Look out for...

And you thought that the Zanskar river in the Ladakh valley was only good for white water rafting in the summer. Well in the winter, this river transforms into a great ice sheet (the 'Chadar'), making it perfect for ice walking.

There are many treks available, for example from Chiling to the small village of Lingshed over 10 days; and for a slightly more taxing and longer trek, from Nemu till Padum, the regional capital of the Zanskar valley.

There are many other routes that tour operators offer, and all of them will offer a unique insight into the lives of Zanskaris, the valley being less flooded by tourists than it is in the summer.

These treks are physically taxing (there are no vehicles allowed in the region until about mid-July), with walks into gorges, nights spent in caves, and temperatures of 30 degrees below freezing, but the sight of the valley in the winter is breath-taking and will be sufficient reward for all the hard work it takes to get up there.

Explore the desert on camel safari

If, on the other hand, you want to get out of the cold, why not try some of the camel safaris in the Thar Desert?

These are available in most cities in Rajasthan, but the best region for safaris is apparently the Shekhawati belt, the area around Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur and Pushkar.

Don't be put off by camels; they're not very attractive to begin with (and they can make some rather unearthly noises), but they begin to grow on you.

The trick is to not fall off when they're getting to their feet, something which may take you two or three goes. After that, when they start walking, you'll start to fall in with their natural rhythm, and then you can relax.

Most tours will be short, from two to three days (anything more and you wouldn't be able to sit down for a week). Not only is it a great way to find peace (there's nothing quite as still as a desert at night), it's a great way to see Rajasthan: tourist camps across the desert with Rajasthani food and performances by locals will give you a great glimpse of Rajathan's unique culture.