Shakti Himalaya: Local mountain lodges
Born from a passion for the beauty of India’s remote mountain regions, Shakti Himalaya combines vividly-focused glimpses of life among these legendary foothills with local connections and high-quality light trekking. With personalised inter-village walks in Sikkim and Kumaon, and multi-base lodge stays in Ladakh, Shakti opens the door to India’s unspoilt Himalayan landscapes.
Highlights from Shakti Himalaya include:
A dedicated guide - among the very best we’ve ever worked with - who accompanies you for the entire lodge trail.
Exclusive use of each fully-staffed lodge for the duration of your stay.
Exceptional food, cooked to your tastes by on-site chefs.
Some of the most jaw-dropping mountain scenery in Asia.
Hiking, light trekking, cycling, rafting and community connections.
Support vehicle and driver to take you between lodges in Ladakh, and give your legs a rest if the hike becomes too much in Sikkim and Kumaon.
A mountain idyll
Below the jagged horizon of India’s Himalayan peaks, stepped terraces are carved into lush hillsides punctuated by small farming villages. Gently-worn paths curve their way through tall forests bathed in emerald light. Rich sunsets turn snow-covered mountaintops to burnt orange and rose gold. It’s a landscape where you feel the full meaning of ‘living deliberately’.
Along the spine of the mountains, where they wind through northern India, Shakti Himalaya have created something above the ordinary. Based in a handful of foothill locations, their bespoke lodge trails are completely tailored to each traveller’s preferences and requirements, opening up genuine connections to these lesser-known parts of the country.
Three different regions
Between April and September, drive between lodges in Ladakh’s remote, far-northern plateau - sometimes known as ‘little Tibet’. Popular with families thanks to the flexibility of each day’s itinerary and gentle terrain, a stay in Ladakh is yours to tailor as you wish. Follow walks or cycling trails through the surrounding hills, go rafting on the region’s waterways, and get a deeper look at life in this remote part of the world. Leave room for spontaneity and local connections, and you could find yourself meeting some extraordinary people, perhaps even a Buddhist monk or a local oracle!
During the other half of the year, from October to March, hike between lodges in the rippling green hills of Kumaon, in the northern state of Uttarakhand, and in Sikkim, in the far north east between Nepal and Bhutan. Walk around rice fields and rhododendron groves to temples hidden within pine forests. Wander between villages and monasteries, discovering pockets of the region’s devoutly Buddhist way of life. Pause for midday picnics on the hillsides, taking time to soak up the stillness and clarity.
Lodge life
Cosy down each night in comfortably-furnished village houses of weathered woods, warm wool, natural fibres and soft lighting, all leased from local residents and finely curated by the Shakti team. Each lodge is exclusively yours for the duration of your stay, and fully staffed to provide the highest levels of comfort and care. The meals, prepared to your tastes by dedicated chefs, are outstanding. You can also stay in luxury expedition-style tents, should to choose to. Wherever you rest your head, you’ll wake each morning to clear, crisp views over the mountains. This is one of the most accessible and enriching ways to experience India’s Himalayan landscape, immersing non-mountaineers as fully as possible in an unforgettable part of the world.
