Places We Travel
Where we go
A selection of the destinations we know intimately — from Char Dham shrines to Kashmir's lakes and the Kailash parikrama. We cover many more across India that aren't listed here yet. Ask us about anywhere else you have in mind.
Uttarakhand
Haridwar
Vacanza Go's home city — the gateway to the Char Dham and one of seven sacred Hindu cities. Where the Ganga emerges from the Himalaya.
Rishikesh
The yoga capital of the world — and the gateway to Garhwal Himalaya adventures. River rafting, ashrams, and the Beatles' Maharishi Mahesh Yogi ashram.
Nainital
Kumaun's loveliest hill town — built around a turquoise lake at 2,000 m, with the Mall Road, boat rides, and Naina Devi temple on its shore.
Kainchi Dham
The Neem Karoli Baba ashram — beloved by Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg, and generations of seekers. A small temple complex in a Kumaun forest valley.
Yamunotri
The source of the Yamuna river — the westernmost of the four Char Dham shrines. A 6 km trek (or pony) brings pilgrims to the temple at 3,293 m.
Gangotri
Source of the holy Ganga, reachable by road. The 18th-century Gangotri temple stands above the Bhagirathi, with Gangotri glacier 18 km further upstream.
Kedarnath
The 8th-century Shiva temple at 3,583 m — Char Dham's most demanding shrine, reached by 16 km trek, helicopter, or pony from Gaurikund.
Badrinath
The northernmost of the four Char Dham shrines and one of the 108 Divya Desams of Vishnu — a black Saligram stone idol in a temple at 3,300 m.
Adi Kailash
The 'original Kailash' — a 6,191 m peak in Pithoragarh's Kumaun region. Reachable from India, no foreign permits required.
Om Parvat
The mountain face in Pithoragarh district where snow naturally forms the Sanskrit syllable 'ॐ' (Om). Visible from Nabhidhang viewpoint.
Almora
Kumaun's cultural capital — a hill town on a 5 km long ridge, with handicraft markets, the Kasar Devi temple frequented by 1960s seekers (Lama Anagarika Govinda, Timothy Leary, Bob Dylan).
Didihat
A small town in Pithoragarh district on the road to Adi Kailash and the China border — apple orchards, hill views, and a quieter pre-Gunji overnight.
Kathgodam
The railhead for Nainital, Almora and the entire Kumaun region — the end of the broad-gauge line where most Kumaun trips begin.
Jammu & Kashmir
Kashmir
Heaven on earth — Srinagar's Dal Lake, Gulmarg's gondola, and the meadow valleys of Pahalgam and Sonmarg. India's most photographed destination.
Pahalgam
South Kashmir's prettiest valley — the Lidder river, Aru Valley, Betaab Valley, and the traditional base for the Amarnath Yatra.
Amarnath Cave
The sacred Shiva cave at 3,888 m — open for pilgrimage only in July-August, accessible via Pahalgam (5-day) or Baltal (1-2 day) routes.
Ladakh
Leh Ladakh
India's high-altitude cold desert — Buddhist monasteries, turquoise lakes, the world's highest motorable passes, and a culture that feels closer to Tibet than Delhi.
Pangong Lake
The 134 km saltwater lake straddling India-China — turquoise in summer, frozen in winter, and one of the highest landlocked lakes in the world.
Himachal Pradesh
Shimla
The British-era summer capital, set in pine and cedar forests at 2,200 m. Mall Road, the Ridge, Christ Church, and panoramic Himalayan views.
Manali
Himachal's most-loved hill station at 2,050 m — Hadimba Temple, Solang Valley, the gateway to Rohtang Pass and the Spiti Valley.
Lahaul Spiti
The other Tibet inside India — high-altitude cold desert valleys with thousand-year-old Buddhist monasteries, Chandratal lake, and the world's highest post office at Hikkim.
Tibet/Nepal
Mount Kailash
The 6,638 m mountain considered the most sacred peak in Hindu, Buddhist, Jain and Bon traditions. The 52 km parikrama is one of the world's most demanding pilgrimages.
Lake Mansarovar
The 4,590 m freshwater lake at the foot of Mount Kailash — said to be the highest freshwater lake in the world and the original source of four major rivers.
Goa
Rajasthan
Jaipur
The Pink City — Rajasthan's capital and the entry point to most North India 'Golden Triangle' tours. Hawa Mahal, City Palace, Amer Fort.
Jaisalmer
The Golden City — a sandstone fort rising out of the Thar desert. Sam dunes camel safaris, havelis, and the only living fort in India.
Udaipur
The City of Lakes — Rajasthan's most romantic city. City Palace, Lake Pichola, the floating Lake Palace, and Mewar-era heritage.