Location + Itinerary
India, it is often said, is not a country, but a continent. Stretching from the frozen summits of the Himalayas to the tropical greenery of Kerala, its expansive borders encompass an incomparable range of landscapes, culture and people. Walk the streets of any Indian city and you’ll rub shoulders with representatives of several of the world’s great faiths, a multitude of castes and outcastes, fair- skinned, turbanned Punjabis and dark-skinned Tamils.
India offers plenty of opportunities for adventure sports, including trekking, mountaineering, whitewater rafting, caving and diving. Though trekking in India is not nearly as commercialized as in neighboring Nepal, the country can claim some of the world’s most spectacular routes, especially in the Ladakh and Zanskar Himalayas, where the mountains frequently top 5000m.
Himalayan routes are not all extreme, with relatively gentle short trails exploring the Singalila range around Darjeeling, low-level forest walks through the rhododendron-clad hillsides of Sikkim and the well-beaten pilgrim trails of Garhwal. Trekking is also becoming more popular in the Western Ghats and Nilgiris of the south.
- Days 1-2 - Arrive in Delhi. After meeting guides and getting a brief of the trip you will get chance to explore the streets of Delhi through a guided tour. You will also get the chance to explore the Qutub Minar and the famous India Gate. Spend a couple of days taking in the Indian culture in the capital city.
- Day 3 - Fly to Leh. You will need to acclimatise in the morning, as Leh is 3500m above sea level. In the afternoon you will get to visit the city of Leh on a walking tour. Your visit will include seeing the historic Leh Palace, the main market and climbing the Victory Fort above the palace which gives you a view of the city.
- Days 4-5 - The next two days will be spent exploring Leh. During this time you will visit all the main sights. These include Thiksey Monastery and Shey Palae. If there is enough time then a visit to Leh’s donkey sanctuary will also take place.
- Day 6 - You will travel to Village Nimoo. It is one of the largest villages in the Sham Valley with approximately 350 families living there.
- Days 7-12 - Over the next six days the community project will take place. There are two schools in need of renovation and you will be working along with other volunteers from the community to complete the work. The work will take place from around 8:00am - 2:00pm and after that you will have time to take part in local activities in the village.
- Days 13-15 - Once the project is complete there will be a ceremony to celebrate. After this you will go to Liker Village and meet the staff taking you on your trek. The next three days will be spent on trek and camping out in the wild. On the 15th day you will return back to Leh.
- Days 16-18 - You will take the 5-6 hour drive to Tsomoriro to spend time with a Nomadic family. You will learn all about their lifestyle and get involved in their daily routine.
- Days 19-21 - You will transfer back to Delhi and then drive to Agra. You will have free time before dinner and then wake up early to watch the sunrise over the Taj Mahal. You will have time to explore and then head back to Delhi to fly back to the UK on day 21.
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