Journey to Himalayas

Tour Overview

This tour takes us on an epic journey to the arid regions of Spiti & Ladakh in the Indian Himalayas. Situated next to Tibet in the rain shadow areas at an altitude of higher than 3500 m, this area is often referred to as the “Roof of the World.”

On this tour, there will be an eight day hike along the ancient trade routes between Ladakh and Tibet. This hike, from Kibber in Spiti to Tso Moriri in the Changthang plateau of Ladakh will involve crossing over the high mountain pass of Parang La (5,760 m or 18,800 ft).

Tour Highlights

• You will fly from Delhi to Shimla – which used to be the Summer Capital of British Raj.
• Hike from Dumla in Spiti to Karzok (Tso Moriri) in Changthang region of Ladakh – 8 day hike, weather/conditions permitting
  Parang La (Pass) at an altitude of 5760 m (or 18,800 ft) is the highest point on this trip/hike.
• Visit Tibetan Buddhist Monasteries, many of which are 400 to 900 years old.
• Towards the end of the trip, you will again fly from Leh back to Delhi.
• … and above all, to stay fit, there will be Yoga every day .

Features

• Small Group (max 12 Clients) – ensures a container of safety and personalized care for your journey.
• For the hike, there will be ponies to carry your luggage. – all you will need to do is walk with a light backpack and enjoy the views. We will take care of the rest.
• Comfortable Camping – top of the line inflatable mattress with memory foam, among many other comforts that awaits you on this adventure.
• Meals by professional local chefs. – all the meals in the hotels as well as on the hike will be at least three course. Every effort will be made to accommodate dietary and personal needs.
• High Quality Amenities – top class accommodation, vehicles for traveling.
• 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.
• The Ultimate Himalayan Adventure & Cultural Experience – connections with local people open doors to remarkable experiences and encounters

Detailed Overview

First stop on this tour is Shimla which is the current capital of the state of Himachal Pradesh, and used to be Summer Capital of erstwhile British Raj in India. Your journey by road will continue to Kinnaur, which is inhabited by people of Buddhist as well as Hindu descent.

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.

From Kibber in Spiti, you will venture on an eight day hike to Karzok in Changthang region of Ladakh. This hike is along the ancient trade routes between Spiti, Ladakh and Tibet. Karzok is located on the banks of Tso Moriri (Lake). Tso Moriri Wetlands is an excellent place to spot Kiangs (Tibetan wild ass) and several migratory birds including black necked Cranes. At surface elevation of 4522 m, Tso Moriri has the maximum length and width of 19 and 3 km respectively.

Your final stop in the Himalayas will be Leh in Ladakh. You will reach here by road from Tso Moriri. After some explorations in Leh, you will take the flight from Leh to Delhi.

HIGH ALTITUDE & ACCLIMATIZATION

Please be advised that this tour will take you to places that will be located at an extremely high altitude. We highly recommend that you talk with your travel doctor before venturing on this trip.

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.

ROUTE MAP

Delhi – Shimla – Kinnaur – Spiti – Tso Moriri (Changthang) – Ladakh – Delhi (20 Days)

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 3 AM.

Day 2-4: SHIMLA & KINNAUR

Day 2: Shimla, 2275 m.
Morning flight from New Delhi to Shimla (1 h 30m). Shimla is the capital of the Himalayan state of Himachal Pradesh, and it used to be former summer capital of British Raj in India. Welcome to the Himalayas.

Day 3: Sangla, 2313 m. (or Kalpa, 2960 m.)
Shimla to Sangla: 225 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 4: 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 5-8: SPITI
KAZA, KI, LANGZA, HIKKIM

Day 5: Kaza, 3650 m.
Kalpa to Kaza: 200 km, 6-8 hr.
Time permitting, visit Nako village and lake en route.

Day 6: Kaza – Excursion to Ki Gompa (4166 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 7: 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 Hikkim (4440 m). You can post letters and post cards over here.

Day 8: Langza
Rest Day, with options for Local Walks. Preparations for the Hike.

Day 9-16: HIKE
Eight Day Hike from DUMLA (SPITI) to KARZOK (TSO MORIRI)

Day 9: Kibber (4270 m) to Dumla (4300 m), 2-4 h
Easy hike from Kibber to Dumla. At Dumla, we relax and acclimatize near a meadow. This will be our first day of camping.

Day 10: Dumla to Thalthak (4600 m), 5-6 h
The trail from Dumla ascends for 4-5 hours before descending to a small stream at Thalthak. This is a good place to spot Blue Sheeps

Day 11: Thalthak to Bongrojen (5300 m), 6-8 h
Hike on this day begins with descent to a stream. After crossing the river on the footbridge, the trail continues along the stream for 2 km until Jagtha. From here, there is a steep ascent to Bongrojen, which is the base for the ascent to Parang La. This will be one of the two toughest days of the hike, and the highest campsite of the entire trip.

Day 12: Bongrojen to Karsha Gongma (4300 m) via Parang La (5680 m), 7-8 h
Early start to a long day of hiking on which we cross the Parang La (Pass). At the pass we will tie Buddhist prayer flags and perform a short Buddhist ceremony. The trail after the Pass continues on glacier for 3-4 km after which it follows the Parang Chu river to the campsite at Dak Karzong. At 5680 m (18,800 ft), Parang La is the highest elevation that you will reach on this hike.

Day 13: Karsha Gongma to Datang Yongma (4550 m), 6 h
This day will involve 2-3 river/stream crossings. Most of hike on this day will involve walking over the plateau, so pretty easy day.

Day 14: Datang Yongma to Norbu Sumdo (4520 m), 6 h
Another day of trek where you will walk in the wide valley of Parang chu. Walking on dry river beds and crossing several glacial streams in this region is one thing you will remember avidly from this trek. The trek continues till you reach Norbu Sumdo, Sumdo meaning junction of 3 trails – one from Spiti, one from Chumur, one from Ladakh.

Day 15: Norbu Sumdo to Kiangdom (4525 m), 7 h
Early in the day, we will cross the the Parang Chu river for last time. The trail will leave the river and continue towards Changthang region of Ladakh. The trail is flat from here all the way till Tso Moriri. This will be an excellent day to spot some Kiangs (Tibetan Wild Ass), Marmots and sometimes also a Wolf. The lush green campsite at Tso Moriri, contrasting with the barren plateau will appear deceptively close – but it will take quite a while to reach the camp.

Day 16: Kiangdom to Karzok, Tso Moriri (4595 m), 6 h
This day will involve walking/hiking along the Tso Moriri (Lake) for 24 km before finally reaching the hotel at Karzok. The trail though is no ordinary, as you walk along the shores of the Tso Moriri throughout the day, you see the lake changing its colors as move from one step to another. After leaving Kibber in Spiti, this will be the first village that you will encounter. Today, you will sleep on the bed. Welcome back to civilization. Tso Moriri (lake) is located in Changthang plateau at surface elevation of 4522 m, and has the maximum length and width of 19 and 3 km respectively.

Day 17-18: LEH
Saboo, Thiksey

Day 17: Leh, 3500 m.
Karzok to Leh. 225 km, 6-7 h.

Day 18: Leh
Local Sight Seeing. Visit the monasteries at Thiksey and Saboo.

Day 19-20: DELHI

Day 19: Leh to Delhi
Leh to Delhi flight (1h 30m)
*Dinner for this day is not included in the cost of tour package

Day 20: Delhi
The tour package covers your stay till the morning of Day 20

Au Revoir!!

DATES

Main Tour: Jul/Aug (20 days)

Price of your tour package covers your stay from the evening of Day 1 to morning of Day 20
Pick Up and Drop Off: New Delhi International Airport (DEL)
Please make sure that you reach Delhi by 3 AM of Day 2

COST

DOUBLE OCCUPANCY: Two people sharing the same room. Separate beds
SINGLE OCCUPANCY: Each person has an individual room

To register/book (confirm your spot) for this tour, you are requested to make a deposit of booking amount for tour package.

PLEASE NOTE: This will be a non-refundable deposit.

Price inclusive of:

• Accommodation while in India
• Cost of all meals, except where otherwise specified (Alcohol exclusive).
• All Transportation costs within India
• Entrance to Museums and Monuments
• Permits and other fees incurred while traveling in India
• Cost of special events like Cooking Evening or a Culture Show

Price exclusive of:

• International flight to India
• Visa Fees
• Room Charges at hotels for snacks and drinks
• Tips and Gratuities to the local staff in India

BOOKING & PAYMENT

To book this tour, please deposit the booking amount (non-refundable) or the full amount, into the bank account of “Journey to Himalayas”. You will be required to deposit the full amount 90 days before the tour starts. Please read TOS for details.

BOOKING & PAYMENT

To register/book (confirm your spot) for this tour, you are required to
1. Register Online (Book Now)
2. Make a payment of the booking amount or full amount of the tour package.
After you register on the website, you will get the banking info in the email.

Payment Options:

1. 1. BANK DEPOSIT
      You can deposit directly into the “Journey to Himalayas” bank account in Canada (CIBC). You can go to the bank personally or send the money by email transfer or wire transfer. We also accept money through TransferWise. Your order will get confirmed only after we have received money in our bank account.

1. 1. PAY PAL (JTH Website)
      You can use your credit or debit card to directly make the payment.

ONLINE REGISTRATION: If you are paying by “Bank Deposit”, you will not be required to make any payment through this website. We still encourage/suggest our clients to go through the steps in the “Book Now” section to register themselves online. This helps us to keep your information updated. We will need this information to make hotel and travel bookings in India. Through your account profile, you will also be able to check the status of your payment. Thank You!

DOUBLE OCCUPANCY: Two people sharing the same room. Separate beds
SINGLE OCCUPANCY: Each person has an individual room