Welcome to Tour 4
Welcome to the booking page for Mountain Dog Tour for 2026! In this tour we will learn a lot about mountain dogs in India that live in the west side of the Himalayas in the Dhauladhar mountain range. This region is also home to the exiled Tibetan government and a lot of Tibetans live here - hence a huge influence of Buddhism. The way the dogs live with Indians, Tibetans and tourists is quite fascinating to observe.
Tour Dates (10 nights / 11 days)
The Mountain Dog Tour will be conducted from 26th March 2026 to 5th April 2026.
Number of Attendees
Minimum 6, Maximum 10
Tour 4 Route
Start - Dharamshala (2 nights - 26th March - 28th March)
The Mountain Dog Tours begins in Dharamshala with the first day being a relatively light day to get us all acclimatised to the environment, altitude and recover from jet lag.
Next Stop - McLeodganj (2 nights - 28th - 30th March)
We will take the short drive (45 minutes) to McLeodganj, the home of the exiled Tibet administration. The region has plenty of Buddhist temples and nunneries, including the renowned Dalai Lama temple. It is a popular tourist destination - so it may feel a bit commercial. But the dogs and Tibetans are both lovely.
Next stop - Kareri Lake Trek (2 nights - 30th to 1st April)
From McLeodganj we will drive for 1.5 hours to reach Kareri Lake trek. We will camp here for 2 nights. We will be guided by local mountain guides and hopefully local mountain dogs as well.
Next stop - Dharamshala villages (3 nights - 2nd to 5th April)
After spending a magical time completing the Kareri Lake trek, we will make our way back to Dharamshala. We will be taking small hikes, experience Buddhist learnings, and meet locals who look after the dogs. We will also be taking part in a half day outdoor therapy session conducted by psychologist Tanya Ginwala.
CEUs
For our 2025 tours we got approved CEUs from CCPBT (21), IAABC (25) and KPA (30). We will get them sorted for 2026 tours as well.
How to get to Dharamshala
Our Tour starts in Dharamshala. Dharamshala is easily accessible by road and by air.
Your international flight can be booked directly to Dharamshala or to New Delhi. Once at New Delhi, you can take a domestic flight to Dharamshala or take a taxi. Since different people would be coming from different parts, it is complicated to include the travel to Dharamshala from Delhi as a part of your tour. But I will be happy to help you with making a reservation for the same.
Costs
We're able to offer two prices for all attendees.
Double occupancy (all hotels) - $2200 per person
Single occupancy (all hotels) - $2700 person
Please note that there is a possibility of the price increase by 2% to 5% due to fluctuation in ticket prices for hotels and flights.
What is included in the price?
The price includes all of the following:
Stay
- 3 star hotels or homestays in Dharamshala, Mcleodgnaj and nearby villages
- Tent rental during Kareri Lake Trek
Travel within Dharamshala
- Local transport to villages, Mcleodganj, trek
Tourism
- Tickets to sightseeing locations
Workshops
- Half day outdoor therapy workshop conducted by psychologist Tanya Ginwala.
Guides
- Costs includes local guides for the trek
Local dog support groups
- Fees for local dog support groups to take us to the best dog observation locations
Taxes
- Price is inclusive of all Indian taxes
What does the price not include?
The tour price does not include the following:
Travel
- Flight to India
- Flight out of India
- Transport to Dharamshala
We advise that you book your own flights as per your convenience. You can book your flight return ticket from New Delhi and book a separate flight to Dharamshala. Or you can also get there by road. We will go over options to get to Dharamshala once your booking is confirmed.
Food
Food prices will vary largely on preferences and dietary restrictions. Hence we have decided to not include it in the price. We will still provide the best Indian food experience without compromising on hygiene. Based on individual preferences of food, drinks and snacks, the total cost of meals should fall between $2 to $8 per meal.
Visa
$25 is the Indian visa fee for US citizens. Please check your embassy website for visa application process.
Insurance
Please purchase travel insurance of your choice.
Shopping
Shopping is pretty cheap but will be at your own expense.
Vaccinations
India is a rabies endemic country. Please follow guidelines as suggested by your health department to take relevant vaccinations before commencing your tour. Please note that regardless of your rabies vaccination status, if you were to be scratched or bitten by a dog, we will arrange an anti-rabies vaccine for you immediately.
Emergencies
We hope there aren't any but any emergencies that may occur won't be covered by the tour organisers.
Payment plans
The India tour is for you and we understand coming up with a large payment may not be convenient. We are therefore offering a zero interest payment plan as follows:
| Payment |
Due Date |
Double Occupancy |
Single Occupancy |
| First (reserve your spot) |
Time of spot reservation |
$200 |
$200 |
| Second |
June 30 2025 |
$500 |
$1000 |
| Third |
October 31 2025 |
$700 |
$700 |
| Fourth |
1st January 2026 |
$300 |
$300 |
| Fifth |
26th March 2026 |
$500 |
$500 |
|
Total |
$2200 |
$2700 |
In case you would like to pay the whole amount up front, we can set that up for you as well.
Refund Policy
Unfortunately (mainly due to taxes), refunds won't be possible for the payments already made based on the payment plan above. Your refund would be the money that you would have to pay later.
For people with physical disabilities / Issues with walking
The Mountain Dog Tour requires you to be physically fit since most of our time walking will be on uneven terrain. The Kareri Lake trek is generally considered moderate in difficulty. It involves a mix of steep climbs and gradual ascents, making it suitable for both beginners and experienced trekkers with some level of fitness.
Age requirement
We require all attendees to be adults and over the age of 18 to attend this tour.
Get in Touch
If you have any questions about the tour, please reach out on kapil@getfloof.com. You can also WhatsApp on +91 904 905 6193 or find Kapil on facebook messenger (Kapil Patwardhan)
