ADVENTURE

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[ OVERVIEW ]

Having personally persevered up mountains and tested our agility and spirit on bikes, skis and rafts alike, this section is for the active or intrepid traveler. All safety precautions are in place, and both beginners and the seasoned are welcome.

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ENVIRONMENTAL PLEGDE

Ibex Expeditions is committed to being environmental caretakers and it is our endeavor to maintain high standards of `minimum impact tourism’. Ibex has signed the Himalayan Code of Conduct issued by the Himalayan Environment Trust whose Trustees include Sir Edmund Hillary, Sir Chris Bonington, Junko Tabei, Rheinhold Messner, Maurice Herzog, amongst others.

We led the formation of the PATA India Chapter Environmental Code and are also members of The International Ecotourism Society. We are active supporters of the WWF India, the Bombay Natural History Society, and other Environmental NGOs, to whom we donate a small part of our profits. We are also the first company in India to sign up with UIAA as an environment label holder.

Environment Pledge Since 1998, Founder & Managing Director, Mandip Singh Soin FRGS was invited to be a judge on the panel for the British Airways Tourism for Tomorrow Awards for companies displaying good environmental actions. He continues to judge these awards now under the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC). Environment Pledge Every Ibex client is made aware of the pledge, allowing for an `open audit’ that we hope is a display of sincerity towards this cause. This pledge as below, reflects a travel ethic, which you, the conscientious traveler, can join hands with us to make your travel experience a positive one.

Limit Deforestation: We will make no open fires and discourage others from doing so. Where water is heated by scarce firewood, we will not use it or use as little of it as possible. Wherever possible, we will choose accommodation that uses kerosene or fuel – efficient fire-wood stoves.
Plant Saplings: We will take saplings and encourage our tourists to help plant them near our campsites or on the trails.
Non-biodegradable Garbage: We will leave campsites clean and take back all non-biodegradable litter to the road head/towns for proper disposal. We will only bury biodegradable food waste. Non-biodegradable garbage in specially designed garbage bags by Ibex. Environment Pledge Keep Local Water Clean: Toilet facilities will be pitched at least 30 meters away from the water source and all waste will be covered properly. We will not allow detergents to be used in streams and springs.
Plants left in their Natural Environment: We will not take away cuttings, seeds and roots that are illegal in many parts of the Himalayas.
Respect Local Cultures: We will promote the appreciation and preservation of religious places and local villages by never allowing clients to buy religious objects or heirlooms from remote villages.
Alternate Source of Energy for Fuel: Where possible, we will convert to solar power such as solar lanterns, solar cookers etc.
Stationery & Other Publicity material on Recycled Paper: We will introduce/increase the use of recycled/handmade paper for our stationery and other publicity items such as brochures, etc.
Ibex took another stride in this direction of minimizing the impact by bringing back all garbage, weighing it, reporting it to the Himalayan Environment Trust. Ibex converted to the use of solar lanterns at base camps, treks, and for jeep and biking tours.
Single Use Plastic Bottles: Ibex Expeditions as part of its commitment to the environment has pledged to do away with single use plastic bottles and requests all guests to bring their own water bottles which can be refilled using boiled/filtered drinking water.
‘Eco tourism and Environment handbook – a practical guide for the Tourism Industry’ The First two editions were published by PATA India Chapter. The third is by the Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India. All were edited by Mandip Singh Soin FRGS, Managing Director, Ibex Expeditions.
We invite you to be partners in this endeavor – to tread lightly and become good trustees of our earth.
The Traveler’s Code of Responsibility
For Environmental and Cultural Sustainability by PATA
“Travel is a passage through other people’s lives and other people’s places”
BE FLEXIBLE
Are you prepared to accept cultures and practices that are different from your own?
CHOOSE RESPONSIBLY
Have you selected to support businesses that clearly and actively address the cultural and environmental concerns of the locale you are visiting?
DO YOUR HOMEWORK
Have you done research about the people and places you plan to visit so you may avoid what may innocently offend them or harm their environment?
Have you learned the basic manners and polite phrases in the language of the place you plan to visit?
BE AWARE
Are you informed of the holidays, holy days, general religious and social customs of the places you will visit?
SUPPORT LOCAL ENTERPRISE
Have you made a commitment to contribute to the local economy by purchasing from local and international run hotels, tour operators, restaurants, shops and buying from local artisan crafts?
BE RESPECTFUL AND OBSERVANT
Are you willing to respect local laws that may include restrictions on purchases, usage of or access to places and things that may harm or otherwise erode the environment, or alter the culture of the places you visit?

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ECO TOURS

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” Environmentally Responsible Travel and visitation to relatively undisturbed natural areas in order to enjoy, study and appreciate nature (and any accompanying cultural features) that promotes conservation, has low visitor impact, and provides for beneficially active socio-economic involvement of local populations.”

Definition of ecotourism first adopted by the Board of Directors in 1991 of the International Ecotourism Society. “Ecotourism is responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and sustains the well-being of local people.”

World Heritage Site tour
To celebrate the Year of Ecotourism 2002, Ibex has woven together some of the premier World Heritage sites in India as a tour circuit. These are monuments selected by UNESCO to encourage the protection and preservation of cultural sites considered to be of outstanding value to humanity. In addition, the natural World Heritage site of Keoladeo Ghana bird sanctuary at Bharatpur is also included.
The other cultural sites include monuments with historical, aesthetic, archaeological, scientific, ethnological or anthropological value. Our guides are specially trained at different locales to bring out the history and cultural significance of the people and the landscape of India.
Delhi – Agra – Fatehpur Sikri – Bharatpur – Khajuraho – Sanchi – Elephanta caves – Ellora caves – Ajanta caves – Goa – Mamallapuram – Chennai – Mumbai
South India Eco Paradise tour
From the beautiful garden city of Bangalore, you travel south to the princely state of Mysore, famous for sandalwood and jasmine. City Palace designed by Henry Irwin and built in 1897 in the Indo Saracenic style in grand proportions. From here, the Eco paradise takes you to the District of Coorg, originally an English settlement and rich in coffee estates, pepper and cardamom and on to the Wayanad hills in pristine verdant tropical rainforests.
We then travel to Cochin, a trading Portuguese port since Roman times. The Jewish synagogue is in Mattancherry and the Jews have claimed to have settled here in 587 BC and some legends trace their origin to King Solomon 1030 BC.
A houseboat “Kettuvallam” on the backwaters
The unique journey through the backwaters on a houseboat shows the unique Kerala village life, after which you arrive by boat, cutting through the floating scented hyacinth to the wonderful backwater resorts. We then move to the heart of cardamom hills to the Periyar tiger reserve, an exclusive haven for South India’s wildlife.
The journey culminates in the blue hills of the Nilgiri mountains in Munnar, surrounded by tea estates and forest, rich in wildlife, including the reclusive Nilgiri Tahr.

Delhi or Mumbai – Bangalore – Mysore – Coorg – Wayanad – Cochin – Backwaters – Kumarakom – Periyar – Munnar – Cochin ~ onward destination (15 nights/16 days)

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ADVENTURE TOURS INDIA

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From the heights of the Himalaya to the rapids of its rivers, when you travel in this land of towering peaks with uninterrupted beauty, natural biodiversity and a majestic heritage, your journey will include traditional hospitality, authentic cultural and natural history experiences and friendships along the way.

At Ibex, we assist you in your endeavours of reaching summits of the high Himalaya, tracing trails of early explorers, winter trekking through icy gorges on frozen rivers, mountain biking over high passes, rafting expeditions down India’s Grand Canyon and ski mountaineering or even snowboarding on Himalayan slopes.
We emphasize small groups, friendly staff, good food, high-quality equipment, health and safety, imaginative itineraries and a pace that allows you to adjust to altitudes and savour your surroundings.
The adventures tours and explorations take you to the intellectual and spiritual journey as well. Apart from the physical exhilaration, there are also new discoveries and insights, encounters with new cultures, and welcoming the unexpected.

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MOUNTAIN CLIMBING

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The Indian Himalaya or the `abode of snow’ offers some great challenges and the finest climbs in the world of 6000 and 7000 meters. The main regions for this are Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and the recently opened Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh.

For 1997, Ibex Expeditions earned the distinction of handling the maximum number of Mountain expeditions in the Indian Himalaya as certified by the Indian Mountaineering Foundation.

With the knowledge and experience of being a Mountaineer, Mandip Singh Soin, Managing Director of Ibex and his team extend greater in-depth assistance to your objective.

From the moment, you think of your expedition to India, Ibex Expeditions helps you with details of the right peak, depending on height requirements, technical difficulty and duration. The extensive pre-trip information includes route charting, itinerary idea, maps, and reference details. Ibex assists with the peak bookings and permits, and all other logistical details. We provide airport transfers, hotel accommodation, transport,porters/mules, guides and cooks, camp and kitchen equipment, dining and kitchen tents, the food at base camp – all that form a part of the integral, personalized Ibex service.
Climbing expeditions from overseas are obliged to pay a peak royalty depending on the height of the mountain. A liaison officer is assigned to the trip and walkie talkies can be hired from the IMF.
The ideal climbing season in India is best between mid-April to end of October. The monsoon in July affects areas not in the rain shadow, though Ladakh and Zanskar are good even then for climbing.
Please allow 3 to 4 months of processing time for documentation and permits, though for certain popular peaks like Nun, Kun, Satopanth (all above 7000 meters), Shivling, Meru, Bhagirathi and Thaley Sagar, could be booked even a year in advance with a 25% deposit.
Ibex invites you to fly your flag on an Indian summit!

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HIMALAYAN TREKKING, HIKING AND DAY WALKS

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In India, the Himalayan trekking areas are Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh & Zanskar, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. Treks in the Nilgiris in South India are possible as well.

Winter Trekking
Walking on the Frozen River Zanskar, is a “once in a lifetime experience’. This passage is traditionally called ” The Chadar” meaning a `white sheet’ and its traverse is an amazing winter trekking experience.
In the heart of winter, the Zanskar river freezes to become the only source of travel for the Zanskaris into Ladakh. To negotiate the frozen Zanskar, accompanied by an Ibex guide and experienced Zanskari porters, you undertake long marches every day in varying snow and ice conditions. Nights are spent in caves and Zanskari villages en route.
Frozen River Trek The experience of walking on the frozen Zanskar is unique. Deep in the desolate region of Zanskar, the icy gorge, the changing hues, the towering peaks, present an awe-inspiring sight… tinged with just the right dose of adventure due to the freezing temperatures and conditions underfoot
This two-week tour from Delhi to Delhi, requires people to be fit, with a fair degree of experience in the outdoors. Apply to us with your outdoor details as well.
It might interest you to know that Ibex has assisted the maximum number of journeys through this gorge. Ibex were also awarded the `Discovery Award’ by PATA for bringing this as a tourism product to the world.
Trekking
Experience the authentic culture and essence of the land visited… to taste the local flavors… hear the music that moves the people … and experience the elements of spirituality and religion of the pristine and awe-inspiring Himalayan areas, where ancient villages and cultures continue to exist since centuries.
Ladakh in Jammu & Kashmir, known as “Little Tibet’ has a Buddhist culture and is famous for its unique high-altitude desert topography and monasteries. Ladakh’s gompas have beautiful interior frescoes and statues that are as breathtaking as its ethereal landscape. In the world of Ladakh, the air is still, and the squeak of a prayer wheel is answered by the single resounding stroke of a gong, from an unseen monastery in the rock face. Zanskar and Kishtwar, also in Jammu & Kashmir are predominantly Muslim in culture with rugged trekking routes that often traverse to and from each region.
The Garhwal valley is known for its dense forests, flower-filled alpine meadows and towering peaks. Cradle of the Ganges, it is a region steeped in the lore of Hindu mythology. The Kumaon too has numerous treks with views of Nanda Devi and Panchuli ranges. Several treks following in the footsteps of early explorers such as Frank Smythe, Lord Curzon, and Shipton – Tillman trails can be undertaken through exquisite landscapes and mountain vistas.
In Himachal Pradesh, the alpine Kulu valley is rich in pine and deodar forests, apple and fruit orchards, rhododendron, crimson and buttercup meadows. One can cross high passes to enter the newly opened areas of Spiti and Kinnaur that give rise to a more rugged panorama.
Sikkim, known as the last Shangri-La, is the land of monks, monasteries, orchids and exotic wildlife. The area of Arunachal Pradesh in the North East is relatively unexplored and offers short treks. The rolling hills of the Nilgiris in South India afford unusual and gentle trekking opportunities.
The Ibex Expeditions treks range from 2-3 days to longer 21-30-day durations. The ideal season for trekking in India is April to October except for July. For Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh in the Eastern Himalaya, the period is October to December and March to May. The Nilgiris can be best enjoyed from October through March.
Ibex provides the complete infrastructure of camp and kitchen equipment including transport, hotels, guides, food, cooks, porters and varied cuisine.
The IBEX treks range from 2-3 days to longer 21-30-day duration. The ideal season for trekking in India is April to October except for July. For Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh in the Eastern Himalaya, the period is October to December and March to May. IBEX provides the complete infrastructure of camp and kitchen equipment including transport, hotels, guides, food, cooks, porters and varied cuisine.

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SKIING

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Skiing off the snow-covered slopes is a perfect adventure for taking on the major mountain ranges and moving on to Ski Mountaineering, Snowboarding and Langlauf skiing.

The facilities for downhill ski trips in India are located at Auli in the Garhwal Himalaya in the state of Uttar Pradesh. Downhill equipment of international standard and lodging is available.
This is reputed to be one of the world’s longest ski slopes in the lap of the Himalaya. All travel and accommodation arrangements are made by us and the booking of ski huts, guides, and equipment. Depending on the group size, an Ibex escort is sent. Weekend and week long ski courses can also be organized.
For beginners, Ibex also do the arrangements at Manali in winter. Best time is January to March.
This is a great unexplored activity also possible in the Himalaya in winter. Best time is from January to March. A place like Ladakh offers great opportunities and with our band of hearty porters and guides, you can traverse the mountains in Himachal Pradesh in the Kulu valley.
Given the easy ascents possible on some of the large Indian Himalayan peaks on skis and skiing down can be an exhilarating experience. We have recognized this for the Alpine Ski Club of Britain and others.
The only heliskiing possible in the Indian Himalaya is in the Kulu valley of Himachal Pradesh. Operated by an internationally renowned heliskiing with imported helicopters, Ibex books the five-day heli skiing holidays.
A great new possibility for snowboarders to weave their patterns of descent on Himalayan slope exists in the Indian Himalaya. Peaks with gentle descents are identified. Ibex expeditions are the first to assist snowboarding expeditions.