Northern India - Ladakh, Dharamsala and the Golden Temple

Northern India is a wonderful destination for adventurers interested in exploring the spirituality of this fascinating region.

We begin in Delhi, the capital of India, before taking a fast train to Amritsar where we will visit this 450 year-old city and the Golden Temple. Amritsar is the most important seat of Sikh history and culture. The Golden Temple glitters with gold and marble and is one of the holiest Sikh shrines. Afterwards we drive up into the foothills of the Himalayas stopping at the old Colonial hill station of Dalhousie before continuing on to Khajjiar offering breathtaking views and stupendous hiking opportunities. Experience a 3-night home stay in the Panj- La Valley, our base of exploration and tranquility.

Set against the backdrop of the dramatic Dhauladhar Mountains we visit McLeod Ganj /Dharamsala. Perched on the high slopes in the upper reaches of Kangra Valley it is synonymous with the Tibetan government in exile and the home of Tibetan leader, His Holiness, the Dalai Lama. We drive over a series of dramatic mountain passes stopping in the towns of Jispa and Serchu before arriving into Leh, the most important town in the Ladakh region. Nestled in a valley of the Indus River and surrounded by snow-covered fringes of the Himalayas, Leh has a distinct character that transports us back in time. A major trading point where caravans came in from the distant lands of Yarkand, Kashgar, Tibet, Kashmir and northern India, the market once bustled with activity. Today, Leh is a center of Tibeto-Buddhist culture and has only been open to travelers since 1974.

We travel over the spectacular Khardung La Pass at 18,274 ft (5,570 m) as we drive to Alchi to see the beautifully- preserved 900-year-old paintings. We have plenty of time to explore the colorful temples and gompas of the area, which reflect the culture of Tibet and are home to many ancient manuscripts, images of Buddha, icons, thangkas and stupas.

We fly back to Delhi for a last day of sightseeing or shopping in the old and new cities before concluding this truly great adventure.