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INDIAN SUBCONTINENT
INDIA
Bajinath temple near Almora/Kate Russell
Hill Stations, Himalaya & Ganges
INDIA
Likir Gompa/Kate Russell
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JFMAMJJASOND JFMA
16 DAYS HOTELS CALM SERENITY OF THE HIMALAYA
Little Tibet
16 DAYS HOTELS/GUESTHOUSES MONASTERIES & MOUNTAINS
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JFMAMJJASOND JFMA
Little Tibet Ref LT
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Indus Valley Hikes Saspol 3500m
ALCHI
Alchi Gompa White water rafting Hemis Gompa Tanglang La 5328m pass
Visit LEH Gompas by jeep
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Lachlang La 5065m pass
SARCHU
Legendary Leh Flying in from Delhi, we spend the first days acclimatising and sightseeing in and around Leh (3500m), Ladakhs remote capital. Snowbound for nine months of the year, Ladakh retains much of its traditional charm. The highlight of our stay is visiting the TibetanBuddhist gompas (monasteries) of Hemis and Tiksey. Indus Valley & Highway to Manali Leaving Leh, we head west to Alchi to enjoy spectacular views and walks in the Indus river valley including caves and gompas and perhaps some white-water rafting. Now we begin our spectacular drive across the Himalaya: giant white peaks tower above us as our road snakes its way south over the Tanglang-La Pass to reach the lush meadows of Manali famed for its temples and hot springs. We also explore Nagar castle and the temple town of Mandi. Dharamsala & Amritsar Holy Cities Dharamsala is home to many thousand Tibetans including the exiled Dalai Lama himself. If we are lucky and he is in town, we may get the chance to join one of his public audiences. A major highlight of the tour is a visit to the Golden Temple in Amritsar where we may see the early evening Granth Sahib ceremony.
The Himalayan foothills provided the British with a summer sanctuary in the days of the Raj, but Hindu pilgrims have flocked to its multitude of temples and sacred places for millennia. This tour takes us on an exploration of scenic hill stations, tranquil spiritual places and the forests of Corbett National Park where myriad species of wildlife, including the tiger, still roam.
Doon Valley & Beyond Following in the footsteps of the grand surveyor Sir George Everest and the rest of the Raj set, we take the train to Mussoorie, Queen of the Hills . This delightful former British hill station, now popular as a honeymoon destination, holds many colonial treats. After a chance to stretch our legs in the nearby hills and take in the spectacular vista of Himalayan peaks, we venture to the sacred Hindu town of Rishikesh; nestling on the banks of the Ganges with numerous ashrams and orange-robed sadhus (holy men). Theres an opportunity for some white-water rafting at nearby Shivpuri. Himalayan Foothills & the Five Confluences The mighty Ganges is our companion on our journey meandering through lush green forests interspersed with high barren mountains. Stopping briefly at Devprayag, one of five holy confluences (prayags), we travel past hamlets clinging to the mountainside, observing rural life first-hand in this rugged region, hoping to witness evening Puja at Rudraprayag. At Karnaprayag we traverse the river and follow the valley north to the small temple town of Joshimath from where, depending on the time of year, we journey high into the mountains to Badrinath, the Pilgrim at Rishikesh
Hill Stations, Himalaya & Ganges H i Ref HS m CHINA
Optional walks
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MUSSOORIE
Dehra Dun
INDIA
RISHIKESH
optional walks Auli Deoprayag Nandprayag Nanda Devi Karnaprayag 7817m
Badrinath 7139m
Badrinath Pilgrim Centre
JOSHIMATH
RUDRAPRAYAG
INDIA
PAKISTAN
AMRITSAR
Holy city of the Sikhs
Once a major halt on the caravan route through Asia, the ancient Buddhist enclave of Leh lies just across the Great Himalayan Rain Shadow an arid and forbidding landscape closely resembling that of neighbouring Tibet. We enjoy walks and visit gompas, and journey along the legendary Leh to Manali highway one of the worlds highest and most spectacular roads. Other highlights include visiting Dharamsala and sacred Amritsar.
Ladakhi Pilgrim
For information, inspiration and latest tour availability visit www.explore.co.uk
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Aarti ceremony
KAUSANI
Sunset views
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CORBETT NP
Game drives Ramnagar
ALMORA
Day walks Kathgodam
NEPAL
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DHARAMSALA
Home of the Dalai Lama
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From DELHI
JESPA
Baralacha La 4891m pass Rohtang La Pass 3977m
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MANDI
Temples
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DELHI
City tour
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km 150
MANALI
Kulu
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t lej
abode of Vishnu, or take the thrilling four-kilometre ropeway to nearby Auli for spectacular views of Nanda Devi peak. Almora & Corbett National Park Our route takes us east, through lush deciduous and rich green pine forests, rice paddies dot the way and the high mountains are frequently seen behind the lower hills as we travel. At Kausani we stretch our legs, taking a ridge walk to view the sunset. The hill station of Almora was established by the rajas of Kumaon rather than the British and is one of the most picturesque. We descend through fruit orchards and valleys to the plains of Corbett country where theres time for wildlife safaris in the National Park searching for elephants, monkeys, deer and the elusive tiger. Finally, we return by train to Delhi.
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FACTFILE
Itinerary Day 1 Fly London/Delhi. 2 Arrive Delhi; city tour of Delhi. 3 Fly Leh (3500m); free day to acclimatise; optional orientation tour. 4 Full-day tour of Indus Valley gompas (monasteries). 5 Optional whitewater rafting to Nimu; drive Alchi; visit Gompa. 6 Walk Saspol Caves; visit Rizong Gompa. 7 Walk or drive to Likir Gompa; drive Leh. 8 Drive Sarchu via Tanglang La Pass (5328m). 9 Drive Jespa. 10 Drive Manali; free. 11 In Manali; optional visit to hot springs or temple, optional walks. 12 Drive Mandi via Kulu and Nagar Castle. 13 Drive Dharamsala; orientation walk. 14 In Dharamsala; visit monasteries and optional walks. 15 Drive Amritsar via Pathankot; visit Golden Temple. 16 Fly London. Certain departures may visit monastic festivals. See pricing and Information Supplement for full details. Accommodation & Meals: 11nts hotel, 1nt fixed camp, 2nts guesthouse; 14 breakfasts, 3 lunches & 7 dinners included. See insert p2. Mode of Travel: Bus/Jeep/On foot/Bus/Flight. Comment: Easy to moderate day walks are included, and you will have the chance to do white-water rafting (optional) on the Indus. The drive from Leh to Manali is tough due to poor road conditions, but being the second highest road in the world, the views are fantastic. Tour Staff & Support: Explore Tour Leader plus driver and some local guides. Group Size: Approx. 13 to 18.
FACTFILE
Itinerary Day 1 Fly London/Delhi. 2 Arrive Delhi. 3 Sightseeing of Delhi; overnight train to Dehra Dun. 4 Drive to Mussoorie; orientation tour and day walks. 5 Drive to Rishikesh; orientation tour of temples. 6 Day at leisure; rafting(optional). 7 Drive to Rudraprayag via Devprayag. 8 Drive to Joshimath via Karnaprayag and Nandprayag. 9 Full day visit to Badrinath or Auli; walks. 10 Drive to Kausani; late afternoon walk. 11 Drive Almora; visit town and walks. 12 Drive to Corbett NP. 13 & 14 Jeep safaris in NP; optional elephant safari. 15 Drive to Kathgodam; train to Delhi. 16 Fly London. Accommodation & Meals: 13nts hotel, 1nt sleeper train; 13 breakfasts, 2 lunches & 3 dinners included. See insert p2. Mode of Travel: Bus/Jeep/Train/On Foot. Comment: An easy-paced exploration of the Himalayan foothills some of the mountain journeys are winding but the scenery is awesome. Walking is easy to moderate and as all are day walks, can be opted out of. No experience is needed for the rafting (optional) and equipment and training are provided. Tour Staff & Support: Explore Tour Leader plus driver(s) and some local guides. Group Size: Approx. 13 to 18.
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