Board your AC Volvo from Majnu ka Tilla in Delhi in the evening and settle in for the overnight journey north. You'll wake up to cooler air and mountain views as the bus pulls into Manali the next morning.

Meet your driver on arrival and check into the hotel. Once you've freshened up, head out for a full round of Manali's best-known spots — the ancient Hadimba Temple in its forest setting, the peaceful Van Vihar park, Vashisht Temple with its natural hot springs, the Tibetan Monastery, and Mall Road to round off the evening.

Drive out to Solang Valley, framed by glaciers and snow-capped peaks that make it one of the most scenic spots near Manali. Try your hand at paragliding, zorbing, horse riding, or a snow scooter ride depending on the season, then head back to the hotel for the evening.

Check out after breakfast and drive through the Kullu Valley, stopping at Sunder Nagar Lake, Pandoh Dam, the Mini Vaishno Devi Temple, and the Kullu Shawl Factory on the way. Adventure seekers can try paragliding or river rafting before being dropped at the Volvo stand for the overnight journey back.

Arrive in Delhi in the morning, dropped at the Volvo stand — back in the city, but carrying a few days of mountain air, valley roads, and Himalayan memories that take their time fading.