These are the best places in Himachal Pradesh for remote working, for American travellers planning long stays.
Best places for long stays
1. Old Manali
Old Manali is the village above the new town, with traditional houses, apple orchards and a long strip of cafés and guesthouses popular with backpackers and digital nomads. Read our Old Manali guide.
- Getting there: 12–14 hours by road (about 540 km) from Delhi; a short walk or auto-rickshaw ride across the Manalsu stream from the Mall.
- Best time: March to June and September to November
- Don’t miss: Manu Temple, Café strip, Manalsu stream
- Where to stay: boutique guesthouses, hostels (mid-range from ₹3,000 (about US$32) a night)
- Time needed: 2–3 days
2. McLeodganj
McLeodganj, the upper town of Dharamshala, is often called ‘Little Lhasa’ because it is home to the Dalai Lama, the Central Tibetan Administration and a large Tibetan community, with prayer flags, monasteries, momo shops and mountain trails on its doorstep. Read our McLeodganj guide.
- Getting there: 10–12 hours by road from Delhi; fly to Kangra (Gaggal) airport, then taxi (about 45 minutes).
- Best time: March to June and September to November
- Don’t miss: Tsuglagkhang Complex, Lingkor kora, Bhagsunag temple and waterfall
- Where to stay: Chonor House, Glenmoor Cottages (mid-range from ₹3,000 (about US$32) a night)
- Time needed: 3 days
3. Bir Billing
Bir Billing is one of the best paragliding sites in the world. Pilots take off from Billing at about 2,400 m and land in the Tibetan settlement of Bir, which also has monasteries and cafés. Read our Bir Billing guide.
- Getting there: about 11–12 hours from Delhi; taxi from Dharamshala or Palampur; buses to Baijnath, then taxi.
- Best time: October to mid-November and March to June (flying usually pauses in the monsoon)
- Don’t miss: Tandem paragliding, Chokling Monastery, Tibetan colony
- Where to stay: boutique guesthouses, camps (mid-range from ₹3,000 (about US$32) a night)
- Time needed: 2–3 days
Smart tech for the mountains
- Best noise-cancelling headphones for long flights VerdictFox
A 15–17 hour flight to Delhi is far easier with good active noise cancellation and all-day battery life. - Compact USB-C travel chargers BuyrSkip
A multi-port GaN charger rated 100–240 V cuts down on adapters for India’s 230 V sockets. - Best portable power stations VerdictFox
Camps and remote homestays in Spiti and Lahaul often have only a few hours of electricity a day.
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4. Jibhi
Jibhi is a small village in the Banjar valley with wooden homestays, a waterfall, forest walks and easy access to Jalori Pass and Serolsar Lake. Read our Jibhi guide.
- Getting there: about 11–12 hours via Aut from Delhi; bus to Aut, then local bus or taxi to Banjar and Jibhi.
- Best time: March to June and September to November; winter for snow
- Don’t miss: Jibhi waterfall, Chehni Kothi, Jalori Pass
- Where to stay: wooden homestays, treehouse stays (mid-range from ₹2,500 (about US$26) a night)
- Time needed: 2–3 days
5. Kasol
Kasol is a riverside village in the Parvati Valley, popular with backpackers for its pine forests, cafés, Israeli food and easy treks to villages such as Chalal, Tosh and Kheerganga. Read our Kasol guide.
- Getting there: about 12 hours by road from Delhi; bus from Delhi to Bhuntar, then local bus or taxi (1 hour).
- Best time: March to June and September to November
- Don’t miss: Parvati river, Chalal, Manikaran Sahib
- Where to stay: riverside guesthouses, camps and boutique stays (mid-range from ₹3,000 (about US$32) a night)
- Time needed: 2–3 days
6. Shimla
Shimla was the summer capital of British India, and its Mall Road, Christ Church and colonial buildings still give it a character unlike any other Himalayan town. Today it is the capital of Himachal Pradesh and the natural first stop for most visitors. Read our Shimla guide.
- Getting there: 7–9 hours by road (about 350 km) or train to Kalka plus the toy train from Delhi; by air: Shimla (Jubbarhatti) airport has limited regional flights; Chandigarh airport, 115 km away, is more reliable.
- Best time: March to June for pleasant weather; December to February for snow
- Don’t miss: The Ridge and Mall Road, Christ Church, Jakhoo Temple
- Where to stay: Wildflower Hall, an Oberoi Resort (Mashobra), The Oberoi Cecil (mid-range from ₹5,000 (about US$53) a night)
- Time needed: 2–3 days
Internet and power
Speeds vary; carry backups. See our connectivity guide.
Visa considerations
The e-Tourist Visa does not permit employment in India; remote work for overseas employers is a grey area, so check the rules before planning a long stay.
Costs for a month
A comfortable monthly budget is about ₹60,000–120,000 (about US$632–1,263).
Planning your trip from the USA
Air India has operated nonstop flights to Delhi from US gateways such as New York (JFK), Newark, Chicago, Washington Dulles and San Francisco, taking roughly 14–17 hours. Some of those routes have been cut or rerouted because of airspace restrictions, so check the current schedule before you plan around a nonstop. One-stop itineraries are often cheaper and just as practical: via the Gulf (Dubai, Doha or Abu Dhabi), via Europe (London, Frankfurt, Paris or Amsterdam) or via Istanbul. Door to door, expect 20–26 hours from the East Coast and 22–30 hours from the West Coast. Fares: round-trip economy fares to Delhi often range from about US$900 to US$1,600 depending on season and city, with October–December and May–June among the busiest periods. Read our guide to getting to Himachal from the USA for the full journey.
US citizens need an Indian visa, and most holidaymakers use the e-Tourist Visa, applied for online at least four days before travel; our India visa guide explains the process step by step. Most US health plans, including Medicare, offer little or no cover in India, so buy a policy with medical and evacuation cover (see our travel insurance guide). For cash, cards and UPI, see our money guide, and for staying online, our SIM and internet guide.
What it costs
Typical daily spend per person on the ground, excluding international flights:
| Travel style | Per person per day (INR) | In US dollars | Covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | ₹2,500–4,000 | US$26–42 | hostel or guesthouse, local food, buses |
| Mid-range | ₹6,000–10,000 | US$63–105 | good hotel, café meals, some taxis |
| Luxury | ₹20,000–45,000 | US$211–474 | 5-star or heritage stay, private car, fine dining |
Prices are converted at about ₹95 to US$1 and rise in peak season (May–June, Christmas and New Year). Our Himachal trip cost guide has a full breakdown.
Travelling responsibly in the Himalaya
Himachal’s mountain communities and ecosystems are fragile. Carry a refillable water bottle (plastic waste is a growing problem on popular trails), stay in locally owned guesthouses and homestays, hire local guides and drivers, and buy crafts directly from makers. Respect village and temple customs, keep noise down at night, and never leave rubbish at campsites or viewpoints. In the monsoon, follow local advice about landslide-prone roads rather than pushing on.
Health and safety basics
Drink bottled, boiled or filtered water, eat freshly cooked food and carry a small medical kit with rehydration salts and motion-sickness tablets for winding roads. Above 3,000 m, gain height gradually and descend if headaches or nausea get worse. The emergency number throughout India is 112. The US State Department rates India at Level 2 (exercise increased caution) for the country as a whole, with stricter advice for some border areas, including Jammu and Kashmir.
Smart tech for the mountains
- Best power banks for travel BuyrSkip
Power cuts and cold weather drain phones fast in the mountains; a 20,000 mAh bank under the 100 Wh airline limit is the sweet spot. - Compact USB-C travel chargers BuyrSkip
A multi-port GaN charger rated 100–240 V cuts down on adapters for India’s 230 V sockets. - Best wireless earbuds for travel VerdictFox
Light earbuds for bus rides, flights and hikes when headphones are too bulky.
Partner links: these go to our sister review sites, which may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Frequently asked questions
Is the internet good enough for remote work?
In the main towns and in many cafés and hotels, yes, with fibre and 4G/5G. In remote valleys it is patchy, so always have a backup hotspot.
Where are the co-working spaces?
Old Manali, Dharamkot near McLeodganj and Bir have co-working cafés and spaces; many hostels also have work areas.
Can I work on a tourist visa?
The tourist visa does not permit employment in India; remote work for an overseas employer is a grey area, so check the rules before planning a long stay.
How much does a month cost?
About ₹60,000–120,000 (about US$632–1,263).
What is the best time?
March–June and September–November.