BEGINNER’S SKIING COURSE AT HIMALAYAN ECO LODGE, AULI

Category: Adventure

Season: Jan-Apr

Days: 7

Activities: Skiing

Grade: Moderate

The ski slopes in Auli, Uttarakhand, are considered to be some of the best for the amateur and professional alike. The slopes offer gentle gradients for those looking at learning this exciting sport and there are slopes with more features for the amateur and professional alike.

The 7-day Beginner’s course is designed to give the ordinary layman a chance to experience the thrills of this sport in a safe environment. We have experienced instructors on board and world class skiing equipment to ensure that you have a memorable trip and go back asking for more!! During the program you would get to learn the basics of skiing and get to practise the skills you pick up on slopes of varying gradients.

In addition to the great skiing, you would also have a warm and cozy place to come back to every night. GIO has a beautiful lodge that is located in Auli with a spectacular view of the Alaknanda valley and the Joshimath town below. From here one gets a great view of the Himalayan peaks and there is thick birch forest all around to add to the beauty. The lodge has comfortable rooms with all amenities and there are lovely spaces for relaxation and to enjoy the beauty of the surroundings.

ITINERARY

Day 1: HARIDWAR – AULI

Arrive at the lodge in Auli in the evening. Here there would be a briefing by our instructors on the program and you would also be issued the skiing equipment.

Day 2: AULI

Today’s course would cover the following:

-          Walking with skis

-          Sliding

-          Fall and recovery

Day 3: AULI

Today’s course would cover the following:

-          Continue with Fall and recovery

-          Stopping techniques

-          Straight running on steep slope

Day 4: AULI

Today’s course would cover the following:

-          Fall line & snow plough turns

Day 5: AULI

Today’s course would cover the following:

-          Slow Plough practice

Day 6: AULI

Today’s course would cover the following:

-          Snow Plough practice

-          Practice runs

Day 7: AULI – HARIDWAR

Post breakfast depart from Auli.

COST OF THE TRIP

Rs. 23,600 per person

COST INCLUDES

• Pickup & drop to Joshimath
• Transfers to and back from the ski slopes to the lodge everyday
• Accommodation in deluxe rooms in Himalayan Eco Lodge in Auli for 6 nights on twin-sharing basis.
• All meals beginning with dinner on Day 01 to breakfast on Day 07.
• Professional and experienced instructors would be leading the trip. We have expert skiing instructors who would be taking you through the course.
• State-of-the-art equipment
• Use of ski-lifts and chairlifts during the program
• Bonfire in the nights

COST DOES NOT INCLUDE

• Service Tax (@2.575%)
• Transport for arriving for the trip and departing at the end of the trip
• Any meals/services not mentioned above
• Alcohol, soft drinks, beverages, etc.
• Personal expenses like tips, telephone calls, laundry, etc.
• Any costs arising out of unforeseen circumstances like landslides, road blocks, bad weather, etc.
• Insurance

TRANSPORT OPTIONS

For travel to the lodge, a combination of train/air and road travel is recommended. The closest railway station to the camp is Haridwar and there are a number of trains that connect to Haridwar from all over the country. For train details, you could log on to www.indianrail.gov.in and for online railway ticket bookings you could log on to www.irctc.co.in. For air travel, the closest airport is the Jolly Grant Airport (at Dehradun) and is well connected to Delhi and other parts of the country by Air India, Jet Airways, Kingfisher Airlines, etc. Alternatively, you could also take the public transport coaches from Delhi to Haridwar which depart from Delhi Inter State Bus Terminus (ISBT) with the last coach departing at around 11:00 pm. From Haridwar/Dehradun, there are a number of buses and local vehicles that head out into the hills and you could take any vehicle that is going towards Badrinath (get off at Joshimath) or Joshimath. From Joshimath, we would provide a complimentary pickup transfer to the lodge.

If you require a private vehicle to drop you from Haridwar/Dehradun to Auli, the extra charges would be as follows:

• Tata Indica: Rs. 4500
• Chevrolet Tavera: Rs. 6000
• Toyota Innova: Rs. 7000

PAYMENT TERMS

• Rates are valid till April 30, 2012
• Full payment to be made in advance at the time of booking the trip
• Payment to be made by Cheque/DD in favour of GREAT INDIAN OUTDOORS (P) LTD. payable at New Delhi/Gurgaon
• Payment for this trip will not be adjusted against any future trips
• Cancellation policy
  -  >21 days: Full refund (after deducting any expenses that have been incurred for transport, etc.)
  -  14-20 days: 75% of trip cost will be refunded (after deducting any expenses that have been incurred for transport, etc.)
  -  7-13 days: 50% of trip cost will be refunded (after deducting any expenses that have been incurred for transport, etc.)
  -  <7 days: No refund

ESSENTIALS 

Below is a list of essentials you would require for the trip:

1.     T-shirts/Shirts

2.     Comfortable fit Jeans/Track Pants

3.     Waterproof jacket

4.     Waterproof trouser

5.     Warm jacket

6.     Woollen socks

7.     Gloves

8.     Balaclava

9.     Lip-balm

10.   Floaters

11.   Comfortable walking shoes/sneakers

12.   Sunscreen Lotion

13.   Cap

14.   Flashlight

15.   Sunglasses

16.   Medicines, if requiring any specific medication

17.   Camera (optional)

Carry your stuff in a duffel bag/soft shoulder bag or a rucksack and avoid suitcases/strolleys.

Narkanda & Auli: skier’s delight

It’s open season for skiers. With freshly-fallen snow over the past few weeks, Narkanda, just like Auli, is a skier’s delight. And, guess what, our skiing holidays have begun! So, join in on all the fun!

For those of you not quite clued in, Narkanda is 65 kms from Shimla in Himachal Pradesh. It’s perched at something like 9,000 feet above sea level; and, at this time of the year, is blanketed in snow.

While the cold-blooded among us run for cover, the more adventurous sort flock to Narkanda in winter to make the most of the snow. A key attraction is skiing and skiers from across the country make their way here in winter.

With thick deodhar forests providing a grand backdrop and slopes ranging from ‘mild’ for the uninitiated to ‘steep’ for the experienced skier, Narkanda offers great skiing adventure for every kind of skiing enthusiast.

In winter, the picturesque hills of fir and pine trees become snow slopes dotted and lined with skiers, all having fun in their own ways. While beginners learn to ski from instructors, professional skiers race downhill enthralled.

It’s time you too were here in Narkanda. Check out more photos on our Facebook page. Contact us for great skiing holidays, both in Narkanda and Auli (www.gio.in).

Of mountains & winters

Bhaskar Thyagarajan, guest blogger

Photo: Bhaskar Thyagarajan

The first time I came to Delhi to live here was in late November. It was may be 7:30-8:00 in the morning. It was a bright morning, a proper nip in the air and loved every minute of it. Having spent the bulk of my student life in Chennai and alternated between getting roasted and baked, I loved every day of the 3 years of working in Bangalore. So landing in Delhi on a winter morning was the ideal welcome gift. One of the primary motivations of moving here was the Himalayas. I had never travelled north before moving to Delhi and the Himalayas were a distant dream, lived through the tales of friends, books & Discovery Channel.

So, when the invitation to travel into the Himalayas came from a friend (whom I joined a year later) less than 10 days of reaching here, it was serendipity. From that day I have loved travelling into the mountains in the winter and loved every minute of it. The crisp clean mountain air, limited traffic, endless sunny days and rum kinda evenings are the obvious reasons. But what I have come to enjoy is the general slowness of things. The rivers lose their urge to move on, the sun and shadows seem unwilling to upright. The days revolve around tea, conversation and tea and conversation and the day just ends. Shops, restaurants and transactions in general seem fewer but meaningful. Food is local, fresh and minimal and devoid of glamour and exotica.

I am a restless person on holidays as much as at home, but the general relaxed pace of life has an almost hypnotizing effect on me and I find myself giving in. Reflection & reading, something I find myself wanting to do but doing little of at home becomes the main occupation, whether on walks or on the road. And for me this pursuit is something I enjoy but only when I have fewer options.

Mountains in winter make me think! Can't wait to go back.

Snowscapes - Winter in Auli

If you’re in Uttarakhand in the Garhwal Himalayas, you’ll find Auli, a ski resort where we have one of our Himalayan Eco Lodges. It’s close to 9,000 feet above mean sea level. Pretty cold with the recent snowfall!

When the sky is clear, it’s amazing. It’ll not only be the cold winter air that will take your breath away, but also the views of the snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas under the deep blue skies. People travel miles to see the view of the Nanda Devi peak from Auli. You’ll know why Uttarakhand is called ‘Dev Bhoomi’ – The Land of the Gods. And it is not just to do with all the temples that are in this part of the country.

If you like to ski, Auli has some of the best ski slopes in the world. No matter what your skiing expertise is, Auli promises enough thrills for everyone. Not to mention the ride up the slopes on a ropeway which is one of the longest in the world at such heights.

And treks? Well, don’t get us started! We offer a range of trekking adventures: from short trips for city-slickers to days and nights spent in the wilderness that will challenge the professional trekker in you. For more information, log on to our websites from this link and this one.

Our Himalayan Eco Lodge at Auli has the best of amenities for a snow-covered winter holiday. So, if you’re not outdoors skiing or trekking or enjoying the snow, you can cosy up in your room with a book and a glass or mug of your favourite beverage.

For more photos of this beautiful place click here.

Snow over Auli

It’s snowing in Auli and the whole place has taken on the look of an Alaskan wilderness. Outdoors, everything that catches the eye is covered in snow. It’s beautiful – and frrreeezzzing, of course. You won’t need to switch on the National Geographic channel or your favourite ‘Into the Wild’ movie. Believe me, it’s all happening right here. At Auli, Uttarakhand, India.

This is snow season and you’ll get plenty of that. Get out your ski gear and rip down the hills as if you’re in a 007 Bond movie. No evil guys to chase you up here, so you can ski to your heart’s content. Once that’s done, you’ve got a whole lot of treks to choose from. Check out our website (www.gio.in) for options and more information. Novices fear not as there are great beginners’ courses that are organised by GIO.

Staying indoors is fun too. Our lodges are geared to your satisfaction. Settle down by the fireplace or snuggle under the quilts with a book and your favourite beverage. Or, gather the family around you with stories, board games, mugs of hot chocolate and some family bonding. No, city life can promise you this amount of family fun.

So, if you like the snow and a bit of adventure, this is where you should be heading right now. Getting here is a bit long but not arduous in this season with minimal traffic and great sunny days. Haridwar is the nearest railway station to Auli. From here GIO can take care of all logistics. At Joshimath, take the ropeway to Auli. That’s where the adventure really begins. What you’ll see will simply blow your mind.

Republic Day Weekend Trip 2012

There’s a long weekend coming up soon. And, here’s your chance to shake off those post-New Year blues and get away for a bit to some Sun & Snow over the long Republic Day weekend:

If you love the mountains & the winters...

The Himalayan winter is truly here, with snowballs & snowmen, lazy days spent soaking in the sun, by the river or amidst snowy mountains, with nothing and no one around.

The winters are a true mountain lover’s delight. Contrary to popular belief, during the day, the mountains are actually warmer and sunnier than the plains without the fog and the haze. Evenings get cold, by which time you are enjoying the warmth of the crackling conversation and the company of friends and family. Nights are cozy in our deluxe camps and lodges with all the creature comforts one could ask for. If mountains are what you love, you will not miss this opportunity for an up-close and personal Himalayan experience!

Dates & duration

26-29 January 2012 (2 nights to 3 nights – take your pick)

Highlights of the trip

• Day treks & hikes into snowy meadows & hill tops;
• Accommodation in deluxe camps & lodges with all creature comforts;
• Bonfire, barbeques & light music on all nights;
• Delicious multi-cuisine meals with local delicacies served each day;
• Village visits & interesting sightseeing trips;
• Endless options for other adventure activities.

Locations/places covered

• Himalayan Eco Lodges & Camps, Kund;
• Himalayan Eco Lodges & Camps, Jayalgarh;
• Himalayan Eco Lodges & Camps, Sursinghdhar.

There are 3 locations to choose from, with different itineraries that go with them. Our itineraries are suggested itineraries with no compulsions to follow them. Ahh, the freedom! Check our website (www.gio.in) if you’re looking for more info.

 

Essentials to carry with you – a handy checklist

• Shirts/T-shirts
• Shorts (for rafting, if you intend to.
• Jeans/Trousers/Track Pants
• Shoes for hiking with good grip
• Lots of pairs of socks. Some preferably woollen.
• Floaters/sandals (For Rafting)
• Sunscreen Lotion
• Torch/Flashlight (with extra batteries)
• Sweater/Fleece
• Good warm jacket
• Thermal inners
• Monkey Cap, Balaclava, Muffler
• Medicines, if requiring any specific medication
• Camera
• Sunglasses (if necessary)
• Band, Strings etc for spectacles
• Personal toiletries
• Carry your stuff in a duffel bag or a rucksack try and avoid suitcases/strolleys
• A Day pack or small bag for day trips
• LOADS OF ENTHUSIASM

Essentials we provide you

Deluxe tents/rooms with all amenities like running hot & cold water, and comfortable beds with warm quilts & extra blankets.

A budget that fits your pocket

Rs.5,350 to Rs.8,250 per person on twin sharing basis for 3-day & 4-day trips.

Need we say more!

New Year's eve with GIO

Bhaskar Thyagarajan, guest blogger

Photo: Bhaskar Thyagarajan

One river and about 30 people from different parts of the India and the world made for an out of the ordinary New Year's eve getaway at the camp at Jayalgarh.

From lazing by the riverside on deck chairs and soaking the sun to the more adventurous rafting, trekking and slithering; the camp offered lots of options for chill and thrill seekers alike.

With plenty of delicious local cuisine including the excellent 'Rai' - a leafy green saag specific to the hills; a fantastic bonfire and BBQ, and some live musical performances by the local band as well as guests, there was no lacking of the fun and entertainment quotient to this New Year’s trip.