Kumaon Walking Holiday

It is a 7-day, 6-night guided walking holiday in the Nainital and Almora districts of Uttarakhand, with five days of walking covering about 35 km in total. You stay in village homestays and heritage guesthouses, hike through pine and oak forests and Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary, and experience Kumaoni village life and hospitality. Groups are small, with a maximum of 8 guests.

The price covers six nights in village homestays and guesthouses, all meals from dinner on Day 1 to breakfast on Day 7, and ground transport from Kathgodam and back by Toyota Innova, with a local vehicle for the shorter transfers. It also includes porterage for one bag of up to 12 kg per person and guide charges. Prices can change with season and group size, so please check the latest price per person on the Kumaon Walking Holiday page or write to hello@outdoers.in.

Travel to and from Kathgodam, travel insurance, tips and personal expenses are not included.

It is an easy to moderate holiday. The walks are short, ranging from about 3 km to 8.5 km, and the longest day, the 8.5 km walk from Gaunap to Dhaulchhina, takes about 5 hours. The highest point is 2,400 m at Binsar, and stays are at 2100m or lower, and your luggage is carried for you. If you are comfortable walking a few hours a day, you can do it, even as a first-timer.

The holiday runs all year except mid-June to mid-September, when the monsoon makes the trails slippery and the views unreliable. Upcoming fixed departures are listed at the top of the trip page, and we can also arrange it on custom dates

It starts and ends at Kathgodam, the nearest railhead. On Day 1 we leave Kathgodam at about 11:30 am for Hartola, a drive of roughly 3.5 hours including a lunch stop. On Day 7 the drive back takes about 4 hours, so please plan your onward travel from Kathgodam after 3 pm.

You will walk through pine and mixed forests to Maheshwar Farm, hike to Devi Top and trek through Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary to the village of Gaunap. There you will watch sunrise from the village temple, do a guided birding session and village walk, and help with organic farming if it’s in season. You will also hike to Jhakarsiem, an ancient Shiva temple, and visit Jageshwar, a cluster of 124 temples of religious and archaeological significance.

Yes. A guided birding session is part of the Gaunap days in Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary, which is known for diverse flora and birdlife. Bring binoculars if you have them.

You spend two nights at Idyllic Haven, a cozy comfortable homestay in the tiny village of Gaunap within Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary. You reach it by a gentle 3 km downhill walk from Binsar. The evenings include a bonfire, and the days include village walks and time with local families.

You stay in a homestay in Gaunap, where you experience Kumaoni hospitality first-hand, and in heritage properties with excellent views at the other stops, including Hartola and Ganghet near Jageshwar. All the properties have comfortable rooms with attached toilets (a luxury in these remote places!), hot water, room heating and other basic comforts.

Yes. All stays have clean, attached western toilets and bathrooms. Hot water is available on request in Gaunap and by geyser in all the other places.

All meals are included from dinner on Day 1 to breakfast on Day 7, with a lunch stop on the Day 1 drive and a picnic lunch on Day 6. Meals are home-style Kumaoni food, and Gaunap is known for farm-fresh cooking. Vegetarian, Jain and Vegan meals can be arranged. Please mention needs when booking.

Minimum temperatures can drop to about 10°C in summer and about 5°C in winter, so bring warm clothing. Mountain weather is unpredictable and it can rain at any time, so carry simple rain gear.

The recommended minimum age is 7. If your child is physically active and used to walking long distances, they may manage even if younger, but adequate preparation is necessary.

Walk briskly at least 3 km, three to four times a week, preferably on hilly terrain. Also climb stairs for at least 15 minutes every day in the weeks before you travel.

No. You only carry a small backpack for water, snacks and personal medicines. Porters or a vehicle move your main bag, which should weigh no more than 12 kg, between stops.

Sports shoes work, but trekking shoes are highly recommended because they grip better and are usually waterproof. Break in any new shoes well before you travel.

Pack layered warm clothing, a rain jacket, comfortable trekking shoes, a warm cap, sunscreen, a hat, a refillable water bottle, a headlamp or torch with spare batteries, a power bank and any personal medicines. We also send a detailed checklist when you register.

Water is safe to drink, but as a precaution we recommend carrying a personal water purifier such as Aquaguard or LifeStraw.

All the villages are connected to the grid, but supply can be unreliable. Carry a torch or headlamp with extra batteries, and a power bank for your phone.

All places have mobile connectivity, though internet speeds are poor in Gaunap. BSNL and Airtel SIMs work best on this holiday.

No, there are no laundry facilities anywhere on this holiday, so pack accordingly.

Yes. Outdoers guides are qualified in wilderness first aid, and the team carries a first-aid kit and has an emergency evacuation plan. The altitude is modest, with the highest point at 2,400 m, and stays below 2100m. The walks are short with luggage support. Travel insurance is recommended.

Yes. Outdoers arranges this holiday on your preferred dates, and the quote depends on group size and the number of days. The maximum group size is 8. Email hello@outdoers.in or call +91-82799-29473.