McLeod Ganj — shopping, spas and surprises

Our final days in India were a whirlwind — full of laughs, surprises, and the kind of moments you know you’ll talk about forever.

We spent a last few hours in McLeod Ganj exploring the busy streets, where colourful prayer flags fluttered above us and the smell of incense drifted through the air. Souvenir shopping was, of course, essential. I’m still not sure how I’ll explain the brass elephant door knocker, but it felt like a necessary purchase at the time.

After days of trekking, a spa day sounded like pure heaven. We all booked treatments and floated out an hour later, utterly transformed. Deb and Loren returned looking equally relaxed — until they told us their “spa” turned out to be a brothel. We’ve never laughed so much.

Lunch overlooking the valley towards Dharamshala was one of those perfect travel moments — calm, sunny, and filled with chatter. But then it was time to start the long journey south.

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The Sleeper Train — a true test of character

We had a four-hour, bone-shaking ride to the train station to catch our 11pm sleeper to New Delhi. Because of a last-minute itinerary change, we ended up in third class. Oh boy.

When we climbed aboard, there was already a man fast asleep in Kirsten’s bunk. Once he’d been politely moved along (with his used sheets and pillow in tow), I zipped myself tightly into my sleeping bag liner and prayed I wouldn’t get scabies. Laura announced the next morning that a rat had joined us during the night, confirming no one slept a wink.

The toilets? Let’s just say, I held on for five hours. Somewhere in between exhaustion and disbelief, I had one of those moments of clarity — the only real difference between me and the man who’d been sleeping in my bunk was where we’d been born. It was humbling, and something I won’t forget.

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Agra — the moment we’d all been waiting for

We arrived bleary-eyed in Delhi, then boarded a five-hour coach to Agra. The road was rough, the seats harder, but the reward was worth every bump: the Taj Mahal.

After the quickest cold shower in history, we raced to meet our guide and hopped into an electric shuttle towards the gates. The excitement built as we walked through the archway — and then there she was. The Taj. White marble glowing in the afternoon sun, serene and perfect. For a few moments, the 29,000 people around us melted away and it was just us and this breathtaking monument to love.

We all did the obligatory Diana bench photo, of course, before heading inside, our little blue booties squeaking on the marble floors. It was stunning, inside and out.

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The final celebration

The next morning we visited Agra Fort, a maze of red sandstone, courtyards, and stories of emperors and intrigue. We’d planned to see Fatehpur Sikri, but our legs said otherwise. Theo kindly agreed to our change of plan, and our guide gamely took us shopping instead — the perfect compromise.

That afternoon, we toasted our adventure at Salt Café with a couple of bottles of Prosecco, ate like queens! lots of laughter, and that wonderful, satisfied feeling that only comes after doing something remarkable together.

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Reflections

It’s hard to sum up what this journey has meant — it’s been emotional, exhausting, inspiring, and unforgettable. We’ve seen beauty and hardship side by side, learned to dig deep when it mattered, and found so much joy in shared adventure.

We’re incredibly grateful — for the people we’ve met, and for all of you who’ve followed and supported us. Your messages, encouragement, and donations to Macmillan Cancer Support and the British Heart Foundation have meant the world. Can you believe that you have helped us raise £2670!

And as we head home, tired, proud, and just a little dusty, one thing’s for sure — this has been the adventure of a lifetime.

With love,

The Intrepid Six x

Please donate at Macmillan Cancer Support and/or The British Heart Foundation.