Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh are exceptional destinations for adventurous travelers. The area has a phenomenal array of trekking routes, and numerous tour operators offer anything from gentle strolls to walks lasting several days -- including trips to serious rock faces for seasoned climbers. Besides the scenery, a visit here is an ideal opportunity to meet people more or less untouched by the modern world -- outside of a handful of towns, much of the population in this region is rural and dependent on agriculture. It is also home to some of the world's last nomadic people. Manali is a popular starting point for treks into the lush Kullu and Parvati valleys, while Dharamsala is a good base from which to explore the Dhauladhar mountain range. In Ladakh, expeditions out of Leh visit the many fascinating Buddhist monasteries, and the Indus and Zanskar rivers are excellent for white-water rafting. Note that most of the companies listed below are happy to arrange a variety of adventure activities almost anywhere in the Himalayas, including Sikkim.
In Manali
If you arrive in Manali with no prearranged outdoor activities, you can contact two places. Himalayan Outdoor Centre (en route to Rohtang Rd., 1.5km/1 mile from Manali; tel. 01902/25-2581 or 98-1600-3035) offers a wide range of adventure activities, including rafting on the Beas River, skiing (Apr to mid-May), snowboarding, treks, jeep safaris, and tandem paragliding. Besides organizing trekking in Himachal and Ladakh, Himalayan Journeys The Adventure Company (The Mall, Manali; tel. 01902/25-4397; www.himalayanjourneysindia.com; info@himalayanjourneysindia.com) arranges ski courses, jeep safaris, river-rafting expeditions, mountain-biking tours, and, for well-heeled adventurers, luxury heli-skiing packages.
Jeep & Motorcycle Safari Specialists
Banjara Camps & Retreats (www.banjaracamps.com) operates a number of Trans-Himalayan jeep safaris, which generally start in Delhi and explore different parts of Himachal and Ladakh. Comfortable accommodations (some in beautifully situated deluxe campsites) and good meals accompany you along the way, and you can even customize your safari. Another outfitter that allows you to traverse the top of the world in comfort, Wilderness Trekkers (www.wilderness-trekkers.org) runs a weeklong adventure that takes in Himachal's Rohtang Pass, as well as some of Ladakh's most mesmerizing Buddhist gompas. Shepherds Realms, Camps & Adventures (C-8/8115, Shepherd's House, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi; tel. 98-1871-2970; www.asiasafari.com; shepherdsrealms@gmail.com), run by an ex-army captain, specializes in custom-made motorcycle and jeep safaris through Ladakh, as well as Tibet, Nepal, and Bhutan, along with other adventure activities in these regions.
