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(with Special Guest: Janie Pelletier)
Clients on this trip attended a two day local festival at Karsha; hiked to Phuktal (Monastery in a cave); participated in a 60-75 minute Yoga class every day.
Duration: 5 days | Distance: 72.34 km | Total Ascent: 2878 m | Total Descent: 3706 m | Minimum Elevation: 3494 m | Maximum Elevation: 4701 m | Calories burnt over 5 days: 13,060
I know I am a privileged white woman who was invited to embark on a transformative journey through the Himalayas. By privileged, I mean that I can stand humble and proud to have said “yes” to Sarju, despite my fears about India. I realize now that my fears were based on my ignorance of a foreign country which was painted to me (via media and other people’s own apprehensions) as dangerous, misogynistic, poor and where I would get sick.
As a traveler, I have come to learn that when you are privileged enough to own a passport, have health care, have opportunities to travel to foreign countries – the first thing you do is be respectful to the local culture. I was prepared to go to India under Sarju’s kind and professional guidance. I educated myself about the local customs and made sure to dress up with respect. I observed, joined my palms and bowed, loved the food, never got sick, always felt safe, made friends and was cared for from start to finish.
Little I knew about the depth of transformation that I would experience in India. I was and still am a Yoga guide (teacher) and “Nature” is where I belong (like all of us). We “lived” Yoga along this entire journey. Our morning classes were the lessons from our past (previous day), the acknowledgment of how we felt in the present (tired, sore, grateful, emotional, excited) and the foundation of our future (walks). This morning ritual was living and transforming within us throughout our day, reminding us to slow down and connect to our breath.
I discovered the true meaning of yoga through connecting with myself, nature and others … in silence.
Ready to do it again!
Quelle belle découverte que le Ladakh, je ressens encore beaucoup de gratitude devant tant de beauté et d’énergie, de part les visites des monastères et des marches dans l’Himalaya. Commencer ma journée par une séance de yoga tôt le matin entouré des montagnes quoi de mieux… un réveil du corps et de l’esprit avant de débuter ma journée de marche. J’aime la façon dont Janie nous transmet son savoir. Lors des randonnées mon souffle était beaucoup plus régulier et je crois que le yoga a contribué à une meilleure adaptation à la haute altitude. Comme j’allais lentement au gré de mon souffle, j’ai vraiment fait corps avec les montagnes. Je n’ai eu ni courbature ni malaise. En un mot j’ai adoré mes marches! J’ai aussi réalisé que je ne marchais plus au rythme de mes 35 ans, mais à celui de mes 70 ans, je constate qu’en allant à mon rythme, je peux me rendre très loin et c’est extraordinaire. Je réalise que ce voyage m’a appris la reconnaissance de moi même, j’étais bien accompagnée. J’ai apprécié les guides et la délicatesse des ladakhiens. Je me souviendrai toujours d’avoir bu de l’eau pur descendant des montagnes, que de beaux et bons moments! Et de côtoyer les jeunes de notre gang, quel rafraîchissement.
J’ai vraiment apprécié ce voyage même si je ne suis pas un ‘’fan’’ du yoga. J’ai beaucoup aimé les débuts de journée qui m’ont permis de dégourdir mon corps et de respirer en profondeur. La visite des monastères et les méditations guidées m’ont fait découvrir des endroits merveilleux. La qualité de la nourriture fut au-delà de mes attentes. Les organisateurs et le personnel ont pris soin de nous de manière professionnelle et amicale. Alors un gros ‘Merci’ à toute l’équipe et à mes compagnons de voyage qui ont fait en sorte que cette aventure fut l’une des meilleure!
Pour moi, ce voyage était la réalisation d’un rêve. Combiner mes deux passions, soit le yoga et la randonnée, tout en découvrant la culture du Zanskar et le bouddhisme, c’était tout simplement magique. La bonté des gens rencontrés, leur sourire, leur générosité m’ont émue et nous ramène à l’essentiel… ouvrir son coeur! Tellement inspirant! Profitons en ce sens de chaque journée! Merci pour ces moments précieux, ces beaux partages, et merci aux organisateurs pour cette magnifique expérience.
Un voyage Inspirant et dépaysant, vous vivrez une aventure exceptionnelle dont la structure bien organisée vous invitera découvrir le nord de l’Inde et ces montagnes inoubliables.
Témoignage Yoga (merci infiniment pour tes mots qui me vont au coeur)
Janie possède sa propre technique d’enseignement du yoga et sa volonté d’Être dans son entièreté , elle nous amène à faire un vrai voyage au fond de soi et ainsi de se découvrir. Elle est très sensible aux vibrations de chacun et instinctivement son langage s’adapte au besoin du moment présent.
Témoignage Randonnée
Spectaculaire!!! J’ai adoré tous les éléments du trek en montagne et l’accompagnement des guides attentionnés. Bravo pour l’adaptabilité au rythme de chaque marcheur. Merci de m’avoir permis de marcher seule lorsque j’avais besoin de solitude. Merci à Sarju pour sa grande générosité et le partage de ses connaissances bouddhiste.
Un grand merci à Janie et Sarju pour ce très beau voyage. En espérant que vous pourrez le faire vivre à d’autres marcheurs. Cette aventure fut spectaculaire en beauté et en émotions fortes. Chaque jour, depuis mon retour, elle continue de vivre et de faire son chemin en moi.
l’Inde poursuit son chemin au fond de mon cœur et me fait toujours grandir. Cette aventure aura été, un voyage profond, une rencontre avec moi-même, au cœur de paysages fabuleux. Recevez toute avec ma gratitude envers votre bienveillance et votre respect pour chacun d’entre-nous, merci pour ce merveilleux voyage Janie et Sarju.
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Overview -
Special Guest -
Dates & Cost -
Itinerary
Trip Highlights
- You will fly from Delhi to Leh, which is the capital of Ladakh. Here you will acclimatize and immerse yourself in the rich ancient culture of Ladakh.
- Hike from Lamayru to Padum and Phugtal (10 days, weather/conditions permitting)
Sengge la – Lingshet – Padum – Phugtal – Padum
5 Full days of hiking, 4 Half days of hiking + 1 Rest day - You will attend a two day cultural festival at Karsha Monastery (July 30 & 31, 2019).
- Visit several Tibetan Buddhist Monasteries, many of which are 400 to 900 years old.
- … and above all, Yoga with Janie Pelletier.
Features
- Small Group (max 15 people).
- For the hike, there will be porters to carry your luggage and camping gear, so you just have to walk with your day pack (camera, snack and water). We will take care of the rest. All you will need to do is walk with a light backpack and enjoy the views.
- Cooked Meals. We will prepare the meals for everyone.
- Experienced Local Guides.
- Safe Exciting Travel.
- High Quality Amenities.
- Meet local residents in villages and monasteries.
- The Ultimate Himalayan Adventure & Cultural Experience.
LADAKH & ZANSKAR: AN OVERVIEW
This trip will take you to the regions of Ladakh and Zanskar in the north of Indian Himalayas. Situated next to Tibet/China, this area was briefly a part of the kingdom of Guge in Western Tibet. These regions are inhabited by people of Indo-Aryan and Tibetan descent. It is one of the most sparsely populated regions of India and its culture and history are closely related to that of Tibet.
Sitting at an altitude of over 3500 meters, in the rain shadow region of the Himalayas, this area is surrounded by very high mountain passes on all sides. Ladakh and Zanskar have an average annual precipitation of 50-125 mm and 330 sunny days in a year. Ladakh (“land of high passes”) is a region that currently extends from the Kunlun mountain range to the main Great Himalayas to the south.
There are vast numbers of Buddhist monasteries and an extremely rich culture and heritage. His Holiness Dalai Lama often mentions this region as his favourite place on the planet.
Phugtal Gompa, 3930 m
Buddhist Monastery and temple located in Zanskar region of the Himalayas. Constructed around a natural cave up the mountain, it can only be reached on foot.
This region is believed to have been visited by numerous sages, scholars and monks around 2500 years ago. The present Phugtal Gompa, of Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism, was established in the early 15th century by Jangsem Sherap Zangpo, a disciple of Je Tsongkhapa, who was the founder of Gelug, which is one of the newest schools of Tibetan Buddhism.
ADD ON
Tso Moriri, Ladakh. 4595 m
Located in the Changthang area of the Ladakh region, Tso Moriri is the largest lake in the Trans-Himalayas located within India. There are few settlements along the lake, with Kurzok being the most prominent one. Tso Moriri is a brackish water lake with maximum length of about 19 kilometres and a maximum width of about 3 kilometres. It’s surface area is approx 120 km2
Diskit, Nubra Valley, Ladakh. 3144 m
Nubra valley, due to its lower altitude has a milder climate and is often referred as “the Orchard of Ladakh”. Nubra is known for Bactrian camels and 32 meter tall statue of Maitreya Buddha on the hill below the Diskit monastery, which is the oldest in the Nubra Valley and was founded in the 14th century.
ROUTE MAP
Janie Pelletier (Yoga instructor)
Janie discovered yoga more than fifteen years ago during her time in acting school. In 2012, she followed her intuition and decided to complete the Moksha-Modo 500 hours teacher training, becoming a yoga teacher.
In 2014, she took on the challenge of becoming the manager of Le Studio de Yoga Wanderlust in Montréal. She completed the 75 hours Kula Yoga Project advanced teacher training (style from New York City) which is a vinyasa that marries music and yoga. In the same year, she also guided her first yoga retreat in Panama, a singular experience which confirmed her taste for travel and adventure!
As an outdoor advocate, among all her sports; hiking, biking, swimming, snowboarding, etc, yoga continues to be her holistic medicine. It is in Yoga that she returns to centre herself and heal her sore muscles!
For Janie, Yoga is where we meet the other and ourselves in all our uniqueness. It is a passion and a way of living she shares daily with everyone she meets.
The beauty of yoga is that as each student becomes a teacher, each teacher shall always remain an eternal student.
Janie looks forward to seeing you in the mountains, on the streets, at the health food store or on the mat!
Janie Pelletier
Yoga instructor
janiepyoga@gmail.com
DATES
July 15 to Aug 06, 2019 (22 Days)
ADD-ON: Tso Moriri and Nubra Valley
Aug 06-13, 2019 (7 Days)
Pick Up and Drop Off: New Delhi International Airport (DEL)
Price of your tour package covers your stay from the evening of Jul 15, 2019 to morning of Aug 06 or Aug 13 for people with add-on.
COST
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Main Package: July 15 to Aug 06, 2019 (22 Days)
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Booking Amount
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Full Amount
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|---|---|---|
| Double Occupancy |
$ 1826 USD
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$ 5480 USD
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| Single Occupancy |
$ 2265 USD
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$ 6795 USD
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ADD ON Tso Moriri & Nubra Valley: Aug 06-13, 2019 (7 Days)
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Booking Amount
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Full Amount
|
|---|---|---|
| Double Occupancy |
$ 512 USD
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$ 1534 USD
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| Single Occupancy |
$ 716 USD
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$ 2148 USD
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DOUBLE OCCUPANCY: Two people sharing the same room. Separate beds upon request.
SINGLE OCCUPANCY: Each person has an individual room
BOOKING & PAYMENT
To register/book (confirm your spot) on this trip, you are requested to deposit the booking amount (non-refundable) or the full amount, into the bank account of “Journey to Himalayas”. The booking amount, is 1/3rd the price of your total trip package. You will be required to deposit the full amount, max of 90 days before the trip starts (Apr 17, 2019).
PLEASE NOTE: The booking amount will be a non-refundable. Please read TOS for details.
Total Price is inclusive of:
- Accommodation while in India
- Cost of all meals, except where otherwise specified (Alcohol Exclusive)
Dinner for the day 21 and 22 is not included in the package. All other meals are included - All Transportation costs within India (Air Travel & Car/Jeep Travel)
- Entrance Fee for Museums and Monuments
- Permits and other fees incurred while traveling in India
- Cost of special events like Cooking Evening or a Culture Show
Total Price is exclusive of:
- International flight to/from India
- Visa Fees
- Room Charges at hotels for snacks and drinks
- Tips and other Gratuities to the local staff in India
Delhi – Leh – Thiksey – Lamayuru – Lingshed – Padum – Phugtal – Delhi (22 Days)
ADD ON: Tso Moriri & Nubra Valley (+7 days)
PLEASE NOTE: This is a tentative itinerary. We do try to follow the original plan as close as possible. The exact dates might differ depending on the weather and road condition and other factors that can’t be controlled or predicted. The Pick-up and Drop-off date will not change. Please read the TOS for more details.
This trip will include:
- Karsha Festival (July 30 & 31, 2019).
- Phugtal
- Hike from Lamayru to Padum and Phugtal (10 days, weather/conditions permitting)
Sengge la – Lingshet – Padum – Phugtal – Padum
5 Full days of hiking, 4 Half days of hiking & 1 Rest day - Visit several Tibetan Buddhist Monasteries, many of which are 400 to 900 years old.
- … and above all, Yoga with Janie Pelletier
ROUTE MAP
ITINERARY (day-by-day)
DAY 1: New Delhi
Late Evening/Night Pick Up at International Airport New Delhi.
Please make sure that you reach Delhi by the night of Day 1.
Check-in to a hotel.
DAY 2-4: Acclimatization around Leh
Day 2: Leh, 3520 m.
Delhi to Leh: Flight, 1h 30m.
Morning flight over the Himalayas from Delhi to Leh.
Leh is the capital of the Ladakh region in the Himalayas, which is situated in the west of Tibet.
Settle in, rest and acclimatise. Evening stroll to Leh City/Market.
DAY 3: Leh
Acclimatization and excursions around Leh Town.
DAY 4: Leh
Local sight seeing.
Spituk, Thiksey, Stok Palace.
Day 5-6: Short Hikes for acclimatization
Day 5:Lamayuru, 3510 m.
Drive from Leh to Lamayuru: 75 km, 4-5 h.
Lunch and day excursion at Alchi Monastery
DAY 6: Day Hike (3-4 hours)
Moderate Intensity Hike.
Day 7-16: The Hike*
(Sengge La –Stayangs – Lingshed – Hanumil – Padum – Phugtal – Padum)
5 Full days of hiking, 4 Half days of hiking + 1 Rest Day.
Day 7:Stayangs, 4450 m
Sengge La to Stayangs. Drive: 2-3 hours. Hike: 3-5 h.
Day 8:Lingshet, 3900 m
Stayang to Lingshed: 6-8 h.
Day 9:Snertes, 3360 m.
Lingshet to Snertse: 8-9 h
Day 10:Hanumil, 3380 m.
Snertse to Hanumil: 6 – 7h.
Day 11:Pishu, 3420 m.
Hanumil to Pishu: 5-6 h.
Day 12:Karsha, 3660 m.
Pishu to Karsha: 5-6 h.
Day 13:Emmu
Karsha to Emmu: (via Padum)
Karsha to Emmu: (via Padum) Hike: 2-3 h. Road Travel by Car(s): 4-5 h.
Day 14:Phugtal, 3930 m.
Emmu to Phugtal Gompa (via Cha): 2-3 h.
Phugtal Gompa is one of the highlight of our trip.
Day 15:Padum, 3570 m.
Hike from Padum to Emmu: 2-3 h. Emmu to Padum by car: 4 h.
KARSHA FESTIVAL
Day 16:Karsha
Day of rest and local explorations. We will attend ceremonies and culture show at Karsha Tsechu (Festival).
DAY 17-19: Padum to Leh by Road
Day 17:Rangdum, 3657 m.
Padum to Rangdum: 7-8h drive.
Day 18:Lamayuru, 3510 m.
Rangdum to Lamayuru: 7-8h drive.
Day 19:Leh, 3520 m.
Lamayuru to Leh: 4h drive.
DAY 20-22: Leh and Delhi
Day 20:Leh
Rest day. Local Explorations.
Social Evening.
Day 21:New Delhi *
Morning or early afternoon flight from Leh to Delhi.
*Dinner for this day is not included in the cost of tour package.
Day 22:New Delhi *
Delhi Explorations. Opportunity to shop at State Emporiums.
The price of your tour package covers your stay till the morning of Day 23 (Aug 06,2019).
*Dinner for this day is not included in the cost of tour package.
ADD ON: Tso Moriri & Nubra Valley
Aug 06-13, 2019 (7 Days)
Day 22-24: Tso Moriri
Day 22:Karzok, 4522 m
For the people staying for another week, on day 22, you will go on a road trip to Tso Moriri.
Karzok at 4522 m is the biggest settlement along this lake.
DAY 23:Karzok, 4522 m
Local Explorations.
DAY 24:Leh
Road trip back to Leh
Day 25-27: Nubra Valley
Day 25:Diskit, 3144 m
Road trip from Leh to Diskit. Enroute you will cross over Khardung La, which is at an altitude of 5359 m.
DAY 26:Diskit
Local Explorations.
DAY 27:Leh
Road trip back to Leh
Day 28-29: Leh and Delhi
Day 28:Leh
Rest day. Local Explorations.
Social Evening.
DAY 29:New Delhi *
Morning or early afternoon flight from Leh to Delhi.
Delhi Explorations (Time permitting)
The price of your tour package covers your stay till the morning of Day 30 (Aug 13, 2019).
*Dinner for this day is not included in the cost of tour package.
Au Revoir!!