Suggested Itinerary India – Golden Triangle

Suggested Itinerary India – Golden Triangle

Next Adventure Ladakh

After having thought a lot I have zeroed in on Ladakh as the next adventure destination. Shall be following the following Itinerary

Day 1:Start from Delhi and drive to Amritsar. Spend the evening visiting the Golden temple twice once before Sunset and once later in the evening.

Day 2:Depart Amritsar for Dharamshala. Arrive Dharamshala later in the day, basically on this day I intend to stop along the way and visit the villages and just enjoying my chai on the road side dhabas. Arrival could be around 1600-1700 hours.

Day 3:This day is kept for visiting Dharamshala and Mcleodganj. Basically just spend time in the monastery and the buddhist way of life.

Day 4:On this day starts the Journey which would take me to Manali which would be my stop for the next 2 nights, basically to aclimatize to the higher altitudes which would be experienced over the next 2 weeks. The journey is a very scenic one and along the way I shall stop at a local restaurant to enjoy the trout and the delicasies. Again the arrival would be around later part of the day.

Day 5:Full day is a rest day for resting and just chilling.

Day 6:Our Adventure starts early morning around 0630 to take us over the Rohtang pass onto Jispa. Today we cross the Tree line and continue to drive towards Jispa. We shall arrive in Jispa later in the day and rest for the rest of the day. Since we have already crossed 3000 metres it is very important to aclimatise as the next day takes us higher.

Day 7:This is probably the first real experience where we can enjoy the countryside over 3000 metres and stop enroute to enjoy our tea and local savouries.
Today night we shall be sleeping in the tents at Sarchu. At close to 4000 metres this is the only place to stay for the night. Most of the tents that I have used over the past few years have been with attached toilets so really deluxe accommodation. In the night the wind howls and it seems that the tents are all going to fly away but they hold on.

Day 8:We start early today to cover over 300 Kms, cross the 2nd highest motorable pass (Around 5200 metres) and in appx: 8-9 hours reach Leh. Enroute we meet the tribals with their pashmina goats. Along the way the normal demand is that they need water as water at that altitude is a luxury. So one can stop anywhere and take pictures but one should show his appreciation by giving away a couple of bottles of water to the locals.
Arrival is around 1600-1700 hours and it is here that one gets a chance to enjoy his first Hot Shower in 3 days... Welcome relief.

Day 9:IN leh to do the Sightseeing. Enjoy the sights of Leh, and surrounding Monasteries. Basically I intend to cover Shey, Hemis Thiksey and Alchi over the next 4 Days till Day 12. In between we leave for alchi for an Overnight as Alchi is a lovely area to experience the Monastery around that belt.

Day 13:This is the day i intend to Depart back for Delhi by Flight, It would be an early morning flight leaving Leh around 0700-0800 hours.

Havent really worked out the hotels as yet but since I have a Month to Plan, shall be doing so. It would all be luxury thru out as you need to have that in this area.

If anyone is interested in this I need a minimum of 6 people, I could plan it for you as well.

Have a great day and Cheers.

Vishal Mehra

Travelling to India!!!

Its that time of the year again when people world over start Planning their Holidays and as has been observed that India tends to feature High on the list of world travellers. There is something about this magnificent country that attracts travellers from around the world to come and visit it.

India today has world class hotels and accommodation. You can get Hotels from US$ 50 per night to US$ 1000/- per night, you can hire a pvt. aircraft, or a Car or travel in local transport for your inter city transportation needs. There are thousands of websites promoting packages and all of them are really here to offer you help in arranging your stay and ensuring it is made more comfortable, you spend more time in enjoying your holiday and experienceing the living cultures for which India is known, than planning it.

Having been a Tour Director myself and having accompanied over 350 groups in the last 20 years I understand the apprehensions that people may have when they travel to India, specially the first time travellers. That is why I am doing this post here, this is just to be a platform for the travellers who stumble upon it to ask their questions and I shall try and answer the same.

Feel free to leave comments and questions and I shall keep on updating this blog. Over the next few days I shall start by explaining some of the places and why they should not be missed by anyone visiting India.

Till then Namaste and good bye!!!

Regards

Vishal

My Passion - Travel

Hi, Thanks for stopping by to read this.

To begin with who am I???

I have been in the Travel Business for the last 19 Years, this is what I love to do, this is my Passion and I am lucky to be doing something I love.

I was 19 when I was first offered a Part time job working at the W.A.C.A The World Airlines Convention for Airliners, which was being Held in New Delhi at the Ashoka Hotel and my Father being the member of the Executive Commitee got me a Part time job, they basically needed some one to run the errands and well I was chosen. For my part I was Happy, I was to get to sleep in a 5 Star hotel, eat the best Gourmet Food and Enjoy the Parties which were held everynight by various Airlines and Tourism Boards. There couldnt have been a better thing for me. It was while working for WACA, they asked me to accompany the 250 Delegates who were going to Agra to visit the Taj Mahal, and that was the Turning point of my life. I knew at that Moment that this was what I wanted to do. So Bugged my Father no end till he spoke to someone and presto I had a Job with a Travel Company and though it was Hard work, I got into lots of Arguments with people 15-20 Years my Senior, it taught me everything that I needed to Know about managing Tour Packages, In those days there were no Computers, so If you wanted to get something you sat and read your Guide Book, worked the Telex machine, Learnt how to work the Fax and our Savior was the Typewriter. All Itineraries and Travel Documentation was Typed. No Softwares, No Excel Sheets, No Word Documents, just type and make a mistake you incurred the wrath of your Seniors.

Over the Years, I have travelled, hiked, Trekked, Flown, taken Cruises, walked, done Camel Safaris, jeep Safaris, Horse Safaris and what not, there are very few modes of Transport I have not taken till now and If it is missing I intend to make good this very soon.

I love the Ritz Carltons of the world but I equally enjoy the Night Chill of sleeping in a Tent in the Desert or the Himalayas and believe me No other experience comes close to sleeping at Sarchu in Himachal Pradesh en-route to Ladakh.

I love the swanky Malls of Dubai, but find the Bazaars in Bhutan equally exciting.

What am I doing here?? I wish to finally get to the stage where like in the west I can offer Trips of a Lifetime to like Minded. Following your Passion and making Money out of it is not something everybody gets to do.

So If you or a Group of Friends plan to Travel in India or Egypt and are looking at a Holiday that is not only Hotels and Sights but The Country/region you wish to visit, The People and their life, I think you will find that we would work great together.

I also intend to write about a Few Select Holidays I wish to write offer and If someone can find me here and read them maybe One day they may even become a Reality, I have been told that there are people out there searching for the Content and if its original it shall get you the Visitors. Lets see if its true.

My Contact Information is in the profile so Feel free to get in touch with me if you need any Assistance from me.

Thanks and A Great day!!!

Vishal