Trekking in Dharamsala

After breakfast, we visit the fortified city of Old Delhi, with its crowded streets, buzzing with activity and still under the influence of the Mughal civilization that once ruled over the ramparts of the majestic Red Fort. We visit Jama Masjid Delhi- the largest 17th century mosque in India -, Chandni Chowk - the typical Indian market always full of activity -, and Rajghat - the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi (also called the "Father of the Nation"). We notably visit New Delhi, and pass by the Presidential Palace, the Administrative Buildings and up to the impressive India Gate.

We arrive at Pathankot early in the morning where we meet our driver at the railway station. Then we head towards the foothills of the Himalayas, in the direction of Dharamsala and the Tibetan Buddhist settlement of McLeod Ganj. Upon arrival, transfer to McLeod Ganj and check-in at our hotel.

In the afternoon, we have a guided tour of the city and its surroundings which includes a visit to the Dalai Lama Complex, the Tibetan Library and St. John's Church. The evening is free for exploring the local bazaar of this beautiful city.

This morning we meet our accompanying team and begin our trek. We walk from McLeod Ganj (1760m) to Kareri Village (1,985m). This gentle ascent takes us through the villages of traditional Gaddi shepherds where the landscapes are dominated by terraced rice and barley fields. We set up our camp at a magnificent site, near a river and a water mill. The rest of the day is free to explore the village.

Walking Time: 4 hours

Distance: 13 Kms

After breakfast, we continue our trek from Kareri towards the village of Barlai (2475m). We progress through village fields and rhododendron forests. These forests are home to pheasants, bears and leopards (the latter live in remote areas of the forest and are therefore not visible). Around noon, we stop for lunch before resuming our trek which takes us to our evening camp in the village of Barlai.
Trekking time: 4 hours
Distance: 8 Kms

Today will be a slightly longer day, but very rich in emotion. We cross a forest reserve overlooking the beautiful Kangra valley. Our destination for the day is the village of Dharamkot at approximately 2,000m altitude. This village is inhabited by the Gaddis and its location offers more spectacular views of the Dhauladhar. Dharamkot is said to have served as a retirement home for English artist Alfred Hallett, whose paintings are still displayed in Dharamsala. We set up our camp outside the village.
Walking Time: 5 hours
Distance: 10 Kms

After breakfast, we continue our ascent to Triund, the highest point of our trek (2,850m). The path from Dharamkot takes us approximately 3 hours through deodar and rhododendron forests until we reach a ridge where we have superb views of the snow-capped Dhauladhar mountains. The panorama extends across the Kangra valley and as far as McLeod Ganj. We camp on the ridge.

This morning, we return to McLeod Ganj. It takes us approximately 3 to 4 hours to cover these 10 kilometers and thus conclude this hiking adventure.
Walking Time: 4 hours
Distance: 10 Kms

Today, we are heading to Andretta. This small village in Kangra, with its mild climate and Himalayan environment steeped in beauty, is widely known as an artistic enclave for pottery. From all sides of this quiet place, ideal for meditation, inspiration emerges, from the snow-capped mountains that surround it to the vast plains stretching to the horizon. We visit a workshop to see the potters' work and the sale of their products. We spend the night in a restored private home.

Today, we head down to the town of Palampur surrounded by magnificent tea gardens. It is considered the tea capital of north-west Inde. Upon arrival, we visit the tea gardens to discover the tea production process before having our lunch in Palampur. This hill station is not only known for its numerous tea gardens and rice fields, but also for its colonial architecture and temples. In the afternoon, we continue to Pragpur, a village listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, where we stay at the «Judge's Court», a property over 300 years old. A magnificent cottage sits in its own gardens, giving us the feeling of being in the time of the Raj.

After breakfast, in the morning, you can relax at the hotel or explore the region. The town of Pragpur is very interesting and has largely remained unchanged for over a century, with paved streets, an ornamental reservoir and its houses built in stone with beautiful slate roofs.

In the afternoon, we take a scenic drive through the Himalayan foothills towards Pathankot where we board the train for an overnight journey to Delhi.