Weekend trips from Delhi: what is realistic in 2 to 3 nights

The distances and times below are approximate road figures from central Delhi, in the range Google Maps shows on a normal day. Leaving after 9 am on a Friday or Saturday, or returning on a Sunday evening, can add one to two hours around Delhi and Meerut. Leave before 6 am and come back before 4 pm where you can.

The easiest weekend by road, down NH48, or by the Ajmer Shatabdi train. 2 nights covers Amer Fort, the City Palace, Hawa Mahal and the old city bazaars. Best from October to March, and hot from April to June.

A good fit for friends and college groups: rafting, a riverside camp and the Ganga aarti. 2 nights is enough. Rafting usually runs from September to June and pauses during the peak monsoon. A train to Haridwar plus a short transfer is an alternative to the road.

Via Dehradun. A couple and family trip with Mall Road, Landour and the viewpoints. With a Saturday start you arrive around lunch, so book 2 nights to have a full day there. Best from March to June and October to December.

Via Moradabad and Haldwani, or a train to Kathgodam and a taxi for the last stretch. The lake, the ropeway and the Mall give a relaxed 2 night trip. The long drive means a Friday-night start or a Friday off helps.

These are about 500 to 550 km away. The overnight Volvo takes roughly 10 to 14 hours each way, so a two-night plan leaves you about one full day on the ground. For Jibhi and Tirthan, get off at Aut, then about an hour by road. For Kasol, the bus goes to Bhuntar and then on to Kasol. Manali is the longest ride.

A workable shape is leaving Friday night, arriving on Saturday morning, spending Saturday and Sunday there, and taking the Sunday night bus back to reach Delhi on Monday morning. That needs Monday morning off, or a plan that adds a Friday. Longer outings such as Kheerganga or Solang Valley do not fit comfortably into a short weekend.

For 2 nights and no leave: Jaipur, Rishikesh or Mussoorie. For a longer drive with a Friday off: Nainital. For the Himachal valleys, plan 3 nights and treat the bus as part of the trip. Hill road conditions change with snow and monsoon, so check closures a few days before you travel.

Tell us your dates, group size and whether you want a cab, a Tempo Traveller or a bus, and we will plan the stay and the transport together.