Description
The villages and people of Uttaranchal have been kept secluded from the never-ending swaths of travellers combing nearby Nepal’s mountain paths, and it is now possible to visit these areas in relative comfort and luxury experiencing an untouched culture in the shadow of the towering Himalaya.
You will take a First Class overnight sleeper to Kathgodam and freshen up in the nearby Country Inn. You will then embark on the walk to Deora. You will experience local village life as your chef will cook traditional Kumaon cuisine, before you will retire to a traditional, yet comfortable village house for the night.
The next day will begin discovering how traditional flourmills work before walking to the village of Alai, some 5 hours walk. You will pass through an area that has seen little tourism and as such you are very much the celebrity for the day as everyone will come running out to see who you are! Dinner is served and you will have a chance to talk to the local villagers.
Your final day will take you past an impressive vista of the Indian Himalaya towards the village of Jwalabanj.
The following day you will drive to 360 Leti. 360 Leti is one of the most ambitious projects ever attempted in the Himalaya, as it is simply so far into the hills that you would not expect such refinement - the cottages are all glass fronted and in the morning you awake to the mountains. In the evening you can sit down with a chilled glass of Chablis next to a roaring fire on your terrace. You may wish to take walks from Leti, with picnic wallahs on hand, or simply relax in the camp. Quite simply, you could stay at 360 Leti for days.
You will then drive to Almora, established as a summer capital by the Chand Rajas of Kumaon in 1560 and was the scene of intense fighting during the Anglo-Gorkha War of 1814-16. Glimpses into its heritage can be found by walking along its mall: homes decorated with traditional murals, stone paved roads and wooden houses with ornately carved facades.
Many of our guests then continue to Corbett and onto Ananda where you can spend some time in the legendary destination spa for a few days. This adds some driving to the itinerary, but will offer a little diversity to your Indian adventure. Some guests prefer to return back to Delhi and possibly then head onto Rajasthan. Obviously, any itinerary can be tailor made to suit your individual needs.
Guide price
£3,650 per person
£3,650 Per person for 11 nights, based on 2 people sharing including international flights with Jet Airways and private car and driver. Based on Fully Inclusive Basis except in Delhi. Prices based on departures 16 September 2012 to 15 April 2013.
Itinerary
When to travel
The best time to visit this area of India is October & November when the views are best. December and January are colder, but with excellent views. The spring offers good conditions, but the views can get misty as it gets warmer. The Village Houses and Leti are closed during the monsoon from May to mid September.
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Best time to visit
Good time to visit
Average time to visit
Not applicable
Location and directions
India
Kumaon is located to the west of Nepal and in one of the most beautiful corners of India.
How to get there
From Delhi, a new Shatabdi Express train takes you to Kathgodam (5 hour train) followed by a 3 hour drive to the Village Houses around Almora. 360 Leti is a 5 hour drive from Almora.
