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4 nights in Himalayas - Bhutan,Nepal, India?

4 nights in Himalayas - Bhutan,Nepal, India?

Old Dec 14th, 2017, 02:42 PM
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4 nights in Himalayas - Bhutan,Nepal, India?

Looking to spend some time in the Himalayas in February as an addition to Rajasthan.

We are considering Nepal, Bhutan, or Himachal in India.

Please share your opinions of which area would be more interesting, more scenic, and much less crowded?

Budget is not very important.

thanks!
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Old Dec 14th, 2017, 03:06 PM
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Bhutan is likely the least crowed, but the most expensive. Nepal is much less expensive, but the cities will be crowded. We loved our trip to Sikkim. I have trip reports here on both trips.

Photos at www.marlandc,com
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Old Dec 14th, 2017, 05:49 PM
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What exactly do you want to do "in the Himalayas"? I ask because there are some interesting places in the Himalayas in Himachal Predesh, not that far from Rajasthan - hill stations (toy train to Shimla), tea-growing places, areas of Tibetan settlement (Macleod Ganj), and given the time frame, might suit you just as well as going farther afield.

Or, have you considered Ladakh? It's a favorite of the best traveled person I know who lives mostly in Asia. I haven't been there because of the altitude but you might look into it, flights to Leh from Delhi. Again, depending on what in particular interests you about these mountains.
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Old Dec 14th, 2017, 06:22 PM
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We are chiefly interested in light hikes, cultural interactions, and scenery...especially mountain scenery.
Ladakh is definitely a consideration.
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Old Dec 14th, 2017, 07:31 PM
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The scenery in these places is very different from each other. Both Tibet and Ladakh have vast expanses of arid, rocky frozen land. Nepal, Bhutan and Sikkim have beautiful tropical valleys between the mountains, offering gorgeous contrast.
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Old Dec 14th, 2017, 07:58 PM
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Realistically 4 days isn't enough to do what you want to do in Nepal. I assume you'd fly from Delhi. That eats up at least 2 half days right there, and that flight just gets you to Kathmandu. Then, you need to get a driver to get you to the area where you will want to do this hiking.

However, if you do decide to go with Nepal, you may want to take a look at this place. We stayed there 4 years ago, and the website now certainly makes it look fancier than when we stayed. The big, big plus of the place is that they have guides who will take you into the fascinating surrounding ethnic villages on day or half day hikes.
http://www.balthali.com/about/

February is, I believe, the wrong month to visit Ladakh. Check out the weather.

Take a look at Uttarakhand. We visited there in March an did some hiking, and the weather was fine.
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Old Dec 14th, 2017, 09:37 PM
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I'm going to come back to the classic experience of the train to Shimla. Nothing like it (except the train to Darjeeling, maybe, but Shimla is closer). I went there after Rajasthan on my first trip, then repeated it with a friend on my second trip and it was just as fun. The Shatabdi Express from New Delhi Station to Kalka, change to the narrow guage (Toy Train) to Shimla:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalka%...Shimla_Railway

A day to get there and don't think of it as a day "wasted while traveling. The train is as much a part of going to Shimla as being in Shimla, famous for a reason. Then 2 full days for walks among the rhododendrons, temperatures in Feb. around 50F. Then fly back to Delhi. The Shimla airport is on the top of a mountain, small planes take off by flying off the edge, quite an experience. The ground just disappears from under you, possibly not for the feint of heart.

Yes, it's cold in February in Leh and the passes are closed but you don't have time to go overland anyway, so you'd fly.
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Old Jan 10th, 2018, 01:27 AM
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Bhutan and nepal i love it. i did tour with one agency from kathmandu. they did great job.
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Old Jan 11th, 2018, 11:25 PM
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I agree with MmePerdu suggestions. Shimla would be perfect to visit especially during February. There are plenty of walking trails in Shimla and you will enjoy yourselves. With the added advantage of an airport in Shimla, you can easily get to Delhi without wasting a day on road.
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Old Jan 13th, 2018, 12:21 AM
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I guess of the various destinations very kindly mentioned by various reviewers, the best would be either Bhutan or Simla.

Bhutan is Quaint, with lovely sceneries and some great Hotels to chose from. It is run by the Royalty and hence very expensive. They don’t want everyone to come there, albeit those who can spend a great deal of money! The best time to go to Bhutan is during the Festival season which is end of September / October. This is also the time when the Mountain views are excellent. The hills are covered with greenery as the monsoons have cleared not only the haze but also the tree leaves have been washed clean.

Closer home, it could definitely be Simla. In order to take the morning 5am train you will need to stay overnight in Chandigarh. The Oberois have recently opened there all-suite property the Sukh Vilas on the northern outskirts of the City. From there Kalka rail station is just half-an-hour at that time of the day. The train is one of the better ones, large windows for better mountain views. It is called the Rail Motor. Of course the other is the Himalayan Queen departing at 12:10Hrs. Do drop out at Barog rail station which still retains the aura of the Raj days, 10 minutes.

Hotel Oberoi Cecil is just above the Simla rail station and while you can loosen your limbs and climb to your hotel, the Cecil will be delighted to take your luggage in the Hotel car. This part of Simla is not at all crowded, for the crowded part is on the Ridge and in the markets below. You can have a great Heritage walk beginning from the Viceregal lodge to the Clarkes on the other end, espying as you do some of the oldest colonial houses. The valley view rooms have lovely views into the pine-clad valley, below your magic casement!

You need to be careful of Dharamsala. The National Green Tribunal has put on notice a good hundred hotels for violating the building laws and therefore for the time being I would not go there!

Enjoy your travels!
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