Travel style
Spiritual journeys
Ghats, monasteries and the Buddha's path
Several of the world's oldest living traditions meet in these seven lands: the Hindu ghats of Varanasi, the places of the Buddha's birth, enlightenment and first sermon, and the Tibetan Buddhist monasteries of Ladakh and Nepal.
We plan around ritual hours, not tour hours: the aarti at dusk, morning prayers in a gompa, the quiet hour at the Mahabodhi Temple. Dress and photography rules vary by site, and our guides brief you before each visit.
Journeys
Routes in this style
Places
Where it fits best
A Himalayan view and a wellness retreat an hour from Kathmandu
Sherpa villages, Tengboche and Everest views on lodge-to-lodge walks
Stupas, temples and royal squares in Nepal's capital valley
The birthplace of the Buddha, in the plains of southern Nepal
Rain-shadow valleys, Muktinath and the walled city of Lo Manthang
Newar temples, a palace museum and bronze casters across the river
The great fort of Mewar and its stories of siege
A mountain fort, its great wall and the Ranakpur temple
A holy lake town of ghats, temples and roses
Ladakh's oldest temple murals, in a village of apricot trees
Ladakh's richest monastery and the snow leopard's valleys
One of Ladakh's oldest monasteries above the eroded moonland
Ladakh's capital at 3,500 m, and where every journey begins
Sand dunes, Bactrian camels and monasteries beyond Khardung La
Gentle village walks, Likir and Basgo, west of Leh
Ladakh's remotest valley, over Pensi La to Padum
A Monpa river valley halfway to Tawang
Sikkim's ridge-top capital, facing the Kanchenjunga range
Gateway city on the Brahmaputra, with Kamakhya on its hill
Vaishnava monasteries on a great Brahmaputra river island
Monastery ridge with the closest view of Kanchenjunga
India's largest monastery, high in the eastern Himalaya
Theyyam country, looms and the old Malabar forts
Crescent beaches, Ayurveda retreats and the old capital
Kerala's cultural capital, temples and the great Pooram
Red laterite cliffs above a pilgrim beach
The UNESCO churches of Portugal's lost Asian capital
The Bodhi tree and the Mahabodhi Temple in Bihar
Where the Buddha passed away, under twin sal trees
Krishna's homeland on the Yamuna, an hour from Agra
The Sangam, the Magh Mela and the home of the Kumbh
Vulture Peak, the peace stupa and the ruins of Nalanda
Where the Buddha gave his first sermon, 10 km from Varanasi
An early republic, Ashoka's lion pillar and the Buddha's last sermon
Dawn boats, evening aarti and the oldest lanes on the Ganges
Shape your own journey Tell us your dates and what you hope to feel. We draw the route around you. Begin Not sure where to start? We match the land to your month, your pace and the people travelling with you. Begin Talk to a planner A first route and an indicative price within one working day. No payment to start. BeginStays
Rooms that suit it
Kathmandu's most characterful hotel, built in Newar style around brick courtyards set with carved windows, doors and pillars rescued from old valley buildings. It sits in …
A hillside wellness resort at Dhulikhel, about 30 km east of Kathmandu, built in brick and stone on terraces facing the Himalaya. Yoga, meditation, spa therapies …
A chain of comfortable mountain lodges along the Everest trail at Lukla, Phakding, Monjo, Namche, Kongde and Thame. Attached bathrooms, warm dining rooms and good food …
A Bill Bensley-designed luxury lodge in Jomsom, at 2,720 m in the Kali Gandaki valley, and the most comfortable place to stay in Mustang. Stays are …
The Grand Dragon is Leh's most complete hotel: central, centrally heated and open all year, with mountain-view rooms, several restaurants and a staff used to looking …
The Zen Ladakh is a modern hotel close to central Leh, with a calm atmosphere and rooms that look towards the mountains. A good choice for …
Chamba Camp Thiksey is a seasonal luxury tented camp in the fields below Thiksey monastery, about 19 km from Leh. Spacious tents with en-suite bathrooms, attentive …
A small number of rooms inside Stok Palace, the home of Ladakh's former royal family, 15 km south of Leh. Simple, characterful rooms, a museum of …
Ladakh Sarai is a small, peaceful retreat in Saboo village, a short drive from Leh, with cottages and yurts set among willows and poplars. A quiet, …
Shape your own journey Tell us your dates and what you hope to feel. We draw the route around you. Begin Not sure where to start? We match the land to your month, your pace and the people travelling with you. Begin Talk to a planner A first route and an indicative price within one working day. No payment to start. Begin