Punjab holiday; Mountains & Mystics
| country: | India |
| location: | Punjab, Indian Himalayas |
| trip type: | A small group adventure. |
| departures: | 2008: 8 Sep, 15 Sep, 22 Sep, 29 Sep, 6 Oct, 13 Oct, 17 Oct, 20 Oct, 27 Oct, 31 Oct, 3 Nov, 10 Nov, 14 Nov, 17 Nov, 24 Nov, 28 Nov 2009: 26 Jan, 2 Feb, 9 Feb, 16 Feb, 23 Feb, 2 Mar, 9 Mar, 16 Mar, 23 Mar, 30 Mar, 6 Apr, 13 Apr, 20 Apr |
| price: | From £400 (15 days) excluding flights, plus local payment Rupee 10000 (approx £115). We can arrange flights from the UK. All departure dates are guaranteed |
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the amazing things you'll be doing
Mountain walks, Dharamsala, the Golden Temple of Amritsar, farmstay in Chamba, Shimla
This is a journey of the body and spirit as we travel through the foothills of the world's highest mountains. These mystical lands look and feel so very different from the rest of India - from the food and clothes to the crisp, clean mountain air and spiritual sway of the inhabitants.
This trip is aimed at travellers who want to experience the beauty and culture of this unique mountain area.
For those wanting to get out there, this trip offers plenty of optional walks along the trails and tracks of the shepherds, through forested valleys, along grassy ridges and by wayside shrines.
This is a journey of the body and spirit as we travel through the foothills of the world's highest mountains. These mystical lands look and feel so very different from the rest of India - from the food and clothes to the crisp, clean mountain air and spiritual sway of the inhabitants.
This trip is aimed at travellers who want to experience the beauty and culture of this unique mountain area.
For those wanting to get out there, this trip offers plenty of optional walks along the trails and tracks of the shepherds, through forested valleys, along grassy ridges and by wayside shrines.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Delhi. Feed your senses on a stroll through the crowded, narrow streets of Old Delhi. There is so much to discover in this fascinating city it is well worth arriving a couple of days early. |
| Day 2-3: | Shimla. The World Heritage-listed 'toy train' snakes its way up the mountain to the colonial town of Shimla, where British viceroys once gathered to escape the monsoonal heat. Enjoy the many walks available or spend an afternoon with the locals watching the latest Bollywood blockbuster. |
| Day 4: | Mandi. Sitting on the banks of the Beas River, Mandi was once part of the salt route to Tibet. Explore the riverside temples and ghats and get a taste of imperial lifestyle staying in the palace of the former Raja. |
| Day 5-7: | Dharamsala. Travel across mountainous roads to the home in exile of the Dalai Lama. Dharamsala is alive with colourful prayer flags, monks in crimson robes and monasteries. |
| Day 8: | Dalhousie. Former hill station of the British army, Dalhousie is nowadays a major settlement for Tibetan refugees. Wander the narrow lanes and quaint markets or sit back with a spicy hot chai and enjoy the fantastic views of the Himalayas. |
| Day 9: | Trek to Khajjiar. Trek through forests and cross bubbling creeks to rest overnight in alpine Khajjiar. |
| Day 10-12: | Trek to Chamba Valley. Follow shepherd tracks down to the clifftop town of Chamba. Experience traditional life and walks into the surrounding hills while staying with a local family at their mountainside farm. |
| Day 13-14: | Amritsar. Head down to the fertile plain of the Punjab, to the Sikh's holiest city, Amritsar. Visit the Golden Temple, which sits in the middle of a sacred lake and resounds with holy chanting. |
| Day 15: | Delhi. This incredible journey draws to a close in Delhi, back where it all began. |
travellers' tales
The highlight was staying with a family. Pack light as you do have to carry your bags around and you WILL shop!! (more)
small group adventure holiday
This is a 'small group adventure' - on our group trips you'll be with a maximum of 11 like minded travellers and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends it's good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting people from other parts of the world as well as seeing new places! (more) Because of our small group size, we're able to guarantee departures for all of our trips. Once you have booked and paid your deposit, your trip is guaranteed to go!
highly commended
This tourism business was Highly Commended in our 2007 Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards - the largest awards of their kind in the world, and organised by responsibletravel.com in association with The Times, World Travel Market and Geographical Magazine, of the Royal Geographical Society.Since 2004, the Awards has recognised individuals, companies and organisations in travel making a big commitment to the culture and economies of local communities and helping to conserve biodiversity.
how this holiday makes a difference
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India plays host to a diversity of spiritual centres and places of pilgrimage. On this trip you will visit the Islamic mosques, Sikh gurudwaras, Tibetan settlements and Himalayan Hindu temples that all go towards representing the heart and soul of this incredible country. It is important to have some background knowledge on these places before visiting them so as to treat these holy places with the respect they inspire from the locals. Your leader will help you learn more about the place you visit to enable a deeper understanding and enjoyment from the experience.
Dharamsala is the home in exile of the Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, and if in town, there is the opportunity to meet with His Holiness and offer support to the Tibetan cause. You will visit the fantastic Norbulingka Institute, which was developed to train (and house) Tibetan refugees in the skills needed to preserve the traditional arts and crafts of Tibet, so that the skills will not be lost. There is a shop here where you can buy some of the craftwork and clothing made by the refugees. In the hills above Chamba you spend three nights as the guests of a local family at a farmstay to experience traditional rural life. Much of the food you enjoy here has been organically grown and cultivated by local workers. By opting to take walks into the hills with a local guide, take part in some traditional farming, or even having your bags carried for you by the villagers, you are supporting some of the families that live in the area. At the end of our journey travellers may donate any unwanted clothing, medicines and bandages, which are distributed to a group called Goonj. This organisation is a nationwide movement that provides help to remote villages in Assam, Bihar, Orissa, West Bengal, Uttaranchal and wherever the demand arises or disaster forces people to look for support. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |