12 Nights, 6 Days Walking

Female Group

Get to know your fellow travellers as you make memories you will treasure on this special women’s group trip. Accommodation is on a shared-room basis; a single room is available on request for a supplement.

Hills and valleys of Binsar

Spend three nights in the wonderful Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary, walking from village to village and experiencing at first hand the rhythm of village life in the sanctuary. You walk on ancient paths through valleys clad in pine forest and terraced fields, with glimpses of the magnificant Himalayas as you walk. You have time to relax, meet the communities and experience traditional village life.

Binsar is a wonderful place to discover wildlife. The valleys are alive with birdsong  and your guide helps you to spot deer, langur monkeys and signs of wild boar, porcupine, pine martens and the elusive leopard.

The high hills

From Binsar you are transferred north to spend three days in the delightful village of Supi in the Saryu Valley, closer still to the Himalayas, with sensational views stretching beyond wide meadows and forested hills. 

The walking

Your guide will assess the ability of the group and match the walks to meet your wishes. In Binsar, the walking is along small, well-used paths through forest and across terraced fields, with steep sections at times but manageable. In Saryu the walks are more leg-stretching, with some long and steep gradients but incredibly rewarding open views across the alpine meadows to the great Himalayan peaks.

Accommodation

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 the villages the guesthouses are simple and comfortable, built in traditional style or converted from an existing building. They have a living/dining room, kitchen, four twin bedrooms and shared shower/WCs. Each village of  will give you its own special welcome. 

For our group holidays, prices are based on sharing a twin room. A single room is available for a supplement – please request this when booking.

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. 

Supi (2,100m)

This picturesque village lies in the Saryu Valley, surrounded by broad terraced fields.  Supi is split into a collection of hamlets: Talai and Talla Supi, and Malla Supi, where the guesthouse is located. The buildings are almost entirely of traditional design: impressive joint family terraced houses (berklays), with whitewashed walls, stone roofs and intricately carved door surrounds. It is delightful just to wander through the village to the tinkling of the cowbells and the chatter of the women in the fields. Beyond there are valleys, waterfalls and the snow-covered peak of Van Kothiya & Nanda Kot.

Khali Estate

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.

Stay in Delhi

Your holiday includes a night at both the start and end of your trip in a guesthouse in Delhi, with bed and breakfast. We can also arrange an upgrade from a guesthouse to a hotel if you prefer.

One of the best ways to get around and across Delhi is by car. If you would like to explore the city we can arrange 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 day train from Delhi to Kathgodam, in 2nd class, air-conditioned carriages. Trains open for reservation 3 months before departure. As soon as reservations open we will be able to confirm your rail journey to you.

If you would prefer, you can also choose to travel up from Delhi (or return at the end of you holiday) by private car at an extra cost.

Extra nights during your holiday

As this is a group holiday, the trip cannot be tailored between days 3 – 10 of the itinerary. However, if you would like to add extra days at Khali or in Delhi, we can arrange this for you. Or why not add on a visit to another part of India to get the most out of your trip.

We have chosen flexible routes among the
hills that are suitable for people of all abilities. A reasonable level of fitness is required – the terrain should suit anyone who enjoys day walks at home. Your guide will tailor the routes to meet the needs of the group.

You walk along forest trails, through rhododendron, oak, pine and cedar woodland, to reach broad cultivated
terraces as you near each village. Saryu Valley has some steeper sections. 

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.