Invitation to the snow trek and skiing camp.
Starting January 17, 24 and Jan 31.
7 day camp. Rs 8750 per person
If you have always wanted to experience adventure in snow, our winter camp is the perfect gift to yourself and your family.
Precaution: The mountains around Manali are magical places to explore, and exhilarating areas to learn the intricacies of skiing and winter trekking. Our course is devised for beginners. However, given the altitude and latitude of these mountains bitter cold conditions prevail. The weather is unpredictable. Snowfall can happen anytime (sometimes heavy). The demanding winter requires adequate protection from cold. You need to bring heavy woolens, good hiking boots, snow goggles and heavy duty water proof gloves.
Stay: You are put up at our training centre in Kothi forests (photo below), with home-cooked meals and dormitory-style accommodations.
Eligibility: You need to be in good physical condition. Snow treks and skiing require physical exertion. If you are able to jog for 4.5 kms in 30 minutes, then you are in the required physical shape for the programme.
Open to: Men, women and children (min age 10).
Special lighter programme for seniors (abv 60 yrs).
Programme details:
Day 1: Pick-up from Manali (12.00 noon). Drive to Kothi Training Centre. Snow walking training.
You have to gather at Rambagh by 11.30 am. Rambagh is a public garden near the bus stand. Indiahikes trek guides would be there to help you. At 12.00 noon you board vehicles arranged by Indiahikes to be transported to Kothi. Kothi is 12 kms north of Manali at an altitude of 8,000 ft on the Manali-Leh highway. The drive takes about an hour if the road condition is good.
Note: It the winter snow is heavy, then vehicles may ply only to Palchan or nearest motorable spot. You may have to trek the remaining journey.
On reaching Kothi Training Centre, you are allocated dormitories. Ladies and gents share the same dormitory. Lunch is at 2.00 pm. Followed by rest.
At 4.00 pm you begin your snow walking training programme. The training programme is held in the forests around our training centre. The programme helps you learn the techniques required to trek on snow. The techniques that you need to learn to tackle winter snow is different from the snow that we get on our high altitude treks like Roopkund (www.roopkund.com).
Dinner at 7.30.
Day 2: Acclimatisation Trek to Kothi pine forests. Afternoon: Ski-training Stage 1. Balance and movement.
Breakfast 7.30 am. Followed by issue of ski-equipment to you.
9.30 am. You go on an acclimatisation trek through pine forests. Our trek leaders and guides accompany you. The forests around Kothi are spectacularly beautiful and a snow hike through them is rejuvenating. On the acclimatisation trek we test your physical preparedness for further treks and skiing. You are expected to return to base camp by lunch time.
Lunch: 1.00 pm
Post lunch, you start on your ski lessons. You first learn to balance on a single ski, gradually moving on to two skies. You also learn to make basic movements. Trainers teach you how to fall and get up.
Post tea, you continue to learn balance and movement on skies. At the end of the day, you are tested on your balance skill.
Dinner at 7.30.
Day 3: Trek to Gulaba (grade: medium). Ski-training Stage 2. Balance and snow-plough turns.
Breakfast 7.30 am. Trek starts at 8.00 am. Gulaba is 7 km away and takes 6-7 hours. Altitude gain is about 700 ft. Snow is expected to be medium to heavy. Gulaba ski slopes are a new tourist attractions.
You carry packed lunch on this trek. You return to Kothi training centre on a new route by 3.30 pm.
After tea and some rest, you advance to stage 2 of your ski training. You perfect your balance and also learn snow plough. Snow plough is a technique that gives you better control over your skies. Independent movement and turns are possible after learning these techniques.
Dinner at 7.30 pm
Day 4: Ski-training Stage 3. Snow plough and Downhill.
This is a rest and learning day after a hard day of trekking and skiing the previous day. You practice your earlier skiing skills and also move on to learning basic downhill runs. You retire early to rest enough for the next day's trek to Patalsu peak.
Group activity after tea: Making an igloo. This totally involving group activity brings out the craftsman in you. Trainers are present to train you on igloo making skills.
Day 5: Trek to Patalsu summit (grade medium difficult).
The trek to Patalsu peak is challenging. You bring into it all the skills learnt from the previous days to make the summit challenge possible. The snow is deep sometimes and the climb ascending.
From Patalsu peak you get a panoramic view of the Himalayan summits around the region. Below, the entire Kullu Manali valley spreads out.
You carry packed lunch on the trek. Expected return time to base camp 4-5 pm.
Day 6 : Stage 4 Ski-training. Downhill ski runs. Afternoon: competition.
This is the culmination of your ski training. You learn how to make steeper downhill runs and gain more speed. You also learn how to brake and stop after your runs.
Lunch at 1.30 pm
Post lunch you participate in a ski downhill run competition. You are allowed three runs to record your best time. There are separate events for ladies, gents and children.
Day 7: Closing ceremony and drop back to Manali by 12.00 noon.
Breakfast at 7.30 am.
After breakfast you gather together for a closing ceremony. Best trekkers and skiers are felicitated and feedback taken from participants.
Later you board the vehicles arranged by Indiahikes at 11.00 am. You are dropped back at Manali by 12.00 noon.
We strongly recommend a day's stay at Manali to do some local sight-seeing.
Brochure
Click here to download our Winter Camp brochure
Option 1: Take a direct bus from Delhi. Buses leave Delhi at around 6.00 pm to arrive at Manali at 8.00 am the next morning.
Option 2:
Take a train to Chandigarh followed by a 10 hr bus drive to Manali. There are overnight and day buses to Manali.
Winter temperature at Kothi 
Electricity is erratic at Kothi with frequent drops in voltage. While mobile charging and battery charging is possible, you need to take turns to charge your equipment. During snow fall electricity can fail for a long time.
Water source is from a natural stream above the Kothi Training Centre. Water is sufficient for toilets and daily chores. 
Mobile connections of Airtel, BSNL and Reliance are available at Kothi. Signals are not too strong and sometimes there is a drop in connection. During snowfall, mobile signals are known to drop totally.
The more time you spend on physical preparation before arriving at the snow, the better. To achieve this your physical preparation program will have to feature three components: cardiovascular, strength and stretching exercises.
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