The Indian Himalaya for international travellers
Himachal, Ladakh & Spiti — quieter than Nepal, cheaper than the Alps, and one overnight bus from Delhi.
Visa, permits, flights, altitude, insurance, payment and season — everything you need before booking a trek, a 6,000 m peak, a Ladakh road trip or a Spiti circuit with us.
- Countries guided
- 30
- e-Visa nationalities
- 170+
- Multi-day trips
- 40
- Highest peak offered
- 6,517 m
Guides by country
Why the Indian Himalaya
Three very different mountain worlds in one trip. Himachal's Kullu, Parvati and Tirthan valleys are green, forested and alive with village culture; cross the Pir Panjal and you are in Lahaul, Spiti and Ladakh — high-altitude cold deserts of Buddhist monasteries, turquoise lakes and 5,000 m road passes. Uttarakhand adds the snow-summit trek of Kedarkantha.
Compared with Nepal: trails are quieter, permits are simpler, costs are 30–50 % lower per day, and the trekking style is supported camping rather than teahouses. Compared with the Alps or Rockies: you get 4,000–6,500 m terrain with a full crew for the price of a hut-to-hut week.
Most requested by international guests
Visa, permits & paperwork
What we handle and what you need to bring.
| Item | Who needs it | How it works | Lead time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indian e-Tourist Visa | Most nationalities (Nepal, Bhutan, OCI holders exempt) | Apply at indianvisaonline.gov.in; 30-day, 1-year or 5-year options | 4–7 days (apply 2–4 weeks out) |
| Protected Area Permit (Ladakh) | Foreign nationals visiting Nubra, Pangong, Tso Moriri, Hanle | We apply through our Leh office with your passport scan | 2 weeks |
| Inner Line Permit (Spiti via Kinnaur) | Foreign nationals on the Shimla–Kaza road only | Issued at Rekong Peo / Shimla; our driver accompanies you | Same day |
| Forest / trekking permits (Himachal, Uttarakhand) | Everyone | Included in the trip price; we file them | — |
| IMF peak permit & X-visa | Climbers on Deo Tibba, Yunam, Mulkila, Hanuman Tibba | IMF registration + peak fee via us; X (mountaineering) visa from the Indian mission | 6–8 weeks |
Getting here
All trips start from a hub reachable within a day of Delhi airport.
Manali / Kasol / Tirthan
Overnight Volvo from Delhi (12–14 h, ₹1,200–2,500) or fly Delhi → Kullu (1 h 20 m) + 1.5 h drive.
Leh (Ladakh)
Nonstop Delhi → Leh, 1 h 20 m, morning flights. Rest day on arrival is built into every itinerary.
Kaza (Spiti)
Via Manali (June–Oct, 1 long day) or Shimla–Kinnaur (year-round, 2 days). Our Spiti tours include the drive.
Dehradun (Kedarkantha)
1 h flight or 4 h 45 m Vande Bharat from Delhi. Pickup at the station the next morning.
Altitude, safety & insurance
Acclimatisation is designed in — gradual sleeping-altitude gains above 3,000 m, a rest day on arrival in Leh, and climb-high-sleep-low days before passes. Leaders are Wilderness First Responder or ABVIMAS/NIM-certified, carry oximeters, oxygen and a medical kit, and every trek has a descent and evacuation plan.
Insurance is mandatory above 4,000 m: cover for trekking to the trip's maximum altitude plus helicopter evacuation (World Nomads, Global Rescue, True Traveller and most national insurers offer it). We collect the policy number before departure.
Guides by country
Flights, visa notes, currency conversion of prices, time difference and the best months for your holidays.