+91 80767 80812 enquiries@thefolktales.com
INR
+91 80767 80812 enquiries@thefolktales.com
INR
Send Us An Enquiry
Full Name*
Email Address*
Travel Date*
People*
Your Enquiry*
* I agree with Terms of Service and Privacy Statement.
Please agree to all the terms and conditions before proceeding to the next step
Save To Wish List

Adding item to wishlist requires an account

4288

Need Help?

We are an email or phone call away.

UK: +44 77001 73335

US: +1 (669)-400-0115

India: +91 80767 80812

enquiries@thefolktales.com

11 Days
Availability : Oct - June
New Delhi
Max People : 15

The Folk Tales of Uttarakhand

Experiences with the Kumaoni community
OverviewPhotosItinerarySustainable TravelFAQs
Title image Kumaon valley
What to Expect

Uttarakhand is situated in Northern India and can be a perfect extension to the tour of the Golden triangle. This tour includes experiences in the Kumaon region that was once ruled by the Kurmanchal and Chand kingdoms. During their peak, their rule was from Sikkim in the east to Afghanistan in the west.

Most of Kumaon is rural with many remote villages spread across the Himalayan foothills. Due to the lack of employment opportunities, Kumaon is perhaps the worst affected by the migration of youth to the cities. However, through rural tourism and other social initiatives, the youth is once again beginning to look back to their homeland for work opportunities.

The homestay experiences will give you a glimpse of the warm hospitality of the locals. And if you choose to visit during any of the festivals especially ‘Baithaki Holi‘, we can also involve you in storytelling and singing local folk songs that are a part of village rituals and a way to offer prayers.

  • Experience traditional mountain homestays.
  • Agrarian, dairy farming, and craft experiences.
  • Taste local cuisine.
  • Village walks and natural history walks.
  • Wildlife experiences at Binsar sanctuary.

Recommended Airport(s)

Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi

Inclusions

  • Accommodations on twin sharing basis.
  • Breakfast & one major meal.
  • Private car (including toll and parking fee).
  • Airport/ railway station transfers.
  • Fee of the storyteller and all activities.
  • Taxes applicable.

Exclusions

  • Entry tickets wherever applicable.
  • International & domestic flights/ trains.
  • Storyteller gratuity.
  • Anything else not mentioned in the inclusions.
Photos
  • Bamboo basket makingBamboo basket making
  • Traditional Likhai architectureTraditional Likhai architecture
  • Birding experiencesBirding experiences
  • Panchchuli mountainsPanchchuli mountains
  • Jageshwar group of templesJageshwar group of temples
  • Agrarian experiencesAgrarian experiences
  • Village life in KumaonVillage life in Kumaon
Itinerary

Day 1 - 3Arrive in Kathgodam + Experiences in Bhimtal

We meet you at Kathgodam railway station and drive to our first destination. Welcome to Kumaon, also called the fruit bowl of the Himalayas for its apple, pear, plum, and apricot orchards. Over the next few days, you live with a local family and the activities would include –

  • Traditional homestays
  • Cooking experiences with the family
  • Agrarian experiences
  • Experiences traditional dances and music
  • Village walks and storytelling
  • Day tours of Nainital town. It’s a great place to see the remains of the British presence in India and explore local markets.

Note: We can also set up accommodations, pickup, and transfers from New Delhi on request.

Travel medium: Private car | Difficulty: Easy

Day 4Bhimtal - Chaukori

We drive to Choukori, a beautiful town with clear views of the Panchchuli mountains. Spend overnight in the town.

Travel medium: Private car | Difficulty: Easy

Day 5 -7Village experiences in Munsiyari

The next day we drive to Munsiyari after breakfast. We cross the beautiful glacier-fed rivers, hairpin mountain bends, and views of stunning meadows. Arrive by afternoon with the rest of the evening at leisure. Over the next few days, we will involve you in the following activities based on your preferences –

  • Nature walks with storytelling on local herbs and trees and how the community depends on them.
  • Craft experiences.
  • Visit the museum of tribal heritage.
  • Local festivals (seasonal activity).

Optional: High altitude multi-day treks.

Travel medium: Private car | Difficulty: Easy

Day 8 - 10Wildlife experiences in Binsar

We drive down to the Binsar sanctuary and spend a few days experiencing the wildlife and nearby village life. Kumaon has over 350 species of indigenous and migratory birds such as parakeets, Khalij pheasants, forktail, eagles, monal, woodpeckers, Eurasian jays, and blackbirds. The mammals you can expect are the leopard, flying squirrel, musk deer, Himalayan goral, jungle cat, macaque, and gray langur. You can expect to see these on a guided walking tour of the sanctuary.

Go for a guided tour of Jageshwar, a 7th-century group of Shaivite temples made out of stone blocks. There are numerous other smaller shrines dedicated to Lord Vishnu, Shakti, and Surya traditions of Hinduism. The drive to Jageshwar temples itself is scenic as you travel through beautiful step farms, remote villages, and eventually the Himalayan cedar tree forests.

Travel medium: Private car | Difficulty: Easy

Day 11Departure

We say goodbye to the beautiful Kumaon and its people, and drive back to Kathgodam railway station or back to Delhi for onward journey.

Sustainable Travel
  • This tour is 100% plastic free. We provide safe and healthy alternatives to plastic plates, packaged items, and bottles.
  • We do not indulge in animal slavery, cruelty or luring through bait during the wildlife experiences.
  • Locally sourced raw material for meals.
  • We leave behind zero waste.
  • Propagating and reviving local folk tales through storytelling.
  • The fee is directly paid to local women Self Help Groups.
FAQs

What kind of accommodations are available on this tour?

We suggest and provide traditional homestays on this tour for a more immersive experience.

I'm a solo traveller, can I do this tour?

Yes, it is safe and feasible for solo travelers also. We help you with the necessary arrangements and set-up the budget as per your preferences.

Which currencies do you accept?

We accept all currencies worldwide. However, the most common ones our guests pay in are – Indian Rupee (INR), Euro (EUR), Swiss Franc (CHF), Pound Sterling (£), and US/ SG/ AUS/ NZ Dollars ($).

Can you help me book the tour end-to-end?

Yes, if you are an international traveler you would land in Kolkata. We can help you set up the entire tour in India after your arrival till departure. This includes domestic flights, trains, accommodations in the arrival/ departure city, and any other tours that you want to add to this experience.

We usually don’t do international flights, travel insurance, and visas, but we can give you good recommendations for all of it.

What is the cancellation policy?

Please refer to our terms and conditions page.

Read More

Related Tours

The Folk Tales of Ladakh

The Folk Tales of Ladakh

Village life experiences
High altitude lakes
Wildlife and Himalayan desert experiences
Local cuisine, dances and songs

The Folk Tales of Changtang

Village life experiences
Traditional homestays
Wildlife and desert experiences
Local cuisine, dances and songs

Proceed Booking