Shakti Himalaya: Hiking between mountain lodges

Born from a passion for the beauty of India’s remote mountain regions, Shakti Himalaya combines vividly-focused glimpses of life amongst these legendary foothills with some of the highest-quality light trekking available. With personalised inter-village walks in Sikkim, Kumaon and Ladakh, Shakti opens the door to India’s unspoilt Himalayan landscapes.

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 really feel the 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 village trails are completely tailored to each walker's preferences and requirements, lasting between 2 and 4 days and opening up genuine connections to these lesser-known regions. 

In the rippling green hills of Kumaon, in the northern state of Uttarakhand near Nepal, hike around rice fields and rhododendron groves to temples hidden within pine forests. In Sikkim, in the far north east between Nepal and Bhutan, walk between villages and monasteries, discovering pockets of the region’s devoutly Buddhist way of life. Experience the tranquillity of Ladakh’s remote, far-northern plateau - sometimes known as ‘little Tibet’ - away from the noise of external influences. Pause for midday picnics on the hillsides, taking time to soak up the stillness and clarity.

Cosy down each night in comfortably-furnished village houses of weathered woods, warm wool, natural fibres and soft lighting, or in luxury expedition-style tents, all finely curated by the Shakti team. Enjoy nurturing home-cooked evening meals prepared to your taste, and wake 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.