adventure 360-DEGREE REWARD

En route to 360 Leti, a deluxe retreat in the Indian Himalayas, guest must heed one credo: some things are worth the wait. Even after a seventy-five-minute charter flight from Delhi and a three-and-a-half-hour car trip, an hour-long uphill hike remains. No matter; owner Jamshyd Sethna believes nature lovers appreciate the challenge, especially once they arrive at the 8,000-foot-high campsite, overlooking the Ramganga Valley and the snowcapped Himalayas. The four cottages and one main building, which have floor-to-ceiling glass windows and stone walls, blend seamlessly into the environment. Guides customize private treks; a communal dining room brings everyone together for dinners elegantly presented on regal china with silver flatware. A stay at cloud shrouded Leti 360 is a bit surreal- and a dad indulgent given that all supplies must be carried in on foot-but the awesome height and the return hike are potent incentives to savor every stunning moment. Three-night packages from $1,500 a person. 011-91-11-4173-4788; shaktihimalaya.com/360leti.htm.                                                                                         MELISSA BELL