Outdoor Pursuits
From sacred rivers and picture-perfect lakes, to thick forests and the soaring peaks, the region invites a range of alfresco adventures. Hiking is an obvious favourite, a huge range of routes in a variety of locations flaunting simply stunning scenery, while the mountain range’s many rivers host exhilarating white-water rafting. The protected Siswan Forest Range in the outer foothills of the Himalayas – in which nestles The Oberoi Sukhvilas Resort & Spa – is perfect for mountain biking.
Spirituality and Wellness
As well as adventure pursuits, the scenic serenity of the mountains, lakes and rivers lend themselves easily to rest and relaxation. The charming town of Rishikesh, less than an hour by road from Ananda in The Himalayas, has become synonymous with yoga, meditation and mindfulness, home to several spiritual centres – locally known as ashrams. The town was famously visited by The Beatles in 1968, there to attend a transcendental meditation session at the Ashram of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Now aptly known as the Beatles Ashram, you can visit this iconic building, part of Rajaji National Park.
Rajaji National Park
Picturesque and pristine, Rajaji National Park is fantastically biodiverse. Though best renowned for its Indian Elephants, it is also home to tigers, leopard, deer and ghoral, as well as over 460 species of birds! From Ananda in The Himalayas, join a private guide for a trek of the incredible landscape, exploring its abundant flora and fauna.
British Airways fly from London Heathrow to Delhi and Mumbai in around 9 hours. From here, Delhi, it takes around an hour by air to both Chandigarh and Dehradun.
Travelling With Children or Without an Adult
Children travelling without both parents should be aware that some countries require documentary evidence of parental responsibility before allowing lone parents to enter the country or, in some cases, before permitting the children to leave the country. Please contact the relevant Embassy for the county you are travelling to for further information.
Visa and Advance Passenger Information
All passengers must ensure they have a valid, acceptable passport, any required visa and any other documentation for both the final destination and any stop-off points en route. Please make sure that Advance Passenger Information is submitted in advance to travel for all destinations. Failure to hold correct documentation or submitting incorrect details with Advance Passenger Information or Visa applications may result in refusal of carriage or entry into a country. Please check with the relevant Embassy regarding visa requirements well in advance of your travel date. Charges may apply for some visas.
Passengers not travelling on a British Passport are advised to contact their relevant Foreign & Commonwealth office for individual Visa requirements.
For up-to-date resort information, visit www.fco.gov.uk
Health facilities, hygiene and disease risks vary worldwide and you should take health advice about your specific needs from your general practitioner or a specialist clinic as early as possible before travel. Those planning to become pregnant should discuss their travel plans with their healthcare provider to assess their risk of infection with Zika. For information about Zika, other mosquito-borne diseases (such as Dengue fever and Chikungunya), Lyme Disease (caused by tick bites), and to receive advice on mosquito bite avoidance measures, please visit Insect and tick bite avoidance.
In addition, we highly recommend that you seek specialist advice from your doctor and, where recommended, obtain vaccinations or tablets for protection against, for example: Malaria, Hepatitis A, Polio and Typhoid. In some cases, treatments for Malaria should begin well in advance of travel. Travellers may also be required to show Yellow Fever Certificates on arrival in certain destinations i.e, some African countries. Please note that you are strongly advised against scuba-diving for 24 hours before travelling by air. We would also like to draw your attention to the risk of DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis) and recommend that you consult with your doctor before travelling.
Visit the FCDO website and select your destination country for the very latest travel advice: Foreign Travel Advice. Additional sources of information include: Public Health England, The National Travel Health And Network Centre, Foreign And Commonwealth Office and your General Practitioner or a specialised clinic.