Winner: Shivling, India
Most Himalayan expeditions head to Nepal. But India has more than a third of the range, and not nearly as many tourists. The best way to see it is with Mandip Singh Soin, a guide who arranges logistics for mountaineers Conrad Anker and Jimmy Chin when they’re in the country. Soin’s Ibex Expeditions organizes trips, ranging from mellow treks through the Gobi Desert to life-list-worthy expeditions up - mountains like 21,467-foot Shivling—the so-called Matterhorn of the East in the high-alpine playground of the Gangotri Valley, headwaters of the Ganges. On the 30-day trip, you’ll trek along the sacred Bhagirathi River, visit the white-marble Gangotri Temple, and scan ridges for herds of bharal mountain goats. Then comes the hard part: 15 days to acclimatize and make a technical attempt at the monolith’s rock and ice. From US 3,900;
The Ministry of Tourism, Government of India launched a special Indian Himalaya 777 days campaign launched on 27th September 2013 and will be in operation until end September 2015 where all expeditions will receive a 50% discount on the peak booking fees.