Sue Glanville, right, who led the expedition in the Himalayas with some of the party. From left, Laura Bates, Sophie Holles, Bethan Marshall and Louise Thomas (30433)TREKKING to heights of 10,000ft and sleeping by rivers may not sound the ideal way to spend a holiday but for one west Wiltshire group it was a once in a lifetime experience.

Sue Glanville, a former religious education teacher at St Laurence School, organised the expedition to India and Nepal for ex-pupils and members of Singing in the Round, a choir which performs in Bradford, Trowbridge and Bath.

Mrs Glanville, 53, who now works as a life coach in Bradford, said: "I had taken pupils to Nepal 10 years ago but I thought it was a really good opportunity for people to take time out and have a whole different experience. Sometimes when you are a bit stuck in your life, doing something like that gives you a chance to do something else and take a different perspective."

The 17-day trip saw the group of 21, whose ages ranged between 16 and 54, visit Delhi and the Taj Mahal before heading north to the Himalayas, where Sherpas led them through some of the most spectacular mountain ranges and valleys in the world.

"During the trip we became quite a choir and sung to the Sherpas at the top of this mountain at 10,000ft, who then sung back to us," Mrs Glanville said.

"Some of the evenings the kids from St Laurence gave talks about philosophy and it was quite special. I'm finding it really hard to be back now because it was just so amazing.

"It's so hard to get going again, but I am already thinking about a pilgrimage next time to give people a chance of developing themselves and meet new challenges."

The party returned to the UK earlier this month.