Snow Holiday Packages

Where to see snow – month by month

The rule: snow on the ground is about altitude (above 2,700–3,000 m from December to March), snowfall is about weather (a western disturbance every 7–12 days in winter). Book for altitude and hope for weather.

Snow destinations from Ahmedabad – routing, nights and budget

Per person, twin sharing, 3★ hotels with breakfast and dinner, private vehicle, including return flights from Ahmedabad; Switzerland excludes visa and most meals.

Snow packages on this page start under ₹25,000 per person including flights for a Shimla–Kufri break outside Christmas week. Christmas–New Year adds 30–50% to hotel rates in Manali, Shimla and Gulmarg; the first three weeks of January and all of February are 20–30% cheaper for the same snow.

Manali, Sissu and the Atal Tunnel

Manali town sits at about 2,050 m and gets snow only after strong winter storms, usually from late December to February. For reliable snow you drive up: Solang Valley (2,560 m, 14 km) has snow from late December with skiing, snow-scooters and a ropeway; the Atal Tunnel (9 km) takes you under the Rohtang range in 15 minutes to Sissu and Koksar in Lahaul, where snow lies from November to April and the landscape is white when Manali is brown. Rohtang Pass itself (3,980 m) is closed in winter and opens around May with permits.

Winter notes: 4x4 or chained vehicles are needed beyond Solang after fresh snowfall, and the tunnel is closed for a few hours or a day after heavy storms. We keep a buffer day and book hotels in Old Manali or on the Naggar road with central heating, not just room heaters. The Himachal government's Manali–Sissu road is cleared quickly, but we never schedule Sissu on your last day before a flight.

Shimla, Kufri and Narkanda

Shimla (2,200 m) is a snow lottery – two or three good falls a winter, usually in January. Kufri (2,750 m, 16 km) is more reliable from late December, with horse rides and an adventure park for children. Narkanda (2,700 m, 60 km) and Hatu Peak (3,400 m) are the real snow guarantee on this side – quiet, with a small ski slope run by HPTDC and apple orchards under snow. We often book one night in Narkanda for families who want snow without the Manali drive. The Kalka–Shimla toy train is a 5-hour heritage ride that children remember; fly Ahmedabad–Chandigarh and we meet you at Kalka.

Gulmarg – the most reliable snow in India

Gulmarg (2,650 m) has the longest and deepest snow season of any reachable Indian destination – December to March, often into April – and the non-stop Ahmedabad–Srinagar flight makes it the easiest snow trip from Gujarat. The Gondola Phase 1 rises to Kongdoori (3,050 m), where most families play in the snow, sledge and try skiing; Phase 2 goes to Apharwat (3,980 m) for the serious views and powder. Tickets are booked online and sell out on weekends and in Christmas week; we book them with your package.

Plan 2 nights in Gulmarg and 2 in Srinagar (Dal Lake houseboat or hotel). Pahalgam has snow too but the road beyond Chandanwari closes; Sonmarg is closed entirely in deep winter. Gulmarg hotels range from basic huts to five-star heated resorts; central heating is essential in January. Pure-veg and Gujarati food is easy in Srinagar and arranged in Gulmarg hotels.

Auli, Sikkim and Spiti in winter

• Auli (2,800–3,050 m): India's best ski slopes with a long ropeway from Joshimath, chair lift, and artificial snow-making when nature is late. Snow from late December to March; views of Nanda Devi. The drive from Dehradun is long (9–10 hours), so we split it with a night in Rishikesh or Rudraprayag. Best for families with teenagers who want to learn skiing – 3-day beginner courses are available.
• Sikkim – Tsomgo lake and Nathu La (3,750–4,300 m): snow from December to April, sometimes year-round at Nathu La. Permits are needed (we arrange them with your ID) and Nathu La is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Gangtok itself does not get snow; Lachung and the Yumthang valley in North Sikkim are snowbound in winter and spectacular.
• Spiti in winter (Kaza, 3,650 m): for the adventurous only – temperatures of –15 to –25°C, homestays with bukhari heaters, frozen waterfalls, snow leopard sightings near Kibber. Three days of driving from Shimla each way; not for children under 12 or anyone with heart or breathing issues.

Switzerland – snow in any month

For families who want guaranteed snow at a civilised temperature, Switzerland is the answer in every month. Jungfraujoch (3,454 m, "Top of Europe") from Interlaken, Mount Titlis from Engelberg near Lucerne with its rotating cable car and glacier cave, and Glacier 3000 near Gstaad all have snow year-round. A 5–7 night Switzerland trip from Ahmedabad (via Dubai, Doha or Mumbai to Zurich) with a Swiss Travel Pass costs ₹1,80,000–2,80,000 per person excluding the Schengen visa, and is at its most comfortable from April to June and September to October, when the valleys are green and the peaks are white. Indian restaurants are plentiful in Interlaken, Lucerne and Zurich. We prepare and submit the Schengen application; approval is at the embassy's discretion, so allow 8–10 weeks.

What to pack for a snow holiday from Ahmedabad

• Layers, not one thick coat: a thermal inner, a fleece or woollen mid-layer, and a windproof, waterproof outer jacket. Ahmedabad winter clothes are not enough above 2,500 m.
• Feet and hands: waterproof shoes or boots with grip (not sports shoes – they soak through in minutes), two pairs of woollen socks, waterproof gloves. Snow boots and jackets can be rented at Solang, Kufri and Gulmarg for ₹300–600 a day if you do not want to buy.
• Head and face: a woollen cap covering the ears, sunglasses (snow glare is intense), SPF 50 sunscreen and lip balm.
• Medicines: motion-sickness tablets for the hill roads, paracetamol, a cold-and-cough kit, and any regular prescriptions. For Gulmarg Phase 2, Nathu La and Spiti, consult your doctor about altitude medication.
• Small things that matter: a thermos for hot water, moisturiser (skin cracks in dry cold), power bank (batteries drain fast), zip-lock bags for wet gloves, and a change of clothes in the day bag for children who will inevitably get soaked.

Snow holidays with children and senior citizens

• Children under 5: Kufri, Solang Phase 1 and Gulmarg Phase 1 are enough – an hour or two in the snow, then back to a heated hotel. Avoid high passes and long drives; choose Shimla–Narkanda or Gulmarg with the non-stop flight.
• Children 6–14: add sledging, a snow-scooter ride, and a beginner ski lesson at Solang, Auli or Gulmarg. Sissu via the Atal Tunnel is a safe, flat snowfield that children love.
• Senior citizens: Gulmarg (short drive from Srinagar, gondola does the climbing), Kufri and Narkanda (gentle), and Switzerland (trains do everything) are the senior-friendly snow trips. Avoid Spiti, Nathu La and Auli's long drive. We book heated hotels with lifts, keep drives under 4 hours, and schedule snow time around midday when it is warmest.
• Everyone: cold reduces appetite and increases dehydration; drink warm water through the day. Hill roads after snowfall can be closed for hours – a spare day protects your return flight from Chandigarh, Srinagar or Bagdogra.

Why book your snow holiday with Vibrant Holidays

• 11 years, Ahmedabad office: we have sent families to the snow every winter since 2015 and know which weeks deliver. Visit us on C G Road (Monday to Saturday) or plan on WhatsApp. IATA-accredited; member of TAAI, TAFI, ADTOI and IATO; recognised by the Ministry of Tourism.
• Live prices, no bait: the Christmas-week surcharge, gondola tickets and permit fees are shown on the quote, not discovered on the hill.
• Pure-veg and Jain meals confirmed in writing at every hotel – Gujarati thalis are available in Manali, Shimla and Srinagar.
• Flights from Ahmedabad booked with the package, with a buffer day built in before the return flight in January and February.
• 24×7 on-tour support – when the Atal Tunnel closes or a gondola day is cancelled, we re-plan the day while you drink chai.