Private journeys across India · Replies within 24 hours
Dal Lake, high-altitude Ladakh and the Kinnaur valleys, planned around the season, the roads and the altitude. Your own luxury car and driver throughout.
India’s Himalaya is three very different places: the lakes and meadows of Kashmir, the high-altitude desert of Ladakh, and the apple valleys and wooden villages of Kinnaur. Each has its own season, its own roads and its own pace.
We plan around the weather, the passes and the altitude, with your own car and a driver who knows the mountain roads, local guides where they add something, and rest days where the height asks for them. Choose one region, or ask us to combine two.
Reviewed by Mirza Shadab Beg, Founder, Travelage India, Agra · Last updated 31 October 2026
Choose a journey to see how it unfolds. Each one is private, and every detail can be tailored to your dates and pace.
A night on a Dal Lake houseboat, the Mughal gardens, Gulmarg and Pahalgam, in an easy week.
Monasteries, Khardung La, Nubra’s dunes and Pangong Lake, with two rest days to acclimatise.
The Kalka-Shimla toy train, Sarahan, the Baspa valley and Kalpa, with a view of Kinner Kailash.
Lakes and meadows first, then the high desert. Planned on request, by road in season or with a flight between Srinagar and Leh.
Short answer: Kashmir for lakes and meadows, Ladakh for high-altitude landscapes and monasteries, Shimla and Kinnaur for the toy train and mountain villages.
| Journey | Time needed | How you travel | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kashmir Valley Tour | 7 days / 6 nights | Private luxury car, houseboat | Lakes, gardens and meadows |
| Ladakh Tour | 8 days / 7 nights | Private luxury car, camps | High-altitude desert and lakes |
| Shimla & Kinnaur Himalaya Tour | 7 days / 6 nights | Private luxury car, toy train | Mountain villages and a heritage railway |
The Himalaya pairs naturally with Delhi, Agra and the Golden Triangle. Add a few days and we will plan the connections for you.
One vehicle, one driver and one guide for your whole journey. No shared coaches, no strangers on your itinerary.
In the mountains, we choose houseboats, lodges, camps and hotels for setting and comfort, and tell you honestly what to expect.
Licensed English-speaking specialists in history, architecture and craft, matched to what you love.
One Travelage host plans your journey and stays reachable from the moment you land until you leave.
A flavour of how a day on Dal Lake unfolds. Yours will be shaped around your dates and interests.
A shikara across calm water in the first light, past floating gardens and the mountains behind the lake.
Walk the terraced Mughal gardens above the lake, planned around the light and the crowds.
Kashmiri food at a local table, with vegetarian dishes on request.
Wander the old city for papier-mâché, shawls and carpets, with your guide to explain what you see.
Dinner and a quiet night on a Dal Lake houseboat, with the mountains going dark around you.
Your guide is chosen for the language you prefer and the things you love. Ask for Japanese or Russian and we will arrange it where we can.
Main season for the valley. Tulips bloom for a few weeks around April, and December to February is for snow at Gulmarg.
Main season for Leh, Nubra and Pangong. Winters are very cold and many camps close.
Best before and after the monsoon. July and August bring rain and landslides, and winter snow can close Kinnaur roads.
A week suits Kashmir or Shimla and Kinnaur, and Ladakh needs eight days because it includes two rest days to acclimatise. To combine regions, plan two weeks or more.
Yes, planned on request. You can fly between Srinagar and Leh, or drive in season. Tell us your dates and we will advise on the best route.
Some areas need permits, for example parts of Ladakh and Kinnaur. We arrange them for you and tell you what to carry in your proposal.
It depends on the region. Kashmir is best from April to October, Ladakh from May to September, and Shimla and Kinnaur from April to June and September to November.
Leh is at about 3,500 metres (11,500 feet), so we plan rest days at the start. Drink water, go slowly and tell us about any heart, lung or blood-pressure condition. Please check with your doctor before you travel.
Mountain roads are slower than the distance suggests. We plan shorter driving days where we can, and your proposal gives the drive time for each day.
Yes. Every journey has your own luxury car and driver. Nothing is shared with other travellers.
Kashmir and Shimla suit most ages. Ladakh’s altitude and the winding mountain roads in Kinnaur need more thought. Tell us who is travelling, and we will advise honestly.
Yes. Tell us your dietary needs and we will arrange them, including on a houseboat or in camp, though choices can be simpler in remote places.
Completely. The journeys here are starting points. Tell us your dates, interests and pace, and we will shape the journey around you.
Send your dates through the enquiry form. A Travelage specialist will reply with a tailored proposal within 24 hours.
Pair the mountains with the plains: the Golden Triangle, Rajasthan or Varanasi. For a longer route, see 14 Days Private India.
Share when you plan to travel and which journey interests you. A Travelage specialist will reply with a tailored proposal. No payment is taken now.
Share when you plan to travel and what matters to you. A Travelage specialist will reply with a tailored proposal.
