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Tips for trekking in India
Question: I would like to hike with a group for about a month in India this summer, anytime from June to September. How should I go about it? Do you know any travel agencies that specialize in that kind of trip? Thanks for your help.

Fabrice Weber
Port St. Lucie, FL
Faberge@msn.com

�����ԹϺ��� Adviser: What immediately springs to mind is Wilderness Travels’ 34-day Trans-Himalayan Expedition through the Zanskar region of northern India.

Make sure your lungs are in working order, since you’ll spend three weeks trekking at altitudes of 12,000 feet or more from the Lahoul Valley en route to Lamayuru. The good news is that, thanks to the help of porters, you’ll only be burdened by a light daypack. You’ll need all that extra energy, though, to make it over the six lung-busting mountain passes along the way.
This trip can all be yours for the small price of $2,695, but you’re on your own for round-trip airfare to Delhi. Their two summer departures are slated for June 29 and August 3. Call 800-368-2794 for details; these trips generally fill up well in advance.

If you’re looking for something a little less rigorous, consider a 12- to 21-day wildlife safari through some of India’s famed game parks, such as Ranthambhore and Bandhavgarh. This group quest for elusive Bengal tigers and mysterious sloth bears can set you back anywhere from $2,800 to $4,200, depending which outfitter you choose–and there are certainly plenty to pick
from. Destination Himalaya (800-777-8183), International Expeditions (800-633-4734), and Nature Expeditions International (800-869-0639) offer the most trips throughout the January-June and October-December season.

For other ideas, check out the in �����ԹϺ���‘s February 1996 issue.