making meaningful connections
Hiking to experience the Himalayas at Dawn
Discovering the real rural India
Hiking in the Hills
Many things are claimed to be a ‘once in a lifetime’ opportunity, but this really is a gold plated bucket list top ten that gives you an amazing buzz of enjoyment and achievement. Staying in our community-run tented camp on a grassy alpine meadow ridge and waking to the sun rising over the mountain tops of Nanda Devi and Panchachuli is a thrill and truly the privilege of a lifetime available to only the few. This is camping, but not as you know it. The tents are ready and welcoming, porters carry your luggage, and your meals are cooked on an open fire by the community team, leaving you free to soak up the views. You sit and watch, and wonder if you might just stay there forever.
Comfortable Camping
Jaikuni Camp sits on a bhugiyal, (an Alp in local language) a grassy meadow lying along the 3,000 m high ridge that separates the Saryu and Pindar valleys.
The accommodation at the campsite is comfortable, in spacious Safari style tents with twin beds piled with blankets. There is a separate but very simple bathroom tent, the cooks’ tent – and nothing else but magnificent views across the Pindar valley to some of the Himalayas most iconic peaks including the 7,816 metre Nanda Devi – the highest mountain entirely within India. The highlight – subject to fairly clear skies – is the sun rising over these peaks turning them red, then pink, and only eventually white.
Hiking from Supi Village
You stay for a night in the heart of Supi village in our three bedroom community owned and run guesthouse, hiking from Supi up to the campsite for a night before descending back to the village for a final night.
Supi is a thriving farming, largely self-sufficient community where over 50 children go to the local school, and there is reasonable broadband, yet there are no electricity pylons, no cafe, no shop, no traffic jams, and where you can walk around the village on narrow paths to explore fields, woods and panoramic viewpoints.
For the hike to the camp, you do need a reasonable degree of fitness, but there are plenty of places to rest and to savour the magnificent views or to pause for some bird watching. Pilgrims have been hiking up (and up) to the hilltop temples for centuries, and as many as 1,000 still do once a year to this day. However, on your way up and down you will only see the occasional farmer or woodcutter, while your guides will keep a look out for a troop of beautiful silver macaques, for barking deer, porcupines, wild boar, stunning birds of prey, and even leopards. Meanwhile, your porters will be racing up so your bags are waiting for your arrival.
Getting here
The Saryu Valley lies about 90km north of Almora in the Begeshwar region of Uttarakhand.
Transfers from Haldwani, Kathgodam or elsewhere are available on request, and we can also arrange for train journeys. Book in advance for our negotiated rates.
Hiking to experience the Himalayas at Dawn
3 Night Stay-
2 nights in Supi Guesthouse, 1 night tented camp
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Guided tour of the village plus guide on the hiking trail
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Private twin room with en-suite facilities
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3 meals a day featuring locally grown, seasonal produce
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Porter services
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GST
HOLIDAY PRICES
3 NIGHTS
PARTY 2
PARTY 3-6
Per person
Prices coming soon