For mountain lovers and the vertically inclined
the Himalayas represent nothing less than the crowning apex of nature's
grandeur. Here dramatic forested gorges rise to skylines of snow-capped
glaciated peaks through a landscape that ranges from high-altitude
desert to dripping rhododendron forest. Home to some 40 million people,
this is no alpine wilderness, but rather a vibrant mosaic of peoples,
cultures and communities, criss-crossed by ancient trading and
pilgrimage routes that offer their own unique inspiration. Test your
mettle against some of the world's most audacious and dangerous roads,
or set a more measured pace on a trek through yak pastures to prayer
flag-strewn passes haunted by snow leopards and red pandas. Stretching
in a 2500km-long arc across
Asia from
Kashmir to
Kathmandu,
Lhasa to
Ladakh, the Himalayan range is a big place. Focus your pilgrimage on one of the following dream trips.
Ladakh – India's little Tibet
Hidden
over high passes in an arid, largely treeless rain shadow, La
Leh.
dakh is
classic Trans Himalayan scenery: huge khaki-coloured valleys and harsh
rock walls brought alive by the occasional splash of irrigated green.
Traditional Tibetan Buddhist culture remains intact here, with
spectacularly located monasteries that burst into life during medieval
masked dance festivals that have changed little in 500 years. For
travellers there's a bit of everything – epic treks, sparkling
high-altitude mountain lakes and a well developed backpacker
infrastructure based around the capital,
When to go June to September
Getting there Daily flights from
Delhi to Leh, or take the spectacular seasonal high roads over the Himalayas from
Manali or
Srinigar.
Suggested itinerary
Hire a jeep or an Enfield motorbike and drive out to ancient Hemis,
Lamayuru and Thikse monasteries, taking a side trip to the turquoise
lake of Pangong Tso bordering
Tibet; afterwards, do a five-day homestay trek through the Markha Valley.
Off the beaten track alternative Spiti, in neighbouring
Himachal Pradesh, has the same dramatic mountain scenery and monasteries but without the crowds. Trek from village to village with local NGO
Ecosphere and overnight at the incredible monasteries of
Dhankar and
Tabo.
Tibet – roof of the world
The
high Tibetan plateau is the rooftop of Asia, hidden from the Indian
subcontinent behind the ramparts of the Great Himalaya. Despite
Chinese-led modernisation, Tibet's great monasteries still hum with
murmured mantras and the flicker of yak butter lamps. Sublime
landscapes, ranging from rolling grasslands to high-altitude turquoise
lakes, a vibrant Buddhist culture and the friendly and resilient Tibetan
people are the highlights here, as are the views of Everest's North
Face – miles better than anything you'll see in Nepal.
When to go Mid-May to September
Getting there Flights to Lhasa from Kathmandu,
Chengdu,
Beijing and many other cities in
China, or take the world's highest train from China to Lhasa.
Suggested itinerary
Join a requisite tour for the ten-day overland trip from Lhasa to
Kathmandu, stopping at the incredible multistorey stupa (structure
containing Buddhist relics) at
Gyantse and the spectacular medieval monastery at
Sakya.
Off the beaten track alternative Complete
a rugged three-day trek around Asia's most sacred peak, Mt Kailash, in
remote Western Tibet, and then visit the incredible Kashmiri-influenced
art of Tsaparang and the Guge Kingdom, hidden deep in the weirdly eroded
desert gorges of the Sutlej Valley. Freshly paved roads and a new
airport outside Ali make the two-week trip much less arduous than just
two years ago, though you still have to hire transport and a guide
through an agency in Lhasa or Kathmandu.
Nepal – a trekker's paradise
The
best way to experience the mountains is on foot, and Himalayan treks
just don't get any more spectacular or convenient than in
Nepal.
Follow mountain paths past lines of spinning prayer wheels and charming
stone Sherpa or Tamang villages to the foot of jaw-dropping 8000m peaks
like Annapurna or Everest, safe in the knowledge that at the end of the
day you’re guaranteed a cosy bed and hot dinner. There are few better
ways to spend a couple of weeks of your life, at a cost of as little as
US$25 per day. Add on a visit to the medieval cities of the
Kathmandu Valley, once a Himalayan artistic powerhouse.
When to go March, April, October, November
Getting there Fly to Kathmandu and hop on a domestic flight to Lukla for the Everest region.
Pokhara is the launch pad for treks in the Annapurna region.
Suggested itinerary
To trek to Everest Base Camp you need a minimum of 14 days, but we
recommend adding on a four day side visit to the stunning mountain lakes
of the Gokyo valley. Figure in ample time for acclimatisation.
Off the beaten track alternative
The 17-day walk around Manaslu is Nepal's latest (and we'd say
greatest) teahouse trek (you stay in lodges along the way), or go
camping expedition-style on an epic three-week trip to the Dolpo or
Kangchenjunga regions.
Bhutan – the last Shangri-la
As the last surviving great Himalayan kingdom,
Bhutan
has an otherworldly air that seems rooted in another age. Traditional
dress is the norm everywhere, old-growth forest carpets 75% of the
countryside and remote Himalayan peoples like the Layaps and Brokpas
live a life largely untouched by the modern age. Simply put, Bhutan is
like nowhere on earth. The catch? The fixed minimum daily rate of US$250
per person is mandatory, although this does include transport, meals,
guide and accommodation.
When to go March, April, September, October
Getting there Fly to
Paro from Kathmandu, Delhi or Bangkok, or drive overland from neighbouring India.
Suggested itinerary: Explore the delightful
Paro Valley and its iconic
Tiger's Nest Hermitage before driving to the little-visited Haa Valley, the tiny capital of
Thimphu and the sensual fortress-monastery of Punakha. Schedule your visit around one of Bhutan's colourful
tsechus (monastic festivals).
Off the beaten track alternative The tiny Himalayan kingdom of
Mustang
in Nepal comes with a similarly hefty US$500 permit, though you'll get a
chance to explore centuries-old Tibetan architecture and may even gain
an audience with the king.
