Himalayan Village Walking Trail

Take the overnight flight from wherever you are to New Delhi.

On arrival in Delhi you will be met and transferred to your hotel.

Today head out with your guide to explore Old Delhi with its magnificent Red Fort, winding alleys and bazaars, and take a cycle rickshaw to the magnificent mosque at Jama Masjid. Later on stop at the tomb of the emperor Humayun, and the medieval tower at the Qutab Minar.

It’s an early start today as we pick you up from your hotel in Delhi and drop you at the station to board your train to the foothills of the Himalayas. The Shatabdi Express departs New Delhi at 06:00 and arrives at Kathgodam at 11:50. From here it is a 1-hour drive to the lakeside town of Bhimtal, and a short drive uphill to Fredy’s Bungalow, your home for the night.

Check in, relax and enjoy the surroundings. You can have a boat ride on the lake, and check out the extensive butterfly collection both at the hotel and at the nearby Butterfly Research Centre.

This morning starts with a 2.5-hour drive to the ancient hill town of Almora to spend some time exploring the bazaar. From here continue to the unique Chitai temple where devotees leave offerings of brass bells to Golu Devta, god of justice.

Your walking starts from a little further up the road, with an easy 1-hour walk through forests of oak and rhododendron to your traditional village house in Thikalna. The village sits at an altitude of 2100m with views of great Himalayan peaks. The house has no electricity, so lanterns are provided after dark.

There is a nice walking trail today of 4 to 5 hours, passing through some nearby villages and stopping in a nice spot for a picnic. Rest a while before the return walk to your cottage at Thikalna.

Today’s walk from Thikalna to the village of Ganghet takes about 4-5 hours, but take it more slowly if you prefer. Along with great views there are some interesting ancient temples along the way - pine forests give way to deodar as you approach Jageshwar, a cluster of temples dating as far back as the 7th century.

A picnic lunch will be served nearby, and then it’s on to your next village at Ganghet (altitude 1780m), where your stay will be in another traditional house on the edge of the village. The house has two bedrooms with attached bathrooms, living room and traditional kitchen.

The first stop on today’s walk is at the Jhankar Sem temple, before descending the valley through terraced farms and small villages. Have a picnic at the bottom before the uphill walk to your home for the next two nights at the Itmenaan Estate. Again, the total walking time will be about 4-5 hours. Reach your destination, put your feet back and take in the panoramic mountain views.

Rest and explore the beautiful surroundings at the Itmenaan Estate.

Your return journey to Delhi starts with a 20-minute walk to the road head to meet your car, then a 3 – 4 hour drive to Kathgodam to board the Shatabdi Express train to Delhi (15:45/21:15). At Delhi we will transfer you to your hotel.

Check out of your hotel before 12 noon, and we will transfer you to the airport to board your return flight home.