Himalayan Yoga Trekking in India with Rishikesh Ashram and Taj Mahal Visit

Day 3 Travel by train or mini bus to Rishikesh

Today we travel by train and/or minibus first to the holy place of Haridwar and then on to Rishikesh, the world yoga capital at the foot of the Himalayas. Her we move into our ashram and enjoy the first yoga class in the afternoon ashram (B/M/A)

Day 4 Day in Rishikesh

A day to rest, practice yoga and explore Rishikesh. In the evening we will take part in the holy light ceremony Aarti on the Ganges. Ashram (F/M/A)

Day 5 Transfer to Ghat (210 km/ 8 hours)

We leave Rishikesh and drive deeper into the Himalayas to the mountain village of Ghat. Inn (F/M/A)

Day 6 to 11 6 days yoga trekking

After a short transfer by jeep to the trekking starting point we will start: for 6 days we will hike through the Himalayan world to small mountain villages and along bubbling streams. After crossing the 3800 m high Kuari Pass, a unique mountain panorama of the High Himalayas opens before our eyes. At the end of the tour we take the transport back towards Manali to Rudraprayag (115 km,7 hours), where a nice hotel room and shower is waiting for us. Tent (F/M/A), on day 11 no dinner included

Day 12 Drive to Rishikesh (160 km, 5 hours)

It is nice to arrive back at our ashram in Rishikesh this afternoon. Ashram (F/-/A)

Day 13 Day in Rishikesh

We enjoy an ashram day in Rishikesh Ashram (B/M/A)

Day 14 Train ride to Agra

In the early morning we take the train to Agra to admire the view of the Taj Mahal at sunset (overnight in homestay) F/-/A

Day 15 Taj Mahal visit and travel to Delhi airport

In the early morning we visit the Taj Mahal at sunrise and then after a leisurely breakfast we travel to Delhi airport. Optionally, another night can be booked in the hotel room in Delhi.

You will be taken to the airport by us.

NOTE: Depending on the season and weather conditions, the trekking route may be adjusted.

Daily trekking tour

6:30 Tea

7:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. Yoga

9:00 a.m. Breakfast

10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Trek with lunch packages

15:30 Tea and snacks

4:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Yoga and Meditation

6:30 p.m. Dinner

19:30 Kirtan, Satsang, Mantra

(Schedule may vary slightly)

All our team members have been working with us for years, are very friendly and always strive to provide our guests with a great trekking experience. Their English is rather mediocre or non-existent, but this is not necessarily a hindrance to communicating with them.

Trekking routes

The trekking routes are designed for the skills of our guests and are all feasible for a person with a good fitness level, unless otherwise mentioned. The daily routes are between five and eight hours long (with breaks) and an average increase of around 500-800 metres of altitude is completed.

In between, rivers may have to be crossed or crossed. The paths are partly well developed, but sometimes also almost non-existent. On our trekking routes there are hardly any villages in between, so we will take enough food for the whole tour.

On our treks you can cross passes, snow or glaciers. On steep slopes, we have safety equipment with us.

Daily routine (Depending on the length and intensity of the trek, the times may vary)

7: 00 Get up with tea

7:30-8:30 Breakfast

7:00-9:30 a.m. Dismantling of the camp

8:00- 9:30 Start Trek

13:00 Lunch on the way

15:00-17:00 Arrival at the camp and camp construction

15:30-17:30 Snacks

19:00 Dinner

Altitude and altitude sickness

Altitude sickness is a very important topic that should not be underestimated, especially during our trekking tours in the Indian Himalayas. At altitudes above 3500 m, our body has to slowly get used to the low air pressure, which also causes less oxygen to enter our lungs. The first signs of altitude sickness are headaches, which are accompanied by dizziness, nausea, insomnia and loss of appetite. It becomes problematic when water accumulates in the lungs and brain and edema occurs. Then only the immediate descent to lower altitudes will help. To prepare for the highs on our treks, we will either spend a few nights at high altitudes before the trek or slowly ascend during the trek to acclimatize. If we notice that there are problems with our guests (each person is otherwise able to acclimatize, regardless of age, gender and fitness level), it may happen that either the entire tour group or the participant descends/returns with a team. In addition, it makes sense to take an emergency drug for altitude sickness. For this, it is best to consult the pharmacy or the travel doctor. For certain treks we will also have oxygen with us.

Luggage

Each trekking participant is responsible for his own clothes and personal belongings. Depending on the trek, we are either on the road with horses or carriers. If we have load horses, one bag per participant can be loaded onto the horse. In the case of treks with carriers, all personal luggage must be carried independently. Tents, sleeping bags, mattresses and food are carried by our porters.

For trekking tours with horses, a day backpack with space for the lunchbox, a water bottle and warm overcoat clothing should be taken with you.

Packing list for the trekking tours:

• Sleeping bag at least -10 ° C
• large backpack or soft tote bag so that the pack animals can carry the luggage
• Small backpack for the day approx. 30-40 l with rain cover
• Flashlight / headlamp
• 2 refillable water bottles
• Walking sticks
• Passport and passport copy
• Camera with spare batteries and memory card
• Headgear as sun protection
• Good sunglasses
• Cap
• Scarf, buff
• gloves
• Windpants
• Trekking pants
• Functional underwear long
• Walking shoes
• Socks thick and thin
• Sneakers, sandals and / or slippers
• Windbreaker
• Warm jacket
• Fleece pullover / jacket
• Tshirts
• Sun cream, lip balm min. Protection 40
• Fat cream
• Water purification tablets
  (boiled and filtered water is provided)
• own medication for headaches, nausea, digestive problems, colds)
• Blister plasters and bandages
• own hygiene article
• Toilet paper
• Hand disinfection

Meals

There will be full vegetarian sattvik meals during the trek. Water is either boiled or we have a water filter with us.

Breakfast (daily selection):

• Tea
• Oatmeal porridge / muesli / Indian porridge
• Indian breakfast
• Sliced fruit/vegetables

Lunch (mostly lunchbox), sometimes warm in the camp

• Indian (rice, chapati, vegetables)
• Juices
• Fruit

Snacks

• Tea
• Indian snacks
• Fruit

Soup

Dinner

• Vegetable dish
• Lentil dish
• Rice/noodles
• Chapati
• Salad
• Dessert

Accommodation and camp

We have very comfortable and spacious two-man tents. Our mattresses are practical but simple if there are problems with sleeping on hard surfaces, please take your own mattress with you or order from us. Our sleeping bags are freshly washed and have a very good quality with comfort zone up to -5°C/extreme zone up to -20° C. It is recommended to bring personal indoor sleeping bags.

In addition, we have a spacious dining tent with tables and chairs, a kitchen tent for the team and a toilet tent. For treks up to 4 people, the kitchen tent can also act as a dining tent at the same time.

For trekking tours with porters, we will take our smaller, lighter tents with us and do without a toilet tent.

Weather

In the Himalayas, temperatures fluctuate widely. While it can get warm up to 25°C during the day and the sun is not only warming, but also very intense (sun protection is a must), it can also cool down significantly below the minus-grade at night, especially in the months end of September and October, as well as in June. There may also be weather changes with snow on the passes.