What does the trip include?
All trips include hotel, baggage transfer, guide maps and tourist information. Meals are included but vary from trip to trip on how many meals! Each tour indicates what it includes in the description and makes note as to what options may also be paid for such as bike rental. Some tours include special extras such as admissions to attractions, picnics, and so on. Please read each tour description carefully.

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What about single rooms?
Single supplements are available in nearly every tour. This is an extra charge over the quoted double room rate which is a shared rate. You will be booked into a double unless you indicate in advance your single preference.

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Are support vans available and how is luggage transferred?
Bags are transferred for the self-guided trips via pre-arranged transportation with the hotel or our guide service. You will need to have bags packed and left at the checkout desk before departing, or if the hotel requires them earlier than your planned departure, it will be noted what time bags must be dropped. Check for any bag limits. Van support is provided on the guided tours, and all bags will be carried by the van. However the van may not be carrying the bags at all times during the day. Your things may be transferred, prior to a sweep of the route by the van. Guides will advise the groups about bag drop times and planned transfers.

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What should I bring?
You will be provided with a suggested packing list. Its up to you to decide what additional things to bring. Depending on your total trip time, you may have bags which you won't need on the tour. We suggest you make arrangements to store bags during the tour if you won't need them. Ask our staff for suggestions in coordinating your total voyage.

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What if I need to cancel?
Consult the Booking section of this website. Penalties apply for cancellation within 60 days of the tour start.

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What meals are included and what can be expected?
This is one of the best parts of travel! This is certainly no time to go on a diet, but as you will learn, many wonderful things can be enjoyed in moderation. All of the tours offer cuisine of the region, and suggestions for places to visit and specialties to enjoy will be available. The tours vary as to what each includes, and therefore read the description carefully. For meals that are included, if you have a special need, please let us know in advance and we will make every effort to meet those needs. In nearly every case, beverages are not included with meals, (your individual purchase).

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What is the difference between 1, 2, 3 and 4 star hotels?
We do not have consistency from one country to the next. Some rate their hotels based on a variety of amenities and services offered. Luxury hotels will naturally be at the top of the ratings at 4 star. Most of the hotels used are 3 star properties. We ensure you a good quality hotel property with room containing a private bathroom and shower at a minimum. Most all of the properties will contain a restaurant, and if the property does not it will have an arrangement with a very close restaurant. In general, you are paying for a good hotel with clean and private services. Additional amenities may be available, and upgrades are noted where available. Some tours pass remote areas where basic services are available. Please inquire about your specific tour.

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How will I get to the starting point of the tour?
Connections and getting there can be arranged through our offices as well as any other add-ons to your to your tour. Our staff will advise you for the best air transportation option from around the world, and both train & car travel. There are limits on airplane baggage and train baggage in India, so be sure to check with us. Most tours will require you to get from the airport or train station to the starting hotel, but some will include picking you up and dropping you off. Check the tour descriptions.

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How do I book a trip and can you help with other services like trains, car, and air?
It’s very simple call us at +91 – 01982-256070 (ladakh) to have us fax/email a booking form to you, or you can complete it over the phone with one of our agents.
We can also help with trains, car rentals, and hotels but we do not handle airfare. Once you get your air, we are a one-stop shop for all your travel needs.

What are levels ?

About the "Level" rating system we employ:
All of our tours throughout are rated on a scale of 1-3. The system is simple, and not region specific but instead the ratings are based on all of our tours across the board. A rating of 1 is easiest and 3 is challenging.

We do not use a scientific formula to arrive at the rating number for a tour and sometimes we often rate a tour as 1-2 or 2-3 which indicates it is slight more challenging than the lower number but not so hard as the higher number. We arrive at these ratings based purely on our experience and the experience of our local guides who help us develop our routes. Two factors are considered:

1. Distance of the ride or walk/hike - which will determine how long to spend each day
2. Amount of elevation gain (hill climbing) and gradient with the climb(s)

Surface conditions - road/trails; all assumed to be in good condition; no technical experience is needed and not an added difficulty factor. If some unforeseen event like heavy rain should occur, this can change trail/surface conditions; but this is not factored.

Level 1 - typically flatter terrain, no notable hills or anything of steep gradient. Low kilometers by comparison to other tours. These are the easier trips available.

Level 2 - rolling countryside, occasional hills, possible short gradients of low percents. These are most tours, available to most people of some experience and average fitness working out regularly.

Level 3 - rolling to hilly countryside; some notable hills with short and possibly steep grades. The more challenging trips we program for more experienced and strong persons. Any technical aspects of hiking or riding unusual surfaces would fall in this category.

Any tour can be made more challenging by you if you simply take our maps and add miles to your route. Feel free to improvise, but know your limits and know what the symbols on the maps mean!
Independent of our rating are other factors that can influence how hard or how easy you find the tour such as weather, the load you add to your backpack (if you stuff packs with bottles of wine for example!), how you dress, and how you use the equipment.

Weather: heat, rain, and wind will all have an effect on your walk and extremes of each will make it more difficult.

Load: carrying excessive weight obviously makes more work for you. We always transfer luggage, so this refers only to what you take in a day pack.

Dress: layering, using appropriate and lightweight clothing, protection from the sun, and good footwear make it easier for you.

How long will it take to cover the walks/hikes at these levels? There is no specific answer because everyone travels at his or her own speed. However, when we indicate a time, such as in the hikes, we generalize with an average of 5 km/hour on flat surfaces and 3.5 km/hr on grade. Those times do include bathroom breaks, but not time for lunch and visits. Everyone should allow time to stop and explore, visit sites, and check directions.

Your Fitness: How to know what you can do? Fitness and ability can be measured in a number of ways. We leave it up to you to determine if you are capable, knowing that if you take on more than you are capable of doing it will make for an unpleasant vacation.
We cannot recommend any of our tours to sedentary people. If you are not in the process of regular exercise then you should not consider a self-guided walking or cycling tour. Several factors such as age, resting heart rate, max heart rate, and weight will impact everyone's ability to engage in cycling or walking. You should know what you can do, and if you are not sure, you should see a doctor.

IN GENERAL: Level 1 tours can be completed by persons exercising regularly by elevating the heart rate regularly and over sustained periods during any number of exercises such as running, swimming, stairmaster, etc. You should work in these activities to no less than 2-3 times per week.

Level 2: as in level 1, you should be working out regularly. Walkers/hikers should be out for at least 1.5-3 hours at least 2 times per week.

Level 3: Walking/hiking at least 3 hours with small backpack with water at least 2 times per week.
We recommend that persons over 55 and new to the activity you intend to engage in visit a doctor first to get an ok to train and take such a vacation. We believe these recommendations will prepare you for your tour, however we also recognize that some people can do almost nothing and come out and have no problems. Ultimately, self evaluation is VERY IMPORTANT. Daily work will prepare you better for the daily exercise you will experience on tour and prepare your muscles to recover daily for the next walk.