Sangtam man Photo: Dr Stirn 13 tel: 0845 330 8579 (local call rate, UK only) international tel: +44 1453 844 400 www.himalayankingdoms.com Arunachal Pradesh & Nagaland The ‘Lost Pass’ Trek, Arunachal Pradesh Arunachal Pradesh is most certainly a ‘land that time forgot’! Its Inner Line status dating back to the time of the British Raj has meant that extremely few Europeans have visited it at all. There are as many as 25 tribal groups in the state – those living in the west, near the border with Bhutan, are Buddhist, and many tribes further north are animistic. Their language has Burmese–Tibetan origins, they live in cane houses built on stilts, and long houses are used for social gatherings. They are hunters and in recent history used aconite poison for their arrow tips. This trek begins close to the Tibetan border and travels up the Yang Sang Chhu Valley, with the aim of crossing the ‘Lost Pass’. This pass leads through the mountains and back into East Siang. It should afford excellent views of the unexplored ice giants to the north and west. Steve Berry, our MD, made a reconnaissance in November 2002. Although he and Barry Bond failed to cross the pass due to bad weather, they did enter villages that had never seen Europeans before. £3,295 £2,875 Dates: Thu 02 Oct – Fri 24 Oct land only Grade: Vigorous (Part Recon) On Trek: 10 days European Leader: tbc Nights’ Accommodation: Hotels: 4 Camping: 12 Inspection bungalows: 3 Planters’ Bungalows: 2 Optional: Single Room £340 Single Tent £70 Insurance: £149 (Insurance Plus) Days Itinerary Duration: 23 days 1–4 Fly to Calcutta, sightseeing, fly to Dibrugarh –5 Steamer ferry to Pasighat 6–17 Crossing the ‘Lost Pass’ 18–19 Drive to Pasighat, rest 20–23 Ferry to Dibrugarh, fly Calcutta, fly London Guaranteed to run for a minimum of clients Nagaland has always been closed to foreigners, except for a few missionaries and British political officers who first ventured there from 1874 onwards. The territory which had a reputation for head-hunting until relatively recent times, is bounded by Assam in the west, Burma in the east and Arunachal Pradesh to the north. It is home to sixteen major tribes along with several sub tribes who wear intricately designed costumes. This unique programme undertakes some gentle trekking in the Namdapha National Park as well as the beautiful Dzoukou valley. We will visit the famous war graves in the capital of Nagaland, Kohima, and enjoy game-viewing at Kaziranga Wildlife Park. This is designed to combine some easy walking together with visits to interesting tribal villages. We are proud of the fact that in 2001 we were the first British company to take a party to visit this unique culture. Nagaland – the Forbidden Frontier £2,575 £2,155 Dates: Thu 16 Oct – Fri 31 Oct land only Grade: Gentle Day Walks: 4 days European Leader: John Edwards Nights’ Accommodation: Hotels: 5 Planters’ Bungalows: 2 Lodges: 5 Village Houses: 2 Optional: Single Room £280 Single Tent £70 Insurance: £95 (Standard Policy) Days Itinerary Duration: 16 days 1–4 Fly to Calcutta, sightseeing, fly to Dibrugarh 5–7 Day treks in Nagaland 8–10 Thengal Tea Gardens and war graves, Kohima 11–12 Khonoma and Tuophema 13–14 Drive via Kohima and Dimapur to Kaziranga 15–16 Fly to Calcutta and London Guaranteed to run for a minimum of clients 5 4 Left: Typical Naga house Right: Naga tribesman Photos: Mike Ford

tel: 0845 330 8579 (local call rate, UK only) international tel: +44 1453 844 400 www.himalayankingdoms.com 14 Of all the Himalayan kingdoms, Bhutan, the Kingdom of the Thunder Dragon, is the most mysterious. Like Tibet, its rulers followed a policy of isolationism, helped by the fact that the central valleys are surrounded on all sides by mountains. It is a land of supernatural legends, ancient monastery/fortresses and even today the Tibetan-like people still wear traditional national dress. Its mountains remain largely unmapped, unnamed, unclimbed and unexplored; many are sacred or thought to be gods in their own right. Bhutan’s ancient history is a story of struggle between reincarnate rulers, feudal lords and differing Buddhist sects vying for power, until the late 19th century when the old orders were swept away and an hereditary monarchy was established. The Kingdom Weighing chillies at Thimphu market Photo: Jude Limburn Turner