A JOURNEY EAST IS ONE THAT CANNOT BE REPLICATED.
AN AWAKENING OF THE SENSES
TO VIVID COLOURS,
SOOTHING TASTES AND GLORIOUS MYSTICISM.
AN UNDERSTANDING
OF A PLACE YOU CAN GO,
AT ONCE, TO RETREAT AND TO PARTICIPATE.
TO LOSE THE FAMILIAR
AND TO ACQUIRE THE NEW.
A JOURNEY EAST UNEARTHS A LOST PART OF YOU.
TIBET
BHUTAN
INDIA
MALDIVES
SRI LANKA
NEPAL
THE EAST IS EVERYTHING AND SOMETHING YOU WANT IT TO BE…
THE BLINDING BRIGHTNESS OF MARIGOLDS. THE SERENE WHITE OF THE
TAJ MAHAL. THE SPICE OF A SRI LANKAN CURRY. THE SUBTLE FLAVOUR OF
BASMATI RICE. THE SOUND OF TEMPLE BELLS IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE.
THE MEDITATIVE SILENCE OF BUDDHIST DZONGS. GENTLE RIVERS. WARRIOR
MOUNTAINS. THE EAST IS A MASS OF BEAUTIFUL CONTRADICTIONS. AND IT
MUST BE SAID, THE MORE OF IT YOU SEE, THE LESS YOU KNOW.
TIBET
THE FURTHER I DROVE AWAY FROM IT ALL, THE MORE I KNEW THERE WAS NO
GOING BACK… FOR I HAD CAUGHT A GLIMPSE OF ANOTHER WORLD CALLING ME
HOME… A WORLD OF SIMPLICITY WHERE WHO I WAS, WAS MORE IMPORTANT
THAN WHAT I DID… AND WHAT I DID CAME FROM WHO I WAS.
- CHRIS T. ATKINSON
Tibet conjures up the smells of Juniper
incense, the calm silence of monasteries,
the rhythm of continuous chanting and
quiet retreats. Tibet is a place of peace
and even if you’re not on a pilgrimage, you
have the sense of being on one. You will
be driven into throwing colourful pieces of
paper at fluttering prayer flags as you join
in the chanting. It can be said that there are
no atheists in Tibet.
For others, its charms lie in its geography,
as it is home to some fantastic treks.
Loyalists say it has better views of Mount
Everest than Nepal itself. And like Nepal, it
LHASA - SHIGATSE - POTALA PALACE
has the effect of humbling you and making
you feel like a speck of dust in front of
its towering peaks, endless turquoise-blue
glaciers and sky-high sanctuaries.
But, what you will truly take back with you
is the spirit of the citizens who have been
tested with the worst. You will remember
a Yak beer or a Yak tea in a café surrounded
by locals who are always ready to share
a yarn or a humble repast with you. Some
may find it a sobering experience, but it is a
journey of discovery – of a land, of a people,
of yourself. In fact, the very essence of a
soul-stirring journey.
BHUTAN
IF THERE IS ANY COUNTRY ON EARTH THAT QUALIFIES AS EDEN NOT JUST IN PART, BUT IN ITS ENTIRETY - I BELIEVE IT IS BHUTAN.
– HARRY MARSHALL
Visiting Bhutan has a sense of Venice-like
momentum to it. After all, it is the world’s
last Shangri La. This medieval kingdom
has managed to keep its identity intact,
owing to it being shut off from the rest of
the world till as late as the 1960s.
Surrounding this everyday splendour is
a Himalayan kingdom that will stand the
test of time. Amazing landscapes that are
dotted with incredible flora and fauna,
castle fortresses known as Dzongs and
Buddhist monasteries.
This land of the Thunder Dragon dresses
majestically – the national dress is worn
every day by most of its people - to work,
to school and to government institutions.
Its buildings are equally dressy – a unique
and complex architectural style that
involves rammed earth and wattle and
daub methods, stone masonry, intricate
woodwork around windows and roofs and,
incredibly, no use of a single nail or iron bar.
This surreal land has another incredible
feature – it cares more about its Gross
National Happiness than anything else in
the world.
As one of the most mysterious places on
earth, it’s only fitting that it keeps the entry
to it restricted. And if you care to unravel
this beautiful puzzle, do it with the reverence
it deserves.
THIMPHU FESTIVAL - PARO - PUNAKHA - BUMTHANG
INDIA
NO ONE IS INDIA.
– E.M. FORSTER
There is no one India. There are many
Indias. There is an India that is a mélange
of various ethnic groups, cuisines, folk art
and religious festivals. There is an India
that is a subcontinent of over a billion
people, bound together by the world’s
largest democracy.
There is the India where geographical
diversity allows for sun-kissed beaches,
arid mountains, tranquil backwaters,
deserts and lush jungles. There is an India
of the present where silicon valleys, highrises and economic development are
making the world sit up and take notice.
There is an India of the past whose royalty
has stamped the world with its hedonistic
appreciation of all things fine and whose
history is as ancient as civilization itself.
There is an India of the haves and the
have-nots. And, there is an India where
everyone is equal in the world of mysticism,
yoga, karma, epics, Upanishads, mythology
and many of the world’s greatest religions.
India’s beauty though, lies in the fact that
all of this exists together at the same time
and place.
It is not uncommon to see an elephant
mahout in the cosmopolitan surrounding
of Mumbai. Or to see a café dedicated to
the Beatles in Varanasi, one of the holiest
and oldest cities of the world. And it is this
fusion, this beautiful combination of chaos
and calm that defines your experience in
an otherwise indefinable place.
JODHPUR - VARANASI - KERALA - HAMPI - AURANGABAD
TIGER RESERVE, RANTHAMBHORE
MALDIVES
IF A HONEYMOON IS MEANT TO BE A CELEBRATION OF LOVE IN AN INTIMATE,
SECLUDED, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, BEAUTIFUL SETTING, THEN MALDIVES IS THE
WORLD’S BEST BACKDROP FOR ALL THESE THINGS.
- ANONYMOUS
Travellers have always been fascinated with
Maldives. Even as a concept, it is one of the
most interesting holiday destinations. This
tiny island nation packs quite a punch when
it comes to unique holiday experiences.
Even getting there is an experience. Zippy
seaplanes function like taxis and taking off from
water is an unforgettable experience. You can
enjoy a spectacular view of Maldives’ beautiful
coral atolls and blue lagoons from above.
To begin on a cultural note, visit the new
National Museum. The highlight of the
museuem is the 6-metre long skeleton of
the very rare Longman’s Beaked Whale.
This creature has never been sighted live.
Another highlight is Bodu Beru, an incredible
all-male dance and drum performance. The
drum ceremony starts off slowly and builds
gradually to an incredible climax.
When it comes to water sports and
activities, locals recommend diving in the
North Male atolls or at Shark Point. Don’t
let the name deceive you. The stunning
landscape comprises of Morays, Lion Fish
and even some Eagle Rays. If you get lucky,
you can also spot a beautiful white-tip shark.
Most resorts make for a lazy regime that
includes cycling around the resort, picking
your spot for dinner, submitting to a series
of spa treatments and devoted sun worship.
While it is the preferred luxury vacation for
most travellers, Maldives is also a piece of
paradise that will soon be lost to mankind.
Visit while you still can.
ADDU - ARI ATOLL - THODOO - RASHDOO ATOLL - SEENU ATOLL
BIYADHOO ISLAND RESORT - MALE
SRI LANKA
FROM CEYLON TO PARADISE, ACCORDING TO NATIVE TRADITION, IS FORTY MILES;
THERE MAY BE HEARD THE SOUNDS OF THE FOUNTAINS OF PARADISE.
– OLD LOCAL BELIEF
Sri Lanka is one of the world’s hidden gems.
It has everything a gem ought to have –
sparkle, authenticity and an aura of beauty
which is irresistible. It has a rich history and
a culture which is a curry made from Dutch,
Portuguese and British influences. You cango
from verdant landscapes to sandy beaches,
a cosmopolitan party capital in Colombo to
sacred sites, atmospheric luxury villas to
earthy tea plantations, a World Heritage listed colonial Galle to new-age, cutting-edge
boutique hotels – all of which are contained
in this tiny teardrop.
Then there’s the cuisine that can range from
burn-in-your-mouth local food to world-
class fusion on par with anywhere else.
There’s unspoilt elephant sanctuaries and
leopard-spotting. It holds no less than eight
UNESCO World Heritage Sites. And more
than 2000 years of culture can be discovered
at the ancient capital cities of Anuradhapura,
Sigiriya and Polonnaruwa.
Sri Lanka can show you dive sites comparable
to any in the world. It can evoke the raging
shopaholic in you – for nowhere in the world
are art, craft, design, fabric, tea and antiques
so original and so reasonable. But more than
anything, it’s the island’s natural beauty that
has withstood so much and still remained
unspoilt that will strike the right chord.
CEYLON TEA TRAILS - GALLE - COLOMBO - SIGIRIYA - ANURADHAPURA
MINNERIYA NATIONAL PARK - POLONNARUWA
NEPAL
WHEN YOU’RE OUT OF YOUR OWN CULTURAL CONTEXT, YOU HAVE CONVERSATIONS
WITH YOURSELF THAT YOU DON’T HAVE AT ANY OTHER POINT IN YOUR LIFE. WHEN
YOU’RE IN A HOTEL ROOM ON THE BORDER BETWEEN INDIA AND NEPAL YOU CAN
REALLY DISCOVER THINGS ABOUT YOURSELF.
– DAVID MITCHELL
Nepal can be best described as a smorgasbord
for travellers. It literally asks you ‘who would
you like to be today?’
Lumbini, the birthplace of Gautama Buddha,
that is one of the world’s holiest places since
the 3rd century B.C.?
An explorer whose joys lie in taming the
magnificent challenge, eight of the world’s
largest mountains, including Mount Everest,
throw at you?
A spiritualist who seeks peace in the mantras
of the monasteries? A world-traveller who is
intrigued by the combination of a century-old
monastery chant progressing right besides
a jazz bar that looks like it was transported
from New Orleans?
An adrenaline-seeker whose rush is derived
from rafting in stormy rivers or jumping into
steep Himalayan gorges?
A nature-lover whose nights are spent
dreaming of a day with tigers, hyenas, rhinos,
crocodiles and millions of species of birds?
A historian who would like to pay homage to
A creature of comfort who is content to
toast some of the world’s most spectacular
mountain views with a glass of champagne?
So make your choice or choices. This tiny little
mountain kingdom won’t disappoint you.
KATHMANDU - PATAN - BHAKTAPUR - BODNATH - PASHUPATINATH - POKHARA
CHITWAN NATIONAL PARK - MOUNT EVEREST BASE CAMP - MUSTANG
NEPAL A TRAVELLER’S ITINERARY
KATHMANDU 
PASHUPATINATH 
“My first stop was at Kathmandu’s historic
Durbar Square. It was, in a surreal way,
reminiscent of an old European piazza with
jazz bars, bakeries and pizzerias alongside
an archaic city of temples, pagodas, pavilions
and shrines. Once the former residence of
the Kathmandu royal family, it is still the
home of Nepal’s living goddess, the Kumari.
To me, it felt like the bohemian traveller had
to take one step into a medieval city and the
other into a quaint European town.”
“It is Nepal’s equivalent to India’s Varanasi.
On the banks of the Bagmati River was a
Shiva temple celebrating Shiva as the Lord
of Beasts. The river was the most fascinating
part, though. I was moved to see the circle
of life completing itself here as this is the
holiest place for performing both last rites
and celebrating life. On this river that leads
up to the Ganges, the people of Nepal let go
of their loved ones and seek blessings for
their life ahead. A soul-stirring experience.”
 BODNATH
“It was Nepal’s most distinguished Stupa,
and in a way, the finest tribute to Buddha’s
path to enlightenment. With a Tibetan
settlement around it and the chanting of
‘Om Mani Padme Hoom’, I was transported
to another plane. On a lighter note, I enjoyed
the shopping and dining there immensely.”
PATAN
“I was told that not many tourists go to
Patan, which to me was the best part about
it. In a city that looks like a giant museum,
Patan boasts of a real one which is perhaps
Nepal’s best. I spent the day being escorted
to hidden temples, four ancient Stupas,
the royal palace and some incredible places
for food and wine. This city, originally named
the City of Beauty, richly deserves its title.”
BHAKTAPUR
“They told me this was the third of the
medieval cities and from what I observed,
the best preserved. Also called the City of
Devotees, this place has not one, but three
squares full of medieval temples. Yesterday
and today are beautifully intertwined as this
ancient city is still lived in.”
NEPAL A TRAVELLER’S ITINERARY
CHITWAN NATIONAL PARK
“This World Heritage-listed reserve took me
to the plains of Nepal. To wildlife heaven, with
splendid views seen on elephant-back. This
reserve has some high-profile celebrities like
the Asian Elephant, the Royal Bengal Tiger,
the Gharial Crocodile, the Sloth Bear and the
One-Horned Indian Rhino. It also has 450
different species of birds and about 67 species
of butterflies that are as big as your hand.
I was lucky enough to watch an unperturbed
mother and daughter rhino (they like to stick
together) bathing in the river. And the early
morning canoe ride, with mist, the rising sun,
and the meditative sound of the babbling
brook as it ran over stones, while I watched
stubborn water hyacinths, chirping birds and
sleepy crocs, was truly a spiritual experience.
EVEREST 
“From Kathmandu, we flew 45 minutes into
the Himalayas, to Lukla, the mountain village
from where all expeditions to Mount Everest
begin. We passed famous peaks such as Gauri
Shankar, with the vast Tibetan Plateau in the
background. We then proceeded to Kongde
Lodge via breathtaking valleys and flying high
above the legendary Namche Bazaar.
POKHARA 
“Lakeside Pokhara is where trekkers come to
rest and I could see why as I unwound with
magnificent views of the gateway to Annapurna
in some spectacular bars and cafes.”
The lodge, reportedly the highest in the world
at 4250m, is on a plateau with unimaginable
views of the world’s tallest peaks; Everest,
Lhotse, Makalu, Cho-Oyo, Gyajung Khang
and Ama Dablam. Down below is the Khumbu
Valley, Kongde Lake, historical trekking
stations of Namche Bazaar and Thyangboche
Monastery. It truly was a `Heaven and Earth’
encounter, as it has been referred to.”
MUSTANG
THERE WAS NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT MY STAY WOULD BE FRUITFUL AND
EXCITING. MUSTANG, I REALIZED, WAS TRULY AN INDEPENDENT CULTURAL UNIT,
A SMALL NATION COMPLETELY UNTOUCHED AND UNSPOILT. ONE OF THE LAST LANDS
ON OUR PLANET TO HAVE SURVIVED UP UNTIL 1964 UNEXPLORED AND UNSTUDIED.
– MICHEL PEISSEL, AUTHOR OF MUSTANG, A LOST TIBETAN KINGDOM
“Over my last few days in Nepal, I had come to
realize that Mustang wasn’t a place everyone
spoke about or, even better, went to.
Nothing had prepared me for Mustang.
No European had been allowed to set foot in
Mustang until 1952 and even after that, only
a handful were let in until it was opened to
very limited tourism in 1992. Now, it averages
about six visitors a day who begin their
journey with a five-day walk to its walled
capital, Lo Manthang. So I was amongst
the lucky few who could enter but would I
be lucky enough to see the king? Wisely, no
promises were made.
“My journey to Mustang began on a chopper
that flew me from Jomsom, on a tiny landing
strip going uphill, hugging the edges of the
mountain as it landed me into Lo Manthang.
To say the ride was my biggest adrenaline
rush ever is an understatement.”
So how do I begin to describe something most
people will never see? Well, to start with,
Mustang follows a purely Tibetan culture.
And its superstitions are as mysterious as
its existence. You would be amazed at how
much effort has been expended in warding
off spirits from Lo Manthang. There are
the “kheni” statues at either end of the town
- a buxom woman and a very aroused man.
There’s also the “gate-chorten” that helps
you leave the ghosts behind as you enter this
town. And if all else fails, the houses built
into the village’s ancient stonewalls all have
tiny doors. This, to keep the dead people from
visiting again. (Ghosts can’t bend, you see.)
a peak in the 15th century before beginning a
gentle decline in fortune.
Mustang was a kingdom rich with things
other than superstitions. The rulers were
able to use their immense wealth to build
fabulous monasteries and libraries filled with
giant prayer books written in gold. They were
patrons of the best Tibetan artists, reaching
Today, Lo Manthang’s village may not be rich
but it is still enchanted - Mustang horses on
its arid landscape, hundreds of goats being
herded through its narrow lanes, women
sitting around spinning Tibetan aprons in
its open courtyards.
Jampa Gompa, is Lo Manthang’s oldest
monastery. It is dominated by a three-storey
high Buddha statue. I saw traditional Tibetan
women touching up the Mandalas - abstract
geometric paintings, used as meditation aids
in Tibetan Buddhism - in a huge dark room, lit
only by spotlights. They paint one tiny dot at
a time over the crumbling, faded Mandalas
which they have cleaned of 540 years of
butter candle smoke.
We then proceeded to the trip’s biggest
highlight - The Flying Caves of Nepal which
are undoubtedly the Himalaya’s best kept
secret. Intrepid explorers are busy trying to
unravel thousands of holes that are carved
into the fragile, sandy-coloured cliff in a
gorge so large it dwarfs the Grand Canyon.
I was privileged and humbled to be part of
this mystery as I flew over caves that are
155ft high and more than thousands of years
old in a high-altitude, adrenalin-drenched
helicopter ride.
My visit to Mustang is an experience that
a chosen few will ever have. It is as if the
Earth had let me into its little secret. And
Nepal conspires to keep it that way too, with
the entry fee being as much as 500 USD.”
MEET YOUR HOSTS
TWENTY SIX YEARS AGO, A GROUP OF FRIENDS LEFT ONE OF INDIA’S LARGEST TRAVEL NETWORKS, TO BE
CONNOISSEURS OF A DIFFERENT EAST AND THE CREATORS OF A DISCERNING TRAVELLER’S ITINERARY.
A BRITISH GENTLEMAN BEHIND THE NAME, HAD RETURNED TO INDIA IN SEARCH OF HIS COLONIAL ROOTS,
BUT STAYED ON. HE INSTILLED AN INFORMAL SENSE OF PROFESSIONALISM INTO THE COMPANY, WHICH
CONTINUES TO PREVAIL. THAT WAS THE BEGINNING OF VENTOURS IN 1986. TODAY, THIS GROUP OF FRIENDS
CAN BE FOUND IN OFFICES IN MUMBAI, DELHI, JAIPUR, AGRA, UDAIPUR, VARANASI AND JODHPUR.
OVER THE YEARS, VENTOURS HAS REPRESENTED THE MOST ACCOMPLISHED TRAVEL COMPANIES IN
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PHILANTHROPHY
No traveller’s itinerary is complete without
having left a place a little better than when
he found it. At Ventours, we complete every
itinerary by benefitting the have-nots that
exist in our otherwise privileged worlds.
Our contributions and aid go to one or many
noble causes in each country we operate in.
THARU VILLAGES, NEPAL - Near Sauraha,
is a collection of villages called Tharu Villages.
This tribe earns its livelihood through farming
and still lives in houses that are decorated
with Mithila paintings, mud and cow-dung.
We have adopted one such village and
are committed to helping them with basic
amenities, farming assistance, schools and
electricity. We welcome you to join us in
protecting this ancient tribe of Nepal.
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SRI LANKA
MALDIVES
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