Shakti Himalaya has announced that its Himalayan walking journeys in Ladakh, Kumaon and Sikkim will be operating again for the 2023 season. Shakti 360 Leti, Shakti Kumaon & Shakti Sikkim Village Walks will host travellers from January – March 2023, and Shakti Ladakh for April – September 2023. Offering breathtaking views of the Indian Himalayas, peace and epic landscapes that provoke the imagination and nourish the soul, these places of intense beauty and their deep soothing serenity will take travellers into remote wilderness and authentic India once again.
Village walks, which are at the heart of any Shakti experience, allow luxury travellers to explore these remote destinations, treading lightly whilst disconnecting from the ever-present world of technology. Every experience directly supports the small, rural communities that the guests encounter, helping to protect their futures, and allowing guests to immerse themselves fully in these ancient cultures.
Guests head off the beaten track to untouched villages, accompanied by local porters and guides, staying in traditional village houses that Shakti has spruced up to provide proper comfort, without compromising on authenticity. Delicious, Indian cuisine aids recovery after a day’s walking with a diet of healthy dishes, tailored for the individual guest. Travellers will visit local schools, temples, monasteries and markets, to get a full understanding of the culture of each region, its people, religion and customs. Providing authentic experiences of local life, the walks are the perfect antidote to the frenetic world that most live in.
The first Shakti Village Walk was developed in the Kumaoni foothills of the Western Himalayas, followed by Sikkim. Shakti 360 Leti, a one of a kind mountain experience with four beautiful pavilions on a spectacular ridge at 8,000 feet came next, with Ladakh having opened last. The latter now has six village houses for guests to stay in, two of which are over 200 years old. For the more active guests, Shakti offers trekking and camping in remote but beautiful locations with the chance to spend the night in a tented camp with outstanding mountain views and some of the clearest night skies to be found in the world, at altitudes of up to 6,000 – 14,000 ft.
Whilst the world continues to change dramatically around us, Shakti’s Founder, Jamshyd Sethna, remains entirely committed to supporting and working with the communities of Sikkim, Ladakh and Kumaon, to support their livelihoods and to generate direct income for the villagers, without compromising their way of life. Shakti Himalaya has been dedicated to this cause from the start; working with these communities throughout – from the village houses that they lease, to the labourers and craftsmen, food and produce. The wide and varied mountain team are the essence of Shakti, and their passion is at the heart of everything that Jamshyd does. With the majority employed from the regions surrounding Shakti’s walks, they have a unique understanding of the delicate relationship here, combined with an instinctive hospitality and warmth that makes these trips extraordinary. A Shakti village house is not a homestay, but the people of the village feel a sense of pride for their involvement and it is this that will ensure a sustainable future for years to come.
Shakti Himalaya offers a typical 5-night / 6-day itinerary at Shakti Kumaon and 360 Leti from £5,742 per person based on 2 sharing and including private accommodation in two village houses and a Shakti 360 Leti on a fully inclusive basis, all meals and beverages, all activities, an accompanying English-speaking guide, a private chef, support guide and porters, car at disposal with transfers between Kathgodam Station / Pantnagar Airport and the village experience. International flights not included. Shakti 360° Leti & Kumaon is available from January – 20th April annually.
Shakti Himalaya offer a typical 7-night/ 8 day itinerary at Shakti Ladakh from £6,815 per person, based on 2 sharing, and including private accommodation in village houses on a fully inclusive basis, all meals and beverages, all activities including two raft trips, an accompanying English speaking guide, a private chef, support guide and porters, car at disposal with transfers between Leh Airport and the village experience, and including taxes. International flights not included. The Ladakh season will run from May to the end of September annually from 2023. For more information contact: www.shaktihimalaya.com / +44 203 151 5177 / info@shaktihimalaya.com
