Tour Dates: May 23 - June 8, 2011

Day 1 – Flight to Delhi (Monday, May 23, 2011)

Depart on an overnight flight, arriving in Delhi the next evening (flight time varies according to region of residence). Upon arrival, you will be greeted at the airport by a Travel Passion Inc. representative, escorted to the hotel, given a brief orientation and relax for the evening.

Day 2 – Delhi to Manali (Tuesday, May 24, 2011)

Today we catch a short morning flight out of Delhi to Kullu, where we will take a short scenic ride to Manali and greeted by Ecosphere guides. We will check into our hotel and spend the day acclimatizing to the altitude while we enjoy the pristine scenic beauty and roam The Mall and parts of Old Manali.

Day 3 - Manali to Kaza, Begin Spiti Valley Tour (Wed., May 25, 2011)

Today we drive over the Rohtang pass and descend into the valley of the Chandra River. Following the river, we continue past Chhattru village, the ancient town of Batala and over the breathtaking Kunzum La Mountains. Enjoy the fabulous views of the Chandrabhaga mountain range, visit the Buddhist shrine at Kunzum and arrive to Kaza by evening.

Day 4 - Kye, Kibber and Tashigang (Thurs., May 26, 2011)

After breakfast, we gain insight about Spiti, its culture, people, dance and nature. We will also learn about the various community initiatives on responsible travel and conservation of the region’s nature and culture. Visit with the locals, explore the Kye Monastery, and witness Ecosphere’s greenhouse and solar geyser projects that were developed from ecotourism revenues. Return to Kaza by jeep or mountain bike and spend an evening roaming the market and feasting on local cuisine.

Day 5 – Kaza, Pin and Tabo (Friday, May 27, 2011)

After breakfast, we leave Kaza for the Pin Valley, famous for its horses and The Bhuchens. En-route we will get a chance to see how local communities are reducing their fuelwood consumption and carbon emissions through the use of Ecosphere’s solar energy project. Nearby, Seabuckthorn provides an opportunity to gain insight on initiatives to empower the women of Spiti. We will travel onward to the Kungri Monastery and wintess an elaborate performance of the ancient dance form of The Bhuchens, a rare sect of Tibetan Buddhist theatrical artists that can only be found in this region. We then head to Tabo for the night.

Day 6 – Tabo, Giu and Dhankhar (Sat., May 28, 2011)

Tabo is famous for its 1013 year old monastery. Today we spend time exploring the monastery and the numerous temples, before heading to the last village in Spiti on the border of Tibet. A very interesting and astounding surprise awaits us there before heading to Dhankhar!

Day 7 – Dhankhar, Lhalung and Demul (Sun., May 29, 2011)

Dhankhar is the ancient capital of Spiti, which houses an ancient monastery and fort perched precariously between unique wind eroded structures. The Dhankhar Monastery is recognized as one of the “100 Most Endangered Sites in the World” by The World’s Monument Fund. The traditional architecture marvels the senses and inspires visitors to travel to this area, thus incentivizing the community to conserve this heritage site. After hiking to a spectacular turquoise lake we journey on towards Lhalung, the largest village of the Lingti Valley and famous for its 1000 year old temple. The day concludes at Demul village, where we will stay for the night.

Day 8 – Demul (Mon., May 30, 2011)

Today we will visit Demul, considered one of the most interesting villages of Spiti Valley. Discover its magic and catch a glimpse of daily life from interactions with the villagers. Either hike or take a yak safari to gaze at the stunning panoramic views of the valley. Sip on arak, the village’s famous local brew, and witness the cultural dances of Semjo and Khar. Khar is one of Spiti’s most traditional and unique dance forms and is on the verge of extinction. Today’s performance will be an opportunity to be a part of Ecosphere’s process of preserving this dance form from completely dying out while understanding the dance linkages and importance to the local culture and nature. The magic of this day will leave you truly spellbound.

Day 9 – Demul and Komic (Tues., May 31, 2011)

Today we adopt the local mode of transport, yaks. We explore the Trans-Himalayan Deserts and travel into the grazing pastures of the local livestock and wild herbivores (Blue Sheep). This area is also the hunting ground for the Himalayan Wolf and Snow Leopard, if lucky we can catch a glimpse of the extraordinary species. Learn about Ecosphere’s conservation efforts in helping the local community conserve the endangered wildlife and unique flora. At Komic, the highest village in Asia, we will visit a legendary monastery, interact with the monks and spend the night.

Day 10 – Komic, Langza and Kaza (Wed., June 1, 2011)

Continue the jeep safari to Langza village, located in a high mountain meadow near the beautiful Chau Chau Kang Nilda Mountain. We will take a short trek to the fossil centre where one can find evidence of fossils of sea life dating back 200 million years, when the region was submerged under the sea. The fossil centre was created by the village youth of Langza and Ecosphere to help preserve Spiti’s geological wealth. Spend the day exploring unique sites of Langza and return to Kaza for the night.

Day 11 & 12 – Kaza (Thur./Fri., June 2 & 3, 2011)

We conclude the Spiti Valley tour in Kaza, that will feature 2 fun days of dance! We will view a Sharbo performance and later experience the dance by taking lessons by village experts. Explore the area and do last minute shopping before we bid the Ecosphere team farewell.

Day 13 – Kaza to Manali (Sat., June 4, 2011)

After an early breakfast, we will take the same breathtaking route and journey back to Manali.

Day 14 – Manali to Delhi (Sun., June 5, 2011)

Upon our return to Delhi, we will be greeted and check back into the Avalon Coutryard Hotel. We will receive a welcome and orientation about the upcoming Gandhi Legacy tour led by Mahatma Gandhi’s great-grandson, Tushar Arun Gandhi. This is an extraordinary opportunity to learn personal insight, from one of the world’s greatest leaders on human rights, as it has been passed down the family generations.

Day 15 - Delhi (Mon., June 6, 2011)

Today, Tushar Arun Gandhi will take us to various sites such as the Raj Ghat (Mahatma Gandhi’s Memorial and Cremation Ground) and Gandhi Museum. After lunch we will drive past the India Gate, the Houses of the Parliament and Presidential Palace before visiting the Qutab Minar (a victory tower built about 800 years ago). This evening, we will see the Dances of India Show followed by dinner at a local restaurant. The Dances of India Show, organized at Parsi Anjuman Hall, is India's finest and longest running show. Now in its consecutive 29th year, the show provides a rich & unique conglomeration of classical, folk & tribal dances. The captivating music, dance and song, in all its authenticity and exquisite finesse, is your mirror to the rich diversity of India.

Day 16 - Agra (Tuesday, June 7, 2011)

Early morning, the group will be transferred to the New Delhi railway station to board the train to Agra. Proceed to visit Fatehpur Sikri, the deserted capital city built by Emperor Akbar in 1569 and abandoned almost immediately due to severe water shortage. Tour the Diwan-I-Aam (Hall of Public Audiences) and after lunch capture the breathtaking view of the Taj Mahal. Later we will visit the massive Agra Fort, enjoy the tour's last dinner and take the train back to Delhi.

Day 17 – Depart (Wed., June 8, 2011)

After a buffet breakfast, the group will have a debriefing session with Rosalyn and group farewells before transferring to the airport to return home.

Transportation:

In-country transportation for this trip includes by flight, train, jeep and yak safari and optional mountain bike excursions.

Accommodations:

Accommodations include a choice of homestays or guest houses while in Spiti Valley and at the Avalon Courtyard in New Delhi. Detailed accommodation information available upon request.