Shimla is about 345 km from Delhi by road, 8–9 hours of driving, and Manali about 535 km, 11½–13 hours — so most groups either break the Manali run or go to Shimla first and on to Manali after. Both roads pass Chandigarh, both end in hill driving that is slower in a 16-seater than in a car, and going up to Rohtang needs a permit for the van booked in advance.
How far, and how long
One way, by road, before stops. Allow more for meals, for a group that needs breaks, and for hill traffic in the season.
| From Delhi to | About | Driving time |
|---|---|---|
| Chandigarh | 250 km | 4–5 hours |
| Shimla | 345 km | 8–9 hours |
| Manali | 535 km | 11½–13 hours |
Breaking the journey
Chandigarh sits on both roads, 250 km from Delhi, and is the natural place to stop for a meal, or for the night on a late start. A circuit — Delhi to Shimla, Shimla to Manali through Mandi and Kullu, then back to Delhi — turns the long Manali run into two shorter days and puts a hill town at the end of each.
Send us every place you want to sleep. The days and the overnight stops are what the quote is built on, and they decide whether the drive each day is comfortable or a race.
Driving in the hills with a group
Above Chandigarh the road climbs in bends, and a full van takes them more slowly than a car does. Some passengers feel it: seat them towards the front, keep breakfast light, and ask the driver to stop — a group van stops when somebody needs it to.
Plan the climbing for daylight. Whether the van drives hill roads after dark is one of the terms your quote states.
Rohtang, the Atal Tunnel and permits
Going up towards Rohtang from Manali needs a permit for the vehicle. Himachal Pradesh issues it online for one day at a time, against the van's registration number and the date, under a daily limit on the number of vehicles — so it has to be booked ahead, and the pass road is open only part of the year, when the snow is cleared.
The Atal Tunnel road to Sissu and Lahaul does not need the Rohtang permit. If the group's plan is snow rather than the pass itself, tell us, because it changes what has to be booked.
What to settle before a hill trip
- The dates and every overnight stop.
- Whether Rohtang is in the plan, so the permit can be booked.
- Warm clothes for everyone: a cool morning in Delhi is a cold one in Manali.
- Bags: a week in the hills means more luggage than a weekend, so count the large suitcases.