Adventure Himachal: Manali and Bir

Day 1: Arrive in Manali

Manali

• Old Manali cafés and Manu Temple · 3 h

Open day 1 route in Google Maps

Day 2: Explore Manali

Manali

• Hidimba Devi Temple and Dhungri forest · 1.5 h. A pagoda-roofed wooden temple from 1553 among giant deodars; go early to beat the queue.
• Solang Valley: ropeway, paragliding and snow · 5 h. Short tandem paragliding flights and the ropeway run in fair weather; in winter it's the nearest place for skiing and snow play. Local taxi unions control trips up the valley, so book through your hotel.
• River rafting on the Beas · 2 h. Short grade II–III runs near Kullu and Pirdi; suspended in the monsoon, roughly mid-July to mid-September.
• Mall Road and the Tibetan monastery · 2 h

Local tip: A pagoda-roofed wooden temple from 1553 among giant deodars; go early to beat the queue.

Open day 2 route in Google Maps

Day 3: Atal Tunnel and Sissu day trip

Manali

• Atal Tunnel and Sissu day trip · 6 h. The 9 km Atal Tunnel needs no permit; beyond it Sissu has a waterfall, the Chandra river and snow most of the year. Traffic queues build by mid-morning, so leave Manali early.

Local tip: The 9 km Atal Tunnel needs no permit; beyond it Sissu has a waterfall, the Chandra river and snow most of the year. Traffic queues build by mid-morning, so leave Manali early.

Open day 3 route in Google Maps

Day 4: Explore Manali

Manali

• Naggar Castle and Roerich Art Gallery · 3 h. A 15th-century stone-and-timber castle and the Russian painter Nicholas Roerich's house, 45 min down the valley. The gallery is closed on Mondays.
• Vashisht hot springs and Jogini Falls hike · 3.5 h. Temple hot baths in the village, then a 1.5h walk up through orchards to the falls.

Local tip: A 15th-century stone-and-timber castle and the Russian painter Nicholas Roerich's house, 45 min down the valley. The gallery is closed on Mondays.

Open day 4 route in Google Maps

Day 5: Manali → Bir Billing

Bir Billing · Manali to Bir Billing, Car ~5h via Mandi

• Tandem paragliding from Billing to Bir · 2 h. Flights of 15–30 min from the 2,400 m Billing launch to the Bir landing site. Choose a registered operator with insured pilots; flights stop in the monsoon (roughly mid-July to mid-September) and in strong wind.

Local tip: Flights of 15–30 min from the 2,400 m Billing launch to the Bir landing site. Choose a registered operator with insured pilots; flights stop in the monsoon (roughly mid-July to mid-September) and in strong wind.

Open day 5 route in Google Maps

Day 6: Explore Bir Billing

Bir Billing

• Chokling and Sherab Ling monasteries · 2.5 h
• Billing ridge sunset drive · 2.5 h
• Bir colony cafés and Deer Park Institute · 2 h
• Bir tea garden walk · 1.5 h
• Baijnath Shiva temple · 1.5 h. A 13th-century stone temple about 30 min from Bir.

Local tip: A 13th-century stone temple about 30 min from Bir.

Open day 6 route in Google Maps

Day 7: Explore Bir Billing

Bir Billing

Free day in Bir Billing — wander, café-hop, or ask us to add something.

Day 8: Depart from Bir Billing

Bir Billing

Keep a buffer before your flight; check-out is usually noon.