Request for help Itinerary for my trip to manali

Hi,...
I'm planning on visiting kullu-manali from the 29th of october to 3rd nov.The following is my tentative plan for the trip:


29th Oct-1st Nov - Manali (Ambassador Resort)
2nd Nov - Gushaini (Raju Bhartis guesthouse)
3rd Nov - Kullu (Apple Village resort)
4th Nov- back to delhi.

I am planning to fly from delhi to kullu either by Air Deccan or Jagson airlines. How reliable would these airlines be at the end of October.? Our main aim is to reduce travelling time.

If you have any suggetions with regards to the Itinerary or places to stay please do let me know.

Also if theres any other place that i could stay at by reducing 1 day in manali do let me know.

Thanks.

I wouldn't rely on Jagson, i booked & paid for a flight from Bhuntar to Delhi last october at their office at Delhi airport, the day before i was due to leave Kashol i got a travel agent to ring their office at Bhuntar airport & they said yes no problem your flight is confirmed for the morning. So i got up mega early this next morn & caught the 1st bus down to Bhuntar i walked upto the airport gate where a man said can i help, it turned out he was the manager for Jagson in Bhuntar. "Sorry no flight today" he said "but... what do you mean no flight! i had it confirmed yesterday" i said "technical problems" was is short reply with no further explanation " well how can i get a refund?"
"Refund from Delhi" he replied "But this is not possible i am flying back to the u.k. in 2 days i don't have time" was my reply "Wait here i'll ring Delhi i will be back in 30mins"
That's the last i'll see of him! i thought. So i checked out my transport options with a agent in Bhuntar who said there was a bus to Shimla in 30mins. I booked the bus & went & sat in a restaurant & ordered ommelette with green chillies YUM YUM.
To my amazement the Jagson manager came back 25mins later with a fist full of rupees & gave me a full cash refund, just as he finished counting it into my hand the Shimla bus pulled up.
What i found odd was there was no-one else waiting for the plane it seems to me they take bookings & if they get enough customers its a goer if not Tough! KK

thanks kullukid...

thats exactly what my travel agent told me. I was just hoping that he was wrong.
With just a week at hand its a pity if i have to spend too much time travelling. At the same time , if the flight does not take off for whatever reason, my whole programme will go for a toss.. Its a tough choice.
Wish there was an easier and faster way to travel to all those beautiful places!!

Thanks again.

hola...what are the chances of getting a good comfy bus to Manali the same day as arrival in delhi say for the last week of october/early november

Buses to manali leave in the evening
Depending on the time of arrival you should be able to get to HPTDC office or ISBT and book your seats in advance.

Last week oct / 1 week nov may be difficult to get good seats / any seats last min as it is diwali time and people will be going on holidays and manali is a popular destination.

Best of luck

Many years ago..I once flew Jagson, circled Manali twice and came back to Delhi.
Bad weather they said so i guess it wasnt their fault but a let down nevertheless.
Air Deccan has yet to commence flights to Kullu Manali...I think they are starting in mid-Oct. I am looking at booking tickets on that too in Dec.
The luxury Volvo bus is a reasonable option but the journey takes about 14 hours.

In Manali, Banon resorts is a good option. If you want to spend one day less in Manali, you could also stay at Naggar Castle hotel in Naggar for a night.

Are you referring to Apple Valley Resort in Kullu. The Resort is ok but it is quite short of Manali and not much to do there in my opinion. They may have water rafting though since its next to the Beas river.

My favorite in Manali is Sunshine guest house it's real olde worlde set in apple orchards with a beautiful English country garden, it's sort of a mini farm as well with an whole menagerie of hens, doves ,pigeons etc, not to mention the cows & Tibetan terriers, it's in a very peaceful setting with wonderful views. It's located just above John Bannons nr the sign for log huts, try the homemade honey or apricot jam with your butter toast here's some pics. http://picasaweb.google.com/kullukid...ySKq-KqmE96O6Y

Other Beaumont, Hope your going to write a thesis on "Manali Apples" on your return!!! (private joke) KK

hmmm an apple a day....its apple harvest where i live....last year i spent 2 weeks chomping down pommes in Mapha nepal...boy those hi altitude babies sure have crunch...
got another question..... since i am flying on staff tickets (standby) it makes it hard to set an exact date for arrival...the flights from canada are booked solid with diwali migration and fear of canadian winters ))...but i thought this year diwali comes early so i am looking at end of oct/early nov. thinking diwali is almost over...so the busses north would be open...
now i do have a good vacation agent i have known for years..in delhi do you all think that he should have no problems getting his friend on a bus??? i would love to be eating trout and apples in Solang...

Would definately recommend at least one night in Naggar at the Naggar Castle, for a treat, the balcony suite rooms are beautiful, so much history and the gorgeous view - definately a better option than the apple valley resort in Kullu, which is just kind of off the main road and not very special. Book Naggar castle through HPTDC - there may be an office in Mumbai, dont know.

Option apart from flight may be to get the train from Delhi to Chandigarh and then rent a taxi / bus from there to Manali. Flying of course faster, but maybe unreliable with some of the airlines. However at least jagson gave a full refund.

Tweety,

Did u stay in Ambassador Resorts? How is the hotel? I'm planning to take a Deluxe Suite for my honeymoon in Dec. Please advice and provide your comments/feedbak of the place from all perspectives

Hi.. I haven't stayed at Ambassador Resort. Just had a look at their website and liked what i saw there. But I have absolutely no idea how the place is.

I have stayed at the Ambassador in Manali in 1998.The suites on the 1st floor & above have an excellent view of the river and mountains.Do not take rooms on the ground floor.Those rooms have no view and a patch of a garden with a rock pool attached.The location of the hotel as far as I can recall is near Vashishth and away from all humdrum.Quiet and gorgeous location.Good choice for a honeymoon.