Backpacker Himachal: Parvati valley, Manali and Bir

Day 1: Arrive in Kasol & Parvati Valley

Kasol & Parvati Valley

• Chalal village walk along the Parvati · 2 h

Open day 1 route in Google Maps

Day 2: Explore Kasol & Parvati Valley

Kasol & Parvati Valley

• Manikaran Sahib gurdwara and hot springs · 2 h. The gurdwara cooks its langar in boiling springs; cover your head and remove shoes. Free meals for all visitors.
• Tosh village day trip · 5 h

Local tip: The gurdwara cooks its langar in boiling springs; cover your head and remove shoes. Free meals for all visitors.

Open day 2 route in Google Maps

Day 3: Kheerganga trek and hot spring

Kasol & Parvati Valley

• Kheerganga trek and hot spring · 9 h. About 12 km each way from Barshaini, with a hot-spring pool at the top (around 2,950 m). Overnight camping rules change, so check what's allowed before planning to stay; don't attempt it after heavy rain.

Local tip: About 12 km each way from Barshaini, with a hot-spring pool at the top (around 2,950 m). Overnight camping rules change, so check what's allowed before planning to stay; don't attempt it after heavy rain.

Open day 3 route in Google Maps

Day 4: Kasol & Parvati Valley → Manali

Manali · Kasol & Parvati Valley to Manali, Car ~2.5h via Bhuntar (bus ~3.5h)

• 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.
• Old Manali cafés and Manu Temple · 3 h

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

Open day 4 route in Google Maps

Day 5: Explore Manali

Manali

• 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.

Local tip: 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.

Open day 5 route in Google Maps

Day 6: Explore Manali

Manali

• 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.
• Mall Road and the Tibetan monastery · 2 h

Local tip: Temple hot baths in the village, then a 1.5h walk up through orchards to the falls.

Open day 6 route in Google Maps

Day 7: 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 7 route in Google Maps

Day 8: Explore Bir Billing

Bir Billing

• Bir tea garden walk · 1.5 h
• Billing ridge sunset drive · 2.5 h
• Bir colony cafés and Deer Park Institute · 2 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 8 route in Google Maps

Day 9: Depart from Bir Billing

Bir Billing

• Chokling and Sherab Ling monasteries · 2.5 h

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

Open day 9 route in Google Maps