Drive toward Shimla and continue onwards to Narkanda, a quiet mountain town sitting at over 2,700 metres with apple orchards and Himalayan views on all sides. Arrive and settle in for the night.

Drive along the Hindustan–Tibet Highway, one of the more dramatic roads in Himachal Pradesh, with the Sutlej River running far below. Arrive at Sarahan and visit the Bhimakali Temple, a beautifully crafted wooden shrine that has stood here for centuries.

Drive into the Sangla Valley, where the landscape shifts into something wilder and more remote. Continue to Chitkul, the last inhabited village on the Indo-China border, where the Baspa River runs clear and the mountains feel very close.

Spend a quiet morning in Chitkul before driving to Kalpa, a small town that sits directly across from the Kinner Kailash range. The views of the snow-covered peaks from here, especially at sunrise and sunset, are among the finest in Kinnaur.

Take the day to explore around Kalpa — walk to the traditional village of Roghi, stop at Suicide Point for its sheer drop views, and wander through the apple and cherry orchards that line the hillsides.

Begin the return journey through the same winding mountain roads, which somehow feel different on the way back — quieter, more familiar, and a little harder to leave.

Drive back to Delhi or Chandigarh, wrapping up a week spent in some of the most remote and rewarding valleys in the Himalayas.