Walking Holidays and Trekking in the Western Himalayas

Walking Holidays are some of the finest ways of exploring any countryside and gaining an indepth perspective of the local culture. In particular, we have some really gorgeous walking holidays in the foothills of the Himalayas, in the Kumaon region, as well as in the Buddhist states of Sikkim and Ladakh. These tend to be gentle meanders, walking for perhaps 4 to 6 hours each day, with a sherpa guide, on an individual basis. This is no route march, rather a gentle introduction to the countryside and its people. No comforts are forgotten – sleep in village houses with comfortable beds and cashmere blankets and hot water bottles, where hot water and soap are provided, delicious food and most of all, knowledgeable and charismatic guides. There is even a beautiful, luxurious retreat to end one’s stay in Kumaon. These walks can be anything from a couple of days to a week, but we invariably recommend at least a week to make the most of the area. In Spring, the rhododendrons are in flower and this is one of the most beautiful times to visit these regions. We offer you the same experience in Ladakh where one can spend a week walking with one’s own guide, visiting magnificent monasteries en route. As a three night extension, we can offer you the exhilarating Shayok River Journey along one of the traditional silk routes. Accommodation is in dome tents, with excellent guiding and cuisine. The grades of the rapids are no more than two, so a gentle paddle. Visit the Nubra valley, famous for its sand dunes more reminiscent of the Sahara Desert and its Bactrian camels. The scenery is beautiful, with snow capped peaks and dramatic rock formations. This is a wonderful, contrasting way of seeing this region. Quite aside from the walking, wildlife including snow leopards can be seen in Ladakh. There are also the near-Tibetan lands of Lahul houseboats and trout fishing in Kashmir and the wildlife treasures of sub-Himalayan parks like Corbett Tiger Reserve which can easily be combined with a walking trip in Kumaon; and one can always end a walking holiday with spa and yoga holiday which is also close to Kumaon, in Rishikesh.