dossier

The Valleys and Flowers of Lahaul

Outline Itinerary

Wereserve the right to alter (lengthen or shorten) the trek at any time ifnecessary.

Note: if circumstances dictate,certain details, such as overnight stops may vary from those shown in theday-by-day itinerary below.

Day 1: Fly toNew Delhi.

Day 2:Delhi. Arrive Delhi in the early morning and you will be met and transferredby taxi to your hotel. In the afternoon there is a guided tour of Delhi. 

AboutDelhi: Delhi basically is 7 cities all merged into one and laced together bythe new city of the British Raj, designed by Lutyens & Baker. It was one ofthe boldest expressions anywhere in the world of British Imperial ambitions andhas endless sightseeing possibilities. Our tour of Delhi will include the RajGhat memorial, at the site where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated, the Red Fort,once the most lavish fort and palace of the Mughal Empire and the Qutb Minar,the 73m high tower of victory. 

RED FORT. Thisimposing monument to the rule of Shah Jahan was begun in 1639 and completed in1648, taking its name from the red sandstone used in its construction. It is saidto have cost 10 million rupees to build, much of it spent on the opulent marbleroyal palaces within. Here the Emperor exercised his divine authority in theHalls of Public and Private Audience - seated in the latter on the fabulousgold-canopied Peacock Throne that was inlaid with a vast number of sapphires,rubies, emeralds and diamonds. 

THE QUTBMINAR. The Qutb Minar is a soaring tower of victory that was built in1193.  The tower has three distinctstories each marked by a projecting balcony. The first three storeys are madeof red sandstone, the fourth and fifth of marble and sandstone. Today thisimpressive ornate tower has a slight tilt, but otherwise has worn the centuriesremarkably well.

Day 3: Travel by train to Chandigarh, afternoonat leisure, then begin drive to Manali. You make an early morning transfer to the stationfor the morning Shatabdi Express, air conditioned train to Chandigarh. (Timingsare usually 07.40 depart, arrive at 11.00 am.) The city, purpose-built in the1950s as the new capital of the Punjab after Lahore was handed over toPakistan, was largely designed by Le Corbusier. The result is not yet theforward-looking statement of faith in a modern Indian society it was designedto be, although for visitors it is a fascinating view of 1950's utopian townplanning.

Later you begin the driveto Manali, stopping after about an hour at Nalagarh, the gateway to HimachalPradesh, where you will stay tonight. This fort on a hillock was built in 1421during the reign of Raja Bikram Chand, and stands amid acres of greenery with apanoramic view of the Shivalik Hills. It is now a hotel with air-conditionedrooms, and facilities include a swimming pool, golf course and health club.Overnight at the Nalagarh Fort Resort.

Day 4: Continue drive to Manali. (6,430ft/1,960m). The remaining 250km road journeyshould take about 7 hrs. The road crosses the northern plains - dead flat,highly cultivated and bustling with life - before reaching the foothills thatbegin abruptly at Kalka. From then on the road winds upwards through to Manali.Overnight at Bannons Resorts.

The Kulu valley is one of the most enchanting parts ofHimachal Pradesh. Through the Valley runs the Beas River, bordered by paddyfields in the monsoon and wheat fields in the winter.  Conifers and rhododendrons grow on the upper slopes which arecovered by snow in winter. To the northwest of the valley is the white mass ofthe Solang Valley and to the north is the Rohtang Pass (4,075 meters (13,370feet), the gateway to the Great Himalayas. The road to Lahaul and Leh in Ladakhcrosses the Rohtang Pass.

Day 5: Day at leisure in Manali. A free day in Manali (extra supplement of $140 for flight); it is a great place to relax with good souvenirshopping, a Tibetan monastery and lots of good restaurants. The afternoon can beused for a walk to Vashist, where there are some natural hot springs, a greatway to ease the tight muscles, aches and pains of the trek. You could also makethe hour long drive by taxi to the village of Naggar, once the capital of theKulu district. Naggar is noted for its old fort with spectacular views over thevalley below, the Roerich art gallery and several interesting Hindu temples.  Overnight at Bannons resorts.

Day 6: Drive to Udaipur. (2800m)Today we drive northwards over the spectacular Rohtang Pass (13,200 ft.) andinto the Buddhist land of Lahaul. Beyond the reaches of the monsoon, it is anarea more akin to the high altitude desert of Tibet than the alpine scenery wehave left behind. Following the Chandra River towards Keylong, the capital ofLahaul, we turn west and drive to the small town of Udaipur. This journey is onrough roads and could take the whole day, but the spectacular scenery fullymakes up for any discomfort. (Approximately 7 hours drive time)  Lunch en-route. Camp in a forest Glade.

Day 7: Trek to Chamrat. Our trek starts by following a mule track fromthe edge of the town. This quickly enters a deep rocky gorge, which marks thesouthern gates of the Miyar Nullah. We camp at the northern end as the valleybegins to widen, close to the small village of Chamrat. Camp in a forest glade.(Approximately 4 hours walk)

Day 8: Trek to Doksha via Challing. A morning's walk further up the valley liesUrgos with its gompa, or monastery.This area is actively Buddhist, and many of the intricate murals have beenrecently restored. The monastery is alive with bright colors and has anintimate atmosphere compared with the vastness of the scenery outside. Walkingonwards in the afternoon we reach the small settlement of Doksha.  We camp for the night on a meadow.(Approximately 6 hours walk) Lunch en-route.

Day 9: Trek to Tanpattam.  (3800m) As we trek higher up the valley we leave the last settlementsbehind and our only companions, apart from wild Yaks and the odd shepherd withtheir flocks of sheep and goat, are the observant but elusive marmots. We arenow right under the great Himalayan range, with huge peaks towering above thevalley. 

Day 10/11: Camp Tanpattam.  Optional walks to explore the side valleys. A chance to explore the vast and uninhabitedupper reaches of the Miyar valley. During our time here, we will also visit thecenturies old and now abandoned Tibetan Monastery, perched upon a high ridgeoverlooking the valley and we will be treated to fine views of snow coveredmountain peaks. (Approximately 6/7 hours walk per day)

Day 12: Trek to alpine meadow. Retracing our steps down the valley, we walkthrough a myriad of Himalayan flowers that dot the edges of cultivated fields.Lunch en- route.  (Approximately 5 hourswalk)

Day 13: Trek to Urgos monastery. We take time to stop in villages where thevillagers knit and sell brightly colored woollen gloves before reaching ourcampsite near the Urgos monastery in Challing. (Approximately 5 hours walk)Lunch en-route.

Day 14: Trek to forest glade. We exit this magical valley by following a muletrack until we reach our last campsite. There is an optional outing (on a localbus) to visit the nearby town of Udaipur. The main attraction in Udaipur is theHindu temple that dates back to the 9th century AD, and is adorned withintricately carved wooden statues of Hindu Gods and Goddesses.

Day 15: Drive to Manali. Rejoining our transport we set off for thereturn drive back over the Rhotang pass and into the alpine lushness of theKulu Valley and spend the night in Manali. Picnic lunch en-route. Arrive atBannons Resorts in the early evening.

Day 16: Return drive to Nalagarh. (Approximately seven hour drive time) Afterbreakfast drive by private transport to Nalagarh. Overnight at the NalagarhFort Resort. Lunch en-route.

Day 17: Drive to Delhi. (Approximately 4 hours drive time).  Arrive Delhi midday and check into yourHotel. Spend the rest of day at your leisure. Late evening transfer by taxi toboard your return flight home.

Day 18: Fly Delhi –home.

TourDetails

Grade B (Moderate): You should be reasonably fit butthere are no really long day walks. However, for the more energetic there aremany opportunities to explore the surrounding valleys. 

Climate: The besttime to visit this area is in the summer, when daytime temperatures reach20-25°C (70°-80°F) and there is plenty of sunshine. Temperatures do get coolerof course the higher you climb up the valleys, though it will rarely reachfreezing point.

You can expect occasional rain at the start of the trek in this regionas it is affected by the monsoon, but after crossing over the Rhotang Pass andentering Lahaul you are in a high altitude desert where rain is unusual.

Although the departures are timed to coincide with good weather, pleasebear in mind that in any mountain area the weather is never wholly predictableand that you should be prepared for any adverse conditions.

Altitude: maximumaltitude 4,075m average 3,000m. Most of the paths on this trek are wellmaintained, being trade routes between the villages. At the top end of thevalley there are only shepherds' paths to follow.

What’s Included

Included: Accommodation New Delhi: TheSiddarth Hotel. Situated 4km/2.4mi from the city center this hotel is fullyair-conditioned and has a swimming pool, bar and restaurant. B&B Delhi andBannons Resorts in Manali. All meals on trek. Guided tours where specified inyour itinerary.

Not Included:  International airfare, visa fees, passports orvaccinations.  Excursions unless stated.Entry fees to historical monuments. Hotel porterage or tips. Meals and drinksother than those stated. Travel Insurance.

Documents

If youare applying for an Indian visa by post, the Indian High Commission requires upto five weeks to process your application, so ensure that you submit yourapplication in good time. Also note, however, that Indian visas are only validfor six months from the date of issue, and therefore must not be applied fortoo early.  This means you will have tohave left India within six months of issue of the visa. Call the local IndiaEmbassy for up to date visa requirements, tel: 202-364-4359.

Health Matters

A full medical kit accompanies the trek, but we recommendthat people carry their own small personal first aid kit. A suggested list ofcontents will be included in the pre-departure information as well as moregeneral information on vaccinations. You will need to consult your doctorusually 5 weeks prior to departure,to work out an immunization schedule relevant to your destination country. The following should be used as a guidelineonly: - Polio, Tetanus, Typhoid, Hepatitis A, Malaria, and Meningitis. Moredetails concerning vaccinations are given in our Indian pre-department that isforwarded to you on confirmation of your booking.                      

PersonalExpenses

The amount of money you take with you depends on how much youintend to spend! Souvenir purchases aside, a sum of $250 should cover any extracosts, although it would be wise to take a little more, as you will invariablybe tempted by the very attractive handicrafts of the region.  Main meals in cities such as Delhi at thevery best restaurants are inexpensive. Dinner will cost between US$12-US$24.Bring duty free drinks, as spirits are costly! Wines are not of a high standardand beers are usually $2 per bottle. US travellers checks are easily exchangedin the major hotels and banks. Most hotels and some shops in the big citiesaccept credit cards such as American Express and MasterCard.

Insurance

You musthave insurance to cover you against medical expenses and repatriation. Pleaseensure your insurance covers all the activities you will be participating in,including trekking, mountain biking, climbing and white-water rafting ifapplicable.

IMPORTANTNOTE: While everyeffort is made to keep to the above itinerary, clients will hopefullyappreciate that this is adventure travel in a remote mountain region. Given thenature of these treks there will quite likely be changes to the itinerary interms of anything from on the spot choice of camp site to the day that a restday is taken. Weather conditions, road conditions, vehicle breakdowns off thebeaten track, and local availabilityof porters, can contribute to the need for changes. Mark Butterworth will doeverything in his power to see that you are inconvenienced as little aspossible in such events. Timings given are approximate.

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