Luxurious Tailormade Himalayan Holidays
Comprising 14 of the world’s highest mountain peaks, the Himalayas are often described as “where earth meets sky”. For Tibetans, Indians, Nepalese and many inhabitants of the Himalaya, the mountains continue to be the predominant factor in their lives. We like to share the rejuvenating effects of remote surroundings – to provide privileged access to places far removed from the noise and clutter of the modern world, where space, peace and epic landscapes provoke the imagination and nourish the soul.
The beauty of the Himalaya has lured visitors to this region since ancient times and being the world’s highest mountain chain, it constitutes the greatest attraction to climbers and trekkers throughout the world. More than anything else though, the Himalaya represents the awe-inspiring power, beauty, and grandeur of Nature.
Highlights:
- Journey on the Himalayan Queen to Shimla
- Experience the closing of the border ceremony at Wagah or the putting to bed ceremony at the world famous Golden Triangle at Amritsar
- Explore Dharamsala & McLeod Ganj which is the base for the Tibetan government in exile and the residence of The Dalai Lama the Himalayas have so much to offer.
- Walking holidays are some of the finest ways of exploring any countryside and gaining an in depth perspective of the local culture. In particular, we have some really gorgeous walking holidays in the foothills of the Himalayas in Kumaon, 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 with just a handful of villas which have glass windows from floor to ceiling so that you can see the most incredible views each day of Nanda Devi. 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
- 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
The eastern quadrant of India offers an exhilarating kaleidoscope of extraordinarily contrasting landscapes and experiences. This is the borderland where the Indian plate collides against southeast Asia, grinding under the Tibetan plate to throw up the highest, steepest mountains on Earth. It is a region dominated by Everest and Kangchanjunga. It is where one of the great rivers of Asia, the Brahmaputra which predates the rise of the Himalayas, breaks through the barrier of the mountains to create the vast, fertile alluvial floodplain of Assam.
- Travel by luxurious river boat along hte Bhramaputra in Assam, visiting vibrant traditional farming communities, and steaming through remote stretches of the river populated by rare Gangetic dolphins.
- Superb wildlife reserves like Kaziranga, Manas and Nameri support one-horned rhino, tigers, elephants, wild buffalo, a host of deer, pig and an incredible assortment of birds, reptiles, butterflies and plants.
- From the foothills of Bengal one can board the 100 year old Darjeeling Himalayan Railway – a world heritage monument – and steam up through some of the most stupendous scenery in the subcontinent,
- Horse riding from a wonderful converted tea plantation bungalow at Dibrugarh where tea was first planted.
- Head into the fascinating states of Nagaland or Mizoram with their unique cultures.
