Dharamsala and the Dalai Lama
- Easy trekking in the beautiful Dhaula Dhar
- A journey to Tibet-in-Exile
- Brilliant first taste of the Himalaya
- Meet and take tea with Gaddi shepherds
- Visit the potteries at Andretta
North of the plains of Punjab and rising to around 5000 metres, the southernmost foothills of the Indian Himalaya are known as the Dhaula Dhar. Here, amongst these 'White Mountains' the British Raj established several hill-stations, including Dharamsala and the adjacent McLeodganj, which is today home to Tibet's popular leader, the Dalai Lama. After a day's exploration of this colourful Buddhist place of pilgrimage, we trek through pretty villages and high pastures on the south side of the ranges, following trails used for centuries by the local 'Gaddi' shepherds and their flocks. Gaining height gradually, and walking for an average of just 4 hours each day, we enjoy a series of scenic camping places, with lots of opportunity to meet friendly villagers. From our highest camp, at Triund (2850m) there are particularly fine views of the peaks and ridges of the Dhaula Dhar. This trip offers a perfect blend of spiritual and physical enlightenment.
Is this holiday for you?
A short and highly scenic encounter with ancient culture. The holiday has 5 days of trekking at an EASY grade (around 4 hours per day on well-established village trails). The altitude attained on the trip is relatively modest and should cause few problems. Overall this holiday offers an excellent mix of walking and cultural interaction which will appeal both to the experienced trekker seeking a relaxing holiday, and to novices looking for a gentle introduction to Himalayan trekking.
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