Gulmarg Tour
| Gulmarg Curry Powder Tour
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8 Nights / 9 Days - Guided Tour
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From GBP £1,695
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This trip is for strong intermediates to expert off-piste skiers & boarders. The tour takes in a night on a houseboat on Dal Lake in Srinagar. Includes:
- 7 nights twin share accommodation in Gulmarg + 1 night Dal Lake
- Internal transfers including domestic flights
- Daily breakfasts & dinners
- Lift & taxi costs
- 7 days guiding
- Guide ratio 1:6 (max 12 per tour)
- Plus more.....
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| Price based on GBP per person inc taxes. Prices correct as at 1 Oct 2011. Subject to availability. Price may vary based on exchange rate fluctuations. |
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Gulmarg India – 9 Day Powder Skiing Trip Introduction:It's not just the off piste skiing on offer in Gulmarg; incredible powder skiing and the unique culture of India make a wonderful combination of experiences to treasure. It is possible to spend the whole week in Gulmarg, skiing amazing lines in great snow, and still feel you've got the place to yourself. Your IFMGA mountain guide will guide you safely navigate to the best off piste areas to maximise the thrills.
Gulmarg is a small isolated hill-village situated in the northern Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir at the western extremity of the Himalayas in a subsidiary range called the Pir Panjals. The village itself sits in gently undulating meadows high above the Kashmiri plateau at about 2,700m.
Due to its geographic location Gulmarg gets some of the heaviest snowfalls in the Himalayas and is considered the best ski resort in the Himalayas. Skiing was first introduced to Gulmarg by two British Army officers who established the first ski club in 1927. Despite this the area only appeared on the cognoscenti’s hotlist in the last decade. This is a big tick for the adventure skier!
Itinerary:Fly into Delhi International Airport. Tour start in Delhi on the Friday morning of your chosen dates and you are required to be present by 9am. To make this time it may be necessary to arrive the day before which may require a night in Delhi on the Thursday night.
DAY 1
Arrive Delhi International Airport. Transfer to domestic airport and take internal flight to Srinagar the capital of Kashmir. Flight time: 1 hr. You'll be met at the airport and transferred by private jeep for the 45km journey to Gulmarg. Book into the Hotel Highlands Park.
DAY 2-7
Six full days of off piste guided adventure skiing in the extensive backcountry covering 4 different ski areas.With a gondola rising to almost 4,000m, you will enjoy uninterrupted descents of almost 2,000 vertical meters of fresh powder each day - just make sure you are fit enough!!
DAY 8
Ski for most of the day and then transfer directly back to Srinagar by road and stay overnight in one of the famous house boats on Lake Dal.
DAY 9
Return to Srinagar airport for the 1 hour flight to Delhi and international flight home
. Arrive around 4:30pm on the Saturday afternoon so your outgoing international flight should be no earlier than 7pm.
Optional Extensions and ExcursionsIndia is a fantastic vibrant country and on request we can arrange additional excursions or stopovers in Delhi. If you haven't been to India before we'd
strongly recommend allowing 3 extra days (at the start of trip) to visit
The Taj Mahal in Agra and the
Pink city of Jaipur.
Pre-requisites (Skills & Stamina)Gulmarg is fantastic for intermediate to expert level off-piste skiers and snowboarders. It’s also brilliant for backcountry tours! There is no groomed terrain and chances are you’ll be skiing deep powder most of the time and so you must be a competent powder skier. No previous ski touring experience is required but on most days there is likely to be some walking – up to 1 hour – to access or exit the best runs. Fitness is important and to get the most out of this wonderful holiday you need to have the stamina to ski all day for 7 consecutive days.
AccommodationWe stay in the
Highlands Park Hotel in Gulmarg which is one of the most beautiful and rustic hotels in the region. It has an old world colonial charm and is a very warm and comforting place where you can just lay back and relax.
The hotel has cottages set amid pretty flowerbeds and views of snow-capped mountains. The rooms are well done up, bathrooms are big and there is a stove in each room.
Subject to availability, rooms in the Highlands Park Hotel in Gulmarg can be booked on a single occupancy basis. In 2012 the extra charge for this is £295 for 7 nights.
The two restaurants at Hotel Highland Park serve the finest delicacies from a wide choice of menu options. You can choose to savour from exclusive Kashmiri ,Indian, Continental or Chinese cuisine.
In Srinagar you will spend 1 night in a floating houseboat on Dal Lake. There are hundreds of houseboats, most very fancifully decorated, and staying in one is a fascinating experience.
The boats booked for our group have a balcony, lounge, dining room, pantry and 3 or more bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms. The boats face the Lotus Garden and have a view of the mountains. A small motorboat is used to get from the shore to the houseboat and back.
Tour Dates:
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19-28 January 2012
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26 January-4 February 2012
- 2–11 February 2012 (Snowboarders week)
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9-18 February 2012
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16-25 February 2012 (Snowboarders week)
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Bespoke, private group tours can be arranged from mid-March until Mid-May. Contact us for further details.
Price:
- £1,695 per person
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Book as a group of 4 or more to receive a discount of £50 per person
Includes:
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7 full days guide fees and expenses
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7 nights half-board accommodation in Gulmarg
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1 night half-board on floating houseboat in Srinagar
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Internal flights between Delhi and Srinagar
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Private transfers between Sringar and Gulmarg
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Uplift costs and taxi transfers
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Guide to client ratio of no more than 1:6
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Maximum of 12 per trip
Not Included:
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International travel to/from Delhi
- Extra accommodation if required in Dheli (£75 p.p. twin share inc transfers)
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Single room supplement (£275)
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Visa fees
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Personal insurance
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Lunches and drinks
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Equipment rental
- Gratuities
Equipment
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Wide all-mountain skis with touring bindings and skins are recommended to get the most out of the Gulmarg conditions
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Skins, alpine trekker bindings and avalanche safety equipment can be hired locally (must be booked in advance)
Options:
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Subject to availability single rooms can be arranged in Gulmarg. Price is £275.
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Subject to availability extra nights accommodation in Gulmarg can be arranged (price on application)
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Extensions to visit Agra (for the Taj Mahal) and Jaipur. Minimum 2 day extension recommended. Contact us for details
Your Guides:Our 2012 trips will be led by Nick Parks, Olly Allen and Matt Dickinson. Nick, Olly and Matt are all UIAGM British Mountain Guides and Directors of Mountain Tracks. They will be assisted by other UIAGM Mountain Guides as required.