Indus Tours launch tour to secret Spiti Valley

Indus Tours, a specialist tour operator in tailor-made holidays to India, has teamed up with ‘The Spiti Projects’ charity to launch a new tour to highlight the plight of The Spiti Valley as part of ongoing work to ensure the preservation of its cultural and historical heritage and improve the quality of life for its people.

Closed to the outside world as a military buffer zone between China and India for over 30 years and only opened to foreigners in 1992 when the political borders relaxed, the Spiti Valley is a small Tibetan enclave of 10,000 people situated on a remote area high in the Himalayas in Himachel Pradesh.

Suffering greatly from isolation and loss of livelihood, ‘The Spiti Projects’ charity was founded by Joan Pollock in 1993 to assist the community with the undertaking of a number of important projects which included building a community hospital, local school and crafts centre to promote traditional weaving as well as introducing mud brick training to re-establish sustainable building in the valley.

Yasin Zargar, Managing Director, Indus Tours commented: “As a company, Indus are committed to promoting environmental and social awareness to our clients in order to help protect India’s unique heritage. By working with the ‘The Spiti Projects’, we have an excellent opportunity to assist this very special community as well as provide our clients with an understanding of this relatively untouched area with a view to protecting it as it opens up to the outside world again.”

Lead by Joan Pollock, the inaugural 14 day tour covers the picturesque hill station of Manali at the end of the Kulu Valley, travel through the Rhotang Pass (3,987m) on to landscapes of extraordinarily beautiful snow capped mountains to the Kunsun La Pass (4551m) and into the Spiti Valley with its ancient Buddhist monasteries, small villages and colourful people.

Spending 6 days in the valley, clients will be immersed in the culture: staying in local houses; visiting monasteries and villages such as the famous 10th century World Heritage listed complex in Tabu; trekking through spectacular areas; and seeing firsthand the work of ‘The Spiti Project’ with the option of participating.

The ‘Indus Culture Tour to Spiti – the Secret Valley’ takes place from 16 to 30 June 2007 and costs from £1595 per person including return economy class flights, all departure taxes, transfers and accommodation as specified in the itinerary on a full board basis except for Delhi which is on a B&B basis.

As part of their commitment to ‘The Spiti Projects’, Indus Tours will make a donation of £75.00 per person to be presented by the group members to the charity whilst visiting Spiti.

For more information or to book this tour, visit: industours.co.uk.