Winter warmers

If you live somewhere like the UK, the winter months can be tough to get through and the dark mornings and early evenings can sometimes feel like they go on forever. Not to mention the cold and rain.

If you’re looking for a winter getaway, it is however, a great time for some interesting adventures in the Himalaya. With the peak Autumn season over and Spring still a few months away, trekking trails and other routes are much quieter, and it feels easier to really enjoy the key landmarks with fewer people around and a sense of calm. It’s also nice to see blue skies, sunshine and (depending where and when you visit) comfortable temperatures. Prices can be lower too.

Here are just a few suggestions for great Himalayan adventures during the winter months.

A trek to Everest Base Camp (EBC) is always popular and on many people’s bucket list and as a result, during the peak trekking seasons of Spring and Autumn, the trails and mountain lodges can be very busy, all part of the experience but if you’re looking for something quieter visit in December or even early January when conditions are still good and trails are quiet. We also run our 16 day Everest Base Camp trek timed so you arrive at Base Camp for Christmas Day or New Year’s Day – a pretty special and memorable way to celebrate! Everest is also one of the regions where there are some great luxury lodges if you want some extra comforts.

Other classic trek routes good at this time of year include Langtang National Park, Annapurna National Park and various other trekking routes. Or how about a winter luxury cultural tour and safari – staying at beautiful properties, visiting stunning World Heritage and other key spiritual and cultural sites with a few days tiger tracking on safari – great options when you visit Nepal and India over the winter months.

The coldest month is January but even then you can expect daytime temperatures around 19 to 22 degrees C in places like Kathmandu, around 20 to 25 degrees C further south in Chitwan National Park (a fantastic safari destination) for example. Yes it’s colder in the mountains and the higher you go of course but sensible clothing solves that and overall daytime temperatures are typically dry and sunny with comfortable temperatures in the mid 20s. Heading further south to somewhere like Goa or Kerala, temperatures in January range from around 23 to 30/31 degrees C with long days of sunshine and tropical surroundings. We feel relaxed just thinking about it!

If you’re the type to embrace the colder weather or like us, are prepared to do it for the right experience, another fabulous high altitude Himalayan adventure is our Snow Leopard Winter Expedition in Ladakh in India, available from November to March. Winter months are the breeding season for these elusive big cats so a perfect opportunity to see them.

There’s still just enough time to squeeze in a relaxing and rejuvenating pre-Christmas or New Year Ayurveda holistic retreat to get in the best shape and ready for the busy festive season – think tropical beachside retreats, healthy food and daily massage, yoga and meditation. Also a perfect post New Year option if you’ve overindulged during the Christmas and New Year festivities – detox and unwind with a week or two of tailored treatments and wake up to bright sunny days, gently swaying palm trees, beautiful beaches and warm tropical seas.

The winter months from December to March are also a great time for focusing on wildlife and birdlife – whether that’s on safari spotting rare and endangered species or on a dedicated birdwatching tour such as our Birdlife of Rajasthan tour, as it’s a time when there are thousands of migratory birds overwintering as well as the resident species.

That’s just a small snapshot of the experiences you can enjoy over winter. Tempted to try a winter escape yourself this year? Take a look at the itineraries via the links, call us on 028207 68975 or email hello@one-himalaya.com to discuss and book these and other options including tailor made adventures in the Himalaya.

Winters just got exciting again!