Key Information: Tour Duration: 16
day(s) Group Size: 7
- 12
people Destination(s):India Specialty Categories:Mountain/Rock Climbing Season: April - October Airfare Included: No Tour Customizable: Yes Minimum Per Person Price: 2500 US Dollar (USD) Maximum Per Person Price: 2500 US Dollar (USD)
For the more adventurous trekker we offer the challenge of this expedition. The Great Himalayan National Park has numerous peaks which are unclimbed and unnamed. With an average altitude of 5000 meters, these peaks have never been tried by any mountaineer due to their remoteness and permissions from the Park Authority. Mountaineering is an experience and education that awakens and makes one aware of the splendid diversity that nature has to offer to us. Mountaineering inspires a man to attain that elusive peak within himself. Sunshine’s expert team, with the help of the Western Himalayan Mountaineering Institute and East West Rescue will be responsible for the much needed planning, specialized equipment, technical guidance as well as expertise on mountain slopes.
Your Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival New Delhi Airport. Met by our representative and escorted to Hotel Inderprastha at Cannaught Place, New Delhi. Afternoon enjoy a sightseeing tour of old Delhi. Overnight at Hotel Inderprastha.
Day 2: Afternoon departure by Jeep to Nalagrah Fort (5 hours). The Fort is located on a hillock at the foothills of the mighty Himalayas affording a panoramic view of the Shivalik hills beyond the Sirsa River. Nalagarh rises above a 10-acre estate of forest and orchard built on five levels, three of which have well manicured green areas. Evening at leisure. Overnight at Nalagarh Fort.
Day 3: Nalagarh to Kullu (5 hours). Transfer to Apple Valley Hotel for an overnight stay. Evening introduction to the Park through a slide show and personal meeting with the Parks Director who will brief you about the history and the flora and fauna of the Park. Evening at leisure. Preparation for the trek etc. Overnight at Apple Valley Hotel.
Day 4: Manikaran-Kalga-Khirganaga hot water springs. Leave early in the morning and drive to Manikaran (1700 m) and then on to a newly opened road to Barsheni. A small trek leads you to the village of Kalga for lunch. Kalga (2200 m) is a small clearing in the thick pine forest. Kalga-Khir Ganga (4 hours), the trek through the forest to Khir Ganga (2850 m) is a pleasant walk and includes one short steep climb. Khir Ganga is a Hindu holy place with a hot water spring, a small temple to Lord Shiva and a bathing tank. This is the last chance to take a natural hot water bath on the trek. Overnight in tents.
Day 5: Khir Ganga-TundaBhoj (4-5 hours). The trail is still within the limit of pine trees and is heavily wooded on this section also. TundaBhoj (3200 m) is the upper limit for the pine forests and now on there is an abundance of Bhoj (Birch) trees. Camp in a green meadow.
Day 6: TundaBhoj-Thakur Kuan (4-5 hours). This is the first challenging day on the trek. The trail is steep and hard in some sections close to Thakur Kuan (3400 m). This area falls within the Kanawer Wildlife Sanctuary and one may encounter small Himalayan Brown Bears at lower elevations and Wild Sheep or the Snow Leopard at higher altitudes.
Day 7: Thakur Kuan-Mantalai Lake (6-7 hours). Trek through flower speckled meadows to mysterious Mantalai Lake. There are some very unusual rock bridges on the way to Mantalai and there is an abundance of quartz and semi precious gems around here.
Day 8: Program I: Climb to the Pin Parvati Pass and explore the peaks around that area. Program II: We take a left turn and venture into an unknown valley probably towards a base camp for an unnamed peak which is roughly about 5500 m. Which program we take depends on the weather and the condition of the team.
Days 9-14: Program I: Would continue on to the Pin Parvati Pass and then on to the village of Mud. The program would culminate into with a jeep safari of the lunar “Spiti valley” visiting the monasteries and high lakes on to Manali. Program II: These days are kept reserve for scaling whatever peak we decide on. One can have a base camp at about a day's distance from Mantalai Lake. For scaling the peak one will have contour maps which are very accurate. We would also have all necessary equipment like a hyperbolic chamber, helicopter rescue and trained mountaineering instructors from the WHMI. Since no information is available on the above peaks one is not sure about the time scale unless the team explores the area slightly in advance.
Day 15: Morning Flight from Kullu to Delhi.
Day 16: End of tour or an extension tour to Agra and Jaipur according to your preference.
