Kumaon Lakes & Hills

Breakfast at the resort, then a full day excursion covering the top highlights of the famous Lake City. Enjoy boating on Naini Lake and visit the lakeside Naina Devi Temple. Walk along Mall Road and browse the Tibetan Market for woollens and curios. Ride the cable car up to Snow View Point for views of the Himalayan range on a clear day, and visit the Eco Cave Gardens. Overnight stay in Nainital.

Post breakfast, ascend to Pangot through the Kilbury bird sanctuary, driving past scenic valleys and pine and oak ridges. Check in and explore Pangot, a small forest hamlet popular with birdwatchers. Guided nature and birdwatching trails take you through the surrounding woods, with chances of spotting Himalayan griffons, Cheer pheasants, woodpeckers and other hill species. Overnight stay in Pangot.

After breakfast, drive down from Pangot to Bhimtal through scenic valleys and pine ridges. Check in and explore the lakes of the area. Visit Bhimtal Lake with its unique island aquarium, then Naukuchiatal, the nine-cornered lake offering paragliding and kayaking, and the tranquil seven-lake cluster of Sattal, a quiet forested spot good for birdwatching and short walks. Return to the hotel in the evening. Overnight stay in Bhimtal.

After breakfast, drive from Bhimtal to Mukteshwar through scenic valleys and pine ridges. On arrival, check in at your hotel and set out to explore this hill station perched at around 7,500 ft with panoramic Himalayan views. Visit the Chauli Ki Jali cliff, the 350-year-old Mukteshwar Dham Shiva temple, and the local fruit orchards the area is known for. Evening free to enjoy the mountain air. Overnight stay in Mukteshwar.

After breakfast, drive to Binsar through scenic valleys and pine ridges. Check in for a deep wilderness stay inside Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary, surrounded by oak and rhododendron forest. Trek to Zero Point for 360-degree vistas of snow peaks stretching from Kedarnath to Panchachuli. En route or during the stay, visit the ancient stone temple complex of Jageshwar Dham in its deodar grove. Overnight stay in Binsar.

After breakfast, drive to Almora through scenic valleys and pine ridges. On arrival, check in and set out to explore Almora, the cultural capital of Kumaon. Visit the ancient Kasar Devi Temple on Crank's Ridge, with wide Himalayan views, and the Chitai Golu Devta Temple, known as the Temple of Justice for the bells left by devotees. Walk through the historic 200-year-old Lala Bazar with its stone paving and old shopfronts. Overnight stay in Almora.

After breakfast, drive to Kausani through scenic valleys and pine ridges. Check in at your hotel in this hill station known as the Switzerland of India, facing a 300 km uninterrupted panorama of Trisul, Nanda Devi and Panchachuli. Visit Anasakti Ashram, also called Gandhi Smriti, walk among the terraced tea gardens, and stop at the ancient Baijnath Temples on the Gomti river. Overnight stay in Kausani.

Post breakfast, drive to Chaukori via scenic valleys and pine ridges. Check in and explore this unspoiled hill hamlet, known for majestic close-up views of the Panchachuli peaks and surrounding tea gardens. An excursion takes you to Patal Bhuvaneshwar, an underground subterranean limestone cave temple reached by a narrow descent. Return to the resort for an evening of mountain views and an overnight stay in Chaukori.

Post breakfast, drive to Munsyari via scenic valleys and pine ridges. On arrival, check in at this town at about 7,200 ft, the gateway to the Johar Valley and Milam Glacier. Visit Birthi Falls on the way, Kalamuni Top with its temple and viewpoint, the tribal weaving village of Darkot, the Tribal Heritage Museum, and the base of Khaliya Top. Overnight stay in Munsyari.

Arrive in Munsyari and check in at the resort. Breakfast at the resort, then a full day excursion covering the top highlights of this gateway to the Johar Valley and Milam Glacier, set at about 7,200 ft. Visit Birthi Falls, Kalamuni Top, the tribal weaving village of Darkot, the Tribal Heritage Museum and the base of Khaliya Top, with views of the Panchachuli range along the way. Overnight stay in Munsyari.

Post breakfast, begin the long descent from Munsyari to Corbett, driving through scenic valleys, river gorges and pine ridges. On arrival, check in and explore the Corbett area, home to Jim Corbett National Park. Enjoy a thrilling open 4x4 Jeep Safari in Corbett Tiger Reserve through the Bijrani, Jhirna or Dhela Zone, subject to permits. Also visit Garjiya Devi Temple set on a rock in the river, and take a walk along the Kosi river. Overnight stay in Corbett.

After breakfast and a last morning view of the forested hills, check out from your hotel. You are then driven back through the Terai plains and farmland to Kathgodam railway station, Pantnagar Airport or onward to Delhi for your journey home. Any remaining time may be used for souvenir shopping en route. The tour concludes on arrival at your chosen station, airport or city.