Shimla

Himachal Pradesh is the Himalaya made easy, with good roads, cosy hotels and snow within reach for much of the year. Our classic seven-day trip begins in Shimla, the old summer capital of British India, about three and a half hours' drive up from Chandigarh. Two nights here give time to stroll the pedestrian Mall Road and the Ridge, with neo-Gothic Christ Church and wide views over the hills, to climb to the Jakhoo Hanuman temple, and to drive out to Kufri for its apple orchards, pony rides and, in winter, snow.

From Shimla the road drops to the Beas river and follows it north through Mandi and the Kullu valley, where shawl weavers' shops line the highway and river-rafting stretches near Kullu offer an hour or so of rapids for the adventurous. Manali, at the head of the valley, is the base for the next four nights. Hadimba Devi temple stands in a cedar forest above town, Old Manali's lanes are full of cafés, and the Vashisht hot springs are a short walk away.

The big days out are to Solang Valley for paragliding, zorbing and ropeway rides, and through the 9 km Atal Tunnel, one of the world's longest highway tunnels above 3,000 metres, into Lahaul. On the far side, Sissu has waterfalls, the Chandra river and snowfields that last well into spring. March to June is the most pleasant time, December to February brings snow to Manali and Shimla, and the monsoon months from July to September are best avoided because of landslides.