Uttarakhand Himalayan Adventure Bespoke Holiday Itinerary / Experience Tour

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A glorious adventure in the foothills of the mighty Himalayas. Incredible scenery everywhere, wildlife in Corbett National Park, trekking through remote villages as well as staying in extraordinary places.

Uttarakhand is emerging as an adventure destination for the intrepid. This itinerary takes in a long overnight train journey up into the mountains, some lovely and luxurious lodges as well as trekking through beautiful scenery with comfortable beds in converted villages houses. As well as lovely scenery and incredible wildlife, you’ll meet villagers, discover your spiritual side (like The Beatles did) in Rishikesh and explore the mighty Ganges by boat.

Trekking through remote villages in the Kumaon region, with views of the snow-capped Himalayas.
Staying in remote Himalayan villages in comfortable converted village houses.
Safari drives through Corbett National Park, home to wild elephants, tigers and sloth bears
White water rafting on the mighty Ganges.

As with all of our suggested itineraries, we can tailor-make your holiday to suit your budget, style and expectations. Find out about our exclusive ‘Journey Planner’ here.

DAY 1 DEPART THE UK

Depart and fly to Delhi.

DAY 2 Delhi

Arrive in Delhi and transfer to your hotel in the heart of New Delhi.

DAY 3 Delhi

In order to get a sense of this sometimes chaotic, sprawling and disorientating city, we suggest an exploration of both Old and New Delhi, taking in the main sites, but also building up a sense of where you are: taking in the sights and smells. You’ll travel with your guide by vehicle and rickshaw so you can get as close as possible to the incredible action.

On returning to your hotel to freshen up and rest, you’ll be taken to Delhi train station for your overnight sleeper to Kathgoddam.

DAY 4 Almora

On arrival at Kathgodam you’ll be met by your chauffeur for the next week who will drive you to Almora, the principal town of the Kumaon region of the Himalayas. On arrival you’ll walk the final 10 minutes down a wooded track to get to your lodge, set amidst gorgeous countryside. Overnight in simple, but comfortable village accommodation.

Day 5 Almora to Thikalna

After a leisurely breakfast, you'll travel to Almora town. En route, stop briefly at the charming Chitai Temple. After exploring the pretty hill station and its interesting bazaars, you will be driven to the Thikalna roadhead. From here, at 2100m, you can walk along a forest path lined with oak and rhododendron trees and enjoy the stunning snow-capped Himalayan views. This 45-minute easy guided 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 host family, enjoy a home-cooked dinner and unwind for the rest of the day in this beautiful setting. Overnight in simple, but comfortable village accommodation.

Day 6 Thikalna to Ganghet

Begin your walk this morning with a visit to Bridh Jageshwar mountain temple complex, from where there are beautiful views of the Nanda Devi mountain range. Continue through pine forests, before climbing down to the ridge of Naini and on to the Temple of Jageshwar (1,780m), close to which the forest changes to thick cedar. After a picnic lunch your walk continues uphill to the village of Gurdabaj through some of the oldest cedar forests in the region. You will finally reach the village of Ganghet, where you can take a well-earned rest around the bonfire before turning in for the night.

Day 7 Ganghet to Bhimtal

A short drive and walk today will take you to Bhimtal Lake, part of the Kumaon Lake Region and home to a large variety of flora, fauna and aquatic life. A birdwatchers paradise too. Time to relax today and enjoy the incredible scenery and wildlife.

Days 8, 9 & 10 Corbett National Park

After breakfast at the hotel, you will be met by your driver and driven to Corbett National Park, your base for the next few days. It is a green and lush region which extends over 1,300sq km, and is made up of grassland and forests. The Ramganga River bisects the forest and forms a reservoir at its centre. The park protects wild elephants, tigers and sloth bears, nearly 600 domestic and transitory birds, and remarkably rare reptiles. There are plenty of opportunities over the next few days to explore the park by jeep, as well as trekking through the buffer zone and the Jim Corbett heritage trail.

Day 11 Corbett to Rishikesh

A decent 4 hour drive today to Rishikesh, famously visited by the Beatles in the 60’s and now a pilgrimage spot for new agers and yoga devotees. More recently, Rishikesh has gained a reputation as one of India’s top adventure destinations. A few kilometres upstream you will find stunning, forest-clad mountains, clear blue skies, riverside beaches that are perfect for picnics, and white water rafting and kayaking trips on the famous river.

Day 12 White Water Rafting

Arguably the most fun you can have on the River Ganges, this optional 24km white water rafting expedition takes place on a great stretch of river with five rapids to shoot and more gentle sections in between where you can slow things down and take in the mountain scenery.

Day 13 Rishikesh

A much earned day at leisure here where you can enjoy the scenery, take in more adventure or explore your spiritual side in Rishikesh.

Day 14 Rishikesh to Delhi

Leave your hotel for the 6 hour journey back to Delhi, stopping for lunch and scenic breaks along the way. Should you wish, we’ll suggest a great restaurant for your last night in Delhi, where you can reflect on your adventure.

Day 15 fly home (or stay!)

Transfer to the airport today for your onward flight.

As every holiday is unique to you, prices vary. To give you an indication, two-week holidays range from roughly £2,500 to £8,000 per adult, with an average price of £3,300. We also offer substantial child and seasonal discounts.

Fill in our Quote Request form to get your quick, no-obligations proposal.

As every holiday is unique - Call our experts on 1-888-577-8452 for an inclusive, personalised quotation for your preferred dates or use the quote request form below...

Inclusions

Your personalised quotation with Experience Travel Group will include:

International Flights (which can be omitted from your quotation if you prefer)
Accommodation as described
Privately guided tours and transfers
Original Experience Travel Group "Signature" experiences
Full financial protection (full ABTA and ATOL bonding)
Meals as described
24 hour in-country backup whilst away
Your own dedicated travel expert in the UK

For more on our pricing policy read here.

You can book this holiday tour on its own, with flights or it can be tailored for you.

Here are the hotels and villas within this holiday as standard...

Atali Ganga, Rishikesh

Come to Atali Ganga for adventure: expect comfortable and spacious cottage accommodation with great food and fabulous service.

Fredys Bungalow, Bhimtal

Cosy, charming, and remote, Fredy’s Bungalow is an intimate heritage hotel in Bhimtal, the perfect retreat for exploring the Kumaoni Lake Region.

Itmenaan Lodge, Almora

This rustic stone cottage is certainly off the beaten track, but the breath-taking views of the Himalayas are worth it.

Jim's Jungle Retreat, Corbett National Park

Come to Jim’s Jungle Retreat for a quirky, comfortable, and socially responsible experience in Corbett National Park.

The Claridges, Delhi

The Claridges is a large and pleasant colonial style hotel in a quiet New Delhi suburb, particularly well-suited to leisure travellers.

You can book this holiday tour on its own, with flights or it can be tailored for you.

Here are the experiences & activities within this holiday as standard...

Delhi: Old & New, Delhi

Discover both sides of historic Delhi, capital of the Mughal Empire, and then Lutyens magnificent New Delhi, symbol of the British empire.

Indian Train Experience, Delhi

One of the great Indian experiences, train travel is integral to the subcontinent.

Rafting on the Ganges, Rishikesh

Move on from the spirituality of Rishikesh - White Water Rafting is the most fun you can have on the Ganges!

Salaam Baalak Trust Walk, Delhi

A fantastic walking tour through the narrow streets of Paharganj, this walk is guided by ex-street kids and is a hugely uplifting experience.

Walking in the Kumaon Hills, Almora

This gentle days exploring and walking, takes in the town, several lovely temples and some incredible scenery and views.

Wildlife Safari , Corbett National Park

Take a wildlife jeep safari in Corbett National Park, once the nobilityâs favoured northern hunting ground.

Customer Feedback

We had some of the best guides we've ever met - extremely knowledgeable and entertaining.

- JT, January 2015

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