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3rd Oct 2026 - 11th Oct 2026
9 days/India /Moderate to Challenging
Six Children’s Charities, One Trek: Himalayan Adventure
Six leading children’s charities – Acorns Children’s Hospice, Children’s Hospice South West, Demelza, Helen & Douglas House, Naomi House & Jacksplace, and Shooting Star Children’s Hospices – have partnered for a unique trek. This collaboration aims to maximise fundraising, raise awareness of hospice care for children and young adults, build community among supporters, and share expertise to enhance care for children and young adults with life-limiting conditions and their families
Spend four days trekking through the Indian Himalayas and home of the Dalai Lama – Dharamshala.
You will start your challenge by arriving in Delhi and jumping aboard the overnight train to Pathankot. After a night on the train, you transfer to the stunning hill station of Dharamshala, home to the Tibetan Government in exile and the Dalai Lama, and surrounded by dense forest and in the shadow of the Dhauladhar mountain range. From here you will commence your journey into the Lesser Himalayan range of Northern India where, during four days of trekking, you will be awed by lush green forests, views of snow-capped peaks, deep valleys, gushing rivers and small villages with friendly and welcoming local people. You will reach a maximum altitude of 2875m (at Triund) and will walk approximately 14km per day, taking around 6-8 hours.
The trek is graded moderate to challenging as you will trek over varying terrain for up to 8 hours a day, carrying a small daypack which may weigh up to 6kg, and camping in basic campsites along the way. You will also be exposed to altitudes up to a maximum of 2875m (9429ft).
The terrain will vary throughout the trek but in general will be undulating (uphill and downhill). There are very few flat sections so you should ensure your training includes plenty of hills. Underfoot there will be stony pathways, grass, rocks and perhaps a few small streams to cross too. Each day you will cover approximately 12-15km (7-9 miles) which, because of the variable terrain, can take up to 8 hours to cover.
In Delhi, temperatures can reach 33°C during the day, dropping to 17°C at night. The temperature in Dharamshala and during the trek is cooler with temperatures of approx. 20-28°C during the day, dropping down to approx.0°C at night. Temperatures will depend on the weather which varies and can be bright and sunny, rainy, cloudy or humid. Please note that conditions in mountainous regions are unpredictable so you should be prepared for all climatic eventualities. Although the conditions mentioned are historically accurate, climate change can impact the seasons so you may experience uncharacteristic weather during the trip which is out of our control. The guides will assess the situation and make decisions to ensure the best enjoyment and ultimately the safety of the group.
Meals during the trek are cooked by your trek chef and will be eaten in a mess tent where a table, chairs, plates, mugs and cutlery is provided. Meals are delicious and plentiful and mainly Indian style (although there may be some Western-style meals).
Special dietary requirements can be accommodated if we are advised in advance but please note that we cannot guarantee that food preparation will have taken place in a contamination free environment.
During the trek you will stay in 3-man tents (two people to a tent). You will be provided with sleeping mats but you are welcome to bring your own if you prefer.
While in Delhi and Dharamshala you will stay in hotels on a twin or triple share basis.
Toilet facilities at camp will be a hole dug into the ground with a small privacy tent surrounding it. Toilet paper is not provided so you will need to bring your own; please consider biodegradable toilet paper. To use the toilet during the trek you will find a private area off the main trail; any toilet paper you use along the trail must be placed into a nappy sack and disposed of properly at camp. You must NEVER leave toilet paper or other litter (including fruit peel, seeds, food wrappers etc.) on the trail. At the hotels there will be flushing Western-style sit-down toilets.
London – Delhi
Depart London for Delhi on an overnight flight.
Upon arrival the next day, transfer to a central hotel and depending on arrival times we may have a sightseeing tour of Delhi before transfering to the railway station for the overnight sleeper train to Pathankot (2nd class air-conditioned).
Overnight: Sleeper Train
Meals: Dinner
Pathankot – Dharamshala
The train arrives in Pathankot in the morning and from the station, you will transfer by road to Dharamshala (approximately 3 hours), where you will check in at the hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure; and perhaps visit the Dalai Lama Palace and the Tibetan government-in-exile buildings, or simply enjoy the atmosphere and browse for souvenirs in the handicraft stalls before enjoying a Tibetan dinner this evening.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Overnight: Hotel
Dharamshala – Salli – Kareri Village
After breakfast we drive for approximately 1.5 hours to our starting point of our trek, Salli. A slow and gradual climb takes us to the top of the hill from where we enjoy fantastic views, before continuing towards Kareri stream. Following the stream this afternoon we arrive at Kareri village where we set up camp for the night in a beautiful and peaceful spot by the river.
Approx. 6km trekking / 5 hours.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Overnight: Camping
Kareri Village – Bahl
After breakfast, we start today’s walk with a relatively steep ascent through several small villages, enjoying fine views of beautiful meadows and dense pine forests along the way. We descend to a mountain stream to stop for lunch before continuing with a sharp ascent to Bahl, and our second campsite.
Approx. 9km trekking / 6-7 hours.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Overnight: Camping
Bahl – Triund
Today is our toughest day of trekking to Triund, the highest point on the trek at 2843m. The day starts with a steep ascent through a mixed forest of oak, rhododendron and cedar trees, stopping at a local chai shop along the way. After lunch, our ascent continues along a winding path until we finally reach Triund, an alpine meadow situated on top of a ridge from where we have amazing views of the peaks of Dhauladhar on one side and the Kangra valley on the other. This is the perfect spot to enjoy the sunset and our final night in the mountains.
Approx. 12km trekking / 8 hrs.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Overnight: Camping
Triund – Mcleodgunj – Pathankot
After rising early to witness the sun rising over the mighty Dhauladhar mountain range we set off for our final day of trekking. Initially, we have a gradual descent over a grassy ridge for a few kilometres, then a steep descent takes us down to Bhagsu waterfall where we stop to enjoy lunch. A further short walk brings us to Bhagsu village where we end our trek and return to Pathankot to take the overnight train back to Delhi.
Approx. 6km trekking / 4 hours.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Overnight: Sleeper train
Delhi – London
Transfer to the airport for your return flight to London. Your flight may arrive in London the next morning depending on schedules.
Meals: Breakfast
N.B. This itinerary may change due to unusual weather, the ability of the group and so on. We will do our best to keep to the itinerary, but we cannot be held responsible for changes that occur outside of our control. In all circumstances, your guide and tour leader will have the final say in the interest of the group’s health and safety.
Registration fee: £395
(Use discount code: JOINT50 for £50 off until 30 June 2025)
and then either…
Sponsorship: £3990
orÂ
Flexi: £2205 trip costs* and £1785 sponsorship for Acorns
This option is for those who wish to raise sponsorship to cover both the costs of the trip (flights, accommodation, food, guides etc.) and a donation to the charity. There is a minimum sponsorship amount for each trip that you are required to raise in order to participate.
This option is for those who choose to pay the trip costs* (flights, accommodation, food, guides etc.) themselves while still raising some funds for the charity.
*Please note trip costs are based on the final group size and are subject to change. This is the most you will be required to pay.
If you’ve a question about this challenge that you can’t find the answer to within the given information then complete this quick form and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
