Our special places
We design holidays tailored to your priorities. Please contact us to discuss any destination.
Shakti Himalaya
Shakti was conceived to share the rejuvenating effects of remote surroundings – to provide privileged access to places far removed from the noise and clutter of the modern world, where space, peace and epic landscapes provoke the imagination and nourish the soul.
It’s not for everyone but it will enable you to slow down and see the world differently, becoming immersed in your surroundings, captivated by detail, and welcomed with extraordinary grace and warmth by the local people, the Village Experiences provide an intimate snapshot of day-to-day rural life in the Himalaya.
Accompanied by local porters and guides, you step out of the modern world, walking between villages that are remote, and staying in traditional village houses, which Shakti has spruced up to provide proper comfort without compromising their authenticity.
Shakti’s Village Experience began in the Kumaon region in 2004 and now extends to the former Buddhist Kingdom of Sikkim in the Eastern Himalaya and to Ladakh in the far north reaches of India.
With so many possibilities it is impractical to list all the itineraries on the website but a typical Shakti Kumaon experience would last for 6 days including 3 days walking between the village houses. You could combine this with some time in Rajasthan or include it in the Luxury Himalaya trip before a stay at Leti 360.
A typical day on the Shakti Kumaon Village Walks:
Provided the weather is clear, you will be woken early to watch the sunrise over the Great Himalaya Range!
Return to the house for breakfast, before starting your walk with a short ten minute climb. Walk down through ancient oak forest, passing the village of Kandhar, where you will have to clamber down some slightly steep terraced fields. Once you have reached the bottom of the valley, you will follow the stream through the oak forest, getting to see a kingfisher diving into the stream if you are lucky.
An hour or so after you have left the house, you will emerge onto a proper road which leads to the 8th century temple complex at Jageshwar, a Hindu pilgrimage sight. Explore the temple complex before continuing along the road and back through terraced fields.
The final part of the walk takes you through a thick mixed forest to the village of Kana where lunch will be waiting for you at the village house. This last part of the walk is uphill most of the way.
As you will only have walked for around two and half to three hours today, you could opt to take an afternoon walk to the village of Jhankarshein which has an interesting temple. The three hour return journey takes you through an interesting mix of pine, oak and rhodendron forest dotted with berry trees and a peach orchard. The temple is dedicated to a local deity, Golu Devta and is a popular local pilgrimage sight.
If you feel that you have walked enough by the time you have reached Kana at lunchtime, your itinerary is completely flexible so you can spend your afternoon sitting outside reading a good book and admiring the scenery.
Combine your Shakti Village Experience with one of our other Himalayan itineraries or maybe as part of a longer trip to Rajasthan. Please call 0207 359 3938 or email Matt and we can put together a tailormade trip of a lifetime
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