North West India tours

During this North West India tour, you'll experience two totally different cultures in only a couple of days. Amritsar is typically Indian, with colours and smells striking your senses from every direction. Above the narrow streets and bazaars, you’ll glimpse the rooftop of spectacular Golden Temple glinting in the sunlight. This is the spiritual nerve centre of the Sikh religion, and thousands of pilgrims flock here every day to lay offerings at the temple. Yet, only a few hours away, you’ll find a startling contrast to these devoted crowds and dusty alleyways. Dharamsala, nestled in the foothills of the North West Himalayas, is another world entirely. This is the home of the Dalai Lama, where the pace is slow and the space is plentiful. Set in a thickly wooded mountain area, covered with Tibetan prayer flags and surrounded by distant snowy peaks, Dharamsala is far cry from the hectic cities below. The town is a Buddhist haven of peace and tranquillity, where you can stroll amongst Tibetan monks and perhaps take some meditation classes in the mountains.

Click here for more about our Amritsar and Dharamsala tour.

We might think of India as a jumble of holy cows, forts and brightly coloured saris, but it’s also a world of Tibetan monasteries, prayer flags and snow-capped mountains. During this North West India tour, you’ll travel by private car and jeep through the deserted moonscape of the North West Himalayas. Here, you’ll feel like the only person in the world as few other tourists make it this far on their North West India tours. The barren, snow-streaked terrain is worlds away from the culture of Rajasthan and the artistry of the Taj Mahal, allowing you to experience nature at its most mighty. The trip begins in Manali, a peaceful mountain Shangri-La filled with orchards, fields and waterfalls. Then, you’ll travel uphill to Ladakh, climbing far above the tree line into a vast mountain wilderness, surrounded by glistening snowy peaks.

Click here for more about our Manali to Ladakh tour.

Experience a real trek without the real hardships. During this North West India tour, you'll take spectacular hikes between mountain peaks and past Tibetan monasteries that last no more than 4 hours at a time, with only slight differences in altitude. You’ll stay with local Indian families, giving you an authentic trekking experience and a sense of hospitable Himalaya life. You'll spend the evenings, enjoying hot meals cooked on traditional fires and you’ll pass the time with your hosts in a pleasant, cosy atmosphere.

Click here for more about our Himalaya homestay tour.