TREKKING IN THE INDIAN HIMALAYAS

Led by Alessandro Visentin and Prakash 

This low altitude trek offers an excellent walk in the remote and unknown valleys of the Kumaon region.  Together with the Garwhal region they form the Indian Himalayan state of Uttarakhand.  It shares its borders with Tibet (China) in the North and Nepal in the West. The path will follow at times the ancient Indo-Tibetan route, closed in 1962 with the outbreak of the Indo-Chinese war.

The trek will go through forests, green lush grazing grounds (locally known as Kharaks) and villages where life has remained simple for the last couple of centuries. Electricity has made its first appearance only recently in certain parts and a mobile phone signal can at times be received if we are lucky!   High white-capped peaks can be seen all around; in fact the trail skirts the Nanda Devi Sanctuary - a wall of very high mountains encircling the twin peaks of Nanda Devi (7800m). As the trek progresses the majestic Panchchulli range (6900m) becomes more and more visible with the Himalayan range extending further east into Nepal and beyond. The highest altitude reached will be at the crossing of the Sur Sungri pass (3200m).

We will camp during most of the trek or at times when available stay in basic rooms in villages. Tents, mats and sleeping bags will be provided, although for better comfort and hygiene we recommend you to bring your own sleeping bag.  With no bathrooms /toilets facilities we will need to adapt to the local way.  You may have to wash only from a tap and at times from a local stream! A kitchen tent will be set up at the end of each day and our cook will prepare simple and healthy local vegetarian food that is easily digestible and  ideal to give enough energy and stamina.. It will consist mainly of rice and pulses, eggs (when allowed by the local deities!), fresh fruits and vegetables.  At a later stage of the trek when our fresh supply runs out, we can purchase local products if there is a surplus in the villages' harvest.  Dried fruits, chocolate and biscuits together with tea and coffee will also be laden on our horses.  On some occasion we will eat in the house of the local villagers.  Prakash who will be our guide has attended the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering in Uttarkashi is a keen climber too. He and his troop are local young men from the nearby Pindari valley which is another beautiful area for trekking. They have plenty of experience with guiding trekking groups around Kumaon and Garhwal.

This 16 days trip includes one night in New Delhi and time to spend in towns on our way to the mountains.  We will stop 2 nights in Almora (there and back) which is the main town of Kumaon.  It is well-known for having attracted in the past famous spiritual philosophers and writers, such as Swami Vivekananda and Swami Sivananda who were pioneers in promoting Yoga and Indian philosophy in the western countries.  On the last day a visit to the Jageshwar temple complex nearby can be arranged, alternatively a full day of doing nothing, enjoying the last views of the Himalayan range is another option. 

COST & BOOKING:

The cost of the entire trek is £ 800.00.

It includes all accomodations from our meeting in Delhi and back, all train, taxi and bus fares, and all meals except* the first dinner in Delhi, plenty of cheap and good restaurants in the area, all guide and porters fees

It does not include* the flight fare to and from Delhi, the eventual tip to the guide and porters, up-grades of Hotel rooms.