Classic Car Journeys

2012 Classic Himalaya Itinerary

For a map of the route click here

Day 1 June 29th – Leave Heathrow for an overnight flight to Delhi.

Day 2 June 30th – Arrive Delhi mid morning and transfer to the hotel enjoying possibly your first glimpse of Indian driving. In the afternoon they’ll be an opportunity to explore the principal sites for Delhi before returning to the hotel for dinner.

Day 3 July 1st – Up early to collect your vehicle for the trip to Shimla, former capital of the British Raj. The temperature drop as you enter the hills of Shimla is a welcome relief after the heat of Delhi. You’ll no doubt be tired by the time you arrive in Shimla, where we’re stayig in a wonderful colonial hotel.

Day 4 July 2nd – Shimla, with it’s wealth of history and the magnificent Viceroy’s Lodge is too good to miss so we’ll be having a day off to explore the sights.

Day 5 July 3rd – Shimla to Sarahan Today the adventure begins as we leave Shimla and head into the mountains. The route is twisty and an ideal learning curve for what lies ahead. We pass beautiful verdant valleys and ride along raging rivers before finally ascending for the nights stop at Sarahan

Day 6 July 4th - Sarahan to Kalpa. Descending from Sarahan we follow the Sutlej river towards our nights stop at Kalpa passing some of the largest hydro-electric engineering projects you will have ever seen. Our hotel in Kalpa lies in the shadow of the 20,000ft Kinnaur Kailash mountain, a perfect place to enjoy a drink as the sun goes down.

Day 7 July 5th – Kalpa to Nako Today we’ll see big changes in the landscape. Travelling above the tree line we enter the Himalayan desert. Thousands of years of wind erosion has created fascinating, rock formations which are unlike anything you will have seen elsewhere. On the way to Nako we’ll pass within 5 miles of the Tibetan border hence the need for our Inner Line Permits.

Day 8 July 6th - Nako to Kazza. A beautiful drive along the Spiti Valley, past more outstanding scenery. We’ll pass glaciers, we’ll stop at Tabo to look around the 1000 year old Tibetan monastery, and there will probably be a chance to take a look at one of the highest villages in the world before arriving at the busy little trading town of Kazza.

Day 9 July 7th - Kazza to Manali – Today we head further up the valley crossing the Kun Zum pass at 14930ft before diverting for the climb over the Rhotang Pass. It’ll be cold and snowy at the top and you’ll notice the thin air. Finally, as the day ends, we’ll tackle the huge descent to the hustle and bustle of Manali.

Day 10 July 8th – Manali – There’s so much to see and do around Manali it’s easy to spend the day. Lot’s of shopping, temples and lovely restaurants.

Day 11 July 9th - Manali to Chandigargh - We now leave the hills and return to the plains. Nevertheless, this is still a lovely days drive following numerous green valleys before eventually reaching Chandigargh for our overnight stop.

Day 12 July 10th -Chandigargh to Delhi – Driving down India’s Highway 1 we return to Delhi where we’ll drop the vehicles off. We should arrive about lunchtime giving you a free afternoon for last minute shopping.

Day 13 July 11th - Depart for Delhi Airport and a mid morning flight back to the UK arriving at Heathrow later the same day.