KULLU TO SIMLA

Season : April / Mid May Mid September / October Grade : Low altitude Penelope Chetwode Betjeman, daughter of Field Marshall Lord Chetwode who commanded the Indian Army, trekked from Simla to Kullu in 1936. She chose to return regularly later in life to trek this route, and has narrated her experience in her best seller" Kulu - The End of the Habitat World". She passed away here in 1986, in the area she loved so much. This tour is dedicated to her memory. The trek takes you through old villages of the area and you get to camp in the vicinity of the old guesthouses built by the British, in the beginning of the century. Passing through thick alpine forests, you travel along the, villages, fields, and some very old temples and experience the simplicity and uninterrupted hospitality of the local people. All through the trek you get to see a lot of bird life.

Day 1 EUROPE - DELHI   Upon arrival, meet and transfer to the hotel Qutub   Day 2 DELHI / MANALI   Early morning drive to Manali (14 hours) The drive though long, is very spectacular as soon as you hit the hills in about 2 hours. Gradually ascending through lush green hills you arrive at the granite gorge of the river Beas that makes the scenery and the drive very enjoyable. Late arrival at hotel. OVERNIGHT : BANON RESORT   Day 3 MANALI   The day to explore the surroundings of Manali and also to acclimatize as you are now at 6500 feet. You may visit the famous Hadimba temple, a walking distance from your hotel. The Tibetan monastery in the town is worth a visit and also the hot sulpher springs in Vashisht village are recommended. OVERNIGHT : BANON RESORT   Day 4 MANALI - LARJEE   Drive to Larjee ( 2 hour) OVERNIGHT : LARJEE RESTHOUSE   Day 5 LARJEE   After breakfast take a short walk to a village to the north of Largee. Cross a small bridge on the Tirthan river and ascend to this beautiful village with a very few families. Afternoon return to the Guest house. OVERNIGHT : LARJEE GUEST HOUSE   TREK STARTS   Day 6 LARJEE / JIBBE   Early morning drive to Banjaar. Start trek for Chani Temple (6500ft). You reach the 500 year old temple with a 250 feet tall temple tower after about 3 hours. Relax in the shade of the mighty cedar trees and, after lunch, walk down to Jibbe Camp (8000ft ). Lovely all round views from the camp. OVERNIGHT : JIBBE   Day 7 JIBBE / SHOJA Trek to Shoja ( 8000ft ). A short day but magnificent views of the distant Himalayas. Walk up to the old Jalori Pass in the afternoon, after lunch. OVERNIGHT : SHOJA Day 8 SHOJA / TAKRASI   Walk upto Jalori Pass (10,280 feet), through a beautiful, flowery forest path. After 3 hours reach the top of the old Jalori pass, where there are the ruins of the old forts of the kings of this area.. Walk down to a near by lake for lunch before trekking to Takrasi ( 7000 feet). The day is about 6 hours. OVERNIGHT : TAKRASI   Day 9 TAKRASI / PANEO   Trek from Takrasi to Paneo where Lord Louis Mountbatten of Burma used to go to escape the crowds of Shimla, the summer capital of the British Raj. The trek takes you through beautifully forested areas. Approximately six hours walking in the day. OVERNIGHT : PANEO   Day 10 PANEO / KHANAG   Trek from Paneo to Khanag ( 8000 feet ), walking 6 - 7 hours. The walk starts with a slight climb but otherwise levels through a forest. From the garden of the Khanag Rest House, the valley appears in all its splendours. OVERNIGHT : KHANAG REST HOUSE   Day 11 KHANAG / TARALLA A longish day of about 7/8 hrs. Climb up through Rhododendren forests and Birch woods a small 9200 feet Pass where the ruins of a fort still lie. Then down into the valley and a not-so-steep climb to Taralla (7500 feet) and one of the oldest resthouses in the area. OVERNIGHT : TARALLA Day 12 TARALLA / MARGI Trek from Taralla to Margi, about 6-7 hrs, climbing steeply out of the rest house and circumventing the top of the hill and down to Margi (8000 feet). Margi is situated in a dense Cedar forest. OVERNIGHT : MARGI REST HOUSE Day 13 MARGI / SHILLA Trek from Margi to Shilla, again about 5-6 hrs. The walk is initially down through the Cedar forests and then through thick deciduous woods where clematis grows wild and Langoors spring from tree to tree. Plenty of bird-life all along the route. OVERNIGHT : SHILLA CAMP TREK ENDS Day 14 SHILLA / SHIMLA Drive to Shimla 6 hrs, the summer of the British Raj at 7500 ft. On arrival check-in to Cecil / Chapslee,, both luxury hotels. OVERNIGHT : CECIL / CHAPSLEE Day 15 SHIMLA Wander around the Mall road, the main shopping promenade, visit the Gaiety, Asia’s oldest theatre and in the evening cocktails at the Bishop Cotton School, a British public school founded in 1859. We also get to see the vice Regal Lodge, which was the seat of power when the summer capital shifted to Simla. OVERNIGHT : CECIL / CHAPSLEE Day 16 SHIMLA / DELHI Drive down 3 hrs to the foothills at Chandigarh where we board the Shatabdi Air conditioned experss, reaching Delhi in a little over 3 hrs. On arrival transfer to hotel Imperial. OVERNIGHT : QUTUB Day 17 DELHI / BACK The day for sightseeing of Old and New Delhi along with shopping for the Souvenirs. In the evening, farewell dinner in the hotel. Late night departure to the international airport to board flight to London The price : (USD per personn) USD 1350 PER PERSON ( Based on two paying pax ) USD 1250 PER PERSON ( Based on 4 – 6 paying pax )   The cost includes : Transfers by non air-conditioned transport. Hotel accommodation on full board basis in the hotels mentioned or similar. All trekking arrangements. All meals during the trek. All sight seeing as per the itinerary. Train tickets.   Does Not Include the following : Any expense of personal nature such as telephones, laundry etc. Any type of drinks or mineral water. Sleeping bags.( can be arranged on prior request ) Air Tickets, Visa Fees, Insurance, Risk cover, Tips, etc. Toilet tents (only provided on advance notice) otherwise its nature's way when camping.   • Sanskriti Tours Pvt. Ltd. reserves right to alter, cancel or divert the trek, at its own discretion. The same if done is for the benefit of clients traveling. AS the weather & mountain conditions have to accessed for the safety pupose. We shall not be liable for any claims coming due to last minute cancellation or diversion of the trek / tour.   • Sanskriti Tours Pvt. Ltd will accept no responsibility for loss or additional expenses due to delay or changes in air & transportation schedules or other services, sickness, weather, strikes, war quarantine or other causes. All such losses or expenses must be borne by the passengers/company themselves.