- Back at Barshaini by early afternoon, then cab to Kasol. Hot shower, food, and a free evening.
Kasol → Manali
- Leave after breakfast, at about 10 am. The drive via Bhuntar and Kullu takes 4–5 hours with stops.
- Check in, rest, then visit Hadimba Temple and Old Manali cafés at sunset.
Solang → Atal Tunnel → Sissu
- Start at about 8:30 am. Stop at Solang Valley, then drive through the Atal Tunnel to Sissu.
- Have lunch at Sissu, see the lake and waterfall, and head back by 3 pm.
- Snow is possible at higher spots, but it is not guaranteed. Road and weather can change the plan.
Naggar + free time → night bus
- Late breakfast, then Naggar Castle and village (about 1 hour away). Souvenirs and cafés after.
- Return by 4 pm, pack, have an early dinner and board the overnight Volvo to Delhi at 6–8 pm.
Track A: Delhi → Bangalore ✈
- The bus arrives between 6 and 9 am. Book a day-use room or hotel so everyone can freshen up.
- Have lunch, then head to the airport 3 hours before departure. Choose a flight after 6 pm to leave a wide buffer.
Track B: Delhi arrival + easy sightseeing
- Check in early, or use a day room, and rest for a few hours.
- Late afternoon: Humayun's Tomb and Lodhi Garden. Dinner around Connaught Place or Khan Market.
Old Delhi + India Gate
- Morning in Old Delhi: Jama Masjid, Chandni Chowk food walk, and a metro or e-rickshaw between stops.
- Afternoon rest. Evening at India Gate and Kartavya Path, then shopping at Connaught Place or Sarojini.
Delhi → Bangalore ✈
- Slow breakfast and check-out. Any flight time works, so book the one that suits you.
- Reach the airport 3 hours before departure.
*Kheerganga camping rules and availability can change. Confirm locally before departure, and don't assume overnight stays are permitted. Keep a backup plan: descend the same day and sleep in Kasol.
Flights for 8–9 people
Outbound · Fri 9 Oct
- Route: Bangalore (BLR) to Delhi (DEL), direct, about 2 hr 45 min to 3 hr 15 min.
- Target departure: 4 pm to 8 pm, so you land before midnight.
- Typical direct carriers: IndiGo, Air India, Akasa Air.
Return · Track A Sun 18 / Track B Tue 20
- Track A: DEL to BLR after 6 pm on Sun 18 Oct.
- Track B: any convenient flight on Tue 20 Oct.
- Both tracks can book the same outbound flight and split only on the return.
The trip is only a few weeks away, so book soon. Book the outbound together for all 8–9 people so you sit together. Book returns separately for each track. Check the Delhi terminal for your airline and baggage allowance. Fares and schedules here are not live, so verify them on the airline or booking site before paying.
Transport plan
Option A · Buses + local cabs
The budget option. Overnight Volvos on Sat 10 and Sat 17, and local cabs in the valley.
- Book Volvo seats together, at least 2 weeks ahead.
- Pre-book a 9-seater or two cabs from Bhuntar to Kasol.
- Keep luggage light, since bus storage is limited.
Option B · Private tempo traveller
One 12-seater for the whole circuit. More flexible, and often costlier.
- Get written quotes with tolls, parking, driver allowance and night charges.
- Confirm luggage space and mountain-road experience.
- Compare against the bus plus cabs total.
| Leg | Mode | Planning allowance |
|---|---|---|
| Bangalore → Delhi | Direct flight | ~3 hours airborne |
| Delhi → Kasol | Overnight Volvo + cab from Bhuntar | ~12–15 hours |
| Kasol → Barshaini | Local cab | ~45–60 minutes |
| Kasol → Manali | Cab / tempo traveller | ~4–5 hours |
| Manali → Sissu → Manali | Local vehicle | Full day, weather-dependent |
| Manali → Delhi | Overnight Volvo | ~12–15 hours |
| Delhi → Bangalore | Direct flight | ~3 hours airborne |
Stays for a group of 8–9
Delhi · Fri 9 Oct (1 night)
Near the airport for a smooth arrival: Aerocity hotels (₹4,000–7,000 per room) or budget Mahipalpur hotels (₹2,000–3,500). Ask for a late check-out.
Kasol · 3 nights
Riverside hotels, cottages or a group hostel dorm. Expect ₹1,500–3,500 per room or ₹700–1,200 per bed. Ask for 4 rooms, or a cottage with a shared sitting area. Leave big bags here during the trek.
Kheerganga · 1 night (if allowed)
Tents or basic guesthouses at ₹500–1,200 per person. These are simple, so carry a warm layer, headlamp and sleeping bag if needed.
Manali · 2 nights
Old Manali for cafés and a village feel, or Mall Road for easy transport. Expect ₹2,000–4,500 per room. Choose a place with a group-friendly lobby and hot water.
Delhi · Track A day room
A day-use room (₹1,500–3,000) on Sun 18 Oct lets everyone shower before the flight.
Delhi · Track B, 2 nights
Central Delhi (Connaught Place, Karol Bagh, or near a metro line) at ₹2,500–5,000 per room. Book from Sun 18 Oct so you can check in when the bus arrives.
Room rates are rough estimates for mid-range stays and vary with demand. Confirm room occupancy and cancellation terms before you pay.
Kasol food and café trail
Kasol is known for its riverside cafés and Israeli-style menus, and the rest of the route has great local food too. Here is what to eat and when, matched to your itinerary. Expect about ₹300–700 per person per meal at cafés.
| Day | Where | What to try |
|---|---|---|
| Sun 11 · Kasol | Riverside cafés | Israeli breakfast, shakshuka, hummus with pita, falafel, and a hot chocolate |
| Mon 12 · Manikaran | Gurdwara langar + Chalal café | Free langar (dal, rice, kadhi), then tea and a plain chocolate brownie at a Chalal café |
| Tue 13 · Trek | Barshaini and Kheerganga stalls | Parathas, Maggi and chai on the trail, plus a light dinner at camp. Skip heavy food before the climb |
| Wed 14 · Kasol | Back in Kasol | Hot soup, pasta, pizza and a group dinner by the river to celebrate finishing the trek |
| Thu 15 · Manali | Old Manali cafés | Fresh trout, wood-fired pizza, Himachali dham thali and siddu with ghee |
| Fri 16 · Sissu | Sissu and Solang stalls | Momos, thukpa, hot tea and maggi with a mountain view |
| Sat 17 · Naggar | Castle-side cafés | Apple pie, fresh apples and local apple juice. October is late apple season |
Must-try list
- Israeli breakfast plate and shakshuka in Kasol
- Siddu and Himachali dham thali
- Trout in Manali
- Plain chocolate brownies, apple pie and hot chocolate
- Seabuckthorn tea and local apple products
Café tips
- Pick busy cafés with recent reviews, since places open and close often.
- Ask for a group table at 6 pm before the evening rush.
- Cafés that say "special" on the menu are not for us. Order plain items only.
- Carry cash, as UPI signal is patchy in the valley.
Stay healthy
- Drink bottled or filtered water only.
- Eat hot, freshly cooked food and avoid salads from unknown stalls.
- Carry ORS, antacids and basic stomach medicine.
- Eat light the night before the trek.
Vegetarian and special diets
Kasol and Manali are easy for vegetarians, with plenty of paneer, pasta, pizza and falafel options. Tell your cafe about allergies when ordering, and check menus for nuts and dairy.
Budget per person
| Expense | Track A | Track B |
|---|---|---|
| Return flights | ₹9,000–17,000 | ₹9,000–17,000 |
| Delhi–Kasol + Manali–Delhi buses | ₹3,000–5,000 | ₹3,000–5,000 |
| Himachal local transport | ₹5,000–9,000 | ₹5,000–9,000 |
| Accommodation | ₹8,000–13,500 | ₹11,000–18,500 |
| Food & cafés | ₹5,500–8,500 | ₹6,500–10,000 |
| Kheerganga guide/stay | ₹2,500–4,500 | ₹2,500–4,500 |
| Activities, entry, misc. | ₹2,500–5,000 | ₹3,000–6,000 |
| Estimated total | ₹35,500–62,500 | ₹40,000–70,000 |
Add a contingency buffer of ₹5,000–8,000 per person. These are planning ranges, not live quotes.
Group roster and budget
Add each person and pick Track A (fly home Sun 18) or Track B (stay until Tue 20). The list saves in this browser only.
Track A · 0 people
Estimated group total (low–high)
Track B · 0 people
Estimated group total (low–high)
Booking checklist
October is autumn in Himachal, not a dependable snowfall window. Sissu is a high-altitude scenery day, not a snow guarantee. Avoid adding Shimla, Dharamshala or Jibhi, since the extra transfers would bring back the rush this plan removes.
Verify trail permissions, road conditions, bus schedules and fares before booking.