Mcleodganj (Winter)
Mcleodganj
- Verified Host
- Logout's Trusted
- Traveler's Choice
- Backpacking
All About It
- 7 Days 6 Nights
Welcome to Back-Pack-Go
We personally hope you leave the city version of you behind. We're going to the hills
Let us give you a little idea of how we at Vagabond Experiences do group trips. First of all, we don’t do ‘tour operators’. Every group will be accompanied by an Experience Manager (AKA. EM | AKA. Ex-Man). EMs are trained to do one job; help you have a comfortable, safe, and fulfilling experience.
There’s no room for prejudices where we’re going. There’ll be great food, beautiful views, and some good vibrations! Come alone or with old friends, make some new ones, write a story, climb a mountain, jump into a river, dance, sing, and fall in love. Do everything you've always wanted to. We implore you to break free.
Highlights
Places covered: Dharamkot, Naddi, Bhagsu, Mcleodganj, Bir-Billing
-Visit to the Namgyal monastery
-Pottery Wheel Experience
-Forest walk to Naddi river
-Explore the gothic St. John in the Wilderness Church
-Visit to the Tibet Museum
-Paragliding at Bir
Who should attend?
-There isn’t an age restriction on any of our experiences, everyone is welcome. However, the average Vagabond customer is anywhere between 20 – 35 years old. The experiences involve a good amount of time spent with the group. Depending on what experience you’re opting for, there could be a lot of walking and physical exertion
-It’s important to understand that most of our experiences include very rustic accommodation and not a luxurious means of transport. These may be basic in their facilities, but the hospitality is homely and comforting. If you’re someone who doesn’t like compromising on your comforts while travelling, this experience may not be very enjoyable
-Most of our trips have a healthy number of solo travellers. We encourage you to join us solo, especially if you’re tired of waiting on your friends. We promise you’ll return with many more
-We try our best to be responsible travellers. Everyone is welcome to explore with us, but we pay utmost importance to cleanliness in all our experiences. We encourage you to #LeaveNoTrace while you discover the beauty of the outdoors
-It’s important to understand that in a limited amount of time, only a limited amount of experiences can be had. We like to cover a few places in-depth rather than just ticking off a long list of things-to-do and places-to-go. However, if you are that kind of traveller, on almost all trips you can feel free to wander by yourself to places of your interest
-At a Vagabond Experience, it’s important to stay open-minded and positive when things don’t go as per plan. The essence of traveling in a group is being able to help each other out when in need. The weather could go bad, and plans could get altered. In such situations, we urge you to have faith in your group leader to make the most informed decision for the group.
Stay Not Applicable
Meals Not Applicable
Day 1: Goodbye concrete, hello jungles!
Our journey begins directly in Delhi at 05:00 pm. From here, we board a direct bus to McLeodganj saying goodbye to city-time and slowing things down to mountain-time.
Day 2: McLord! I’m Coming Home.
We touchdown in McLeodganj early in the day and head over to the satellite town of Dharamkot. We settle into our homestay and get breakfast. After a great meal to prepare you for the mountains, it’s time to explore the hillside in the best possible way: walking.
We walk through the bustling McLeodganj market and visit the much-revered Namgyal Monastery. Apart from bearing the fame of being the personal monastery of The Dalai Lama, it is also known for being the administrative headquarters of Tibetan Buddhism in India.
After this, we make our way to St. John in the Wilderness Church. Known for its beautiful stained-glass work and intricately carved gravestones from a bygone era, the church gives you a glimpse into the colonial history of Dharamshala.
We return to the homestay on foot and enjoy the crisp winter air.
Day 3: Naddi-buddies
After a hearty breakfast and warm cuppa, we will take the pine-studded trail to Naddi village. We pass through the quaint village and make our way to the cool glacial stream that starts its journey from the Laka Glacier in the Indrahar Pass. We spend the day chilling by the freezing blue waters.
We come out to a beautiful hillock on the other side of the village to witness a magical sunset. We’ll visit the McLeodganj market and have dinner here before heading back to our homestay in Dharamkot.
Day 4: I Believe I Can Fly
After an early breakfast, we start the long journey to Bir. While it is most famous as the paragliding capital of India, Bir is also known for its old Tibetan colony, several small monasteries, and beautiful landscapes.
If you don’t feel like taking the leap of paragliding, you can spend the day walking through the tibetan colony and sampling some local cuisine. We regroup in the evening and start our journey back to our homestay for dinner and a night of chilling.
Day 5: You’re a Potter, Harry!
This is our last full day in McLeodganj. We’re going to do something different today. After breakfast, we’ll walk up to Upper Dharamkot. On today’s agenda, we have pottery lessons! If you haven’t already tried it, pottery is a wonderful craft and a really unique sensory experience. Who knows? Maybe you have a master potter waiting to be discovered within you.
With a new feather in your hat, it’s now time to witness our last sunset in Himachal. We will then go to the Gallu Dev temple and sit at the iconic sunset cafe to witness that one last magical sunset.
Chill through the rest of the evening. Spend the last night with your newfound friends and take a few moments to appreciate the cold mountain winters and the warm mountain people.
Day 6: Let’s go to the Mall!
It’s our final day in McLeodganj! Our first stop will be at the beautifully curated Tibet Museum. Experience the stories and the many struggles of the displaced Tibetan community in India. This can be quite an emotional experience.
As it is our last evening, we will make a stop at the McLeod market. Here’s a great place to pick up some authentic Tibetan jewelry, memorabilia, and some food (read: Bhagsu Cakes) that you will only find in this part of Himachal.
We’ll board our buses back to Delhi in the evening.
Day 7: Homeward bound.
We arrive in Delhi early in the morning. Bid farewell to your new friends and get ready to get back in the grind.
Travel Not Applicable
Homestay
Twin sharing rooms
Meals Not Applicable
Trek
Homestay
Twin sharing rooms
Meals Not Applicable
Trek
Tents
Twin-sharing tents with sleeping-bags and floor mats
Dinner
(Dinner at the Triund campsite will be only vegetarian.)
Trek
Tents
Twin-sharing tents with sleeping-bags and floor mats
Breakfast, Dinner
(Breakfast & dinner at the Triund campsite will be only vegetarian.)
Trek
Homestay
Twin sharing rooms
Breakfast
(Breakfast at the Triund campsite will be only vegetarian.)
Car
4-8 seater taxis/jeeps
Homestay
Twin sharing rooms
Meals Not Applicable
Bus
A/C Volvo semi-sleeper
Stay Not Applicable
Meals Not Applicable
(The bus will stop at a restaurant on the highway for dinner)
Travel Not Applicable
Stay Not Applicable
Meals Not Applicable
Hosted by
Vagabond Experiences
- Verified Host
- Logout's Trusted
- Traveler's Choice
Vagabond started out as a project by four friends with a disdain for the ordinary. The idea was simple; take people out of their comfort zones. Not like Roadies, but just enough to bond them together through beautiful and authentic experiences. Happiness, as they say, is only real when shared. And share we did. The company was founded in 2014. As fresh Bachelor of Arts degree holders, companies were lining up to hire us fine gentlemen; we’re kidding. Fueled by entrepreneurial zeal, we started with small events in the city like heritage walks through Bombay’s old quarters. As musicians and travellers ourselves, we decided to marry these two loves of our lives. That is how the idea for the first Fields of Sound™ came about. Since then, it has only been onward and upwards for us. Since 2014, we’ve made friends like family through our journey. Our little ‘Vaga’-Fam. It’s safe to say, it’s been quite an adventure. One we would like you to join :)
Inclusions
-Bus fares to and from Delhi and McleodGanj for semi-sleeper AC buses
-Accommodation in cozy, rustic, and comfortable homestays with decent amenities on a double-sharing basis
-Transport to Bir-Billing (paragliding)
-A 2hrs Pottery Wheel Experience
-Private internal transport (taxis) throughout the trip
-All activities and visit to places as per itinerary
-Basic medical and first-aid kit assistance
-All permits, tolls, and parking charges
-Experienced local guides
-Assistance by Vagabond Experience Managers
-Vagabond Merchandise
Exclusions
-Meals
-Paragliding cost
-Travel insurance
THINGS TO CARRY
1. Sturdy shoes for walking (well-fitting, neither loose nor tight)
2. An extra small backpack for day outings (20-30 ltrs)
3. Reusable water bottle (avoid buying mineral water bottles to reduce plastic waste)
4. Toiletries, Torch, Lip-balm, Sunscreen, Sunglasses.
5. Personal Medication (Asthma, allergen medication etc.)
6. Slippers/flip-flops
7. Rainwear (jacket/poncho) & rain cover for bags
8. Binoculars, Camera (optional)
9. Sufficient liquid cash as there are very few ATMs in McLeodGanj
10. Crepe-bandage (each person should have 1 roll each)
11. Warm clothes (Temperature appropriate clothing)
12. Hand sanitizer and reusable face-masks
HOW TO REACH
Depending on how you're travelling to Delhi, you can either take a rickshaw or taxi (Uber/Ola) to Majnu ka Tila. Further details regarding the exact location will be shared closer to the trip date
Goto Google Maps
Policy and Terms
-In case of cancellations 1 month prior to the trip, Rs 4,000 will be deducted
-In case of cancellations 15 days prior to the trip, Rs 8,000 will be deducted
-In case of cancellations 1 week prior to the trip, Rs 10,000 will be deducted
-In case of cancellations within 1 week of the trip, Rs 12,000 will be deducted
-In case of cancellations on the day of departure, no refund shall be admissible
(Please refer to the further Terms and Conditions mentioned in the footer of the website)
Terms and Conditions
-All timings and activities are subject to weather, group size, capabilities of participants, etc. -Vagabond holds the right to cancel the event due to unforeseen circumstances (for eg. unfavorable weather) -By registering for this trip, you agree to have read through and abide by the Vagabond terms & conditions mentioned below: I hereby agree, undertake, and declare as follows: IN CONSIDERATION of being permitted to the Vagabond trip/event/trek/activity, hereinafter referred to as Activities conducted by Vagabond, (Hereinafter referred to as the Conductor, under the guidance of Elton Dmello and/or Shannon Fernandes and/or Nihar Nair, hereinafter jointly referred to as the Instructors, I do hereby: Acknowledge and agree that I am aware of the risks involved in the Activities and have also been apprised by the Conductor through his/her Instructors of the inherent risks and dangers associated with the activity and having understood the risks associated with the activity I have willingly agreed to learn/agree to send my ward to learn and participate in the Activities. I assure that I am / my ward is in proper and good health and I am / my ward is physically fit to learn and also participate in the activity and represent that I am / my ward is not suffering from any disease which might remotely either put myself / my ward or the other participants at any risk or danger; I agree to comply with the stated terms and conditions of participation; further, agree and warrant that if at any time when the Instructors believe and think that any conditions to be unsafe, they will have the right to ask me / [my ward] to discontinue further participation in the Activities immediately; I shall not hold the conductor, instructors, employees, other participants, owners, lessors or anyone responsible for any injury that might happen to me / my ward in the course of my journey to the venue and my journey backward I hereby release, discharge, and agree not to sue the conductor, Instructors, employees, any sponsors, advertisers, other participants, and if applicable, owners and lessors of premises on which the Activity takes place, from all liability, claims, demands, losses, injuries, damage to property or other damages caused or alleged to be caused on my account / on account of my ward in whole or in part by the bonafide errors of the Instructors. I have read this letter and I fully understand its terms; I also understand that this letter intends to be a complete and unconditional release of all liability to the largest extent allowed by law and agree that if any portion of this agreement is held to be not valid, the balance shall continue in full force and effect.
Frequest Questions
1) What region of north India are we traveling to?
-We're traveling from Delhi to Mcleodganj which is a suburb of Dharamshala in the Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh.
2) What altitude would we be traveling to?
-Mcleodganj is at an altitude of approximately 6,830 ft (2,082 m)
3) What will the temperature be like while we're there?
-Temperatures rise to a maximum of 15°C during the day and can drop to a minimum of 1°C at night
4) Is there mobile connectivity in Mcleodganj?
-You will have network coverage for almost all of the trip
5) Are there any ATMs where we're traveling?
-There are a couple of ATMs at Mcleodganj market, however, carry liquid cash at all times.
6) Can I smoke/drink on this trip?
-We at Vagabond do not refrain our participants from smoking or drinking on our backpacking trips. However, there are times you will be disallowed to do so (monasteries, treks, sacred spaces etc). Indulge in these activities very responsibly.
7) What will the group size be?
-We will have a maximum of 15 travelers excluding 2-3 Vagabond Experience Managers
8) Is there any age limit to join this trip?
-No, there is no age limit to join this trip. However, based on our previous experiences, the age group of travelers is usually between 22-35.
9) Can I join this expedition solo?
-Yes, of course, you can! We have a good number of solo travelers on almost every Vagabond experience.
10) How physically fit do I need to be to join this trip?
-This trip involves a lot of walking! Most of the real exploration happens on foot. If you have any physical, mental or medical conditions that may affect your capacity to do the trip, you must inform us before you confirm your seat.
11) How do I know if I’m fit enough?
-You should be able to walk a distance of 5kms in less than 35 minutes for 5 days continuously. If you are above 40 years of age, you should be able to walk a distance of 5 kms in less than 45 minutes for 5 days continuously.
12) Are there doctors/hospitals in Mcleodganj?
-Mcleodganj market has a doctor’s dispensary which is at a convenient distance from our homestay
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