Pristine mountain villages of Kumaon, then the tigers of Jim Corbett National Park, closing with the Ganges at sacred Rishikesh.
Tour Highlights
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Day by Day Itinerary
Arrive Delhi and transfer to your hotel. The afternoon is free for you to explore the winding alleyways and narrow streets of Old Delhi.
Leaving Delhi this morning, your train journey will take you to Kathgodam in the foothills of the Himalaya. Situated on the banks of the Gaula River, Kathgodam is the last stop on the line and from here you alight the train and drive on to Kalmatia, enjoying the beautiful serenity of the surrounding landscapes as you make your way towards the Ayurved Kalmatia Resort.
This morning you will have the chance to learn about Ayurveda, receive a treatment or explore the surrounding nature before you are driven to Itmenaan Estate, set in a peaceful rural setting in the Kumaon Himalayas. You may choose to laze around or read a book, admire mesmerising valleys and snow-clad peaks, enjoy the warmth of bonfire, gaze at the countless stars in night time. Those who are looking for some more walking within and around the estate you may trek to the highest point for enchanting views or roam the beautiful oak and rhododendron forests.
Enjoy a day long hike taking you from the estate to the local village where one gets a sense of having travelled back in time. Walk through wooded areas, along the banks of the stream and through the terraced fields cut into the mountains. Pause with villagers to see the farming techniques and share their traditional agricultural wisdom. Enjoy a picnic lunch in one of the terraced fields before arriving in the village where houses are constructed in traditional Kumaoni architecture with locally available materials and where you can experience a totally different way of life. Finally stop at the little village temple, dedicated to the local deity whom villagers believe guards their crops and livestock and thus ensures prosperity.
On today's hike you can enjoy the fresh mountain air as you pass picturesque scenery, farmers out tending their fields and cattle grazing. Take in the village scenes and meet some of the villagers who eke out a living from agriculture in this rural area. After a picnic lunch the trail will take you to the Jageshwar Temple, part of a group of over 100 Hindu Temples in the valley which date from the 7th century.
Following breakfast, you will be driven to the Bhimtal. Arrive at Fredy's Bungalow, located in the midst of acres of dense oak forest, this is a peaceful haven where only the sounds of nature break the silence.
A day exploring the surrounding countryside — bird watching in the forest, village walks meeting local Kumaoni families, and a boat ride on Bhimtal Lake.
Drive from Bhimtal to Jim Corbett National Park, checking in at your wildlife lodge this afternoon. Evening wildlife briefing with your naturalist guide.
Two full game drives through Corbett — morning and afternoon — in search of tigers, elephants, leopards and the remarkable birdlife for which Corbett is particularly renowned.
Another full day of game drives through this extraordinary park — India's first and one of its finest tiger reserves.
Drive from Corbett to Rishikesh, the spiritual capital of yoga and meditation on the banks of the sacred Ganges. Check in to your riverside hotel and attend the Ganga Aarti ceremony at Parmarth Niketan.
Spend the day exploring Rishikesh — the ashrams, the Laxman Jhula suspension bridge, the market, and the ancient ghats. Optional white-water rafting on the Ganges.
Drive back to Delhi through the Himalayan foothills. Final evening in Delhi.
After breakfast the tour concludes. Airport transfers can be arranged.
About This Journey
A remarkable tailor-made journey through the mountain villages of Kumaon in the Western Himalaya — exploring the extraordinarily beautiful and rarely visited hill country of Uttarakhand on foot, staying at extraordinary small properties that give intimate access to mountain village life. Combined with wildlife at Jim Corbett National Park and spiritual Rishikesh on the sacred Ganges, this 14-day journey offers a completely different experience of the Himalayan region.
Highlights
Walk through the extraordinarily beautiful Kumaon Hills, visiting traditional mountain villages. Stay at remarkable boutique properties deep in the Kumaon countryside — Ayurved Kalmatia and Itmenaan Estate. Watch wildlife at Jim Corbett National Park — India’s first national park. Experience the sacred Ganges at Rishikesh — one of India’s most spiritual destinations. Explore the ancient Jageshwar temple complex — over 100 Hindu temples dating from the 7th century.
Accommodation Used On This Tour
The Claridges
The Claridges has been a veritable treasure in Lutyens Delhi since the 1950s. Refurbished, redesigned and revitalized, the hotel offers guests an experience that is new and yet so familiar. In an excellent location just a short auto ride from Khan Market and Connaught Place, this four star hotel has 132 rooms and suites designed with an elegant blend of 19th century character and contemporary style, a refreshing outdoor pool, indoor gym and relaxing spa.
Khem Villas
An intimate jungle camp on the edge of Ranthambore National Park, Khem Villas was created by the family behind the tiger conservation movement in Ranthambore. Accommodation ranges from luxury tents to stone cottages set in 12 acres of regenerated wilderness with its own lakes attracting birds, chinkara and the occasional leopard.
Accommodation displayed here should be taken as a guide only. Please refer to the detailed itinerary of your individual departure for more information.
Where You Stay
What's Included
Frequently Asked Questions
No reputable operator can guarantee tiger sightings — these are wild animals in natural habitat. However, the parks on this itinerary have among the best sighting records in India, and multiple game drives significantly increase your chances. Even without a tiger, the wildlife and birdlife encountered on every drive make the experience richly rewarding.
October to April is the main season, with March to May offering the highest sighting probability as animals concentrate around water sources — at the cost of higher temperatures. Most parks close entirely from July to September for the monsoon.
Neutral-coloured clothing (khaki, olive, brown), a warm layer for cold dawn drives in winter, sun protection, and binoculars. Camera equipment with zoom lenses is worthwhile; most lodges can arrange charging between drives.
Yes — extra safari days, different lodges, private vehicles and additional destinations can all be arranged. Contact us to tailor the journey to your interests.
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