Hospice
Fundraising
Home of the Dalai Lama with Taj Mahal visit
Saturday 24th October to Wednesday 4th November 2026*
Following on from the success of our Vietnam Hill Tribe Trek and Community Project of 2024, which raised almost £80,000 for St Oswald’s Hospice, we now invite you to be part of our next adventure. This includes a four-day trek through the Indian Himalayas, home of the Dalai Lama and a two-day community project where you can make a lasting difference.
Plus, to complete the trip, you will visit one of the new 7 wonders of the world, the magnificent Taj Mahal on the banks of the Yamuna River.
You will start your challenge in Delhi and spend two days giving back to the community at our local project. The project will likely support Cankids children’s hospice or at a centre supporting adults with cancer. Previous community project activities have included painting and decorating bedrooms, building a children’s playground, refurbishing a kitchen and dining room, and improving therapy centres. Here you will have a chance to make a lasting difference to a local community and its people.
You will then board the overnight train to Pathankot. After a night on the train, you transfer to the stunning hill station of Dharamshala, home to the Tibetan Government in exile and the Dalai Lama, and surrounded by dense forest and in the shadow of the Dhauladhar mountain range. From here you will commence your journey into the Lesser Himalayan range of Northern India where, during four days of trekking, you will be awed by lush green forests, views of snow-capped peaks, deep valleys, gushing rivers and small villages with friendly and welcoming local people. You will reach a maximum altitude of 2875m (at Triund) and will walk approximately 14km per day, taking around 6-8 hours.
After your trek ends, you will return to Delhi for the night before transferring to Agra to visit the legendary Taj Mahal.
When does the Trek take place?
Saturday 24th October to Wednesday 4th November 2026*
*Trip dates may change based on flight availability and to coincide with school half-term holidays
Where does the Trek take place?
India, South Asia
Who can take part in the Trek?
To take part you must be aged 18 or over on the date of departure, or ages 16 or 17 if trekking with an accompanying adult over the age of 18.
Find out moreThis is a challenge event that aims to raise vital funds for St Oswald’s Hospice, toward our running costs and patient care. All participants will pay a non-refundable registration fee to secure a place and then pledge to self-fund and/or raise a minimum target to cover costs of the trip and ensure that additional funds are raised to support our work with the patients and families who need us.
We have outlined the costs of the trip below and are happy to discuss individually the options in more detail. The purpose of launching our trek now is to give participants as long as possible to undertake fundraising activity. Our team will support you all the way through your journey, from registering your place right through to the trip itself.
Registration Fee (non-refundable) – £500 (can be paid in 2 instalments)
Fundraising Target (minimum) – £4,800
Registration Fee (non-refundable) – £500 (can be paid in 2 instalments)
Self-fund Target – £2,245 PLUS
Fundraising Target (minimum) – £2,555
PLEASE NOTE: The overall target will need to be reached by Friday 31st July 2026. There will be interim deadlines set out to ensure you meet these financial targets. Terms & Conditions apply. St Oswald’s Hospice and/or The Different Travel Company reserve the right to withdraw your place from the trip if deadlines are not met.
Self-fund and fundraising totals may vary slightly due to an increase in trip costs or flight surcharges based on UK Airport arrivals & departures.
Thursday 10th April 2025 at 6.30pm | Focus on Living Centre at St Oswald’s Hospice
We know taking on a trek is a big commitment and while exciting, its normal to have lots of questions! The evening will be led by The Different Travel, our tour operator who specialises in Overseas Charity Challenges, who we have worked with for many years. They will introduce the Indian Himalayas Trek with Community Project to you, with the support of St Oswald’s Hospice Fundraising Manager Danielle Harvey, who has led several of our treks across the world and will be on hand to share her own experiences. You will also have the opportunity to chat to previous St Oswald’s Hospice trekkers to get their first-hand accounts of being part of such a big adventure.
The information evening aims to answer all your questions about what is involved, how to prepare, and how the fundraising works. We hope it will ignite excitement and show you that the challenge is possible, and that you will have our full support all the way through.
To book a place on the information evening, please contact our Supporter Care Team on 0191 246 9123 or SupporterCare@stoswaldsuk.org for more information or to attend.
If you are unable to attend the event but would like to find out more about the trek, please get in touch using the details above.
Book your space on our information eveningN.B. This itinerary may change due to unusual weather, the ability of the group and so on. We will do our best to keep to the itinerary, but we cannot be held responsible for changes that occur outside of our control. In all circumstances, your guide and tour leader will have the final say in the interest of the group’s health and safety.
Depart London for Delhi on an overnight flight.
Upon arrival the next day, transfer to a central hotel and depending on arrival times we may have a sightseeing tour of Delhi before our welcome dinner.
Overnight: Hotel
Meals: Dinner
After a good night’s rest, we spend two days assisting with the community project. Typical tasks include decorating, refurbishment, gardening or generally working to improve the environment.
No experience is necessary, just a willingness to get involved. On Tuesday evening we will transfer to the railway station for the overnight sleeper train to Pathankot (2nd class air-conditioned).
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Overnight: Hotel & Sleeper Train
The train arrives in Pathankot in the morning and from the station, you will transfer by road to Dharamshala (approximately 3 hours), where you will check in at the hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure; and perhaps visit the Dalai Lama Palace and the Tibetan government-in-exile buildings, or simply enjoy the atmosphere and browse for souvenirs in the handicraft stalls before enjoying a Tibetan dinner this evening.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Overnight: Hotel
After breakfast we drive for approximately 1.5 hours to our starting point of our trek, Salli. A slow and gradual climb takes us to the top of the hill from where we enjoy fantastic views, before continuing towards Kareri stream. Following the stream this afternoon we arrive at Kareri village where we set up camp for the night in a beautiful and peaceful spot by the river.
Approx. 6km trekking / 5 hours.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Overnight: Camping
After breakfast, we start today’s walk with a relatively steep ascent through several small villages, enjoying fine views of beautiful meadows and dense pine forests along the way. We descend to a mountain stream to stop for lunch before continuing with a sharp ascent to Bahl, and our second campsite.
Approx. 9km trekking / 6-7 hours.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Overnight: Camping
Today is our toughest day of trekking to Triund, the highest point on the trek at 2843m. The day starts with a steep ascent through a mixed forest of oak, rhododendron and cedar trees, stopping at a local chai shop along the way. After lunch, our ascent continues along a winding path until we finally reach Triund, an alpine meadow situated on top of a ridge from where we have amazing views of the peaks of Dhauladhar on one side and the Kangra valley on the other. This is the perfect spot to enjoy the sunset and our final night in the mountains.
Approx. 12km trekking / 8 hrs.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Overnight: Camping
After rising early to witness the sun rising over the mighty Dhauladhar mountain range we set off for our final day of trekking. Initially, we have a gradual descent over a grassy ridge for a few kilometres, then a steep descent takes us down to Bhagsu waterfall where we stop to enjoy lunch. A further short walk brings us to Bhagsu village where we end our trek and return to Pathankot to take the overnight train back to Delhi.
Approx. 6km trekking / 4 hours.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Overnight: Sleeper train
After breakfast, we will hit the road and head down to Agra. After checking into the hotel, we will pay a visit to the Agra Fort, with its stunning views across to the Taj Mahal.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Overnight: Hotel
It’s an early start today as we visit the spectacular Taj Mahal at sunrise. We will spend some time at the UNESCO World Heritage site before driving back to Delhi. We will have some time to explore Old Delhi this afternoon before our farewell dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Overnight: Hotel
Transfer to the airport for your return flight to London. Your flight may arrive in London the next morning depending on schedules.
Meals: Breakfast
We would love for you to join our trekking family and be part of this very special adventure in 2026.
The funds raised from the Indian Himalayas Trek with Community Project will support our work with adults, young people and their families, from across the regions, helping to keep doors open and services free to all who need us.
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