Escapaholics India
Mountains and challenges
Hi ! My name is Jamie and I’m an escapaholic.
Its been 346 days since my last adventure.
So a year ago, they took me on an ‘Endeavour’ run. How can a 10k run be 13k? Loved the value for money – I paid for 10k and got 13k – that’s basically 30% – for free! Wow these guys are annoying, but i liked that….I just had to become an escapaholic.
And that’s what took me to the chaos of India. Old Delhi at sunrise, cycling the narrow lanes, quaffing goat curry for breakfast and seeing the sites; guided through the Delhi slums and helping the amazing slum school charity, ShikshaRath, and that’s before we headed off to the mighty Himalaya, for jolly japes, crazy capers and escapaholic challenges.
High in the snow-capped mountains, rhododendron forests, camping under the stars, cascading snow melt rivers and back to our colonial hotel, reminiscent of the British Raj. My name is Jamie, and I’m still an escapaholic. I want to go agaaaiiin…..
Start Planning for Our 2027 adventure
Escapaholics India – a tough action-packed all terrain adventure in the heart of the Himalayas. From the frenzied streets of Old Delhi… to the lush forests of Himachal Pradesh… and the mighty peaks and passes of the Himalayas; sleeping under the stars on the roof of the world. Soul-charging scenery, snowy gradients and high octane challenges combine to make this an unforgettable adventure.
27th March to 7th April 2027
8th to 18th April 2027
- Day 01 – Thursday 9th April
- DELHI
Arrival in Delhi to meet up with your fellow escapaholics, with transport (local style) to the iconic Maidens Hotel. Time to relax before heading to see some of the sites of Delhi and a taste of escpaholic escpades.
Evening Welcome drinks and dinner.
Overnight at Maidens
- Day 02 – Friday 10th April
- DELHI
An early start to tour Old Delhi (Shahjahanabad) by cycle. A zippy tour as the old city awakes followed by…what else…goat curry for breakfast. (Veg option available!)
A visit to our charity, the Shiksha Rath slum academy, tour of the slums and meet the kids.
Time to relax at the Maidens, prior to heading to the mountains on Day 3.
- Day 03 – Saturday 11th April
- DELHI TO MCLEOD GANJ
Arrive at Mcleod Ganj by flight to Dharamsala with transfers and check-in to the Hotel. Enjoy a relaxed breakfast, some downtime, and a chance to acclimatise to the altitude.
The rest of the day will be spent relaxing, including lunch, and some light escapaholic exercise!
Evening meal, meet our local guides and Q&A Session
- Day 04 – Sunday 12th April
- MCLEOD GANJ
Acclimatisation continues. We take a visit and lunch at the Tibetan craft centre and Hindu temple, with general site seeing around Dharamsala to include a little ‘Adrenalin Challenge.’… and a few cheeky escapades….we are, after all, escapaholics.
- Day 05 – Monday 13th April
- MCLEOD GANJ TO KARERI VILLAGE
The start of the Indian escapaholic mountain adventure – bike and trek from Mcleod Ganj (Dalai Lama’s residence) at 2,080m to our first campsite, about a 14 km route.
The trek goes through the pine forests and passes several tribal villages. As well as a general ascent over the course of the day, the route includes a few fun “challenges.”
Overnight camp along the Himalayan snow-fed Liyund River. The nearby village is the home of the Gaddi shepherd tribes of Dhouladhair Himalayas, who will be our porters and muleteers.
- Day 06 – Tuesday 14th April
- KARERI VILLAGE TO KARERI LAKE
Kareri village (2,200m) to RV2, Kareri Lake (3,048m) steep uphill route along the Liyund River.
The trail goes through mixed forests of oak, rhododendron and pine, along old routes used for many centuries by the Gaddi shepherds. As we walk, we ascend above the tree line to the foot of the snow capped mountains and the Minkiani Pass.
Activities at Kareri Lake to include briefing for the Day 3 ascent (no escape now), and a few ‘jolly japes…’
- Day 07 – Wednesday 15th April
- KARERI LAKE TO MIKINANI PASS
Kareri Lake (3,048m) to Minikiani Pass (4,268m)…..and back!
This section can be a challenging ascent towards the Minkiani Pass using specialist equipment if necessary, and depending on the weather.
After reaching the pass (conditions permitting), we return to the campsite at Kareri Lake.
- Day 08 – Thursday 16th April
- KARERI LAKE TO MCLEOD GANJ
From Kareri Lake, escapaholics will ‘enjoy’ a knee-jarring descent from the snow fields and through woodlands towards Bugga Valley and past several villages ending back at the Dalai Lama’s residence after a long downhill day.
Shower & beers.
- Day 09 – Friday 17th April
- MCLEOD GANJ
Time to relax and chat and enjoy the serenity of McLeod Ganj, shop, wash, chill and enjoy the view.
Evening dinner and celebratory drinks with our local support team.
Kit list: Best Hawaiian shirts…
- Day 10 – Saturday 18th April
- DELHI
Return to Delhi by flight and enjoy the Maidens’ splendour – relax by the pool, or venture into the streets of Delhi.
Celebrations, final dinner and awards ceremony.
- Day 11 – Sunday 19th April
- DELHI
Flights home at various times during the day, enjoying Hotel until departure.
Escapaholics don’t just want a holiday – they want to escape work and be thrown headlong into an adventure. They want to see the cultural sites – for that ‘insta’ moment but they want to fill their day with all the other stuff as well. The fun stuff. They want to be annoyed by their hosts. They want pointless challenges, and they want to emerge from that ‘wind tunnel’ of adventure, arrive back at work and think….”Wow.”
Escapaholics see places normal tourists wouldn’t see; make friends they wouldn’t otherwise make and become addicted to the crazy outdoors.
From the Indian Himalaya in Himachal Pradesh, with its rhododendron forests, snow capped peaks and a hint of Dalai Lama. And once you’ve been…..
……WHERE NEXT?……to the desert plateau of Ladakh, the Karakoram range, the roof of the world, and a slurp of yak butter tea.
The culture of Tu Doc’s ancient capital in central Vietnam, nestling on the perfume river, to a bloomin crazy, leech infested remote cave and jungle expedition.
The steaming rainforests of Sarawak for a true head-hunter, jungle survival adventure
……My name is Tom…..and I’m an escapaholic……
TO ESCAPE TO YOUR NEXT ADVENTURE…….PRESS HERE
ESC
pricing
The price for Escapaholics India is £3,950 for what is effectively an all inclusive trip, (see details / exceptions below.)
What's Included
- All transfers to and from the airport and to other transport hubs
- Train, taxi rickshaw and bus journeys, and other transfers, including all tours.
- Internal return flights to Dharmsala
- Hotel accommodation in Delhi and Mcleod
- Ganj before and after the trekking stage
- Tours to charities and all sightseeing.
- All meals including welcome cocktail party and awards dinner and meals during the adventure
- Digital copies of all official photography
- Water and food stops
- Full medical support during the adventure
- Mountain bike hire
- All camping equipment including 4-5 season sleeping bags, tents, mats.
- Ice axe & crampons if required.
- Medal, certificate and unique tech top
- Basic insurance
- Storage of non-race luggage during the event
- Base Camp facilities
- Fun, good times and games!
What's Not Included
- Flights to Delhi
- Own trekking and survival gear
- Emergency and cancellation insurance
- Any fund raising that you are able to do to help Shiksharath
...and to answer a few questions:
Where will we sleep?
In Delhi you will be staying in the tranquil five star luxury of the Maidens Hotel. In Mcleod Ganj we have selected a couple of wonderful hotels near the Dalai Lama’s temple. On the trail and during the mountain sections you will stay in 2-person tents and we will provide you with all the camping gear that you need. But be prepared to experience “survival” sleeping conditions…!
What is the food like?
What about bathroom facilities?
During the mountain race sections bathing facilities will be limited but you may be able to freshen up at rivers or streams along the way, remember these are fed from natural mountain springs and snow melt water…very refreshing! Toilet facilities at camp will be a hole dug into the ground with a small privacy screen surrounding it. (Biodegradable wipes are excellent for personal hygiene.) At the hotels you will have en-suite bathroom facilities.
What is the climate like?
The unique design of The Endeavour India means that you can experience temperatures of over 40°C during the day in Old Delhi and -5°C at the top of the Minkiani Pass. The temperature in Mcleod Ganj and during the lower sections of the adventure is cooler with 23-25°C expected during the day, dropping down to 5°C at night. Please note that weather conditions in mountainous regions can be unpredictable so you should be prepared for all eventualities.
What is the terrain like?
Terrain will vary throughout the adventure especially during the mountain stages. You will experience undulating uphill and downhill terrain. There are few flat sections so get used to hills. Underfoot there will be stony pathways, grass, rocks, snow and ice. Along the way you will need to cross streams and rivers fed from snow melt – refreshing and character building!
How tough is it?
You will probably need to train a little beforehand, and you need to be aware of the challenges posed by the wild terrain and high altitude of this adventure race. You certainly need to be willing to ‘rough it’; and to be happy getting cold (and wet.) If you are moderately fit and have a sense of humour – you can do it.
An Adventure and Challenge in one beast
As Escapaholics, we aim to create a team feeling to the trip – it’s not about the individual; with the objective of tasking both your mind and body, in the great outdoors, with varied terrain, varied climatic conditions and at high altitude that adds extra “spice” to the fatigue levels. All this, and the chance to immerse yourself in the culture and chaos that is India.
Who accompanies us?
Along with your fellow adventurers, you will be accompanied by professional English speaking guides and support staff. You will also be accompanied throughout every stage of your adventure by escapaholics Leaders.
What about the altitude?
Once in the mountains, everything is higher than Ben Nevis (1,344m.) The first day of the adventure section starts in Mcleod Ganj at 2,080m (6,824ft) and is a mixture of an arduous mountain bike stage followed by a rather “fruity” trail ‘running’ section upto our overnight camp at 2,200m (7,217ft). We say running, but the elevation and incline make this trail more of a trek.
The second day of the adventure incorporates varied terrain through pine forests to reach Kareri Lake at 3,048m (10,000ft), with some ‘spiritual enlightenment’ to end the day.
The third race day is potentially the toughest day of the race which sees an attempt at the Minkiani Pass. With conditions harsh at this time of year, and the going extreme, at an altitude of around 4,268m (14,002ft), we do not always guarantee that we can make it to the top. Camping will be above the snow line.
The fourth day of the adventure section is the longest, with a knee jarring descent from 3,048m (10,000ft) back down to 2,080m (6,824ft), through woodland and villages, to the finish your Himalayan adventure.
Charity
As part of Endeavour India, we try and remind adventurers that the event is all about the charities. You will be immensely rewarded from taking part in the challenge and the experiences of India, but we do ask every participant to raise at least £600 for our charity, Shiksharath. Every penny goes directly to helping these fantastic causes – you will be moved.