India

Himalayan India between Buddhism and Hindouism.  Gleaming summits, grandiose panoramas, a sacred universe: our voyages in Northern India will allow you to discover the Himalayan India, the high summits of Nun at 23,409 feet and Kun at 23,218 feet, Nanda Devi at 25, 643 feet and Kanchenjunga at 28,209 feet, but above all the spiritual India, strongly impregnated as much by Buddhism as by Hinduism on these high grounds.
In the shelter of the monsoon's pouring rain, Ladakh and Zanskar lend themselves, during the summer month's, to a Himalayan visit.  In these high altitude deserts embedded in the Tibetan culture, Buddhism and it's compassionate nature permeate the mentality.  
The Garhwal and Kumaon chains, high grounds for Hindouism, serve as a jewelry case to the Shivling and the Nanda Devi summits.  With Sikkim at the foot of Kangchenjunga, these regions in India offer, from spring to fall, what fits to be named « the other Nepal » :  grandioses Himalayan panoramas, with less congestion.  Wild and authentic regions ready to seduce all trekking amateurs!

• Discovery of the high altitude deserts-Ladakh-Zanskar.
• Excellent management of altitude, for a very progressive altitude acclimatization.
• Very efficient logisitics thanks to our local organizers, specialists in their region.
• Our knowledge of the terrain for over more than 20 years.

Despite the monsoon's regime which India is known for, Himalayan India can be discovered almost all year round, depending on the region of the chosen trek.
-Ladakh and Zanskar (Kun region) :  a mountainous zone partially sheltered from the monsoon, to be hiked from June to September.  The only part of the Himalayas that can be visited in the summer.  Days are generally dry and beautiful with some clouds in the afternoon.  Possible violent, stormy rains, a bit more frequent these last few years.  In the winter, an exceptional itinerary following the frozen Zanskar River !
-Garhwal, Kumaon and Sikkim :  ideal season for trekking anywhere spring and autumn as these regions are not protected from the monsoon, as well as Nepal.
In the spring, the temperatures can already be quite hot.  It is the perfect time to attend the numerous festivals.  Autumn is the best season for hiking.  The weather, generally beautiful, cold and dry, generates fantastic lights.

Their currency is the Indian Rupee (INR).
It is best to bring cash. You can easily exchange money in Delhi.  Either upon your arrival in the airport or in the big hotels. However, you can purchase souvenirs with your bank card if it's a question of larger sums.
Withdrawing money: in Delhi, the large commercial centers and banks are set up with ATM machines.

As an organizer of worldwide trips, Mountain World Travel is concerned for our guest's safety and security. We always keep ourselves up to date with current travel warnings and always consider the government safety advisories, while organizing and preparing our different trips.
We recommend that participants consult the security instructions distributed by government authorities and the traveling recommendations made by government officials; available on websites specific for each country.
US citizens, please check with    US Government Travel Advices

Philippe Allibert, co-founder of our European partnership, met Mohan Tiku, an Hindu originally from the high society, who was living in Cachemire, where he had opened up a Welcoming Agency. At this time, Mohan worked as a contractor for the agency in Delhi with which Allibert was organizing their trips. Chased from his home land by the Muslim separatists, Mohan Tiku finds himself in Delhi with his family, deprived of all of his goods.  But, our man does not give up !  Armed with courage and « savoir-faire », he goes to France to propose his services to some Tour Operators and knocks on the door of Philippe Allibert who he had met several years earlier.  Philippe entrusts his confidence to this courageous man and confides in him, two series of complete trips from Ladakh-Zanskar.

Mohan Tiku patiently begins his work from A to Z:  he weaves a new network of providers, recruits and forms his team of Indian guides, cooks and mule drivers.  Thanks to the fruits of his labor, he succeeds in rebuilding a structure in Delhi with his brother, who lives in Leh in the summer. The relationship of confidence that grew between Philippe Allibert and Mohan Tiku allowed for a redevelopment of the family entreprise, but this beautiful adventure would not have existed without the daily work of Mohan!
Our second local partner, Motup, originally from Ladakh, the valley of Noura, continues, himself, to surprise us with the vivacity of his spirit and his intelligence, which hoisted him up to our first Welcoming Agency in Ladakh-Zanskar. We know that we are in the best of hands with these two men in their creation of the most beautiful, unedited trips in Himalayan India. A big thank you to them!

Voyage: Grand Traverse of Zanskar
In 2005, we solicited Allibert/Mountain World Travel trekkers to the Grand Traverse of Zanskar via an environmental questionnaire. These results allowed us to re-evaluate our itinerary. This led to several interesting and encouraging ideas.  Even if OUR waste is collected properly and/or burned by our team, it is still necessary to organize and implement a global cleaning up of our entire course and at all camp sites.
Our local team, convinced of this well-founded action and aided by the trekkers in September 2007, has already cleaned the Darsha-Padum section of the itinerary.
We will, once again, see out this operation in September 2008: a second passage on the first section before pursuing the Padum-Wanla section of the itinerary.
Don't hesitate to join our team in our clean-up action!

Voyage: The Frozen River
The Chadar is the umbilical cord which connects the Zanskarpas (people of Zanskar) to the valley in the winter. On this itinerary, they sleep in the caves and warm themselves with the wood that was carted on the river, in the fall.  Group of trekkers constitute a large team which consumes a lot of wood....to the point where it becomes difficult for the villagers to find more. Knowing this, we preserve the natural resources the best that we can.  As a consequence, we adapt our team's equipment:  warmer shoes and clothes for our porters, gas stoves....
During this trip, you too, conserve wood!

Zanskar Circus
In 2005 and 2006, we supported the Zanskar Circus organization, an itinerant circus troupe which passes through the Zanskar villages, thus creating a rich exchange with the Zanskarpas (the people of Zanskar).

Hindi is the official language, but 16 regional languages are also recognized by the constitution. There are, in addition, 4,000 dialects. From Zanskar to Ladakh, the local dialect is similar to Tibetan.
Learning some key words will enable you to gain the respect of your interlocutors, and to make for a more pleasant exchange with the Indians. Therefore do not hesitate to make the effort to use the following expressions:

Hello and Good-bye: Namaste (accompanied by a slight inclination of the head). Identical greeting as in Nepal
In Ladakh, Hello and Good-bye: djule
How are you ? aap kaiseh hain
What is your name ? : ap mera nam kia hé
Yes : han - No : nahin

To note:  As in many Asian countries, the usual western words expressing politeness (thank you, please) are not used, or only on rare occasions.
You can ask your guide how to pronounce these key words; your voyage will only be richer by your attempting to speak the local language.
And then smile, it is often the best means of having good contacts!

Indian society is strongly marked by religion which seems to dictate each gesture of daily life.
-In Ladakh and in Zanskar, the family structure is organized in a traditional way, notably to avoid parceling of land. These regions, nick-named, the « Small Tibet » are strong in Buddhist culture. But Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists and Sikhs co-habitate.
-Lahul, Spiti, Kinnnaur, Pir Panja, Garhwal and Sikkim have several things in common with Nepal.  With the majority being Hindus, these regions become more Buddhist the closer they are to the Chinese border.

Here is some adice to heed to best respect these populations and their religions :
-Wear adapted clothing, long and ample, covering your knees and shoulders in the cities, villages and in the temples.  Skin tight clothing is considered indecent.
-Take your shoes off before entering a house and, all the more, in places of worship.
-Circle temples and monuments by the left, in the cosmic direction.
-The presence of « non-hindus » is forbidden in certain temples and around certain processions, learn to accept this.
-It is often common to make an offer of a few Rupees in sanctuaries and visited temples.

What language should I revise before leaving for Himalayan India?
None, English is understood and spoken by all Indians who are in contact with tourism.

Is it dangerous to travel to Himalayan Indian?
Tensions between India and Pakistan persist surrounding the subject of Cachemire.  However, the presidents of these two countries are forcing themselves to find a diplomatic resolution.  Even if the military presence remains strong in the Indus valley, the tension between these countries is relaxing.  A return to Srinagar can now be envisioned....Whatever the situation, these tensions have no reprecussion in the mountains where we will be traveling.

Can I bring home souvenirs from my trip to Himalayan India?
You will have a difficult time choosing from the many rich and varied Indian arts and crafts.  On the other hand, be careful not to buy souvenirs or objects of traditional and cultural heritage, notably religious texts (mantras) on parchment paper or works of art older than a century, which are forbidden to be sold.  To not hesitate to ask your guide's advice.

Contrary to most of the country which is constituted of plains and plateaus, Northern India is a very mountainous region of the Himalayas. The climate is very different from the East to the West generating landscapes of very varied styles: colorful rocky and semi-arid mountains in Ladakh-Zanskar; valleys with luxurious vegetation and rich and abundant flora in the regions marked by the monsoon regime in the East (pine forests, magnolias, rhododendrons up to 13,123 feet).
Remember to pick up and go through your waste with the help of the local team along our entire walk and take the time to leave our campsites clean.  Take your dangerous waste (batteries, etc...) back to the big cities.  Do not buy souvenirs made from any type of endangered species, notably wool clothing made from antelope and shatoosh (Tibetan antelope). If in doubt, ask your guide.