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Ian BrownLocation
Terrain
Difficulty
Accommodation and Meals
Hotel, Wild Camping, Overnight train
Duration
12
Meeting Point
London
Annual Leave
6
Group Size
16
Seasons
April - May and Mid Sept - Mid Nov
Walking Distance
60km
Trekking in the Himalayan Mountain Range
Learn about the Gaddi community as you trek amongst them
Visit the Taj Mahal and the Akshardham Temple
Sleep under the stars
All the info you need
Trip Details
Join us for an unforgettable trek, which starts in Dharamsala, the residence of the Dalai Lama and the heart of the Tibetan community.
From here, our journey unfolds on foot, leading us through the captivating foothills of the magnificent Himalayas. En route, we'll traverse rhododendron forests, explore Hindu settlements, and visit Buddhist Monasteries.
This challenging five-day trek entails 6-9 hours of daily walking. It concludes at the magnificent Taj Mahal, one of the World's Seven Wonders. The trek blends cultural exploration and breathtaking landscapes, with moderate distances and some demanding elevations. The maximum altitude reached is 3550m.
Trip Details
Discover the finer details of this exceptional Dalai Lama Trek
Welcome to Delhi!
Our friendly local guides will welcome you to India and then take you to your hotel to prepare for the days ahead.
If time permits you can visit the popular nearby Monkey Temple of Hanuman and India Gate, the largest war memorial in the country. We'll get a good night's sleep at the hotel.
Accommodation and Meals
3* Hotel Delhi and dinner.
After breakfast you will be taken to the to the stunning Akshardham Temple. A hidden gem, it is adorned with silver gems, beautifully reflecting the reverence in this country for religion. This is very much off the beaten track and it is a favourite among local worshippers.
After a late lunch we'll catch the air conditioned overnight train to Panthankot; be prepared for the vibrant chaos of this bustling station! Prepare for a unique and immersive travel experience on board.
Accommodation and Meals
Overnight Sleeper train and full board
You'll arrive at Pathankot station early, and will enjoy delicious breakfast at a charming open-air restaurant and then head to your hotel in Dharamsala.
After lunch there will be an opportunity to visit the enchanting village of Mcleod Ganj (Upper Dharamsala). Here, explore the serene residence and temple of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The village exudes a laid-back atmosphere, offering colourful Tibetan crafts in its vibrant markets. You might even catch a glimpse of the Dalai Lama himself.
Tonight, you'll receive a trek briefing before dinner and enjoy a tranquil evening to prepare for the challenge ahead.
Accommodation and Meals
3* Hotel in Dharamsala and full board
After breakfast, we transfer to the start of the Dalai Lama trek! The first part of the route follows undulating terrain until we reach Satobari Village, before descending through pine forests to Ghere Village. We stop at a mountain stream for lunch and a paddle before embarking on a steep two hour ascent to Kareri Village, our camp is nestled in a beautiful valley next to the Laund River.
12km/1900m
Accommodation and Meals
Camp Kareri Village and full board
After our first night under the stars, our journey continues with a gradual ascent along a stunning trail. Traverse through charming villages, open meadows, and fragrant pine forests.
A brief descent brings us to a serene mountain stream, where we stop for a well-deserved lunch break. Refresh by the stream before heading up a steep ascent to our campsite in Bal.
15km/2330m
Accommodation and Meals
Camping Bal Village and full board
This morning, we'll cross a long suspension bridge heads into rhododendron and pine forests. There will be a short break at a local 'chai' (tea) shop where we can take in the magnificent surroundings. We will see the local Gaddi Tribal people taking their cattle to the high pastures of Lak and Triund.
After lunch, our ascent continues to our camp nestled on an alpine meadow where there views of the snow-capped peaks of the Dhauladhar mountain range are breathtaking.
14km/2995m
Accommodation and Meals
Camping Triund and full board
Our trek today is a challenging ascent to Laka Got, situated at the tip of a glacier. We will trek on the glacier to reach Lahes Cave - an overnight shelter used by the shepherds and their sheep. We return to Triund for our last night under the stars.
10km/3550m
Accommodation and Meals
Camping Triund and full board
After breakfast, we start the final leg of our trek, traversing a grassy ridge with 360 views of the majestic snow-capped peaks.
The final steep descent leads us to the Bhagsu Nallaha stream, which we will cross using the boulders. The last push is towards Bhagsu Nag which marks the end of our trekking adventure. There will be time to visit the divine temple and natural springs before transferring back to Dharamsala.
12km
Accommodation and Meals
3* Hotel in Dharamsala and full board
We have the morning at leisure to relax or explore the Tibetan market and monasteries. In the afternoon, we'll take the cable car from Mcleodganj to Dharamsala and visit the tea plantation and world-famous cricket stadium. We head to Pathankot train station to catch the overnight sleeper train back to Delhi.
Accommodation and Meals
Overnight train and full board
We arrive in Delhi and transfer to our hotel in Agra. This afternoon we will visit the Historical Agra Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that stands as a testament to the architectural brilliance of the Mughal Empire. Immerse yourself in the stunning red sandstone architecture, showcasing the intricate craftsmanship of the Mughal era.
Accommodation and Meals
3* Hotel in Agra and full board
An early start to visit The Taj Mahal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, stands as an unparalleled testament to love and architectural excellence. Built by Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal, the Taj Mahal is renowned for its white marble facade adorned with intricate carvings and precious gem inlays. A truly fitting finish to our incredible adventure.
We head back to Delhi airport for our evening flight home.
Accommodation and Meals
Breakfast and lunch
Trip Details
This expedition is brand new for 2024. The best times to go are between April and May and September to November.
Trip Details
In a nutshell, almost everything!
This is what you will need to pay for/ buy/source yourself.
It is important that you read the itinerary carefully, and take account of the rating we have given it.
Although our challenges are not technical, they do require a good degree of physical fitness. The conditions will require stamina and strength, which you should recognise and train for. This will be a much better experience if you are fit and prepared. You should feel comfortable walking 6-8 hours per day.
In setting the maximum size of our groups, we take a number of factors into account.
Altitude, degree of difficulty, the terrain, the climate and time of year, all determine the maximum group size. Sometimes it will be 20, sometimes it will be 8-14, but safety is always our priority.
The minimum number to participate is 2. You will be accompanied by a Tribal Tracks UK Leader, Mountain Leader qualified, as well as supported by our local, in-country guides.
It is a requirement of Tribal Tracks booking terms and conditions that each supporter must hold their own travel insurance which covers the trip and the activities they are doing.
We advise you to put insurance in place as soon as possible. Your insurance must be valid and in date, covering the entire period that you are travelling for, including the return journey home. It should cover medical and personal accident risks, and should include repatriation costs and air ambulance or helicopter rescue services, where appropriate. We are happy to help you if you have any queries about this or have any difficulties.
Tribal Tracks has 100% Financial Protection and has a trust account with the Protected Trust Service, member number 5566.
This means that all client monies paid to Tribal Tracks are held in our dedicated trust account, which is supervised by an independent trustee. This means that in the very unlikely event that Tribal Tracks ceases to trade, your money is safe. For more information, please visit this link. Any flights booked for you by Tribal Tracks will be ATOL protected under our own ATOL certificate.
Tribal Tracks considers the safety of all of its participants and staff to be a top priority, and as such we have thorough safety systems in place.
In the event of an injury, we have an evacuation plan in place for all elements of the trek route. We do ask that you look after yourself during the trek in the following way, as this will help avoid unnecessary problems:
We know that the unexpected can happen.
While you are away, things can happen at home and people may need to get in contact with you. This can be tricky when you are in remote areas. So, shortly before departure, we provide you with an Emergency Procedure document to distribute to your nearest and dearest. This sets out how to contact Tribal Tracks and the steps Tribal Tracks will then take to get in contact with you.
It is really important that you are well prepared for your physical challenge and that you are confident that you will be able to fully participate.
Although our leaders are well trained to deal with different capabilities, if they have any concerns about someone’s ability to safely partake in the trek, or their impact on other people’s enjoyment, we authorise them to take necessary action which, in some circumstances, may involve asking someone to step out of the trek. Although this is a very rare occurrence, by booking this trip you agree to section 11 of our Booking Conditions which clearly states that our leaders have the authority to do this. In these circumstances, we will ensure anyone sitting out is safely provided for and offered alternative options where possible. Refunds will not be provided for activities missed and customers may be liable for additional costs incurred.
At Tribal Tracks, Responsible Travel is enormously important to us, and our commitment to responsible travel is evidenced in every itinerary that we prepare.
Core to our business is the belief that holidays can and should be enjoyable to the traveller but should be conducted in a socially, environmentally and economically responsible manner which brings benefit to local communities. This is implemented through a variety of measures which can be found in our Responsible Travel policy - http://www.tribaltracks.co.uk/responsible-travel-policy. We encourage you to read this and to play your own part in travelling responsibly.
Some charity trips will offer two models of payment, self-funded or minimum fundraising. What is the difference?
With self-funded, you pay the cost of the trip yourself (the deposit and the balance) and then on top of this, you fundraise for the charity independently. This means that 100% of the money you raise goes to the charity.
Minimum fundraising works slightly differently.
You pay the cost of the deposit yourself. Then, in addition you must pledge to raise a specific sum for the charity, called the Minimum Sponsorship Sum. This is specified on the booking form and is the sum you must raise after you have paid the deposit yourself. You fundraise for this amount. Then, at least ten weeks before you depart, you must give the charity at least 80% of the Minimum Sponsorship Sum. At that point, your place on the trip is guaranteed. The balance of 20% follows within a specified time after the conclusion of the trek (usually 4 weeks).
If you do not reach your fundraising target, you have the option of self-funding to reach your target or forfeiting your deposit and not going on the trip. Our advice is to begin fundraising as soon as you can and the charity will be able to help you with this!
Ground only trips
If your trip is based on a ground only price you will need to arrange your own international flights. You can booked flights 11 months prior to departure. If you would like Tribal Tracks to book your flights they will need to be paid in full when confirmed.
Trip Details
Trip Details
Trip Details
If you want to extend your stay, just ask and we can help you plan an exciting Indian odyssey.
Let’s get you on the right track!