Assam-Meghalaya-Nagaland with Hornbill Festival
9 Days
On Request
The state of Nagaland in the North East of India is home to several tribes each of which are distinct in their language, culture and customs. The festivals are important to the tribes as these revolve around agriculture, which is a major profession in the state. The Nagas consider their festivals sacred and so participation in these festivals is essential.
To encourage inter-tribal interaction and to promote cultural heritage of Nagaland, the Government of Nagaland organizes the Hornbill Festival every year in the first week of December. The festival is named after the Indian hornbill, the large and colourful forest bird, which is displayed in folklore in most of the state’s tribes.
If you are headed to the Hornbill festivel, it’s a great opportunity to combine this trip with a stay and safari at the popular Rhino destination – Kaziranga National Park.
To make the North East experience complete a short trip to Meghalaya and its beautiful capital Shillong would just do that.
Hornbill Festival and Kaziranga Experience
6 Days
2-8 Dec
The state of Nagaland in the North East of India is home to several tribes each of which are distinct in their language, culture and customs. The festivals are important to the tribes as these revolve around agriculture, which is a major profession in the state. The Nagas consider their festivals sacred and so participation in these festivals is essential.
To encourage inter-tribal interaction and to promote cultural heritage of Nagaland, the Government of Nagaland organizes the Hornbill Festival every year in the first week of December. The festival is named after the Indian hornbill, the large and colourful forest bird, which is displayed in folklore in most of the state’s tribes.
If you are headed to the Hornbill festival, it’s a great opportunity to combine this trip with a stay and safari at the popular Rhino destination – Kaziranga National Park.
This experience will allow you to do just that.
Sandakphu-Phalut-Singalila Range Trek
5-8 Days
For a clear view of the four of the five highest peaks (Everest, Kanchenjunga, Lhotse and Makalu), what wouldn’t any trekker do? It is pretty easy, all one has to do is trek to Sandakphu or Phalut.
In recent years, this trek has gained much popularity and not because of the view to the four eight thousander peaks but for the beautiful trail that this trek entails across the forests of rhodendrons and magnolias and more.
Dzongri-Goecha La Trek
10 Days
Kangchenjunga is the third highest mountain in the world (after Mount Everest and K2), with an altitude of 8,586 metres (28,169 ft). Kangchenjunga means “The Five Treasures of Snows”, as it contains five peaks, four of them over 8,450 metres. Three of these five peaks (main, central, and south) are on the border of North Sikkim district of Sikkim, India and Taplejung District of Nepal, while the other two are completely in Taplejung District.
The Dzongri-Goecha La trek takes the trekker up-close for a spectacular view of the majestic Kanchenjunga amidst a beautiful panorama of the other lesser Himalayan giants within its range of mountains.
Bhutan Experience
6-10 Days
4-11 May, On request
Bhutan has been much in news. It is not because of its effort to measure its performance in terms of Gross National Happiness rather than GNP. It is also not because of the natural beauty of the place – the monasteries, fortresses (dzongs) and the amazing topography ranging from subtropical plains to steep mountains and valleys. The big news is that Bhutan has become carbon negative. Yes, exactly that. Led by the dynamic Prime Minister Tshering Togbay, Bhutan has been working hard to protect the environment and reduce pollution and the results are showing.
But this is not the only reason to visit the land of Thunder Dragon. The Himalayan kingdom offers a plethora of experiences ranging from adventure, trekking, climbing to culture and heritage, from nature and wildlife to calm and peaceful environs of a Buddhist monastery.
In line with our philosophy, Rustik Travel has curated a range of travel experiences that are rustic, offbeat and sustainable. Here goes.
Rustic North Thailand
Thailand is known for its sun and sand, lovely beaches, tropical weather and crazy beach parties. However, if you go up North to the Chiang Mai region you will be surprised with a different Thailand. This mountainous region is blessed with lush forests and rich wildlife. Living together in the mountains are the hill tribe people and their elephants. For generations these villagers have coexisted with nature and over time have developed a vast knowledge of the forest environment. Recently, due to unregulated development and a booming tourism industry, the forests in Northern Thailand are dwindling with many elephants in captivity being forced into unnatural living conditions. These majestic animals no longer are roaming the vast jungles of Thailand but are forced to perform for human entertainment. Our experience is set in an elephant sanctuary that is working towards bringing as many of these magnificent creatures back to the forests to live as naturally as possible.
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Markha Valley Trek
6 Days
The Markha Valley trek begins from Chilling village passing through villages, shepherd camps across the arid and surreal Ladakh towards the Markha river taking you across Markha valley. At last it crosses Kongmaru Pass and finishes at Shangsumdo.
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Ladakh Experience
On Request
Ladakh is the land of high passes blessed with natural beauty any other place in the world would envy. In ancient times it was an important outpost in the important silk route trade. Much of that richness esp. in culture and heritage is still very much reflective in the present day Ladakh.
Not much else needs to be said about Ladakh. A landscape vastly different from anything imaginable. Though so much has been talked and written about it that most people have an idea of the place, yet nothing can prepare you for what to expect the moment the door of the aircraft opens and this land opens its arms to you.
Sikkim Experience
Sikkim has lot of history since it has been nestled for ages between the ancient Tibetan, Bhutanese and Nepalese kingdoms, and later with the British that saw frequent historical exchanges, remnants of which can widely be seen.
Sikkim has a rich heritage seeped in Buddhism as can be evident from the number of beautiful monasteries each of which have a story to tell.
Sikkim has been very careful not to let development come at the cost of nature with a third of the state being heavily forested till date and a fourth of it being protected under the Kanchendzonga national park making it a state very rich in flora and fauna. Sikkim is also India’s first fully organic state. Not to forget the mighty Kanchenjunga which is of reverence to all there and forms a beautiful backdrop at a number of places.
The people of Sikkim are remarkably cheerful and friendly, urban centers in Sikkim are great places to chill out.
The quintessential Sikkim experience is an attempt to explore all of these – history and heritage, nature and mountains as well as the rich and unique local culture.
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Spituk – Stok Trek
4 Days
Spituk – Stok treks gives a taste of a typical Ladakh experience. This trek starts from Leh and takes you past the mighty Indus river across dry arid landscape to a beautiful mustard meadow at Rumbak, to crossing a high altitude pass at Stok La at the base of Stok Kangri, a 20,000 ft. peak popular for climbing, and finally heading back to Leh via Stok village giving you a rustic flavour as well.
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