BANJARA PHOTO TOUR EPISODE KINNAUR

April 29- May 5, 2012 6 nights 7 days

Travel deep into the unknown territory where we show you the most wonderful side of our country known only to very few. Your journey starts from Thanedar, the birthplace of apples in India and an orchard town. The Banjara retreat amidst the orchards is a serene place perfect for unwinding. Driving from Thanedar, we reach one of the most beautiful valleys of Kinnaur; Sangla, known for its massive towering mountains (remains of a moraine) on all sides and the beautiful Baspa River. Trip dates: Start from: End at: Meals: Total distance covered: Maximum altitude reached: What Camera: April 29- May 05, 2012 Chandigarh Chandigarh Dinner at Thanedar on day 1 to Breakfast in Thanedar on day 7 850 kms 3450M (Chitkul) A DSLR is a must for the trip. A wide-angle or normal zoom is a staple for landscape and general photography. For birds and mammals, a focal length of at least 300mm is usually necessary. A tripod is the most underrated equipment for travel photography. You will be able to create some magical images if you carry one!

ITINERARY:
Day 01: Chandigarh- Thanedar- 195 kms/ 6-7 hrs Meet at Chandigarh railway station at 1130 hrs. Drive to Thanedar via Barog, Shimla and Narkanda. Reach Thanedar in the evening. Depending on your travel time, you will be able to see either apple blossoms or apples. Evening around bonfire. Night stay in Banjara Retreat. Day 02: Thanedar Sangla- 165 kms/ 6 hrs Wake up early in the morning. Go for a drive to Hatu peak. Catch the first rays of sun while warming your hands on a cup of tea. Lessons begin. We leave for Sangla after a leisurely breakfast Back in Thanedar. We drive down towards Sutlej River. We drive along the river till Karcham from where once again, we start climbing up the mountains to reach Sangla. Reach Banjara camps ahead of Sangla, early in the evening. Check-in. After a cup of tea, we could go for a short 1 km walk to the lovely little Batseri village. Evening around a bonfire. Overnight stay at the camp. Day 03: Sangla Visit Chitkul (3,450M) - 20kms A day visit to the Chitkul village. This is the last village on the old Indo-Tibetan trade route. From here, we can hike up to Nagasthi, the last border outpost that civilians are allowed to. It is a lovely 2.5 kms walk along a stream. Lunch along the glacier fed mountain stream. Drive back to Camp in the afternoon. Rest of the day at leisure. You could also try your hand at rappelling, rock climbing or river crossing. Evening around a bonfire. Night stay in tents. Day 04: Sangla- Sangla village walk 6 kms/ 3 hrs Another Full day of photography and hiking in Kinnaur mountains. Day 05: Sangla- Kalpa- Sangla- 2 hrs drive one way Kalpa is another photographers delight. It offers unparalleled view of Kinner Kailash peak. On a good day, sunset colours are brilliant. Day 06: Sangla- Thanedar- 156 kms/ 6 hrs or via Sarahan- 8 hrs Drive back to Thanedar. On the way, you can take a detour to Sarahan and visit the famous Bhimakali temple. Reach Thanedar in the evening and settle in. Evening around a bonfire. Night stay in retreat. Day 07: Drop back at Chandigarh- 6-7 hrs

COSTS:
Cost per person: INR 29900 Single room supplement: INR 9000
COST INCLUDES: 1. Stay at Banjara retreats with meals (morning tea, breakfast, lunch, evening tea and dinner) Thanedar: Banjara retreat, deluxe room Sangla: Banjara retreat, deluxe tent 2. Transport from Chandigarh to Chandigarh in ac Innova or similar. 3. Services of a guide for walks as per itinerary. 4. All applicable taxes. COST DOES NOT INCLUDE:

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Beverages at retreat except those served on buffet table. Any En route/ personal expenses. Any expenses incurred due to factors beyond our control like a natural calamity/ man-made calamity. Any air/rail fares. Rock Climbing/Rappelling/River Crossing. Expenses on account of factors beyond our control like flight / train cancellations, landslides.

How to get there:

By Air: By Train: Chandigarh: well connected by daily flight from Delhi and Mumbai. Connected by train from Delhi (Kalka Shatabdi and Chandigarh Jan Shatabdi), Mumbai (Paschim express) and Kolkata (Kalka mail). For bookings log onto www.irctc.co.in Chandigarh is well connected by road from Delhi (240 kms/ 4-5 hrs). There is no room service and TV in rooms. We encourage our guests to listen to sounds of nature and be up and about. All meals are buffet spread. We usually serve Indian, Chinese and Continental. You could give special instructions regarding veg/ non veg/ spicy/ Jain food. Water served comes from RO purification system. There is no room service. Doctor on call, mobile/ laptop charging points. BSNL, Airtel & Reliance have good connectivity. Hiking, Overnight Camping, River Crossing, Burma- Bridge, Rappelling, and Fly Fishing (please get your own gear). Indoor and outdoor games.

By Road:

Rooms: Dining: Other info: Activities:

Trip expenses: En route meals on day 1 and day 8 are not included. You could order barbecue in Sojha
and Sangla on your own. Any adventure sports activity like river crossing, rappelling, rock climbing, fishing is not included. Tips are not included. There is no fixed amount and up to you if you wish to tip or not.

What To Carry:
T-Shirts & Shirts (Preferably Long Sleeved) Trousers, Jeans & Track Pants Pullover (light & heavy) Wind Cheater & Jacket (light & heavy) Thermal Wear (light & heavy) Gloves, Muffler, Woolen Socks (light & heavy) Skull Cap & Balaclava (Monkey Cap) Well Worn Sports or Outdoor Leather Shoes (pref. two pairs) Personal Toilet Requisites Personal Medication Sun Glasses, Sun Block, Baseball Cap / Safari Hat Rain gear (just in case) Knapsack or Daypack (to carry water, camera) Camera & Writing Material