Vinod K
Plan your dream trip to the Himalayas
For mountain lovers and therefore the vertically inclined the Himalayas represent nothing but the crowning apex of nature’s grandeur. Here dramatic forested gorges rise to skylines of snow-capped glaciated peaks through a landscape that ranges from high-altitude desert to dripping rhododendron forest.
Dream trip to himalayas
Home to some 50 million people, this is often no alpine wilderness, but rather a vibrant mosaic of peoples, cultures and communities, criss-crossed by ancient trading and pilgrimage routes that provide their own unique inspiration. Test your mettle against a number of the world’s most audacious and dangerous roads, or set a more measured pace on a trek through yak pastures to prayer flag-strewn passes haunted by snow leopards and red pandas. Stretching during a 1550 mile-long arc (2500km) across Asia from Kashmir to Kathmandu, Lhasa to Ladakh, the Himalayan range may be a big place. Focus your pilgrimage on one among these dream trips.
Dream trip to himalayas
Ladakh – India's little Tibet Dream trip to himalayas
Hidden over high passes in an arid, largely treeless area , Ladakh is classic Trans Himalayan scenery: huge khaki-colored valleys and harsh rock walls brought alive by the occasional splash of irrigated green. Traditional Tibetan Buddhist culture remains intact here, with spectacularly located monasteries that burst into life during medieval masked dance festivals that have changed little in 500 years. Travelers should expect epic treks, sparkling high-altitude mountain lakes, and a well developed infrastructure with inexpensive guesthouses round the capital, Leh.
Dream trip to himalayas
When to go: June to September.
Suggested itinerary: Hire a jeep or an Enfield motorbike and drive bent ancient Hemis, Lamayuru and Thiksey monasteries, taking a side trip to the turquoise lake of Pangong Tso bordering Tibet; afterwards, do a five-day homestay trek through the Markha Valley.
Tibet – roof of the world
The high Tibetan plateau is that the rooftop of Asia, hidden from the Indian subcontinent behind the ramparts of the good Himalaya. Despite Chinese-led modernization, Tibet’s great monasteries still hum with murmured mantras and therefore the flicker of butter lamps. Sublime landscapes, starting from rolling grasslands to high-altitude turquoise lakes, a vibrant Buddhist culture and therefore the friendly and resilient Tibetan people are the highlights here, as are the views of Everest’s North Face – miles better than anything you will see in Nepal.
Dream trip to himalayas
When to go: Mid-May to September.
Suggested itinerary: Join a tour for the seven- to ten-day overland trip from Lhasa to Kathmandu, stopping at the incredible multistory stupa (structure containing Buddhist relics) at Gyantse and therefore the spectacular medieval monastery at Sakya.
Off the beaten track alternative: Complete a rugged three-day trek around Asia’s most sacred peak, Mt Kailash, in remote Western Tibet, then visit the incredible Kashmiri-influenced art of Tsaparang and therefore the Guge Kingdom, hidden deep within the weirdly eroded desert gorges of the Sutlej Valley. Paved roads and an airport outside Ali make the two-week trip much less arduous than it wont to be, though you continue to need to hire transport and a guide through workplace in Lhasa or Kathmandu.
Dream trip to himalayas
Nepal – a trekker's paradise Dream trip to himalayas
The best thanks to experience the mountains is on foot, and Himalayan treks just aren’t getting any longer spectacular or convenient than in Nepal. Follow mountain paths past lines of spinning prayer wheels and charming stone Sherpa or Tamang villages to the foot of jaw-dropping 8000m peaks like Annapurna or Everest, safe within the knowledge that at the top of the day you’re guaranteed a comfortable bed and hot dinner. Add on a visit to the medieval cities of the Kathmandu Valley, once a Himalayan artistic powerhouse.
Dream trip to himalayas
When to go: March, April, October, November.
Getting there: Fly to Kathmandu and mount a flight to Lukla for the Everest region. Pokhara is that the launch pad for treks within the Annapurna region.
Suggested itinerary: To trek to Everest Base Camp you would like a minimum of 14 days, but we recommend adding on a four day side visit to the stunning mountain lakes and Nature of the Gokyo valley. think about ample time to acclimatize.
Off the beaten track alternative: The 17-day walk around Manaslu is possibly Nepal’s greatest teahouse trek (you stay in lodges along the way), or go camping expedition-style on an epic three-week trip to the Dolpo or Kanchenjunga regions.
Dream trip to himalayas
Bhutan – the last Shangri-la
As the last surviving great Himalayan kingdom, Bhutan has an otherworldly air that seems rooted in another age. Traditional dress is that the norm everywhere, old-growth forest carpets the bulk of the countryside and remote Himalayan peoples just like the Layaps and Brokpas live a life largely untouched by the fashionable age. Simply put, Bhutan is like nowhere on earth. The catch? The fixed minimum daily rate of US$250 per person is mandatory, although this does include transport, meals, guide and accommodation.
Dream trip to himalayas
When to go: March, April, September, October.
Suggested itinerary: Explore the delightful Paro Valley and its iconic Tiger’s Nest Hermitage (Taktshang Goemba) before driving to the little-visited Haa Valley, the small capital of Thimphu and therefore the sensual fortress-monastery of Punakha. Schedule your visit around one among Bhutan’s colorful tsechus (monastic festivals).
