Exploring Himachal tour packages for backpacking? Discover the top Himachal Backpacking Tour Destinations which are the best options for travel in India, especially for Christmas and New Year trips. Best part? You can stay in Himachal Pradesh for longer and enjoy the best activities since there are many locations where lodging costs less than ₹1000/- per day.
If you’re wondering what makes Himachal the ultimate destination for backpacking, a Himachal backpacking trip bestows on you priceless memories as you traverse the mountains, follow the unexplored trails and enjoy a pit stop in a village whose humble, warm-hearted residents make their place in your heart. Public transport for backpackers in Himachal is readily available through local buses and taxis that connect most major towns and tourist destinations, making it an economical choice for travellers.
From Kasol, and Rewalsar to Manali and Spiti, explore below the best Himachal backpacking trips with the Himachal backpacking guide.
Located in the renowned Parvati Valley, Kasol is a stunning location. You will be mesmerised by Kasol’s breathtaking beauty. It’s a lovely location where you can visit and take in the stunning scenery. While visiting Kasol, you can also go trekking. This location also serves as a stopover in the Backpacking trip to Himachal for those travelling to higher camps. The well-known Parvati River is a great place to unwind.
- Highlights: Parvati River
- Best Activities: Trekking
An essential addition to the list of Himachal backpacking destinations is the lovely town of Triund. The Dhauladhar Mountains are a wonderful place to spend time where you can take in the scenery of both Kangra Valley and the mountains surrounding it. While visiting this location, you can pitch a tent and take in the stunning night sky illuminated by stars and enjoy the best treks for backpackers in Himachal. Yes, trekking through a mixed forest of oak, deodar, and rhododendron is a must-do activity here!’
- Highlights: Oak, deodar, and rhododendron forests
- Best Activities: Trekking, stargazing
Spiti, which means “Middle Land ” in English, is also renowned as “Little Tibet” due to its surroundings that resemble those of Tibet, including its climatic conditions and plant life. The fantastic weather in Spiti Valley makes for ideal trekking conditions, which you would undoubtedly love to experience. In addition, you can visit Giu Village to see the natural mummy preserved in a glass case, if you’re lucky then you might catch a glimpse of the snow leopard, witness the Losar Festival, or cherish Chandra Taal’s natural beauty. Spiti is the best backpacking destination in Himachal Pradesh.
- Highlights: Giu Village, Chandra Taal.
Rewalsar is a beautiful place and a Himachal backpacking trip to this location is a peaceful experience. You will fall in love with this incredible place because of its beauty. Three Hindu temples, a Sikh Gurudwara, and three Buddhist monasteries have been built around a lake in the centre of this area. It also allows you to dive deep into yourself and contemplate. Despite its under-appreciation, Rewalsar is one of the offbeat backpacking spots in Himachal and surely deserves more recognition.
- Highlights: Hindu temples, Sikh Gurudwara, and Buddhist monasteries.
One of the top destinations for Himachal Backpacking, where you will certainly indulge in some adventures is the picturesque town of Bir Billing. It’s a fantastic location for paragliding, and you can join in the World Paragliding Championships held annually. When paragliding, Billing is the takeoff location, and Bir is where you land. While visiting this area, you can go on fantastic Himachal backpacking excursions. Visit Bir Billing and take an exciting tour. Besides the adventure, a sojourn in Bir will also turn out to be divine as it is well-known for its spiritual offerings. Here in Bir Billing, you can see some Tibetan cultural and religious influences. The renowned Deer Park and Bir Tea Factory too should be paid a visit. Backpacking trip to Himachal Pradesh offers a wide variety of destinations for travellers.
- Highlights: Deer Park and Bir Tea Factory
You should pay a visit to the well-known Sangla, which is located nearby. It has some incredible natural beauty and is a fantastic location for adventure. This location is in the renowned Baspa Valley of the Kinnaur district. Himachal backpacking trip planner has emerged as the most popular place for backpackers to visit while in the state. The renowned Kamru Fort, Kanda Trout Farm, and other attractions should also be visited. Rock climbing, rappelling, and other activities are also available to you. Sangla is one of the best places for backpacking in Himachal.
- Highlights: Kamru Fort, Kanda Trout Farm
- Best Activities: Rappelling, rock climbing
Backpackers should visit Sarahan, a location associated with many myths and legends. You can even travel to the renowned Kinnaur from this location, which is at a height of 2,165 metres. The beautiful small fields, orchards, streams, and villages make the Himachal backpacking tour here a wonderful experience. As the 51st sacred Shakti Peeths, the well-known Bhimakali Temple is also accessible. A nearby famous bird park is another place you should go while enjoying the backpacking trip to Himachal.
- Highlights: Bhimakali Temple, Bird Park
8. Dharamshala – McLeod Ganj
You will have beautiful memories after a Himachal backpacking trip to Dharamshala. These fantastic locations offer the opportunity to take strolls, take in breathtaking views, and find tranquillity. The Church St. John in the Wilderness, Dal Lake, Cultural Museum, and Dalai Lama Temple are just a few attractions in the sleepy Himachal Pradesh town of McLeod Ganj. It is situated at the foothills of the Dhauladhar Mountain Ranges. In addition, since Dharamsala is where the Dalai Lama resides, one can see a bit of Tibetan-Buddhist culture there. It certainly is the best Backpacking trip to Himachal.
- Highlights: Church St. John, Dal Lake, Cultural Museum, and Dalai Lama Temple.
Suggested Read: 20 Best Things to do in Himachal Pradesh
The village of Tosh should definitely be given a visit if you’re looking for the best of Himachal Backpacking. Located at the far end of the Parvati Valley, it is renowned for its tranquillity and serenity. The breathtaking views of Tosh with the snow-capped mountains, stunning waterfalls, and picturesque mountain peaks are just a few reasons that make Tosh stand out.
The most well-known hill station in Himachal Pradesh is Dalhousie, so your Himachal backpacking trip planner would be incomplete without a stop there. The colonial charms of the former Britishers are evident in this lovely hill station, which is home to several historical monuments and colonial buildings. The town’s vegetation is exquisite. St. John’s Church, which was built in 1863, is an illustration of this. A picnic at Kalatope, a trip to Ahla Village’s Bara Pathar Temples, and some downtime at the tranquil Subhash Baoli are some things you should do while you’re here when you visit for a Backpacking trip to Himachal.
- Highlights: St. John’s Church, Kalatope, Ahla Village’s Bara Pathar Temples, and Subhash Baoli
- Best Activities: Trekking, rock Climbing, shopping
Get ready for the budget-friendly Himachal backpacking trips today. Kullu and Manali are among the best options due to the clean air, clear sky, lush mountains, and snow-capped ranges. It would take at least a couple of days to visit each of the numerous tourist attractions in Kullu and Manali. Himachal backpacking, trekking, adventure sports in Solang Valley, touring historic temples, and seeing the Manali Bird Sanctuary are all things you can do while you’re here. An additional activity for a Backpacking trip to Himachal you can try in Kullu is river rafting.
- Highlights: Manali Bird Sanctuary, temples
- Best Activities: River rafting, trekking
Undoubtedly, Shimla is one of the top Himachal backpacking destinations. A vacation to Shimla will never disappoint you, whether you want to enjoy Himachal solo backpacking, or with friends, or family. Shimla has a wide variety of tourist attractions, such as the Mall Road for shopping, Annandale or Polo, Jakhu Hill for hiking, and the Lord Hanuman’s Temple for spiritual purposes. To taste British luxury, you can also go to the Viceregal Lodge.
- Highlights: Mall Road, Lord Hanuman’s Temple, Jakhu Hil
- Best Activities: Hiking
The little town of Kasauli is encircled by rolling hills covered in beautiful vegetation and thus the best Himachal backpacking trip option. The roads that will take you to this lovely location are worth highlighting and praising, and the weather is unquestionably good there. The Monkey Point, Mall Road, Anglican Church, etc., are a few tourist attractions in Kasauli. The Gilbert Trail is an option if you wish to go hiking in your backpacking trips to Himachal.
- Highlights: Monkey Point, Mall Road, Anglican Church
- Best Activities: Hiking
Suggested Read: 11 Travel Tips for Himachal Pradesh Trip
Malana is among the most picturesque villages in India. For Himachal backpacking trip planners, numerous tales have been told about this stunning location. Its existence has been mentioned in multiple Malana legends for a long time. A few long-standing families reside there, situated in the Valley of Parvati. The most intriguing fact about this unusual place is that it is said that the great Alexander’s straight descendants are the locals of this place. Additionally, this location has administrative laws and rules that closely resemble the Greek social structure, management style, cultural norms, and notion of purity.
It is a tiny community hidden within Himachal Pradesh’s Kinnaur district. In addition to being the last place in India where you can travel without a visa, it is the last village with a population close to the Indo-Tibetan border at 3450 metres. Tourists often stay in Sangla and prepare to leave for Chitkul the following day. The river Baspa travels the entire way from Sangla. Like the rest of Himachal, the region is dotted with snow-covered hills and different hues of apple orchards, mustard fields, and plants. Potatoes and peas of exceptional quality are grown in the valley. It can be a harsh, icy, and unreliable climate in the Himachal backpacking destinations.
Everyone who walks through the Pabbar Valley will find something to enjoy. It has a vibrant blend of natural beauty and scenic splendour. We highly suggest that you go for a Himachal backpacking trip to explore this pahadi gem. Along with its fruit orchards, this area attracted British Viceroys who camped and rested there thanks to its picturesque hamlets and swift rivers. The Pabbar Valley offers a variety of terrain for hikers to explore, including small, untouched towns, cedar, oak, and birch forests, and snow-covered valleys. In addition, you can take backpacking trips to Himachal for hobbies like rafting, paragliding, and walking, and staying in charming stays for backpackers in Himachal.
- Best Activities: Rafting, paragliding, and walking
Best Time To Plan Himachal Backpacking Trip
- If you love snow, plan your trip between October and February. That's when it snows the most and you can try fun activities like skiing and snowboarding.
- But if you prefer mild weather, the best time to plan Himachal backpacking is between February and June when it's not too hot or cold. These months are actually the most popular time to visit Himachal.
