JEEP SAFARI IN INDIA

For those with limited time and wanting to cover more destinations, the ideal way to explore the Himalayas is by road. Himachal and Ladakh have an excellent network of roads passing over some of the world's highest passes and breathtaking landscapes, and with our top class jeeps and highly experienced and knowledgeable drivers and guides, we promise to make your journey a memorable one.

Overland Trans-Himalayan Jeep Safari
ACROSS COLD FRONTIERS

DELHI / NALAGARH / NARKANDA / SANGLA / PUH / KAZA / CHOTADHARA / JISPA / SARCHU / LEH / DELHI
Day 1. DELHI I NALAGARH :
Depart, 7 am arriving Nalagarh heritage resort at the gateway to Himachal by lunch. Check into ethnically designed rooms / suites. Post lunch, free to explore the palace or visit the hilltop Ramgarh fort. Overnight Nalagarh.

Day 2. NALAGARH / NARKANDA :
Depart 8am after breakfast. Reach this quaint little hill station past Shimla by lunch. Check into hotel Mahamaya palace. Day free to enjoy the nature and ambience of Narkanda. Overnight Nalagarh.

Day 3. NARKANDA / SANGLA :
Depart 8 am arriving Sangla by late lunch. Check into deluxe Swiss tents on the banks of the Baspa river. Evening free at the camp. Overnight Sangla.

Day 4. SANGLA / CHITKUL / SANGLA :
After early breakfast we drive to Chitkul, the highest and last motorable point in the Baspa river valley (Sangla valley) close to Tibet. Rest of the day free to relax at the riverside or go trout fishing. Overnight camp.

Day 5. SANGLA / PUH ( 3 hrs ) :
After breakfast drive to Puh. Enroute we stop at Recong Peo where we get permits checked/verified. Then proceed to Puh along the Satluj river in the rain shadow area of upper Kinnaur. Visit the ancient village. Overnight camp.

Day 6. PUH / KAZA ( 5 hrs ) :
After early breakfast cross into the Spiti area. Amidst the moonscape visit the famous Tabo monastery and the Dankar monastery. Overnight camp.

Day 7. KAZA :
Today, we visit Kye monastery and Kibber village which is believed to be one of the highest villages in the world (14600 ft ). Return to Kaza. Overnight camp.

Day 8. KAZA / CHHOTADHARA ( 4 hrs ) :
After breakfast, drive to Chhotadhara. We drive through barren grey landscape with occasional green villages which appear like an oasis in the desert. Overnight camp.

Day 9. CHHOTADHARA / JISPA ( 6 hrs ) :
Today, we cross from Spiti to Lahaul valley over the Kumzum pass (15100 ft) and then drive to the principal town of Lahaul, Keylong. Visit the Khardang monastery, then proceed to camp at Jispa where we stay overnight.

Day 10. JISPA / SARCHU ( 6 hrs ) :
After early breakfast, we drive through Lahaul. We pass the Darcha amphitheater, Zingzingbar and cross the Baralacha pass ( Approx. 16000 ft ). Camp at Sarchu and stay overnight.

Day 11. SARCHU / LEH ( 6 hrs ) :
After early breakfast, we commence the last lap of our overland safari. We drive past Lachalung La, Pang, Debring and the beautiful Kyangshu plains. We cross Taglang La at 17479 ft, the highest point of our safari and the second highest motorable pass in the world. We drive past Upshi and come into Leh for the night at hotel Thongsol / Highland I ShambaIa.

Day 12. LEH :
This morning is for relaxation after the exciting safari. In the afternoon proceed on a sightseeing tour of Leh town with guide, visit Sankar Gompa, Old Leh Palace, now in ruins, city gompa, Namgyal Tsemo. Overnight Leh.

Day 13. LEH :
Today, we proceed on full day tour of the major Gompas of the Indus valley. We visit the Shey, Thiksey and the most famous Hemis gompa. Overnight Leh.

Day 14. LEH / DELHI:
Early transfer to Leh airport to board flight for Delhi. Arrive Delhi.

Note :
This itinerary could also optionally start Delhi / Shimla I Sarahan / Sangla and onwards.

Best time :
July - Mid October.

 

 

Kumaon Panorama

Day 1. DELHI / SAATTAL :
Arrive Saattal by lunch. Post lunch proceed for a half day tour to include Bhimtal and Naukuchiatal. Return to the camp by evening . Bonfire and dinner at the lakeside. Overnight camp.

Day 2. SAATAL / CHAMPAWAT VIA RITHA SAHIB :
After an early breakfast, drive to Champawat. Enroute, visit Ritha Sahib. Arrive by lunch. Post lunch, proceed for a half day excursion to Mayawati to visit Swami Vivekanand ashram. Return to hotel I guest house by dinner. Overnight Champawat.

Day 3. CHAMPAWAT / PITHORAGARH :
After breakfast, drive to Pithoragarh. Enroute, visit Mt. Abbot. Arrive by lunch and check into hotel I camp. Post lunch visit to valley view point and sunset point. Return to the camp by evening bonfire dinner and ovenight camp / hotel.

Day 4. PITHORAGARH / CHAKORI :
After breakfast, drive to Chakori. Enroute visit Patal Bhubneshwar, the famous cave temple. Arrive Chakori by lunch and check into the hotel I tourist bungalow. Post lunch proceed for a nature walk into the deer park. Return by evening dinner and overnight Chakori.

Day 5. CHAKORI / ALMORA :
After a leisurely breakfast, drive to Almora to arrive by lunch and check into the hotel. Rest of the day free in Almora.Overnight Almora.

 

Day 6. ALMORA / RANIKHET :
After breakfast, drive to Ranikhet. Arrive by noon and check into the hotel. Post lunch proceed for a half day city sightseeing tour. Dinner and overnight Ranikhet.

Day 7. RANIKHET / NAINITAL :
After a leisurely breakfast, drive to Nainital. Enroute visit Kainichi temple. Arrive by lunch and check into hotel. Rest of the day free for boating/shopping. Overnight Nainital.

Day 8. NAINITAL :
After breakfast, proceed for a half day excursion to Hanumangarhi. Arrive by lunch. Post lunch half day sightseeing tour. Overnight Nainital.

Day 9. NAINITAL / DELHI :
AM - free in Nainital.
PM - drive to Delhi to arrive by evening.

Optional
Delhi / Nainital / Ranikhet / Corbett I Shivpuri ( Ganga Banks ) / Chilla / Fort Unchagaon / Delhi

Extension
Day 1. Nainital / Corbett
2. Corbett:
Half day jeep safari and rest of the day free for nature walk.

3. Corbett / Delhi

The Forbidden Land
ALONG THE TIBET ROAD

In the picturesque Himalayan range lie strange cultures. Here, breathtaking murals, crafts and art treasures have been well preserved over centuries along with its ageless and priceless monasteries. Splattered with glaciers and turquoise blue lakes, rivers and streams, this exotic land was, till recently, closed to tourists.

Day 1. DELHI / KULLU :
Arrive by morning flight and transfer to hotel in Manali. Post lunch tour of the Naggar Castle and the Roerich art gallery. Overnight Manali.


Day 2. MANALI / CHOTADHARA ( 5 hrs) :
Drive past Rohtang La pass and into the Lahaul valley. Arriving Chotadhara by lunch.


Day 3. CHOTADHARA / KAZA (3 to 4 hrs) :
Interesting drive past one of the highest motorable passes, Kumzum La ( 4590 m ), believed to be guarded by the Goddess Kumzum. Visitors stick coins on a big rock believed to be sacred. Arrive Kaza by lunch. Overnight hotel at Kaza.


Day 4. IN KAZA :
Day return excursion to Kye and Kibber, near the highest in the world, (4270 m) to view the 11th century gompa. This houses a number of monks and nuns and has ancient and rare books, manuscripts, and murals on Buddhism. Serves as a training ground for lamas. Also visit Sankar monastery. Overnight Kaza.


Day 5. KAZA / TABO / NAKO ( 3 hrs ) :
Drive past Tabo, one of the most important Buddhist monasteries, next only to the "Tholing Gompa" in Tibet. Situated on the banks of the Spiti river, it is flanked by lofty hills. Arrive Nako by lunch. Nako ( 3662m ) is the highest and largest village of Kinnaur in the Hangrang valley, famous for its lake and ice skating. Overnight hotel I camp.


Day 6. NAKO / KALPA/

 

SANGLA ( 4 to 5 hrs ) :
Fascinating drive offering breathtaking views of the gigantic Mount Kinner Kailash - the abode of Shiva. Arrive Sangla by late lunch, located in the charming Baspa valley.Overnight Wanderlust Swiss Camp on the banks of the Baspa river.


Day 7. SANGLA / CHITKUL / SANGLA :
Day return excursion to Chitkul, Indian village before Tibet or optionally go trout fishing in the Baspa river.Overnight Sangla.


Day 8. SANGLA / SARAHAN ( 2 - 3 hrs ) :
Morning free to explore the fort and later drive to Sarahan arriving by lunch. Check into hotel Srikhand. Evening tour of the 2000 year old Bhimakali temple, a marvellous combination of both Hindu and Buddhist styles of architecture overlooking the Sutlej valley. Sarahan also offer breathtaking views of the "Srikhand Mahadev." Overnight Sarahan.


Day 9. SARAHAN / SHIMLA ( 5 - 6 hrs ) :
Drive along the Sutlej river past numerous waterfalls and streams and the famous village of Rampur and Narkanda. Check into hotel. Overnight Shimla.


Day 10. SHIMLA / NALAGARH (4 hrs) :
Morning tour of the infamous mall and the viceroy lodge. Post lunch, drive to Nalagarh fort palace. Evening at leisure to explore the ambience of this beautiful hilltop palace resort. Overnight Nalagarh.


Day 11. NALAGARH / DELHI :
Morning, explore the fort and the orchard Machan of the former ruler of Nalagarh. Arrive Delhi ( 6 pm ) in the evening.


Options and Extensions
1. Trek in the Spiti Valley Kaza - Pin valley - Schichiling - Yangthang - Akba ( Ribla ) - Chitkul - Sangla (7days).
2. Trek to Chandratal lake.


Possible Variation
DELHI / NALAGARH / NARKANDA / SANGLA / CHITKUL / PUH / KAZA / CHOTADHARA / JISPA / SARCHU / LEH / DELHI (14 days)
DELHI / NALAGARH / KOTGARH / SARAHAN / CHITKUL / KALPA / TABO / CHOTADHARA / MANALI / DELHI

High Road to Ladakh

DELHI / NALAGARH / MANALI / JISPA / SARCHU / LEH / PANGONG TSO LAKE / DELHI

Day 1. DELHI / NALAGARH ( 5 to 6 hrs ) :
Depart for Nalagarh. Arrive at this stunningly beautiful heritage resort at the gateway in Himachal. This fortress palace rises above a 10 acre estate of forest and orchard and is built on 5 levels with well manicured green areas. Evening at leisure to explore the ambience of this beautiful palace resort.


Day 2. NALAGARH / MANALI ( 6 to7 hrs ) :
Morning, visit Ramgarh fort on a hilltop. The fort commands a breathtaking view of the plains and towns of the Punjab as well as the perennially snow clad peaks of the Himalayas. Later drive to Manali. Check into hotel. Evening at leisure. Overnight Manali.


Day 3. IN MANALI :
Full day tour visiting the Hadimba Devi temple in a forest clearing and the Naggar castle, a fine example of timber - bonded building that offers stunning views of the valley. Also close by is the Roerich Art Gallery. Evening, visit the bazaar to view carpet and shawl weavers near the Tibetan monastery. Overnight Manali.


Day 4. MANALI / JISPA ( 6 hrs ) :
Drive to Jispa via Rohtang La and Keylong. Enroute visit Triloknath temple. Overnight tented camp.

Day 5. JISPA / SARCHU ( 6

 

hrs ) :
Drive to Sarchu. Fabulous scenery. Overnight tented camp.


Day 6. SARCHU / LEH (7 hrs) :
Drive to Leh. Check into A category hotel. Day at leisure. Overnight Leh.


Day 7. IN LEH :
Full day tour of the Hemis, Shey and Thikse monasteries. Evening visit the Leh palace. Overnight Leh.


Day 8. LEH / PANGONG TSO LAKE (7 hrs) :
Drive to Pangong Tso lake via Thak monastery crossing Changla pass ( 17500 ft ) and Tangtse rock carvings. Evening at leisure. Overnight camp at Lukung near the lake shore.


Day 9. PANGONG TSO LAKE :
Day free to explore the lake and its environs. Overnight camp.


Day 10. PANGONGTSO LAKE-LEH ( 6hrs ) :
Drive back to Leh. Evening at leisure in the bazaar or visit Stok palace and Sankar gompa. Overnight Leh.


Day 11. Fly Leh / Delhi.
Options
1. Tour of Nubra valley or Tso - Moriri lake instead of Pangong Tso lake.
2. Numerous trekking trails from Leh.


Best time :
July to mid October.

Gujarat North West

ISLAND AND WILD LIFE SAFARi

Remote and strange could best sum up this unique experience. This region remains unsurpassed in terms of beauty, exuberance and colour that no one with a taste for adventure, excitement and the exotic would like to miss. Breathtaking vistas, intriguing history, abundance of tradition, colour and enchantment. This is the cohesive western Gujarat.


GUJARAT ISLAND AND WILDLIFE SAFARI

Day 1. AHMEDABAD / BASADA / SAFARI CAMP :
Arrive Ahmedabad from Delhi / Bombay. Transfer to Dasada. Lunch at Fatima Manzil castle. Evening, jeep drive across the Rann of Kutch in open desert plains or optional excursion to the Modhera Sun Temple. Overnight safari camp.


Day 2. RANN OF KUTCH / WILDLIFE :
Jeep drive to the exquisitely carved gateway of the 11th century Solanki Rajput fortress that protected the Zinzuwadia township at the edge of the Rann of Kutch from where your walking tour / camel safari / horse back journey begins. Trek to Kharaghoda and after a hot lunch, continue to Bajana creek, where you will enjoy watching huge flocks of flamingoes, pelicans, cranes, storks and other attractive birds. Dinner and night camp beside the marshes and watch pelicans and night herons fishing in the moonlight.


Day 3. VILLAGE SAFARI / TREK :
Proceed through desert scrublands and salt plains- the last stronghold of the Asiatic Onager ( Wild Ass ) in the Indian lowlands - to the Dehgam village, populated by Rabari cattle grazers, Muslim cameleers, Bharvvad shepherds, goat herds and other colourful communities. The village has a variety of attractive dwellings from the picturesque kooba huts of the Bajania nomads to pastoral houses ornamented with mirror inlays and embroideries. Night camp in the village, which has a good view of the salt flats.


Day 4. TREK / WILDLIFE :
Continue trekking / riding to Bardala, another colourful village bedecked with mirror inlays and embroidery. The trek leads through some interesting grasslands inhabited by blue bull, wolf, desert fox, Indian fox and Desert hare. Proceed on foot to where you will see asphalt roads for the first time and then by vehicle to the Dhangadhra circuit house / Dasada safari camp.


Day 5. NALSAROVAR BIRD SANCTUARY / BOAT EXCURSION :
Proceed to Nalsarovar bird sanctuary for a country boat excursion among thousands of colourful birds. Picnic lunch at a reedy island populated by the nomadic Bharwad shepherds and resident fishing tribes. Proceed to KP Farms garden resort for buffet lunch, swimming and recreation. Dinner, folk dance performances and night halt at the Palace Utelia.


Day 6. PALACE RETREAT :

Proceed for a day of rest and recreation at the splendid Wankaner palace. It has a few vintage cars, swimming pool, paintings and a small guest house / Gondal Yuvraj's palace ( has a fine collection of Vintage cars, horse carriages and the Maharajah's original saloons, besides its own swimming pool, squash court and motor boats, good continental cooking and spacious rooms ) / Limbdi palace ( has a museum of relics, motor boats, swimming pool and accommodation in lakeside cottages ).


Day 7. REEFWALKING TRIP :
Proceed to Okha and, time permitting, leave for a reefwalking trip along some of the finest coral formations on India's northern coast. Night halt at a guest house / camp on a white beach.


Day 8. MOTOR BOAT CRUISE :
Travel in motor boats to Danni Pt. and set up camp on the island, fringed by rock pools full of marine life and offshore waters, good for swimming.


Day 9. MOTOR BOAT CRUISE :
Cruise to another island, with excellent coral reef formations, mangrove swamp forests white sanded beaches and fishing people. Night camp.

Day 10. CRUISE TO GULF OF KUTCH :
Cruise to the Gulf of Kutch mainland and night halt at hotel Aram / The President.


Day 11. MARINE CRUISE :
Cruise again to the most scenic island, selected from the archipelago of 42, noted for its variety of white beaches, rocky shores, coral reefs, mangrove forests, lagoons. Except for the lighthouse staff, the island is completely uninhabited. Among the marine life present here are 200 species of mollusk ( including. octopus, sea hare, conch shell etc ), echinoderms ( star fish, brittle star, sea urchin etc ),150 species of reef fish ( puffer or reef joker, butterfly, parrot etc ) and one of the world's largest congregations of shore birds. It is also worth watching for dolphins, finless tortoise and green sea turtle surfacing for air. Return to Jamnagar for night halt.


Day 12. JUNAGARH :
Travel to Junagarh and see the Uparkot walled fortress ( believed to be older than the 9th century, when its recorded history begins ), the 3rd to 5th century Buddhist caves, the Rang Mahal Palace, the silver doored Maqbara royal mausoleum and the spiral staircased minarets. Overnight hotel.


Day 13. JUNAGARH :
Trek through jungle passes and ascend the pinnacle of the 3500 ft Girnar peak, sightseeing the complex of Jain and Hindu temples, dating back to the 12th century, and the Muslim Dargah. Night camp on the peak.


Day 14. JUNGLE TREK :
Descend through spectacular wooded valleys and night camp at a forest clearing at the base of the peak, where your sleep may be interrupted by the roaring of lions and panthers or the alarm calls of the Sambhar.


Day 15. GIR LION SANCTUARY :
Continue to Sasan Gir and drive in search of the Asiatic Lion and other endangered wildlife. Night halt at Taj group Lion Safari Lodge / Cottage resort.


Day 16.
Transfer to Ahmedabad to board flight to Bombay or Delhi.


Options
Proceed to Bhavnagar on Day 16 for meals and night halt at the Nilambagh Palace / hotel Jubilee / hotel Blue Hill. See the huge colony of roosting and nesting storks at Pill gardens. Drive and ascend next day to the Palitana Jain temples, considered among the most exquisite marble temples in lndia. Or two full days of rest and recreation at the Diu island, which has a lovely palm fringed beach, fishing villages, a huge 16th century Portuguese fortress with cannons, arches, tidal moats and the largest battlements along India's west coast. Overnight at the Samudra beach resort.


Best Time to Visit :
October to April