Hiking and Yoga in the Indian Himalayas

In India, where yoga has its roots, the practice is approached as a spiritual discipline rather than a form of exercise. The focus is on connecting mind and body through physical postures, controlled breathing, and meditation. On this trip, most sessions are Hatha yoga, moving slowly through poses with an emphasis on steady breath. Sessions may also include pranayama and meditation, offering a rounded introduction that works well for those new to yoga as well as those with some experience.

All yoga sessions are included but entirely optional. Just let your guide know if you plan to skip a class. Most sessions take place before breakfast, usually around 7:00 AM, during your time in Mashobra and Dharamshala. On Day 9, yoga is scheduled for the early evening at around 5:00 PM, and there is no yoga planned on Days 4 and 6 to allow for longer hikes. Sessions are led by a qualified local yoga instructor and can be adapted to suit the needs and abilities of the group.

Yoga is practiced outdoors whenever conditions allow, but temperatures in the mountains can feel cold, particularly from mid-October to the end of November. In cooler weather, sessions will move indoors. As hotels in this region don't have central heating, warm yoga clothing is recommended.

In remote and mountainous regions such as those visited on this trip, the weather can be unpredictable. In some years, the Indian monsoon is particularly intense and can damage infrastructure and hiking trails. Your guide will make decisions based on safety and enjoyment and will adapt your itinerary if needed. This may mean hikes are shortened or replaced by alternatives, or that timings are adjusted. If the hike on Day 9 isn't feasible due to conditions, there is an alternative hike through the forests of the Kangra Valley and Shivalik Hills to Thatharana meadows (Hiking: 5-6 hrs - 6 mi - 2,625 ft up - 2,625 ft down). During cold or rainy weather, there are suitable spaces at each of the hotels to take the yoga sessions indoors.

A tour leader will join you throughout your trip. On the hikes, you will also be joined by a local trekking guide. You will also have a yoga instructor for each of the sessions based at the hotels in Mashobra and Dharamshala.

Excess luggage not needed for the trip can be left at your hotel in Delhi.

Visa requirements often change, and you are responsible for obtaining any required visas for this trip. The following advice may be subject to change. Please check with your nearest embassy or consulate for up-to-date advice.

All foreign nationalities entering India require a valid visa, which in most cases must be obtained in advance of travel (please check the regulations for your nationality). You must have a machine-readable passport, valid for at least 180 days from your arrival date in India. Persons of Indian origin must have an OCI card. Clients with a Pakistani passport or of Pakistani descent will need extra time and additional documents for visa processing.

Applicants of eligible countries can either apply online for an Indian e-Visa or apply for a Standard Visa, which involves an in-person visit to a branch of the Indian High Commission's Visa Facilitation Service (VFS). There have been delays to Standard Visa processing times so please schedule your appointment ASAP if using this service.

Travelers eligible for an e-visa, which includes those from the UK, US, CA, and EU, can apply online via https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/tvoa.html. Applications for 30-day e-Tourist visas can be made from 30 days before the proposed date of travel and not less than 4 days before your arrival date in India (applications for multiple entry 1-year e-Tourist visas can be made from 120 days in advance).

Applications for a Standard Visa (requiring both an online application and an in-person appointment) can be made via the VFS Global website.

Filtered water will be provided at the hotels each day. You will need to bring a reusable water bottle or a water bladder to be filled. You may also wish to bring a water filter/purification tablets to negate the need for resupplying with bottled water.

At Much Better Adventures, we work hard to accommodate dietary requirements and allergies so your trip is safe, inclusive, and enjoyable. That said, options can vary by country, location, and lodging, and in some places, options may be limited or unavailable. The information below has been provided by your host so you're fully informed about what will be possible on your trip depending on your individual requirements. This information should be read carefully before your trip to ensure that you are adequately prepared for the situation 'on the ground'.

Once you have booked your trip, please fill out your passenger information form as soon as possible with any dietary requirements. Once you complete your passenger information, your dietary needs and any allergies are automatically shared with your host and, in turn, your guide. Please submit this as early as possible so they can plan accordingly and deliver the best experience. Please also remind your guide about your dietary requirements upon arrival, as mentioning these in person allows your guide to comprehend individual preferences and limitations as soon as you arrive.

BACKGROUND

In the Himalayan regions of North India, cuisine is shaped by high altitudes, colder climates, and limited arable land, resulting in simple, nourishing meals based on grains, lentils, root vegetables, and, in some areas, dairy and meat. Dishes tend to be hearty and seasonal, with influences from Tibetan and Central Asian food traditions. Travelers with dietary requirements can often find suitable options, particularly for vegetarian diets, though variety may be more limited in remote areas. It helps to plan ahead and communicate clearly, with a guide able to coordinate meals and adapt to specific needs where possible.

Vegetarian Vegetarian diets can be catered for on this trip, provided that your host is made aware in advance.

Vegan Vegan diets can be catered for on this trip, provided that your host is made aware in advance.

Kosher Fully certified Kosher kitchens and supervision are rare and usually cannot be guaranteed unless expressly confirmed in advance by your host. Vegetarian or vegan options can often be the most reliable alternative if this is acceptable to you. Please read the related sections above.

Halal Certified Halal supply varies by destination and may not always be possible. Vegetarian or vegan options can often be the most reliable alternative if this is acceptable to you. Please read the related sections above.

INTOLERANCES

Gluten Free Gluten-free diets can be catered for on this trip, provided that your host is made aware in advance. Bread options available in North India include misi roti (made with chickpea flour) and pearl millet bread.

Lactose Free Lactose-free diets can be catered for on this trip, provided that your host is made aware in advance. While lactose-free milk and products are available in major cities but less so in remote areas, India offers abundant dairy-free options suitable for lactose-free diets, including:

• Lentils and beans: dal (moong, chana, toor), chana masala
• Vegetable dishes: aloo gobi, baingan bharta, bhindi masala (okra), aloo chaat
• Rice dishes: plain rice, biryani, pulao (without dairy additions)
• Sauces: chutneys (mint, tamarind, coriander), pickles
• Snacks: masala channa, poha, upna, vegetable pakora, samosa

ALLERGIES

Our host has confirmed that they are able to accommodate mild allergies to the 14 allergens identified by the UK Food Standards Agency, where these are disclosed in advance. However, if you have a severe or life-threatening food allergy, please get in touch with our Customer Experience team before booking to discuss whether your requirements can be accommodated safely on this trip. This will allow us to carefully consider the sensitivity and severity of your allergy, the available provision on the trip, and the accessibility of medical care should a reaction occur. Your safety is always our top priority.

Please note that when traveling overseas, local ingredients, food preparation methods, and labeling standards may vary, particularly in remote areas. It is also worth noting that any allergies may result in more limited options and repetitive provision in some areas. While your guide will help communicate dietary requirements where possible, customers remain responsible for managing their own allergies during the trip.

Allergies to mustard, peanut, and soybean can be challenging to accommodate, but our host is committed to working with you to manage your allergy on their trip.

Sure can! Over 70% of our travellers travel solo, it’s a great way to meet like-minded people.

Our team of Adventure Hunters co-create exclusive adventures which are run by highly vetted, specialist hosts. The trip is run by our trusted host partner in the destination. We only work with independent, local, in-destination experts who know the very best places to explore and how to stay safe. Read more information about the local teams we partner with. You’ll be introduced to the host straight after making a booking via the Much Better Adventures platform.

Much Better Adventures refer to the UK Government’s official travel advice when designing trips and monitoring trip operations. We recommend that all customers review the practical information available on the UK Government’s FCDO website, where you can find up-to-date advice by searching for your destination(s).

If you are based in the United States, you can also check the latest travel advisories from the U.S. Department of State.

For customers joining from other international locations, we recommend checking the official travel advice issued by your country of residence, as guidance may vary.

We recommend checking out the country-specific information and also talking to a travel nurse.

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All of our group adventures are specially designed for adults to enjoy as we want these adventures to bring together outdoorsy people who are truly like-minded. You must be over 18 to join one of our trips.

You're always in good company on one of our adventures.

Our trips typically consist of a mix of solo travelers and small groups of 2 or 3 friends, with most in their 30s-50s.

Our sociable adventures are solo-friendly by design and naturally attract outdoorsy people with a shared mindset; a love for adventure, a desire to push themselves, and meet awesome, like-minded people along the way.

It’s this camaraderie that has so often turned a great adventure into a life-changing one.

Don't just take our word for it:

• 95% of people rate the group dynamics on our trips 5/5
• 90% of people recommend joining a trip to make new friends
• 75% of people have met people on our trips that they would now consider friends

See here for more info about the Much Better Adventures tribe.

The best time to visit this part of the Himalayas is before or after the monsoon season, which runs through July and August. The months of May and June, as well as September and October, tend to be dry and pleasant for hiking. In the cities and valleys, you can expect daytime temperatures of around 77-86°F.