Walking in the Kumaon Hills, Almora India, Uttarakhand

Located on the southern edge of the Kumaon Hills in the Himalayan mountain range, Almora is a pleasant hill station and among the few in India not created by the British. This gentle day exploring and walking takes in the town, several lovely temples and some incredible scenery and views, before enjoying a home cooked meal admidst some stunning scenery.

You’ll start the day with a drive to Almora town. En route, stop briefly at the charming Chitai Temple, located just outside the town and remarkable for the hundreds of bells hanging at the entrance; brought by people whose wishes to the gods have been granted. After exploring Almora and its interesting bazaars, you will be driven to Thikalna road head (one hour). From here at 2100m, you can walk along a forest path lined with oak and rhododendrons trees and enjoy the stunning snow-capped Himalayan views. This 45-minute easy walk ends at a village house, which has views of the massif of Nanda Devi East and the other Himalayan peaks of the same range. Meet the family, enjoy a home-cooked dinner and unwind for the rest of the day in this beautiful setting.