Ski touring in the Western Himalayas - Land of Lamas

Get together - practical information

Flights

Round-trip flight to New Delhi (DEL) - approx. 800€.

Due to price variations, this ski touring trip in the Himalaya of India is sold without flights. It will be more advantageous and simpler for you to book your flights from the airport and on the dates of your choice via airline websites or booking platforms such as MisterFly, Opodo, Kayak,...

Please note: Don't buy flights for this trip until we've confirmed that departure is guaranteed!

Group

From 5 to 10 people. 

Guiding

AZIMUT mountain guide from France + local English-speaking guide.

Local ski guide: he introduces us to his country, acts as a link with the people, helps us find the best runs and liaises with the local teams. He also skis with us.

We work with a great team of guides. We choose them mainly for their friendliness, their teaching skills and their organisational skills. We listen to our guides, work with them and make sure that their working conditions and pay are the best they can be. 

Find out more about our guides and instructors here

A local driver who takes us to the best spots in the region.

Carrying

Light rucksack, just your gear for the day, a few snacks and safety equipment.

Ski lifts

No lifts

Travel during the trip

Comfortable minibus and 4x4 vehicle.

How technical does it get ? How fit should I be ?

Ski level

Mostly easy, wide slopes. Previous ski touring experience, comfortable with conversions. The guide will teach you ski touring techniques.

Stamina level

Good physical condition 4 to 6 hours skiing per day, short ascent on foot possible. Elevation gain between 700m and 1000m/day. Adjustable according to the group, with the possibility of extending an outing for the most energetic.

Mind you, you're not playing in the skatepark near your house!

You're motivated, you want to make some great tracks, send some big stuff... No worries, but bear in mind that long-distance trips are to remote areas and that rescue is often long and much less well organised than in the Alps. So keep cool, slow down a bit to get the most out of the area... and don't do a backflip without knowing what's behind it.

Details of all the levels HERE

Please note: If you don't have the required level, the guide will be able to ask you to leave the group for the well-being of the whole group. Don't hesitate to ask us if you have any doubts!

Price

The price includes

• Organisation
• All local transport by minibus (or 4x4) from your arrival at the airport on D1 to your departure from the airport on the last day of your stay.
• Full-board accommodation (shared double room), from the morning of D1 (dayuse hotel to rest up) until the morning of D12 when you leave New Delhi.
• All meals from the time you arrive at the airport on D1 until dinner on D11 (except lunch on D10).
• The AZIMUT mountain guide from France and all his expenses (accommodation, meals, travel, etc.) 
• The local guide and all his expenses (accommodation, meals, travel, etc.) 
• The drivers and all his expenses 
• Minibus and 4x4 vehicle
• Entry permits for restricted areas
• AZIMUT welcome pack

 

The price does not include

• Return flights to New Delhi (DEL), India
• Visa fees (between €40 and €100)
• Extras in accommodation and during meals, hotel option and single tent
• Personal expenses
• Your personal insurance 
• And anything else not included in the "price includes" section.

Payment

30% deposit on registration + insurance if taken out, balance due 30 days before departure. A reminder e-mail will be sent to you 35 days before departure. 

Assurance

It is strongly recommended that you are adequately insured in the event of cancellation. It is compulsory to be insured for search and repatriation costs. When you register, we will offer you the opportunity to take out insurance through our partner insurer, with several options covering the activities on offer and the risks incurred (please note that this insurance is only valid for European nationals).

Guide tip

Nothing compulsory, but it is customary for members of the group to tip the French guide at the end of the trip.

For the local teams, the local guide and the drivers, it is important to give a tip at the end of the trip (count between €15 and €25/person for the guide and the same amount for the driver. Hand over the envelope to each of them personally.

Accommodation and meals

Depending on the composition of the group, you may be with someone of the opposite sex.

- Hotels and Guesthouses: in shared double rooms. We have chosen good quality hotels (3*-4*) with charm where possible, so that you can make the most of your trip and get some rest. Sheets and towels are provided.

- Meals: all meals are included (except lunch on D10) from D1 to dinner on D12 of your ski touring trip.

In the towns: Breakfast and dinner at the hotel. Lunch will be either a picnic or a break at a local restaurant. The Indian food you'll find is local, organic, hearty and always very good.

In the Guesthouses: Dinners, picnics and hearty breakfasts, cooked by the Guesthouses. A variety of meals to suit the needs of an European skier (we don't just eat Indian food).

- Water: During your stay you will be provided with bottled water on a daily basis. 

- Single accommodation throughout the trip: single room possible, supplement to be checked with us when you register. 

 

Money - Currency exchange

The currency is the Indian Rupee: 1€ = 91 INR (exchange date 23/04/23)

Take euros in cash for exchange during the trip to the North. Currency exchange and withdrawals possible in Delhi, Leh and Manali. The rest of the time, you don't need cash.

 

Visas - Vaccinations - Habits and customs - Formalities

Visa

Visas are compulsory for French, Belgian and Swiss nationals. For all other nationalities, please contact the Indian consulate in your country of origin and/or residence.

It is much easier to obtain an Indian visa through specialist organisations such as Action Visa or Visa Express, which cost around €70.

E-Tourist Visa: online application: https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/tvoa.html, "e-Tourist Visa (eTV)" section.

The online application is in English only, and the form contains over 50 questions (estimated time taken to complete is around 45 minutes). You will need to resize the scans of the required documents yourself when you apply for the e-Visa (format, size, sharpness). The e-Tourist Visa is a document you need to print in order to travel to India. In addition to the printed e-Tourist Visa, the traveller must be in possession of his or her passport and return air ticket.

Documents to send us before your departure

Once your enrolment has been confirmed, please send us the following by e-mail (attachment):

• 1 colour photocopy of the identity page of your passport
• 1 colour photocopy of the page on which the Indian Visa is stamped or the E-visa confirmation if you have applied for your visa online. You'll need this confirmation when you board your flight to India. Keep it in paper form, but also as a PDF on your phone and in your e-mails, clouds, etc.

Passport

Valid passport, valid for 6 months after the date of return for French, Belgian and Swiss nationals. For other nationalities, check with the relevant consulate or embassy. 

If you are travelling with your children, you should know that minors, whatever their age, must now also have an individual passport. If they have an individual passport, they do not need authorisation to leave the country.

Vaccinations

Make sure you are up to date with your usual vaccinations. There are no compulsory vaccinations for entering India for less than 30 days, apart from yellow fever for travellers arriving from countries where the disease is rife. 

Please note: you can find all the information you need about health, entry and other matters on the MAE INDE information sheet.

However, please note that these headings take account of the precautionary principle and the prevalence of the risks involved. They generally represent the worst that can be found and not the reality that you will experience when you go there. 

Habits & Customs

• No particular dress code, just that women's outfits should not be too short. Veils are not required. 
• When visiting temples, refer to the local guide for the right attitude and dress.  

Your helping hand for this area and its inhabitants

Remember to bring a few items of clothing and warm clothes for the children you meet along the way. Anything is welcome: fleeces, jeans, gloves, mittens, warm socks, hats, sunglasses, sun cream, etc... and a few sweets, as they don't know Haribo crocodiles...

Formalities

• The languages commonly spoken are Hindi and English, although there are dozens of dialects in the country.
• The weather is generally the same as in the mountains of France. The sun is strong with the altitude, there are clouds and a little rain, but nothing to panic about. The weather also varies according to region and altitude!
• The time difference with France is between 4 and 5 hours.

Telephone - Wifi - Electricity

In the event of an emergency or delay, you can contact our guide, whose number will be given to you before departure. You can also contact Azimut on: +33 (0)4 92 23 07 24. Pass on these contacts to your family and friends before you leave.

Telephone: The telephone network is good, but coverage is patchy in the mountains.

Wifi: There is Wifi in all the accommodation in the towns we visit. It is sometimes unreliable.

Electricity: 220V, same plugs as in France 

 

Equipment

Don't forget to bring brightly coloured clothes, it's funnier in the photos!

Skiing material (all in excellent condition)

• Ski touring skis with appropriate bindings, ski skins, ski crampons, ski poles and alpine crampons. We recommend you to have freeride type skis (wider at waist) so you can fully enjoy powdery descents as well as descents in any kind of snow.
• Ski touring boots
• A 35-40 litre backpack. Security advice: avalanche airbag backpacks are highly recommended. They help to stay on the surface in case of avalanche and minimize the risk of burial. Azimut guides use them. These bags contain cartridges with compressed air - please contact the airline to check on air transport regulations as they may be classed as hazardous goods.
• Avalanche kit: transceiver, shovel and probe (please let us know if you have your own, if not we lend them for free)
• Padded ski bag for airline transportation
• Ski helmet highly recommended

If you don't have the adequate equipment for the trip, don’t worry and travel light: we rent out the required gear and hand it over at the start of the trip ! Our equipment is relatively new, if not brand new, of good quality and adapted to your choice of activity.

Prices of rental equipment during the entire trip (these competitive prices only take into account the number of days of the trip, also includes excess bagage fare - your rental gear will be handed over on site):

Full Pack (ski, boots, skins, ski-crampons, poles)	335 €
Skis (skis, skins, poles, ski-crampons)	295 €
Helmet	40 €
Crampons	40 €

You can choose to rent equipment when booking your trip, or lateron by clicking on “my account”. If any of the equipment that you’ve chosen is out of stock you’ll be notified and reimbursed.

Due to security restrictions on air transportation, we do not rent out airbags for overseas trips.

In case your skis and gear arrive late or are lost during transportation, we are not to be held responsible and do not apply a discount on rental gear nor pay for the cost of rental gear until your own gear arrives.

Clothes

This list of clothes is designed to give you an idea of clothes that it may be a good to have with you. No need to have the latest brands nor the latest gear, but if you need to refresh of refill your wardrobe, this guide would be a good start.

Headwear

• Warm hat or buff/scarf
• 2 pairs of ski goggles and sunglasses with UV factory 4 protective lenses. Photochromic glasses adapt to light intensity, and have filter index up to category 4, they are very useful
• Ski helmet (highly recommended) 

Bodywear 

• Under layer: breathable long sleeved tops to maintain heat. A tip: merino wool is breathable and has anti-bacterial properties and is therefore less likely to smell as opposed to synthetic fabrics. Take this into consideration if you need to update your wardrobe.
• Middle layer: a light polar or synthetic jacket for an extra layer of heat during breaks
• Outer layer: a Gore-tex or similar type of jacket with a breathable waterproof membrane. Make sure it's lightweight and compact so it doesn't take up too much space in your backpack
• Bottom layer: trousers with a breathable waterproof membrane (Gore Tex or similar) with long side zips allowing air to flow, recommended on climbs
• Hands: light fleece or soft shell gloves, a pair of silk glove liners to go underneath, warm gloves with a breathable and waterproof membrane. Mittens are always a good idea for really cold days of for those of you who feel the cold !
• Swimming gear: it takes up such little space, it would be a shame not to bring it just in case. Avoid swimming shorts or bermudas, they are not usually allowed.

Footwear

• Ski socks: merino wool socks are breathable and have anti-bacterial properties and are less likely to smell as opposed to those made of synthetic fabrics. Think about them if you need to stock up.
• Slippers recommended for evening wear. Try "charentaises" they’re really comfortable ! 

Odds & ends

• 1 litre flask (Thermos or Camelback)
• Pocket knife
• Duck tape
• Suncream, UV factor 50 
• Duffle type bag holding up to 90 litres to leave at the hotel or in the vehicle. No suitcases.

Toiletries and first aid kit

• Personal toilet bag
• To make up your first aid kit, please find all information on the Ifremmont website. 

Our partner brands

Our guides are equipped in these brands and you will be able to see and test the equipment on our trips:

• SCOTT
• Arva
• Fitschi swiss bindings
• Anena

We are members of Entreprises du Voyage and APST.

 

And last but not least...

Don't forget to

• Leave our contact details with your friends and family
• Take your identity papers (up-to-date passport and visa for trips requiring them)
• Take your policy number and the details of your insurer if you have not taken out insurance with Azimut
• Take your Vitale card and we also recommend the European Health Insurance Card - free of charge and on request: www.ameli.fr
• Check that you have the required equipment
• Take batteries / chargers for your camera / avalanche transceiver
• Leave cool and relaxed, you'll be fine! The scenery and the memories you'll bring back will be many! 
• Before you leave, water the plants, take out the bins, turn off the water and gas, and tell your partner (other than by text message) that you're going to have a great time... because you really need it! Anything you forget in this last recommendation will come back with a vengeance when you return.

 

We'll be waiting for you! Have a great trip with AZIMUT!