making meaningful connections
Kingdom of Kumoan.
11 Nights, 5 Days Walking
Journey into the foothills of the Indian Himalayas for a wonderful first encounter of rural India.
Holiday Highlights
Journey into the foothills of the Indian Himalayas for a wonderful first encounter of rural India. With warm hospitality and a true insight into life in the hills, enjoy the gentle of pace of life in these beautiful, hidden villages and discover a wealth of wildlife. With gentle walking accessible to all, your private guide takes you through the terraced fields and wooded hillsides of the Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary, alive with birdsong and the call of barking deer.
From Binsar, spend a day in the delightful lakeside town of Nainital before moving on to the Corbett Tiger Reserve for a chance to discover the rich wildlife.
- Gentle journey into the foothills.
- Wonderful wildlife opportunities.
- Leisurely woodland walks, charming guesthouses.
- Lakeside hillstation, tiger reserve.
Itinerary | Day by Day
DAY 1 | Outward Journey
Welcome at Delhi airport, transfer to Delhi guesthouse for overnight stay.
DAY 2
An early morning transfer from your guesthouse takes you to the station to catch the day train into the foothills, to Kathgodam station. A road journey takes you from Kathgodam to Khali Estate, for a warm welcome and a relaxing stay in a double room garden bungalow.
Day 3 - Day 6 | In the Binsar Sanctuary
After breakfast meet your guide to discuss the journey ahead. You visit and stay in two of the Binsar villages, in community-owned guesthouses with simple twin bedroom accommodation. All meals are included throughout your stay, with picnic lunches taken when walking. Get to know the local traditions and enjoy life in the hillside villages, explore the terraced fields and woods, discover an array of wildlife and relax and enjoy the beautiful sc
Day 7
Return to Khali Estate for another night’s stay.
Day 8 | Onwards to Corbett, via Nainital
A road transfer takes you to the pretty town of Nainital, where you have a day to explore the bustling markets and enjoy the lake. Overnight in hotel.
Day 9- Day 10
From Nainital, you journey by road to the Corbett Tiger reserve, where your hotel sits on the edge of the park. With two nights here, enjoy jeep safaris into the park, where your guide helps you to spot the abundant wildlife -including, if you are lucky, the elusive tiger.
Day 11 | Homeward Journey
Return by road to Kathgodam to catch the day train to Delhi. Overnight Delhi guesthouse.
Day 12
Transfer from guesthouse to Delhi airport for homeward flight.
A hidden sanctuary
The Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary lies at the heart of the Kumaon District, with hillsides cloaked in pine forest and dotted with stone houses. You stay in two of the villages for two nights each, allowing you time to relax and immerse yourself in village life and discover the array of animals and birds making their home in the mountain forests. Choose to learn a local recipe, help collect the harvest, explore the local area or simply unwind with a hot cup of chai and admire the mountain views.
Simple Comfort
Your stay in Binsar starts and ends with nights at the comfortable Khali Estate, where you meet your own private guide who accompanies you at your own pace along well-used footpaths into the Binsar villages, with your luggage carried by village porters. On the days you walk, on average you walk for two to three hours a day, however your experienced guide will tailor the routes to suit your needs.
Lakeside town and tiger reserve
From Khali Estate, you are transported to the small hillstation of Nainital, set on the edge of a volcanic lake. Explore the busy bazaar and relax on the lakeside. After a night in a local hotel, you move on to Corbett National Park. Named after legendary hunter-turned-conservationist Jim Corbett, the tiger reserve is home to a walth of wildlife, and two days here gives you opportunity to spot deer, wild boar, jackal, langur, and if you are lucky, tiger.
The village of the Binsar Wildlife Sanctury
With Village Ways you stay in very special village guesthouses – ‘village homestays’ – owned and managed by the village committee and benefitting the wider community. Connect with your hosts in a special way and enjoy life at the heart of a village, without feeling that you are intruding in anyone’s home.
In Binsar, the guesthouses are simple and comfortable, built in traditional style by the communities of Risal, Dalar, Kathdhara, Gonap, Satri and Matkanya. They have a living/dining room, kitchen, four twin bedrooms and shared shower/WCs. Each village of Binsar will give you its own special welcome.
Dalar (1835m)
Surrounded by pine forest and affording beautiful views of Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, Kamet and Trishul peaks from the upper parts of the village, Dalar is divided into two hamlets: Valli (“This Side”) Dalar and Palli (“That Side”) Dalar. It is a relatively thriving village with a school and temple. It is a little more accustomed to visitors than other villages, but you’ll be as welcome here as in the most remote corner of Binsar Sanctuary. The village homestay, Minivet House, looks out over the valley, with views of high Himalayan peaks in the distance.
Risal (1650m)
The secluded village is set on the slopes above a deep valley and is surrounded by beautiful mixed forest of oak, pine and rhododendron. Its little paths afford glimpses of wooded hills and green pastures. The villagers produce vegetables and other crops but many have been damaged by wildlife from the adjacent Sanctuary. The Forest department have since established a fence to protect the crops. Bulbul House homestay is neatly located on a terrace near the main village.
Satri (1584m)
Satri village is remote and secluded, located on a high ridge surrounded by a glorious mountain landscapes, with uninterrupted views to the peaks. The village houses form a beautiful series of dwellings, although some are empty. Just four families now live in Satri. In 2003 the villagers believed that they would have to abandon their village, to let their homes and fields be overtaken by the forest. The arrival of Village Ways was, for them, “the big dream come true” – a dream that has helped Satri to sustain its remaining families. You’ll be given a very special welcome here in Pipit House.
Kathdhara (1900m)
Myna House guesthouse nestles amidst terraced fields in the lower part of Kathdara. Enjoy the rhythms of traditional rural life in the foothills in this vibrant farming community. With a name meaning wood (kath) and stream (dhara), this beautiful village boasts extensive terraced fields, orchards and well maintained farms, with views over hills and a wide valley, and glimpses of the awe-inspiring Panchachulli range beyond. The villagers are keen to show guests their farms and let them help with field activities. They have also created a small farming museum.
Gonap (1900m)
The farmhouses of Gonap are set on a hillside among terraced fields and vegetable gardens, with wonderful open views backed by richly forested slopes. Its people joined the Village Ways project with great enthusiasm, led by Prem Singh, starting with the building of a retaining wall for the Barbet House guesthouse site – to become known as “The great wall of Gonap”! Although it is a poor village, it has a primary school: the teacher, children and villagers are eager to meet and get to know their visitors, to show them round and invite them in.
Khali Estate
Your stay in Binsar commences at Khali Estate, a small family-run hotel steeped in history and an integral part of Village Ways, while through the forested slopes are scattered the villages and farms of Binsar. Your room is in one of the picturesque stone rondavel cabins set amongst the pine trees, clustered around the British Raj style house that was built by General Sir Henry Ramsay. You can truly relax at Khali – it is peaceful (no TV), with good vegetarian food, attentive service and plenty of short walks. In winter there is a warming log fire in the sitting room.
Holidays your way
We have devised each of our holidays to provide a good balance between activity and relaxation; please feel free to tailor your holiday to your exact requirements. The suggested itinerary can be extended if you wish to spend more time exploring the Himalayan foothills, or shortened if your time in India is limited. Our knowledgeable staff will be delighted to help fashion the holiday to suit you.
Stay in Delhi
Delhi is a fascinating and vibrant city. It epitomises the huge leaps forward that India is currently undergowing whilst reflecting the country’s great history. A new metro is being built but much is still moved around on overladen cycles and bullock carts. The shopping opportunities are excellent, particularly for textiles. Why not add a night’s stay in the city to your holiday?
Guest-house accommodation We work with some very comfortable and hospitable guest-houses in the heart of Delhi. We can arrange overnight stays for you, or a day-room to freshen up after a night flight. We can also arrange an upgrade from a guesthouse to a hotel if you prefer.
Driver & car One of the best ways to get around and across Delhi is by car. We offer carefully selected drivers to look after you for the day. On call for you, they will be able to take from shops to India Gate to the Red Fort and out to dinner – or wherever you choose.
From Delhi to the hills
Included in your holiday to and from the hills is a journey on the overnight Ranikhet Express from Delhi to Kathgodam. Included accommodation is in 2nd class, air-conditioned carriages – 2 tier, open plan with curtains around groups of berths. Trains open for reservation 3 months before departure. As soon as reservations open we will be able to confirm your rail journey to you.
Upgrade to 1st class You can upgrade to 1st class where the berths are in air-conditioned compartments of four or two. There is only one 1st class carriage which can be get booked very early on.
From Delhi to the hills by car You can also choose to travel up from Delhi (or return at the end of you holiday) by private car.
Extra nights during your holiday
Extra nights at Khali Estate
All holidays to Binsar include at least one night at Khali Estate, a marvelous place to relax and unwind. Many guests have added an extra night here at the beginning or end of their stay in the hills. If your journey here has been by night flight followed by overnight train it could be good idea to catch you breath with a quiet day here.
Extra nights in the Village Guest-houses
You may wish to prolong your exploration of the wonderful hill villages in Binsar. There is so much to learn and appreciate about village life and the host communities would love to keep you for a day longer.
Jageshwar Temples
Just outside of the Binsar Sanctuary lies a fascinating temple complex at Jageshwar. Choose to a night in the village of Matkanya, perched on top of a ridge, from where you can descend into the valley and visit the temples.
Agra
For many guests, a visit to India would not be complete without a visit to the Taj Mahal, regarded by many as one of the wonders of the world. Whether you wish to make a day trip or enjoy an overnight stay with time to explore more of Agra, we can arrange a visit to suit you.
Jaipur
Jaipur is the capital of Rajasthan, hosting some incredible architecture and seeped in history. Not to be missed are the Jantar Mantar observatory and the renowned Amber Fort. Add a visit here to complete the Golden Triangle of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur.
Flights
We ask our guests to make their own arrangements for international travel to India. For Village Ways holidays in the foothills, the nearest airport is Delhi. Travel information for India, including visa requirements, can be found here.
Transfers
We look after you from the moment of your arrival at Delhi airport. Your holiday includes transfers and rail journeys to the hills, accommodation in the village guesthouses and hotels, with all meals provided during your stay in the villages and your own guide through the hills.
The weather varies markedly by season, so you need to choose the time that suits your preferences.
December to February
During the real winter daytime maximum temperatures are still a comfortable 10 – 15°C but night temperatures sink to around 0 – 5°C. Some small amounts of rain can be expected, and even a little snow, but the days are warm and sunny, with good views.
March to May
From March onwards the temperatures rise steadily from maxima of 15°C to around 30°C in May, but the nights remain comfortable (10-15°C). This is the dry, hot season when villagers start to prepare the land for the monsoon crops. The air can become hazy, due to local forest fires and views of the Himalayan peaks are usually limited to the early mornings and evenings.
June to September
The SW Monsoon rains clothe the hills in cloud. The air is humid but delightfully fresh. Temperatures are around 20°C during the day but fall back to 15°C at night. The rains clear the dust, allowing crisp views over the hills and glimpses of brilliant green rice crops in the fields.
October to November
This the best time for views of the Himalayan snow-capped peaks. The landscape is still green after the rains. The days are warm and sunny but the air temperatures start to drop as the winter progresses, with maxima of 20 degrees and minima of 5°C.
Kingdom of Kumoan
11 Nights-
All meals at Khali Estate and in the villages
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B&B in Delhi Guest house
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Guide and Porter services
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Picnic lunches
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GST
HOLIDAY PRICES per person
SEASONS
PARTY 2-3
PARTY 4-6
15/09/2023-30/11/2023
£1,225
£1,090
01/12/2023-29/02/2024
£1,175
£1,045
01/03/2024-31/03/2024
£1,250
£1,100
01/04/2024-30/05/2024
£1,170
£1,030
15/09/2024-30/11/2024
£1,340
£1,170