India

India’s vastness in size, population and diversity make it daunting yet rewarding and unforgettable place to travel in. the Indian continent encompasses a great variety of geographical diversity from the mountains in the north and the great Thar Desert to the flat dry plains and lush tropical jungles in the south to the pristine beaches surrounding most of the country. A trip to India is like a wake up call for your senses. Sights, smells, sounds, dirty, beauty, poverty. Wealth and the weird and wonderful all combine to make India one of the most exotic and exciting places to travel through in the world.

India is the originating place of three of the world’s oldest religions, Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. It is home to many fine buildings, monuments, temples and monasteries, with ornate and lavish architecture. India’s colorful history and invasion of many cultures over 1000’s of years has forged this unique and wonderful place which has captured the hearts and imaginations of many a traveler India has this mystical allure to travelers, just like a magnet, it draws them in, loosing them in its vastness.

India can be a daunting place for travelers and we recommend you come armed with a bag full of patients and an open mind, as time and time again you will be frustrated by the red tape of this country, but time and time again you will awed and amazed at the same time. For many people, traveling in India always results in mixed feelings. Most people leave saying they will never come back yet after a few months they again feel India’s powerful and tug and a desire to return grows with in.

Two of the most amazing and beautiful places to travel in India are Sikkim and Ladahk. Sikkim in the far north east and Ladahka in the far North West are both Himalayan provinces and both offer to the traveler mystical allure. Pathfinder Expeditions are specialist in organizing permits, tours and treks in both of these remote and difficult to get to areas.

Sikkim
With natural beauty beyond compare, tropical valleys and stunning mountain peaks, most people consider Sikkim to be a slice of heaven. It has many names which all refer to the same cliché- Shambala, Tazik and Shangri-la. This region in the far north eastern pocket of India is bordered by Tibet, Nepal and Bhutan. Its tropical valleys are fed by the snow melts and support vast quantities of rice, mustard, mangos, bananas, papaya, wheat and millet.

In this region, the native Lepcha people peacefully live side by side with Tibetan Bonpo’s and Nepalese. Though the area comprises mostly of Nepalese Hindus, it is predominantly a Buddhist area. Apart from the stunning scenery in this area, there are many wonderful monasteries to explore. Also there are a number of stunning treks you can do here. Pathfinder Expeditions can arrange everything for you.

Lahdak and Dhramasla
Lahdak is a far flung eastern pocket in the very far north of India. This mountain paradise is a high altitude snow desert cradled by the razor sharp ridges and peaks of the mighty Himalayas. It’s a unique barren and breathless place. Here you can see mountain top monasteries and gompas and revel in the mystic of Buddhism. Dhramasla on the other hand is a lushly forested hill station and is famed as being the home to the Tibetan government in exile and as the home of the Dali Lama. This chilled out place is a haven for travelers and back packers, you can just relax, meditate do yoga, learn about Buddhism or do some trekking in the surrounding hills. Both places have magical draw to them and travelers come form far and wide to revel in their splendor.