Himachal Pradesh Tour Packages

Tour overview

With Himachal tour packages one can experience the best of adventure, honeymoon, holidaymaking and more in one of India’s coveted tourist destination – Himachal Pradesh. Thanks to its stunning countryside, lush green meadows, rich flora and fauna, unexplored areas, unique cultural heritage, chaotic bazaars and a score of adventure activities. Enchanting shrines and temples dot the valley of Kangra while colonial architecture adorns the landscape of Shimla and Dalhousie. Also, a heightened sense of spirituality can be experienced in Dharamshala while the hills of Kullu and Manali calls for adventure. The Shivalik, the Dhauladhar, the Pir Panjal, the Great Himalayas and the Zanskar ranges of the Himalayan ranges run through Himachal. These mountains have altitudes ranging between 460 to 6000 metres. The topography of the vast state varies from cold and snowy alpine mountains to lush green sub-tropic valleys.

Let’s find out what more Himachal Pradesh has in store for travel enthusiasts.

Adventure Opportunities
Himachal’s sheer geographical diversity makes it one of the few places in the world blessed with natural riches. The winding rivers through deep gorges, calm mountain lakes, snow-peaked mountains and lush forests, all make great venues for adventure. From de-stress to challenging adventure, for amateurs and beginners or an expert, there is an activity, a sport, an experience for all kinds of travellers.

River rafting : Rivers in Himachal Pradesh make rapid descents, which originate at the Himalayan glacial valleys. And the courses here have attracted white water rafters from India and overseas. One can take guided rafting on River Sutlej at Tattapani near Shimla, at Pirdi on River Beas near Kullu, on the River Ravi near Chamba, and for the more daring rapids on Spiti River in Lahaul and Spiti district. White water rafting would be one of the most adrenaline-pumping activity on your Himachal tour.

Paragliding : The closest you can get to sailing the skies as a free bird is perhaps paragliding. And Himachal’s paragliding sites are among the best in India and around the world. You can go for paragliding either solo or in tandem at Bir Billing in Kangra district. The region frequently hosts the Paragliding World Cup and other international competitions in the sport. The hills of Billing make for incredible take-off with a gush of gentle winds while the plains of Bir provide great terraced landings. Another popular site for paragliding in the state includes Solang Valley 14 km northwest of Manali town, which offers spellbinding bird’s eye view of the valley below. Then there is Bandla Dhar near Bilaspur, which has an ideal landing ground with the scenic Gobindpur Sagar Lake beside it.

Trekking : The thrill and excitement of trekking enhance manifold in the mountains of the Himalayas encompassing the whole of Himachal Pradesh. There are hundreds of trails through paddy fields, orchards, ascending over mountain peaks, across deep woods, crossing over fast-flowing streams and waterfalls, under oak trees, or flowering rhododendron trees, to glacial lakes, and mountain top pilgrimage walks. No wonder, Himachal is a playground for trekkers. The Chandratal trek and Beas Kund trek in Manali; Indrahar Pass trek in Kangra; Triund trek at the Dhauladhar Ranges near Mcleodganj; Pin Parvati trek in Kullu; Kareri Lake trek in Dharamshala; and Sach Pass trek in the Pir-Panjal ranges in the Chamba district are just some of the easy to challenging trekking routes.

Skiing : Himachal is one of the few places in India where one can go skiing. The Himachal Tourism offers ski courses and has equipment on hire at Narkanda, a skiing resort in the district of Shimla. Furthermore, the slopes of Solang Nala, Rohtang Pass and Hanuman Tibba in Manali are few sites where professional and amateur skiing courses are conducted. To elevate your skiing experience, you can go for Heli-skiing. Here, helicopter airlifts you from Manali and carry you to high altitude snow slopes, and drops you for a thrilling Heli-skiing adventure. It is an expensive sport, and can be tried on the slopes around Hanuman Tibba, Deo Tibba, Rohtang Pass and Chandrakhani Pass near Manali.

Spiritual Treasures
Tourists from India and around the globe flock to Himachal Pradesh seeking religious fulfillment and spiritual well-being imparted by the temples, monasteries, churches and gurudwaras. Every nook and corner of the state exudes an air of spiritualism, peace and respect for the supreme being.

Buddhist circuit : The hills and valleys of Himachal Pradesh have historical connections with Buddhism that dates back to centuries before the arrival of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama in 1959. Many of the monasteries in the state trace historical links to the great Buddhist teacher Guru Padmasambhava, also known as Guru Rimpoche to the Tibetans, who first introduced Mahayana Buddhism into Tibet. The sacred Rewalsar Lake in Mandi, the ancient monastery of Tabo, the fortress resembling Dhankar Monastery, the spectacular Kye Monastery in Spiti Valley and the many gompas (monasteries) of Lahaul is a testimony of the living traditions of Buddhism in India. Not to miss, India’s own “Mini Tibet” – Mcleodganj comprises of famous monasteries.

Hindu shrines : The pagoda style wood-built Hadimba Devi Temple of the epic of Mahabharata fame in Manali. The healing Vashisth hot water springs and temples near Manali. The hilltop located holy Shree Naina Devi Temple. Stone Shiva Temple of Baijnath believed to be one of the 12 jyotirlingas of India and the tall Jakhoo Temple at Shimla’s highest peak Jakhoo Hill. All capture the essence of the divine power of this mystical state.

Churches : The British rule in the state of Himachal Pradesh has left beautiful churches behind. These churches display beautiful sculptures and architectures, which are a throwback to the Victorian era. Some of the must-visit churches are St. John’s in the Wilderness in Dalhousie; Shimla’s Neo-Gothic Christ Church and St. Mary’s Church, Church of St. John in Mcleodganj and Christ Church in Kasauli.

Nature’s Paradise
Himachal Pradesh’s topographic diversity and breathtaking pristine natural beauty make it a nature lover’s true delight. Whether it is the ubiquitous snow-capped Himalayan ranges, glacial lake, gushing rivers, untouched densely forested valleys, apple orchards, cultivated terraces or vast tracts of high-altitude Trans-Himalayan desert. The landscapes are also blessed with endangered and indigenous species of flora and fauna. When planning to visit this state, make sure you include these natural sights in your Himachal tour packages.

National parks : There is an abundance of natural parks in the state. One of the most scenic destinations for nature lovers there is the Great Himalayan National Park in Kullu. This UNESCO World Heritage Site park is home to high ridges, valleys with glaciers, deep gorges, green meadows and forests with a rich diversity of plants, animals and birds. Furthermore, the Pin Valley National Park, a cold desert zone is a beautiful tributary valley of Spiti. The valley harbours some rare endangered species of wild animals including the snow leopard. The Kalatop-Khajjiar Sanctuary can be reached from both Dalhousie and Chamba and is a rich habitat of Western Himalayan flora and fauna. Khirganga National Park in Kullu shares boundary to the north of the Great Himalayan National Park (a visit to this national park can be combined with your Khirganga trek). Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary, the only cold desert wildlife sanctuary in India where the elusive Snow Leopard, Ibex and Blue Sheep and birds like Himalayan Snowcock and Golden Eagle take shelter.

Apple orchards : The apple orchards in Himachal are a popular tourist attraction, and to visit one during your Himachal tour is one of the most interesting things to do in Himachal. You can learn about the cultivation process at the farms. Kinnaur (famous for the juicy and crunchy Kinnaur apples), Kotagarh, Kullu, Shimla, Ramgarh (Solan district), Sainj Valley (45 km from Kullu) and some parts of Lahaul-Spiti are few destinations in the state to go looking for apple orchards. Apple picking and tasting the fresh apples can be a great fun-filled activity during your Himachal visit.

Tea gardens : Surrounded by beautiful mountain’s, hills and rivers, Himachal also has spectacular tea gardens. Make tea garden visit a part of your Himachal tour itinerary. Do visit the Kangra Tea Estate famous for its green and black tea; the lush tea plantations of Palampur has a with the Dhauladhar Mountains at the backdrop; and Narghita tea estates near Dharamshala. You can even stay at some of the tea garden resorts in Palampur and Kangra.

Eating Out
From the roadside vendors to the authentic cafes and restaurants, Himachal has some very popular eating joints, especially in Shimla, Manali and Dharamshala. Throw in picturesque hills, tall pine trees and crisp mountain air, and piping hot, flavoursome food and beverages feed an appetite magnified by the surroundings. The combination that every traveller seek in the hills.