A Himalayan Summer trail: Explore The Himalayas your way.

Nature lovers are found across age groups and genders. There are however some amongst us,  who are known within the circle of friends and family as “the trekking type”.

These individuals are characterised by their more adventurous spirit, and their willing to accommodate the relative discomforts typical of a Himalayan trail.

Some of the most commonly held perceptions about trekking in the Himalayas relate to the hardships involved. Climbing steep hillsides, staying in tents, struggling on cold nights in a sleeping bag, eating canned food and of course surviving without toilets.

It is true that most trails confirm to these stereotypes. For instance, if the road does not exist, then that high mountain pass must necessarily be reached on foot. The only way to spend the night on a meadow with no shelter, is to pitch a tent.

These facts have deterred many individuals from participating in one of the most exhilarating forms of travel and kept them from experiencing pristine nature at its best.

For instance, the lack of toilets in the great outdoors is the number one reason that stops women from trekking.

Over the recent past however, this scenario has changed. The construction of high altitude roads in the border regions has ushered in many changes in the remote valleys.

Admittedly many of these changes are negative, like increased road traffic and are inevitably leading to the loss of the a way of living.

On the positive side, the road allows for a broader participation across age groups, i.e. senior citizens, who may not wish to do strenuous climbs may utilise the vehicle to access many of these hitherto isolated regions, the presence of toilets in villages have resulted in more women participating.

In this regard the Darma valley is unique. It consists of the a string of villages connected by a motorable road, which extends very close to the Panchachuli glacier, affording a mixed group consisting of seniors, traditional trekking enthusiasts, and families to be a part of the singular adventure, and yet customise each day according to their inclination.

Imagine a scenario where some individuals choose to lounge the whole day in a sunlight village courtyard, while other go on a short walk to the meadows, while the more enthusiastic attempt a challenging trail to the base camp, only to reassemble in the cozy comfort of the village home each evening.

Breathtaking, Himalayan views up-close, delicious home cooked meals comprising of fresh produce from high-altitude farms, comfortable bedding and roaring kitchen fires to keep you warm.

Besides this, the other highlights of the Darma Valley trail make it one of most accessible natural hotspots in the Indian Himalayas, and is until now relatively untouched by the swarms of tourists thronging the hills stations at lower altitudes.

Consider this;

We access to two glaciers: The Nagling glacier which in its retreat over thousands of years, has gouged out a perfect U-shaped valley and crafted a series of the lush meadows leading up to the ice falls, and the Panchachuli glacier, which is the source of the Dhauli Ganga river.

We witness the five Panchachuli massifs from its very base – one of the rare locations on the planet, where one can approach “twenty-thousanders” this close with such ease.

Our hosts are the “Rang-Bhotia” shepherd tribes, who have been an integral part of our team for over two decades now.

As guests of this migrating tribe, we shall have the privilege of witnessing their unique lifestyle and sample their cuisine which is entirely different from the mainland Kumaon.

The stay is in century old stone structures, which are designed to the cattle safe and the snow out, where the kitchen with its blazing fire and innovative chimney, is the centre around which the household revolves, doubling up as the bar, the community space, the living room and often the family bedroom on cold nights.

Moreover the Darma valley is one the unique patches of the greater Himalayan sequence, where the geological signs are manifest, and offer unique insights into the complex process of mountain building.

To keep things grounded, we ensure that the group remains small, upto a maximum of 10 persons, and the trail is led by local community members, thus creating opportunities for real and authentic interactions with the local communities, who are our hosts and cultural guides.