This trip took us on an amazing odyssey across “the roof the world.” The Himalayan region of India is so extraordinary as to almost defy description. Days of travel along narrow, mountainous tracks took us into remote territory of vast breadth and scope. The contrast between the verdant sub-tropical environs of Dharamshala, and the high alpine tundra of the Changthang Plateau, where it froze at night, dispelled any preconceived notions about India.
In the shadow of snow covered mountain peaks, and barren, inhospitable landscapes, live incredibly welcoming and generous people. We were invited into homes for meals and to see how the local people live. Our visits to Buddhist monasteries built centuries ago in the most impossible places, gave us respect and appreciation for this gentle and peaceful way of being, which imbues the area culture.
You’ll see landscapes that look like fantastical imaginings, of jagged peaks and rock layers contorted by immense geological processes. Cascades of melt water from this region’s glaciers give rise to South Asia’s great rivers. From steep hillsides people carve terraces into the hillsides to grow crops and plant apple orchards. Our skilled drivers took us over seemingly impassable roads, deftly finding their way around every obstacle including rock falls, and washouts!
The trip ended in teeming Delhi with visits to the Taj Mahal by rail and the ornately decorated Akshardam Temple.
Our masterful guide Sarju smoothed every wrinkle: making our journey a magic carpet ride of never-to-be forgotten experiences. Turn the pages and enjoy the trip!
– Words by Robert McCubbin
We covered an amazing amount of ground in our “Journey to Himalayas” across the “roof of the world.” An extraordinary trip with extraordinary guide! The trip was for me, an enriching odyssey of spiritual, landscape and cultural elements, which I will always remember. The territory we journeyed across was remote, distant, at high altitude, rugged, and for few days very cold! There were physical and emotional challenges for us, which you navigated with skill and professionalism. As a guide you showed that you were fully informed about the people and places on the tour. I enjoyed the authentic experience with local people. This “journey” was not only about going places and seeing things, but about learning new things about a fascinating part of the world – and oneself in the process.
Sarju, I am still processing the experience of this trip, and foregoing seems inadequate to fully cover it all. For now, however, many thanks for an amazing journey “there and back again!” Cheers, Bob
Sarju, what can I say except thank you for giving me a trip of a lifetime! This will definitely be a trip that I will never forget. It has been filled with so many “wow” moments and has enriched my life in so many ways. Thank you for providing us so many opportunities to take in the culture and “experience” the moment with families, traditions, landscapes and just everything. There wasn’t a day that went by in all 30 days that I wasn’t thrilled to be here and experience some of what India has to offer. I know it is just a small sampling but it has been amazing.
Thank You for your guidance, your organization, the wonderful itinerary but especially for your kindness, compassion and generosity. I look forward to continuing our friendship in the future. Sincerely & with Love
I want to express my gratitude to you for putting together the most life changing trip of my life. India challenged me on physical, mental and spiritual level that stripped away old attachments and pre-conceptions, replacing them with clear light of awareness.
Though I did not get everything that I thought I wanted, I received way more wisdom, compassion and joy by opening myself to the offerings of present moment with Cathy, Bob, Chuck & yourself. Sarju Thanks. Namaste with Love!
I was fortunate to join the end of a 28-day tour and loved Sarju’s attentiveness to his clients needs and wishes. He is a resourceful and socially conscious guide, but also tons of fun to be with! Exploring the Taj Mahal was a wonderful experience thanks to Sarju and his lovely group of four tourists who really had obviously built a strong bond with him. I’m looking forward to the next opportunity to travel with Journey to the Himalayas!
May the wind be always at your back.
Bob’s word. Ditto for me!
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Overview -
Itinerary
Trip Overview
This trip begins with two days of teachings by HH Dalai Lama at Dharamshala. After the teachings, you will visit the lush green valleys of Kullu & Kinnaur, followed by the arid regions of Spiti & Ladakh in the Indian Himalayas.
First stop after Dharamshala will be Tirthan Valley in Kullu District, which is home to Great Himalayan National Park. Here you will settle-in, acclimatize and familiarize yourself with the Himalayan culture. Your journey will continue to Kinnaur, which is inhabited by people of Buddhist as well as Hindu descent, this region has a rich and unique culture.
Crossing over high mountain passes, you will reach the arid region of Spiti, which was briefly a part of the ancient kingdom of Guge in Western Tibet. Some very old Tibetan Buddhist monasteries, said to be favourites of Dalai Lama, are located here. The oldest being the one in Tabo which was established in 996 CE. The road along the itinerary traverses some of the highest mountain passes in the world and offers spectacular views.
On a road from from Spiti to Ladakh, you will pass through Kunzum La (4590 m), Baralacha La (4890 m) and Taglang La (5328 m). In Ladakh, you will get a chance to attend the Ladakh Festival (Sept 20 to 26, 2019).
ADD-ON: You will attend Ladakh Festival and also visit Tso Moriri lake (surface elevation: 4522 m). Tso Moriri Wetlands is an excellent place to witness Kiangs (Tibetan wild ass) and several migratory birds including black necked Cranes.
ROAD CONDITIONS in the HIMALAYAS
Please be advised that traveling by roads in the areas that we will be going to in the Himalayas is not for the faint of the heart. You can consider them to be combination of logging roads and extreme mountain roads in western Canada and USA. We go great lengths to make sure that the best drivers are hired for this fabulous journey. It is an adventure. The tentative itinerary cannot always be guaranteed as these roads can be temporarily closed due to landslides.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS TRIP
- Opportunity to attend two days of teachings in Dharamshala by His Holiness Dalai Lama.
- Experience extremely rich and unique culture of different regions in the Himalayas, which is influenced by Hinduism as well as Buddhism.
- Visit Buddhist Monasteries, many of which are 400 to 1000 year old.
- Hike to Chandra Tal, the “lake of the moon”.
- Travel on some of the highest roads in the world.
- Chance to attend the Ladakh Festival (Sep 20-26).
Features
- Small Group (10- 15 people) – ensures a container of safety and personalized care for your journey
- Experienced local guides – fluent in English and Hindi
- Exciting and Safe travel – taking the “hassle” out of being in India so you can relax and soak up the experience
- High Quality Amenities – top class accommodation, outstanding food, every effort made to accommodate dietary and personal needs
- The Ultimate Himalayan Adventure & Cultural Experience – Connections with local people open doors to remarkable experiences and encounters
ROUTE MAP
Delhi – Dharamshala – Tirthan Valley – Kinnnaur – Spiti – Ladakh – Delhi (22 Days)
The monsoon would have just ended in India, so it will be an excellent time to travel in the Himalayas.
PLEASE NOTE that this is a tentative itinerary. We do try to follow the original plan as close as possible. But the exact dates might differ depending on the road condition and other factors that can’t be controlled or predicted. The Pick-up and Drop-off date will not change. Please read TOS for details.
ROUTE MAP
DAY 1: NEW DELHI
Late Evening/Night Pick Up at International Airport New Delhi.
Check-in to a hotel.
Please make sure that you reach Delhi by the morning of Day 2. By 5 AM on Sep 02, 2019.
Day 2-4 DHARMSHALA
Day 2: Dharamshala, 1400 m.
Morning flight from New Delhi to Dharamshala (1 h 30m). Check-in to a hotel. Visit the temple and monastery of HH Dalai Lama in the evening.
Day 3: Dharamshala, 1400 m.
Teaching by HH Dalai Lama in Dharamsala, HP, India. September 3 & 4, 2019
We will attend the first two of the four days of teachings by His Holiness on Buddhapalita’s Commentary on the Fundamental Wisdom of the Middle Way (drel-pa Buddhapalita) in the mornings.
Day 4: Dharamshala, 1400 m.
Teachings by HH Dalai Lama.
Local Sightseeing.
Day 5-7 TIRTHAN VALLEY & SHOJA
Day 5: Tirthan, 1600 m.
Drive from Dharamshala to Tirthan (200 km, 7 h). Homestay at Tirthan Valley. Here you will settle in and get familiar with the Himalayan culture of this region.
Day 6: Tirthan: Excursion to Great Himalayan National Park.
Walk to a village and waterfall in Tirthan Valley. Tirthan Valley is located next to Great Himalayan National Park, which is a UNESCO world heritage site.
Day 7: Shoja, 2692m.
Drive from Tirthan to Shoja (1-2 h). Local walks. Walk to a temple in the nearby village. Cultural activity & Bonfire in the evening.
Day 8-11: KINNAUR
Sangla, Chitkul, Kalpa
Day 8: Sangla, 2313 m.
Shoja to Sangla: 200 km, 7-9 hrs.
Situated on the banks of river Baspa, Sangla offers spectacular views. Sangla is considered by many as the most scenic valley in the Kinnaur District. The region is famous for its apples, cherry trees, walnuts and trout fishing.
Day 9: Sangla
Visit the border town of Chitkul, 3460 m.
Located 22 km from Sangla, due to its proximity to India-Tibet/China border, this village is often referred to as the “Last village of India”.
Day 10: Kalpa, 2960 m.
Sangla to Kalpa: 40 km, 2h.
On the cusp of predominantly Hindu and Buddhist regions of Himalayas, Kalpa has a very rich culture. Kinnauris (Inhabitants of Kinnaur) believe in Hinduism as well as Buddhism. It is interesting to see the Gods and Goddesses from both of these faiths in several temples of Kalpa. This area is also famous for its apple orchards.
Fun Fact: Kalpa in Sanskrit means aeon.
Day 11: Kalpa
Walks in Kalpa and Recong Peo.
Recong Peo is the district headquarter of Kinnaur.
We will also get our inner-line permit to continue our journey towards Spiti from here.
Day 12-18: Spiti
TABO, DHANKAR, KAZA, KI
Day 12: Tabo, 3280 m.
Drive from Kalpa to Tabo: 149 km, 5-6 hrs.
Timer permitting, visit Nako village and lake en route.
Tabo was founded in 996 CE, and has the oldest monastery in Spiti.
Day 13: Kaza, 3650 m.
Tabo to Kaza: 48 km, 2-4 hr.
Visit Tabo Monastery in the morning and drive to Kaza in the second half of the day.
Day 14: Excursion to Dhankar Monastery (3894 m)
Visit Dhankar Gompa (monastery). Very good 2-3 hour hike to Dhankar Lake which gives a bird’s eye view to this settlement. Overnight Stay in Kaza
Day 15: Excursion to Ki Gompa and Kibber (4270 m)
Situated on the hilltop, Ki Gompa (Monastery), is set in very picturesque settings. For the adventurous ones, there will be an option of a 2-3 hour hike.
Day 16: Langza, 4400 m.
Kaza to Langza: 15 km, 1 h.
Very Scenic village with excellent Homestays.
Visit Tangyud Monastery at Komic (alt 4520 m), and World’s highest Post office at Hikim. You can post letters and post cards over here.
Day 17: Kaza, 3650 m.
Langza to Kaza: 15 km, 1 h.
Buffer/Rest Day.
Day 18: Chandra Tal, 4300 m.
Kaza to Chandra Tal camp: 100 km, 4-5h. En route, we will cross Kunzum Pass (4500 m). Hike to Chandra Tal (Lake): 7 km, 2-3 hours.
Chandra Tal means Lake of the moon.
Overnight stay at Chandra Tal camp.
Day 19-21: Ladakh
Day 19: Sarchu, 4290 m
Chandra Tal camp to Sarchu: 219 km, 7-8 h.
Day 20: Leh, 3500 m
Drive from Sarchu to Leh. 250 km, 8-9 h.
Baralacha La (4890 m), Lachulung La (5059 m) and Taglang La (5328 m)
Day 21: Leh
Local Sight Seeing.
Day 22: Delhi
Day 22*: Delhi
Leh to Delhi flight: 1h 30m
People with add-on will continue their explorations in Ladakh Valley.
*For the people leaving for Delhi, dinner for this day is not included in the cost of tour package. Trip package will cover your stay till the morning of the following day.
ADD-ON: Ladakh Festival, Tso Moriri & Taj Mahal
After the main trip, 7 days.
Day 1-4: Ladakh Festival & Tso Moriri
Attend Ladakh Festival.
Visit Tso Moriri.
Located in Changthang plateau at surface elevation of 4522 m, this lake has the maximum length and width of 19 and 3 km respectively. Wetlands around this lake are the hotspots for the sightings of Kiangs (Tibetan Wild Ass) and several migratory birds including the black necked Cranes.
Day 5: Leh to Delhi
Leh to Delhi flight**: 1h 30m
Time permitting, there will be some local sight seeing in the evening at Delhi.
Day 6: Taj Mahal
Delhi to Taj Mahal by train: 192 km, 1h 40m each way
Day trip to Taj Mahal
Day 7: Delhi
Local sightseeing in Delhi and an opportunity to shop at State emporiums.
*Dinner for this day is not included in the cost of tour package.
(Trip package will cover your stay till the morning of the following day)
Au Revoir!!