INDIA
India's classics.
The 13 best shimla tours in India, gathered in one place. What each one includes, who runs it, and what you can expect to pay.
Walk Shimla’s colonial heart with a local guide, from Christ Church and The Mall to Betink’s Castle and IIAS in 3 hours.
“Shimla may be a small town but it has an incredible history and so much to do. Raju was an excellent guide who really connects with his tour group, making it a more personal and enjoyable experience. Raju is passionate about his town and brought it to life for me. When I return, I will…”
A 2-hour private heritage walk in Shimla, from Christ Church to IIAS. Local guide, colonial sights, temples, castles, and culture.
“Sunny our guide was fantastic. Knowledgable and easy going. A great experience.”
Private Shimla and Kufri tour with hotel pickup, top viewpoints from Jakhoo to Mall Road, and great value for $39.
“Loved the areas and sights around Shimla. Kulfri had less to interest me although there was clearly activities (eg. horseriding ) that would appeal to others”
Eat a traditional Himachali meal in a Shimla home with local hosts, off-menu dishes, and real conversation for about $16 and 2 hours.
“A very nice experience!”
Walk Shimla’s colonial core in 2 hours. See Viceregal Lodge, Gorton Castle, rail heritage, and Jakhoo’s Kalibari Temple with a guide.
“Verry good Guide”
3-hour private hike to Jakhu Hill from Christ Church with a local guide, Jakhoo Temple visit, and views of the giant Hanuman statue.
“The tour was tailored to our small group of five, as the guide noted everyone’s abilities and interests and gave time to all of us. We were met at our hotel and then we walked through the town to the foot of Jakhu Hill and walked the steep but short hill to the top. The…”
Cycle or hike Shimla’s water catchment sanctuary for quiet forest trails, water-system history, and guided e-rickshaw wildlife views.
“It was a peaceful environment. A good place to cycle again. It’s off-road so as I don’t cycle much I was glad it wasn’t crowded. Remarkable filtering system to provide water down to the Catchment Reservoir to provide Shimla with pure water. As a wildlife sanctuary the aim is to protect the animals, letting them…”
Private 8-hour Shimla temple tour with a local guide, hilltop views, mythology explanations, and hotel pickup for $43 per person.
“Great tour. Pawan changed the tour to suit our needs and took us to great spots for great pictures. We had a wonderful lunch at a scenic lodge with really nice tasting food and was exceptionally inexpensive. We had 2 different soups and butter chicken. The butter chicken tasted different from what we had in…”
Private full-day Shimla tour with a local guide, air-conditioned car, temples, markets, and hills. 8 hours from $43.
“Our guide Pawan (Wonders of Himalaya) is a great guide, we had a beautiful day with him in Shimla, he showed us around in several temples and during the trip he explained us many historic and spiritual facts about his native city. He is fluent in English and we recommend him for your tours on…”
Private full-day mountain biking in Shimla with helmets, picnic lunch and water. Guided, customizable route on rural trails and tracks.
“We had an awesome time with our guide David. The bikes were really good and David did his best to adjust the tour according to our wishes and fitness level. It was real fun exploring with him the surprisingly calm surrounding of Shimla by bike.”
A 3-hour guided walk in Shimla from Christ Church to Jakhoo Hill, the Hanuman Statue, and the Ridge, with tea and local stories.
“I didn’t do the actual tour because the weather was very stormy. I did however really enjoy the different experiences talking to locals in the library, going around the market and to tea and coffee houses. Sunny was really fun to be around”
A 2-hour guided Shimla street food crawl: chaats, Honey Masala Idli, Tibetan bites, and tea with sweeping views.
“Dev was such a great guide. He explained to us about the various influences on Himachalian cuisine but also on society here. The food was of course gorgeous and plentiful. As a bonus he took us for a walk through the vegetable market. Particular favourites were the Siddu and the Nepalese dumplings”
A 2-hour guided walk through Shimla’s colonial landmarks, bird park views, and a final Kali Bari Temple stop, with photo tips and a hot drink.
“Tour clearly states that admission is included. Ended up paying to get into Viceregal Lodge, Bird Park and State Museum. Did not see Vidhan Sabha Canteen or Gorton Castle at all. Guide did not speak enough English to be useful and knew less about the places we were visiting than we did after reading the…”
