Shakti Himalaya Launches New ‘Little Treks’ for True Explorers

Shakti Himalaya Launches New ‘Little Treks’ for True Explorers

With the start of 2023 calling for transformative travel plans, Shakti Himalaya is launching a series of new treks offered as an extension to the renowned Shakti Village Walks, for those looking to enhance a stay in the mountains, sleeping under canvas with same level of service, dining and attention to detail as at the Shakti Village Houses.

These new ‘little treks’ offer further immersion into the culture of India’s mountains and some of its most remote areas. The new once-in-a-lifetime adventures combine Shakti’s existing Village Walks in Kumaon, Sikkim and Ladakh with more off the beaten track trekking for enthusiasts interested in an additional trail life experience.

The treks 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 comfortable camps, recovering from a day’s walking delicious Indian cuisine. 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. In combination with Shakti’s authentic Village Houses, guests will camp in dome tents, kitted out with mattresses and pillows with comfortable linen, sleeping bags, hot water bottles and wonderful dining under the stars by the guests’ private chef. The camps have a separate shower tent with a bucket bath facility, an open air wash stand and a separate tent for an eco-toilet.

New little treks for 2023 include:
10 nights Shakti Sikkim village walk including 4-night Yakson and a Dzongri trek
(October – mid-December, mid-February – mid-April)
This trek is all about enjoying the incredible views of the Himalayas and getting to know more about the rich wildlife and fascinating Buddhist culture of Sikkim - one of the few Buddhist enclaves in India, where guests can explore the ancient monasteries and temples around which local life revolves. The trek reaches 4,020m.
 
13 Nights Shakti Sikkim village walk including 5-night Singalila Trek and 3 nights in Darjeeling
(October – mid-December, mid-February – mid-April
This trek takes guests to important places in west and east Sikkim such as the mystical Khechophalri Lake popularly known as the Wishing Lake, Pemayangtse Monastery, which is one of the oldest and most important monasteries in Sikkim and the Rabdentse Palace ruins, near Pelling. Adventurers will visit the Tiger Hill for sunrise, Padmaja Naidu Zoological Park where snow leopard and red panda are bred in captivity; The Yiga Choling Monastery which houses the Statue of Maitrya Buddha and is the oldest monastery in Darjeeling, and the famous tea gardens which produce some of the finest teas in the world.  The trek reaches 3,300m.
 
10 Nights Shakti Kumaon and Leti experience with a five-night trek, including 3 nights camping
(October – mid-December, mid-February – mid-April)
Highest altitude: 2,975m
Highlights: Guests can experience life on top of the world at Shakti 360° Leti – Shakti’s spectacular Himalayan lodge, overlooking the lofty peaks that form a natural border between north-west India and Nepal. Guests trek along this Himalayan hiking trail, linking remote villages and rugged beauty with rest and relaxation at this luxury base, offers a sense of calm for those in search of serenity.
 
9 nights Shakti Ladakh experience including the 3-night Indus trek
(June – mid September)
Spread across high-altitude hamlets in northern India, this is a nomadic adventure in the Himalayas. Little trek days are devoted to partaking in local life, watching metalsmiths at work or hiking from monastery to mountain lake. The area is blessed, both holistically and topographically, with orchards, mountains, canyons, rivers and ridges – though humans have left their touch, too, in the form of gompas (Buddhist temples), giant gold statues and 16th-century forts. The trek reaches 4,500m.
 
11 nights Shakti Ladakh experience including 5 nights Markha valley trek
(June – mid September)
Ladakh, the land of high passes, snow clad mountains, and azure blue lakes is among the world’s highest inhabited plateaus. This little trek offers guests a vast diversity of its landscape and exquisite culture, from the green oasis of the hidden valleys and plateaus to the abundance of wildlife, nomads, pastureland, freshwater springs, and the famous lakes of Tsomoriri, Tsokar and The Pangong. The trek reaches 5,150m.
 
In Ladakh, as well as walking, guests will enjoy outdoor activities such as cycling, rafting, pottery making and camping alongside cultural experiences such as monastery visits, meeting with a local oracle and a private interaction with a Buddhist monk.

Each Shakti Himalaya itinerary is flexible and can be tailored to the guests’ needs and preferences each day.

For more information contact: www.shaktihimalaya.com / +44 203 151 5177 / info@shaktihimalaya.com