December 2nd, 2010
Shakti offers private, guided walking tours through three distinct regions of the Indian Himalayas
Travelers to India know well the guidebook “circuit” of Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, and Mumbai, staying in familiar five-star hotels and barreling from one destination to the other by car or train. What is missing from these itineraries is a chance to comfortably see the most remote and staggeringly beautiful Himalayan region of India’s North. It’s now possible to do that with Shakti, which offers transformative village-to-village walking experiences in three distinct awe-inspiring regions: Sikkim, Kumaon, and Ladakh. Guests overnight in village houses that have been adapted for Western comforts, sleeping under Egyptian cotton sheets, wrapped in cozy wool throws, and enjoying delicious, freshly prepared meals from a personal chef. While all the modern conveniences are in place, the real luxury is in the very simplicity of these experiences and the chance to engage with the homeowners, monks, and other village locals. Take advantage of the opportunity to unplug from the technological matrix and relish the downtime to read and meditate.
The expertly guided journeys, tailored to the individual or group, are offered in:
Sikkim: breathtaking virgin forests aflutter with prayer flags, colorful monasteries, and the hulking presence of Mt. Kanchenjunga, the world’s third highest mountain. Orchids, anyone? Sikkim is home to over 400 species. 4-night stays start at $1,880 per person, based on two to three adults.
October 1 – April 30
Kumaon: stunning views that include the snow-tipped twin peaks of Nanda Devi, India’s second highest mountain. Walk through forests of grey pine, cedar, and rhododendron, and pass through villages and by small shrines to Hindu gods. 3-night stays start at $1,245 per person, based on two to three adults.
October 1 – April 30
Ladakh: known as ‘Little Tibet,’ a bastion of Buddhist calm amidst a dramatic moon-like landscape. Stay in village houses, camp out under stars, learn local customs, and experience Himalayan mountain life up close and first hand. 7-night stays start at $3,535 per person, based on two to three adults.
May 15 – September 30
Rafting through the Shayok River valley is also available as a three-day, two-night camping expedition that can be added on to the Ladakh village experience (August – September only).
Prices for the Shakti village experiences are inclusive of all taxes, accommodations, meals and beverages, activities, English-speaking, well-educated local guides, porters, a private chef, and vehicles when necessary. Prices depend upon the specific itinerary and number of travelers in the group; flights are not included.
Additionally, Shakti runs a four-room hotel, Shakti 360˚ Leti, at 8,000 feet in the Kumaoni foothills surrounded by rhododendron forests, soaring vistas and snow-capped peaks. The region is so remote that guests must hike the final 90-minutes to reach the hotel. Shakti 360˚ Leti is available to guests from October 1 – April 30. There is no Internet, no cell coverage, and only solar power — a real opportunity to unplug and reconnect with nature. A minimum stay of three nights is required for Shakti 360˚ Leti, and a 3-night, 4-day package starts at $1,825 per adult, based on double occupancy. Rates include accommodations, all meals and beverages, activities, English-speaking guide and porters, and all taxes, and return transfers between Shakti Kumaon Village Experience and Shakti 360˚ Leti. Flights are not included.
See more of India with Shakti’s sister company, Banyan Tours & Travels, that can arrange onward travel throughout the rest of India and Sri Lanka, with their expert consultants and travel specialists making every effort to customize the itinerary to a traveler’s specific interests.
Founded by visionary and seasoned traveler, Mr. Jamshyd Sethna, Shakti was created from Sethna’s passion to share his beloved Himalayas with travelers looking for authenticity within luxury. With his love for nature and the mountains, Sethna created an experience far beyond the luxury hotel circuit, finally making it possible for travelers to venture into unexplored territory in total comfort. He is also the owner and founder of Banyan Tours & Travels.
November 24th, 2010
Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas has a diverse and educated staff at every property – many of whom also use the grounds to pursue their personal interests. In the Maldives, Lindsay Sullivan serves as resident marine scientist and loves being able to share her passion for the underwater world with guests.
Lindsay leads Anantara’s Dolphin Quest, guides snorkelling excursions, is the resident Dive Master, and has established a coral nursery to rehabilitate damaged pieces. She replants broken coral and stresses reef conservation to locals. In the future, she hopes to work as reef consultant and travel the world, though her first love is the beautiful dive spots in the Maldives.
November 18th, 2010
If you have a fear of what’s below you in the ocean, a “new” (man-made and man-shaped) reef in Mexico might not be the place to conquer it. However, if you want to swim among statues and see the latest in coral reef restoration efforts, this is your spot… an artificial reef off the east coast of Mexico made entirely from human statues. Mastermind behind this installment is British artist, Jason de Caires Taylor, who used local Mexican residents to create the ‘life casts’ and shaped each of the 350 statues from materials with a neutral pH to encourage coral growth.
Creepy or awesome?
November 5th, 2010
Recent reports detail President Obama’s busy schedule preparing for his upcoming trip to India. Outside of delegation meetings and state dinners (will there be any crashers this go-round?), we have compiled a few things the President shouldn’t miss!
Need a quick pick-me-up between appearances?
President Obama will be in Mumbai November 6 and 7. May we recommend, Mr. President, visiting the ESPA Spa at The Leela Kempinski Mumbai as a spot for an instant pick-me-up after a day of demanding meetings. For the United States’ top executive, the Executive Stress Tonic treatment is suggested. An hour and a half of back, neck, shoulder, hand, arm, and scalp massage will relieve tension caused by hours hunched over a desk and long periods of time spend on a plane.
Looking to unwind after a jam-packed schedule (diplomatic, or otherwise)?
Park Hyatt Goa will instantly relieve stress and offers the perfect place to get a Presidential tan. A true escape, the resort was designed to replicate ancient Indian villages and is set amid 45 acres of lush beachfront gardens. The property is divided into five courtyards, each distinctive in theme, architecture, and landscape, creating a series of individual guestroom clusters within the resort, set apart from one another by lagoons, tropical gardens, bridges, and interconnected with cobbled village streets. The Sereno Spa offers daily yoga and meditation classes designed to reconnect the body and mind – something every leader and fellow traveler can appreciate. Sessions are designed to improve energy and creativity, steadiness of mind, improve breathing and lung capacity, and relieve fatigue in the eyes. As a final addendum, Park Hyatt Goa is also home to India’s largest swimming pool with water slides!
Escape the election fever…
After recent mid-term elections, the President might be feeling the urge to truly disconnect for a few days. Shakti’s Kumaon village experience in Uttarakhand provides the chance to take in the stunning mountain scenery and rich culture of the remote, unspoiled, and undiscovered North Indian state. Take in staggering views that include the snow-tipped twin peaks of Nanda Devi, India’s second highest mountain. Guests take daily walks through the forests of grey pine, cedar, and rhododendron, and overnight in village homes that have been gently retouched to include Western creature comforts. The nearby four-room retreat, 360˚Leti, is a true escape perched at an impressive 8,000 feet. It lives up to its name, with 360° panoramic views and floor-to-ceiling glass windows. There is no Internet, no cell coverage, and only solar power — a real opportunity to unplug. A 90-minute trek along a narrow trail to the hotel takes guests past waterfalls, brooks, and terraced hills lined with rice paddies and rows of wheat.
Appeal to the activists…
To increase those ever-important approval ratings, it’s crucial to reach out to a cross-section of interests. A trip to Sikkim with Shakti offers a sure-fire boost. This tiny, Northeastern India state finds itself sandwiched between friendly neighbors Bhutan, Nepal, and Tibet, and is the least populous and second smallest in all of India. Sikkim is culturally and topographically not unlike its neighbors and the only state in India to share an open border with China (very global). Sikkim also offers a dose of natural beauty sure to perk up environmentalist curiosity. With over 4,000 plant species and 450 exotic orchids, virgin rhododendron forests, indigenous birds, 650 kinds of butterflies and endangered species like red pandas, snow leopards, and blue yaks, it’s as far from Pennsylvania Avenue as you can get. Catch views of Mt. Kanchenjunga, the world’s third highest mountain, while passing fluttering Buddhist prayer flags on the trail to Rinchenpong Monastery. Explore this remote but enchanted land, learning about the region’s religious history and present day Buddhist and Hindu cultures as you go.
To experience a Presidential quick-trip…
As a traveling world leader, schedules rarely allow time for extended stays anywhere outside the Oval Office. Crystal Cruises’ 2011 World Cruise line up features two itineraries next March that visit India, with two overland excursions full of adventure and sightseeing. The Ajanta & Ellora Caves excursion explores the wonders of ancient India, following part of the Silk Road with stops at the famous Buddhist caves at Ajanta and the magnificent carved rock temples of Ellora, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites. For the classicist, the Journey to the Fabled Taj Mahal excursion offers an overview tour of Delhi’s highlights, sunrise and sunset visits to the Taj Mahal, and a visit to Agra Fort. The two excursions can help split the 23-day Asia cruise, and provide your own version of Obama’s upcoming Asia tour!
October 20th, 2010
While walking in the leaves might bring to mind a hike in the Northeastern part of the U.S., we have an unexpected fall leaf-peeping destination – Kumaon, India. Who knew?! Tucked away in the Northern Indian Himalayas, the region has diverse pine forest, oak forest, and peach orchards that are brimming with color this season.
Shakti village experiences can satisfying that annual craving to watch the leaves from a new vantage point, with gorgeous vistas, terraced hillsides, and soaring peaks in the not-so-distant background. With Shakti’s private, guided, customizable walking tours, you can unplug with a trip that really lets you stop and admire the view.
October 1st, 2010
For those looking to use the upcoming holiday season as a chance to escape, why not coincide personal celebrations with new cultural experiences at the same time. (Have your Christmas cookies and try some Tukpa too.)
The region of Ladakh, India has several important upcoming holidays, and we’ve rounded up a few of the upcoming celebrations so you don’t have to do the leg work. Explore the region on a customizable walking tour with Shakti and include the holiday fun in your itinerary. Check out these festivals you won’t want to miss:
Thiksay Gustor
October 25-26 (more…)
September 23rd, 2010
In remote and barely accessible regions of Thailand, Laos, Burma, and China, indigenous peoples have been living without the influence of microwavable dinners, iPods, and cell phones for millennia, instead perpetuating a simpler way of life with traditions and ancient practices rooted in their cultures for thousands of years. With the tick of the clock, these tribes are slowly disappearing and their rich oral histories and veritable life knowledge is slipping by the wayside. (more…)
September 23rd, 2010
In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, The Peninsula Spa by ESPA, New York is offering a “Think Pink” 60-minute Holistic Massage that includes an exclusive and complimentary ESPA Pink Hair and Scalp Mud application. For each treatment, the spa will donate $5 to benefit the American Cancer Society’s “Making Strides against Breast Cancer” fundraiser.
The “Think Pink” Treatment is $195 and is available from October 1-31, 2010. To secure an appointment, please call (212) 903 3910 or e-mail spapny@peninusla.com. Click to view the full Treatment Menu.
September 14th, 2010
Photo from: http://phuket-guru.blogspot.com/
Thailand will play host to the first annual Phuket Property Dot Com Pro Am Invitation on November 5 and offers a great incentive for golfers to travel to Anantara Phuket Villas – just 10 minutes from the course! (more…)
September 9th, 2010
Goa is paying tribute to its past with the new Goa Chitra. Located on an organic farm in Benaulim (in South Goa, if you don’t really know your geography), the museum pays tribute to the Goan ancestral way of life and houses a collection of about 4,000 artifacts. (more…)