25 experiences
Adventure in the Himalaya
Rafting, paragliding, skiing and high roads
Active days with certified operators, honest about risk, weather and season.
Photo: Ankur P from Pune, India · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Commons
Pony ride from Doodhpathri to Mujpathri
Mujpathri is a small hamlet on the bank of the Shaliganga beyond the main Doodhpathri meadow. A pony ride there and bac…
Photo: Arup1981 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Gondola to the Apharwat ridge
The Gulmarg Gondola climbs in two phases from the meadow to Kongdori and then to the Apharwat ridge close to 4,000 m. I…
Photo: Rudolph.A.furtado · CC0 · Commons
First ski lessons on the Gulmarg nursery slopes
Gulmarg is the best place in India to learn to ski. Gentle slopes near the meadow, rental shops by the gondola and cert…
Photo: Mehrajmir13 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Commons
Rafting the Sindh below Sonamarg
In summer, local operators run short rafting stretches on the Sindh river just below Sonamarg. The water is glacier-fed…
Photo: Vyacheslav Argenberg · CC BY 4.0 · Commons
Crossing Khardung La from Leh to Nubra
The road from Leh climbs to 5,359 m at Khardung La before dropping 2,200 m into Nubra. Done after two nights in Leh, it…
Photo: Anshul Chhangani · CC BY 2.0 · Commons
Over Chang La to the lake
The drive from Leh climbs past Karu and Sakti to Chang La at about 5,360 m, then drops through Durbuk and Tangtse to th…
Photo: Fredi Bach from Switzerland · CC BY 2.0 · Commons
Tandem paragliding from Billing to Bir
Drive up to the Billing take-off at about 2,400 m, run a few steps with your pilot and fly for 15–30 minutes over pine …
Photo: Harvinder Chandigarh · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Snow and slopes at Solang valley
A wide meadow at about 2,500 m, 14 km up the Beas from Manali, with snow from December to March and paragliding, a rope…
Photo: This Photo was taken by Timothy A. Gonsalves. … · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Drive to Darcha and the start of the high road
A short drive from Jispa to Darcha, the last village before the Manali–Leh road climbs into empty high country, for a t…
Photo: Vaibhav 369 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Learn to ski on the Auli slopes
Auli's main slope, with a chairlift and ski lift, is where most Indians learn to ski. Take a day lesson with a certifie…
Photo: Harshit SR · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Gartang Gali, the old Tibet trade walkway
Walk a restored wooden gallery of about 150 m bolted to a sheer cliff above the Jadh Ganga gorge, part of the old trade…
Photo: Ritikamaheshwari58 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Rafting the Ganga from Shivpuri
The 16 km Shivpuri run is Rishikesh's classic half-day on the river: grade II–III rapids, a cold swim in a calm stretch…
Photo: Alphahansraj · CC BY 3.0 · Commons
A morning kayak on Naukuchiatal
Naukuchiatal, the lake of nine corners, is 4 km beyond Bhimtal and quieter than any lake near Nainital. A morning kayak…
Photo: Deepak Rohilla · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Rappelling and rock climbing at Mukteshwar
Local operators set fixed ropes on the cliffs near Chauli ki Jali for rappelling, short rock climbs and a zipline. It i…
Photo: DC · CC BY 2.0 · Commons
Down to Siddha Cave and back
A steep walk of about 1.5 hours down through forest from Bandipur to one of Nepal's largest caves, where local guides l…
Photo: Jmhullot · CC BY 3.0 · Commons
Ride or hike to the Chhoser sky caves
Head north from Lo Manthang by horse, jeep or on foot to Chhoser, where ochre cliffs are cut with hundreds of man-made …
Photo: Vyacheslav Argenberg · CC BY 4.0 · Commons
Tandem paragliding from Sarangkot
Launch from the Sarangkot ridge with a licensed pilot and circle down over Phewa Lake with the Annapurnas behind you. P…
Photo: Dreamplexx · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Land Rover ride up the Singalila Ridge
Ride from Manebhanjan to Sandakphu in one of the vintage Land Rovers that still serve the ridge road, crossing between …
Photo: Original: Yoghya Derivative work: UnpetitproleX · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
The pre-dawn drive to Gurudongmar
Leave Lachen in the dark at about 4 am, watch the light come up over Thangu, then cross the bare high plateau to the la…
Photo: shankar s. · CC BY 2.0 · Commons
Nathu La, the pass on the Lhasa road
Continue past Tsomgo to the Nathu La at 4,310 m, the pass on the old Kalimpong–Lhasa trade route and today a border pos…
Photo: Sunil · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Commons
The road's end at Zero Point
Drive about 20 km beyond Yumthang to Yume Samdong, called Zero Point, where the civilian road ends above 4,500 m among …
Photo: Jakub Michankow · CC BY 2.0 · Commons
The loops from Thambi viewpoint
Drive up from Zuluk in the dark to Thambi viewpoint, about 3,400 m, and watch daylight reveal the road below folding ba…
Photo: Taxidesign · CC BY 2.0 · Commons
Rafting the Mo Chhu past the dzong
A gentle grade II–III float down the Mo Chhu that ends in sight of Punakha Dzong. Suitable for first-timers and older c…
Photo: Research Institute of World’s Ancient Traditio… · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
A snow day at Mayudia pass
Drive 56 km up from Roing's warm foothills to Mayudia at about 2,655 m, where snow usually lies from December to Februa…
Photo: Kunal Dalui · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Commons
First snow day at Sela in winter
For many travellers from the plains, Sela is where they touch snow for the first time. Expect deep drifts, a frozen lak…
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