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24 days · 2 countries Updated Apr 2026
Himalayan Pilgrimage
Delhi → Varanasi → Kathmandu → Annapurna
"From the Ganges to the high Himalaya. Spiritual, sensory, and physically demanding."
The trek is optional but transformative. Even without it, this is the most intense three weeks of cultural travel on the planet — Old Delhi food walks, dawn on the burning ghats, and Kathmandu's dust-and-incense backstreets.
Best season
October–November or March–April (clear skies, trekking-safe)
Budget
$60–110 per person per day
Pace
Fast-paced for cities, slow and physical for the trek
Best for
Experienced travellers, hikers, anyone seeking a deliberate jolt
Highlights
Headline experiences
- Old Delhi street-food walk through Chandni Chowk
- Dawn boat on the Ganges, Varanasi
- Boudhanath Stupa kora at dusk, Kathmandu
- Crossing Thorong La pass at 5,416m on the Annapurna Circuit
Gallery
A taste of the route
Day by day
Days 1–4
Delhi
Old Delhi food walk through Chandni Chowk, Red Fort, Humayun's Tomb. Day-trip to Agra by Gatimaan Express for the Taj at dawn.
Side trip
Jaipur (the Pink City)
Complete the Golden Triangle — five-hour train south from Delhi via Agra. Hawa Mahal at first light, Amber Fort by jeep, a block-printing workshop in the bazaar. Two nights is enough; three if you want to add Pushkar.
Days 5–8
Varanasi
Sunrise boat on the Ganges, evening Ganga aarti ceremony, day-trip to Sarnath where the Buddha gave his first sermon.
Days 9–11
Kathmandu
Fly across. Boudhanath at dusk, Pashupatinath cremation ghats, the Newari brick towns of Patan and Bhaktapur.
Days 12–24
Annapurna Circuit
13-day trek. Acclimatise carefully — Manang for two nights. Thorong La pass at 5,416m on day nine. Down to Pokhara for a lakeside beer.
Connectivity
The eSIM + VPN combo for this trip
VPN
NordVPN
India and Nepal both have generally open internet, but rural Wi-Fi is unsecured. NordVPN handles both reliably.
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