Indian Himalaya tailor made tour
Description of Indian Himalaya tailor made tour
Mixing overnight trains and private cars, journey into the wilds of northern India to experience tiger-stalked jungle and timeless rural communities against the majestic backdrop of the Indian Himalayas.
Explore colonial Delhi before settling into a luxury carriage for an overnight train ride to Kathgodam in the Kumaon foothills of the Himalayas. From here you’ll be set within a landscape of bubbling streams and lush valleys where rural villages can be found nestled in forests of rhododendrons, pine and oak.
After a couple of nights on a rural estate you’ll travel to Thikalna hill station where you’ll delve through forests of cedar and terraced fields to discover the wonders of the Jageshwar Temple Complex, from where you'll move on to the wildlife paradise of Corbett National Park. Set amid the lush Ramganga River Valley, this is not only a world-renowned tiger sanctuary but also one of India's finest bird-watching spots, with around 600 different recorded species.
You'll spend the final few days of this two week tour at the holy town of Rishikesh where Himalayan landscapes meld with forest surrounds and glorious views over the majestic ribbon of the Ganges on whose banks you can experience the spiritual sights and sounds of life along India's holiest river.
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1 Reviews of Indian Himalaya tailor made tour
Reviewed on 30 Oct 2018 by Anne Carlill
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Walking from, and staying at, the Itmenaan Estate in the Kumaon part of Uttarakhand.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Some of the journeys were long but the vehicles were very good. Kumaon has very steep hillsides so you need to be fairly fit and take good walking boots.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
I feel it benefitted local people. The staff at Mountain Quail Lodge, Kalmatia Wellness Hotel and at Itmenaan Estate used local produce and their employment was definitely benefitting their families. But I don't think they are quite so geared up to reduce environmental impacts as their Nepali equivalents, however MQ Lodge and Kalmatia had filtered water with which we could fill up our bottles. MQ Lodge and Itmenaan were definitely supporting conservation and diversity of flora and fauna.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
We loved the Kumaon part best, especially as we were lucky to wake up to views of the Himalayas each day while we were there. We learnt a lot more about the culture and language of India than we have done by going to touristy areas in the past.
Read the operator's response here:
Responsible Travel
Planet
In order to facilitate an enduring support structure for the communities we visit, and to show a commitment to these values, in January 2009 we set up a charitable foundation through which we can channel funds to both existing NGOs and our own development projects. In addition to organising ethically sensitive tours, having our own charitable foundation allows us to raise money – through the cost of our tours, charity trips and fund raising events – which can then be used to fund various projects in education, sanitation, reforestations and a number of other important issues facing developing communities. Wherever possible we are happy for our clients to visit these projects to see for themselves where and how this money is being spent.In India our foundation has supported many community projects and fundraising efforts including:
• A reforestation programme in an arid region of Rajasthan.
• The Hope Foundation, Calcutta which works to help the street children of Calcutta by providing education, nutrition and health care and ultimately removing them from the street into better lives.
• Donated new beds for the maternity ward at the hospital in Bijaipur, rural Rajasthan
• Donated funds towards the India cyclone appeal.
• The Ladakh Project, which has brought solar lighting to families in the remote Nubra Valley, enabling them to grow and harvest crops and stockpile supplies to get them through the harsh winters.
• Funds to help towards a new school bus community school in Rangdum, Ladakh
People
All our tours employ the services of local guides and drivers, stay in locally owned hotels and guesthouses – often staying in our guides villages and homes, which again diverts important funds directly into the area. The wonderful thing about this kind of interactive tourism is that everyone gains – the locals financially, and our clients with the unique experience and social interaction.On our Indian Himalayan Adventure itinerary transportation includes travel by train and foot. During the walking section of the itinerary we stay in traditional village houses, which are dotted through the Almora region, mixing local Kumoan charm with modern comforts perfectly. Set a few hour's walk apart, each house blends into its village, giving guests the chance to witness Himalayan life up close. Each house is equipped with comfortable beds, western toilets, and outside shower blocks. The locally run village house accommodation scheme also employs private chefs, who prepare meals each night, and porters. This is a truly wonderful off-the-beaten-track, low-impact look at rural India.
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