Explore mountaineering expeditions, ecotours, snow leopard spotting, birding and more with an adventure outfit that’s out to rebuilt man’s distant connection to nature, this time around on more friendlier terms. Sunshine Himalayan Adventures (abbreviated SHA) made its debut in 1996 as a young gun trek and tour operator with a daring passion to explore untrodden trails, then spent the next ten years building credibility in the adventure tourism sector living up to its claim by escorting die hard adventurers across isolated regions of Ladakh, Spiti, Kinnaur and on occasions right up to the Everest and the Annapurna base camp.

In 2000, the outfit committed its soul to the development of the Great Himalayan National Park, an untouched forest reserve of pristine natural countryside. SHA worked alongside the forest division of the government of Himachal Pradesh India to turn it into a trekkers’ paradise and was one of the chief contributors that campaigned to make the forest reserve a UNESCO world heritage site. The voluntary effort earning it the label of a responsible adventure unafraid to go beyond its call of duty for nature and community.

The Cofounder of Sunshine Himalayan Adventure- Mr. Ankit Sood welcoming the World Heritage Site Team at Great Himalayan national Park

Present status: As of 2015, SHA is a seasoned trek and tour outfit with a solid 19 years of experience in its rucksack, recognized for its community based ecotourism approach that strives to benefit local denizens, the species and the environment in majority. The outfit organizes tours for both its own clientele and for its network associate, the US based adventure company, Way of Adventure

Services: The SHA portfolio of services (current) is primed towards educating its guests to the joy of living in nature and likewise includes a variety of ‘in the lap of nature’ activities ranging from mountaineering expeditions, trekking, camping, jeep/biking/motor biking safaris, rafting/kaying, rock climbing, rappelling, angling, and specialized tours for birding, snow leopard spotting and home stay living.

Regions to explore: SHA operates in the regions of Uttranchal, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Nepal (See the SHA treks and tours section below for more information) all 365 days of the year and caters to school, holidayers and corporate groups as well as single trekkers from across India and foreign shores with flexible itineraries that can be customized as per individual preference.

What you get with SHA: The outfit caters to guests with a core team of seven members reinforced with regional representatives. It takes care of all necessary arrangements, organizes airport pick-up and drop, transport, accommodations, equipment, permits (where required) and provisions to make trips as safe as possible, educative, thoroughly enjoyable and one of its kind.

SHA’s ultimate goal in making its treks meaningful is to allow guests to not only relish the splendors of the natural habitat but gain an understanding of the people, species and locale so as to develop a deeper bond with the environment and the importance of preserving it.

In Great Himalayan National Park: SHA not only assisted in developing the park into a natural trekkers’ heaven but has been providing treks and tours within its borders much before the forest reserve was declared a UNESCO world heritage site.

Its first trek was in the year 2000 with German author Ulrch Frebel on board, who later produced the book titled: Trekking in Himachal Pradesh, India (See website: Trekking in Himachal Pradesh, India). Three years after SHA begun organizing regular excursions with treks for its environment partner WWF among others making up the roll call, and is of date one of the top outfits to pick, be it exploring the forest reserve or gaining a deeper insight of the lives of the local people, the flora and fauna.

SHA’s adventure activities in GHNP and its buffer zone Tirthan valley include: An assorted collection of adventure outings and indulgences such as long and short treks, nature walks, rafting, camping, trout angling, photo tours, spiritual & healing sojourns, mountaineering expeditions to virgin peaks (five out of which have been officially named by the outfit itself), Woofing (an activity involving living and working on farms as volunteers for gaining an understanding of natural farming and lives of farmers), forest learning programs and birding tours with sightings of the Western Trajopan being an integral part of the tour. (See section below: Special tours by Sunshine Himalayan Adventures)

Season to visit: The forest reserve is open throughout the year with April to November making up the popular tourist season, (excepting the month of August, time of the monsoon). SHA has also organized expeditions in the freezing winter months of December, January, February and during extended winter spells in the month of March.

To view the itinerary: Visit the Sunshine Himalayan Adventures webpage GHNP and Ecozone activities. To know more about Tirthan valley: Visit SHA’s Tirthan valley website, Tirthan Valley.Com