Shakti Himalaya: Local mountain lodges

Take a slow, soulful journey into India’s Himalayas, staying in remote mountain lodges curated by our partner, Shakti Himalaya. Walk between villages, connect with local life, and experience the mountains in comfort, depth and clarity.
Everything we do is custom made by real Asia experts...

Shakti Himalaya opens up quiet corners of Ladakh, Kumaon and Sikkim with style and substance.

These gentle, personalised expeditions balance light adventure with meaningful cultural encounters, all supported by excellent guides, exceptional food and heart-warming hospitality.

Born from a passion for the beauty of India’s remote mountain regions, Shakti Himalaya combines vividly-focused glimpses of life among these legendary foothills with local connections and high-quality light trekking.

Start planning your journey here...

Give us a call 9am-5pm UK time Monday to Friday, or make an enquiry online at any time.

Highlights from Shakti Himalaya include:

  • Light treks or village-to-village walks through pristine mountain landscapes.
  • Exclusive use of simple yet luxurious Shakti lodges in remote communities.
  • An expert local guide and support team with you every step of the way.
  • Flexibility to walk, drive, cycle or raft depending on location.
  • Outstanding food cooked by your private chef at each lodge.
  • Opportunities to meet artisans, monks, oracles and villagers along the way.
a snowy mountain with trees in the background

Views for days

“We stayed one night in a luxury tent, it was such a treat to wake up to such staggering scenery. ”

Three extraordinary regions

Ladakh monastery views

Choose between Shakti’s three carefully selected locations: Ladakh’s high-altitude plateau (Apr–Sep), and the greener hills of Kumaon and Sikkim (Oct–Mar). Each offers a different landscape, culture and pace, with seasonal flexibility built in.

Ladakh monastery views

Life on the trail

a morning view of Mount Kumaon from Shakti

Walk through pine forests, beside rice terraces, or across open ridges with the snowline in sight. Pause for hillside picnics, detour to a local temple, or rest while the support vehicle whisks you to the next lodge.

a morning view of Mount Kumaon from Shakti

A room in the clouds

inside a village house in Kumaon with Shakti

Shakti lodges are traditional village homes thoughtfully restored with comfort in mind. Expect wooden beams, warm wool blankets, soft lighting, and epic views. Some stays include luxury tents for a taste of expedition life.

inside a village house in Kumaon with Shakti

Hosted by the Himalayas

Lodge with Himalayan views

You’ll be welcomed as more than a guest. These homes are leased from villagers and staffed by local teams, meaning your stay benefits the wider community and reflects true Himalayan hospitality.

Lodge with Himalayan views

Something for everyone

Terrace with mountain views

Whether you want a gentle ramble, a short cultural break, or a family adventure, Shakti experiences can be shaped to suit your comfort level, timeframe and interests — no prior trekking experience needed.

Terrace with mountain views
a bed with a wooden platform and a white canopy over it
A village house in Kumaon with Shakti
Room in lodge in Ladakh
a window with trees and mountains in the background
a valley with mountains in the background

Fantastic holiday

Using Selective Asia took all the stress out of booking and organising the trip ourselves as we were travelling around the country. Selective Asia were really responsive to our needs and created our perfect honeymoon holiday. They were available whenever we had questions or needed some help. I would highly recommend using their service!

Alice, Sri Lanka

Another fantastic trip with Selective Asia

We’ve been on 5 trips to the Far East with Selective Asia over 17 years with the same consultant (Lionel). They take the time to tailor the holiday individually with invaluable local knowledge and once again got it spot on. Wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them.

Rob Clarkson, Vietnam

Highly Recommend Selective Asia

Have been to Asia with Selective Asia twice now, and we can't fault them. We had the most amazing holiday staying in 6 different locations throughout Thailand. Selective Asia did us proud by giving us a well thought out itinerary. The accommodations were first class. Our private guide called James was very knowledgable and made our holiday very memorable.

Susan Bartlett, Thailand

Personalised and spot on journey

Personalised service all the way up to departure and then throughout via on the ground help and advice in country as well. Ideal.

Ann B, India

Our trip to Japan was outstanding

We had had several discussions with Andrew, our agent, before booking the trip and he incorporated all the activities we were interested in plus recommending other activities that he knew we would be interested in. Much of our trip was self guided and SA provide an excellent app to help with this. It was intuitive, easy to use and had the option to be able to contact someone locally if necessary. The whole trip was seamless and managed at a thoroughly professional yet friendly level. I would travel with this company again (we have travelled with them before.)

Heather, Japan

It was amazing from start to finish. Really informative when we were planning the trip, flexible about our itinerary, offering a range of options but all backed with knowledge of the lodges and reserves. The support when we were away was excellent with alternative arrangements made quickly when a flight was cancelled and great advice when our return flight seats were changed. We would absolutely recommend the company, particularly if you are looking for something a little different but special.

Linda Johnson, Borneo

Inspiring experiences and places to stay

Lean into the details of your bespoke Asia trip to discover rare experiences, exceptional hotels, local connections, inspiring conservation and much more…

Start planning your journey here...

Give us a call 9am-5pm UK time Monday to Friday, or make an enquiry online at any time.

Talk to our expert team...

Every Asia trip we build is finely tuned to fit you, and that all starts with a chat. Let us know what you're hoping to see, feel and experience on your travels, and the places you're dreaming of, and your Asia Specialist will craft a route that includes everything you want and more.

The Selective Asia difference

  • Bespoke journeys tailored just for you
  • Unparalleled local knowledge and expertise
  • Award-winning, nose-to-tail service
  • Responsible travel
  • 24 hour local support
  • Our flexi-booking promise and financial clarity

No ordinary Travel Company

Personally designed, exceptional journeys across Asia that champion a passion for travel with care for community connections and the planet.
Unfollow the herd.

Fully protected and flexible bookings

Selective Asia is a fully ATOL licensed and bonded tour operator, and our flexi-booking promise offers increased protection & peace of mind.,

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