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Shakti Kumaon includes both the Shakti Kumaon Himalayas Village Walk as well as our award winning lodge, Shakti 360° Leti. These experiences, located in the stunning and lesser known region of the state of Uttarakhand, can be experienced separately or combined to create a unique Himalayan journey.
A little known region known as Kumaon Himalayas lies in the northern hill state of Uttarakhand, promising some of the most stunning mountain scenery in the world from the perennially snow-capped peaks of the Great Himalaya range in the north, to the pretty hill stations at its foothills.
Lucky to have escaped the influx of backpackers common in other hill areas, in Kumaon Shakti has been able to pioneer the concept of village walks in an unspoiled, offbeat part of India.
In this captivating region of the Indian Himalayas, Kumaon boasts its stunning scenery, while we're proud to be able to organise Kumaon tours and trekking holidays for those lucky few that choose to come along and experience true freedom.
A privately guided village-to-village walk usually over the course of 4 or 5
nights, taking in 3 beautifully renovated villages houses located in the Almora region of Uttarakhand. Days are spent trekking Kumaon in a remote and beautiful region, in an area known for its gentle people, lush surroundings and sweeping views of the Panchachuli Himalayan range.
Located 5½ hours drive north of the Shakti Kumaon Village Walk, Shakti 360° Leti offers a one of a kind mountain experience. With only 4 bedrooms, outstanding cooking & service, exceptional Kumaon trekking tours & space to relax and take in the truly astounding sights Kumaon Himalayas has to offer. Designed with sophisticated simplicity and style.
Every journey is private and tailored to individual requirements, preferences and timings, but we hope that these sample itineraries give you a sense of the magic that awaits in Kumaon.
Includes private accommodation in three village houses and 360° Leti on a fully inclusive basis including
all meals and beverages, all activities, accompanying English speaking guide, private chef,
support guide and porters and car at disposal. Also includes return transfers
between Kathgodam/Pantnagar and village houses and Leti.
*Additional government taxes will apply
The following itinerary is our classic Shakti Kumaon journey; starting with 3 nights on the Shakti
Kumaon Village Walk taking in two houses over 3 nights before a 3 night stay at Shakti 360° Leti,
and finally a night in a Shakti Kumaon Village house on the journey back to Delhi. The village walk
before or after the stay at Shakti 360° Leti can be extended for a more immersive experience.
Day 01
This morning you will board your train (Shatabdi express) departing at 0600hrs from New Delhi railway
station and arriving into Kathgodam at 1140hrs.On arrival in Kathgodam you will be met and driven to the
Almora region (3½ hours away) from where the Village Walks will begin. En route you will stop for lunch.
You will then begin walking from the village of Chitai – also famous for the Chitai temple (god of justice)
for about 2 hours to reach your first village house in the small and sleepy town of Deora.
Day 02
Setting off from Deora, you will walk for thirty minutes towards the village of Chirala where you can visit the local school.
Continue along the path, passing a ‘ghatt’ (water powered flour mill) and
terraced fields through the village of Palyu, before climbing for twenty minutes to the road head at Ka- Chula pool.
From Ka-Chula Pool you have the option of taking our car to Dhaulchina, around twenty
minutes away, before walking gradually uphill for thirty minutes to the lunch spot. After lunch, continue walking
gradually uphill through stunning rhododendron forest for around 1½ hours until you reach the village of Jwalabanj.
Day 03
This morning you may wish to wake early and head up the ridge where at the view point - you can witness the
grandeur of the rising sun, as it lights up 'the Nanda Devi’ in shades of orange. You will then visit Jageshwar
Temple Complex built in the 8th century, which is very interesting to explore. We will organize a picnic lunch at a lovely spot nearby.
There is an additional walk through the forest for those who are more energetic, or you could be driven directly to your village house.
Day 04
This morning you will walk for 10 minutes to the road head where you will be met and driven for around 5 hours
to Leti. Later today you could take a cooking lesson with your chef and learn how to make some of our favourite Shakti
dishes, like Momos & Biriyani.
Day 05
At Leti, you may take gentle walks or more strenuous hikes out into the countryside, and picnic hampers and
guides are provided. You may just like to be at leisure to enjoy the surroundings. Spend your evening curled up
in a pashmina blanket with a book from our collection or play a board game.
Day 06
You will have the option of doing an overnight camp at the Lodhura top. A strenuous walk up
from the campsite, through a narrow path brings you to a flat piece of pastureland. One can see
this land from the campsite, and it offers a fabulous sense of achievement to reach this area.
Dinner will be prepared by your Shakti chef this evening and you will feast next to the fire under
the most amazing blanket of stars over head.
Day 07
This morning after a leisurely breakfast, you will be driven 5 hours to the village of Kana.
Enroute, you will have the option to visit the main town of Almora. Visit the Panchachuli
Women’s Factory - Panchachuli Women Weavers Co-operative. For those keen on Kumaon trekking
you could leave early from Shakti 360° so you can reach the Kana village well in time to
take a beautiful hike in this area.
Day 08
This morning after breakfast you will be driven back to Kathgodam Railway Station for 4
hours for your journey back to Delhi. You will board your train (Shatabdi Express) departing
at 1535 hrs and arriving into Delhi at 2105 hrs.
There is an Air India flight operating four
times a week on; Tues/Weds/Fri/Sat (Pantnagar to Delhi).
Introduction
Includes private accommodation in two village houses and 360° Leti on a fully inclusive basis including
all meals and beverages, all activities, accompanying English speaking guide, private chef,
support guide and porters and car at disposal. Also includes return transfers
between Kathgodam station/Pantnagar airport and village houses and Leti.
*Additional government taxes will apply
Shakti 360° Leti can be visited either as an extension to the Shakti Kumaon village walks or as a
standalone itinerary. If it is visited on its own, it can be accessed by private charter or an
overnight train. We recommend breaking the journey at one of our village houses for better
logistics. Due to the remote location of Shati 360° Leti, there is a 3 night minimum stay - although
the average stay is in fact 4 or 5 nights. Contact us for more information on the best duration of
stay for you and what to do while you are with us.
Day 01
This morning board your train from Delhi, departing at 0600hrs, arriving into Kathgodam at
1140hrs. On arrival, your Shakti guide will collect you from the station and you will be driven to
the Almora region (3½ hours away). En route you will stop for lunch. Take a short walk into the
village of Jwalabanj and enjoy a leisurely evening.
Day 02
This morning you will walk for 10 minutes to the road head where you will be driven for 5 hours
to Shakti 360° Leti. There will then be a walk of 5 minutes to the property.
Day 03
Your days at Shakti 360° Leti can include hikes, more gentle walks, time spent at the small
charming school close by or spend time in the kitchen with the chefs. Lunches will either be as
picnics on longer hikes, or return for lunch under the shamiana, with mesmerizing views down
the Ramganga Valley. Enjoy peaceful time reading, or playing backgammon or simply snoozing -
your day is yours to spend as you wish. Spend the evenings by the fire before a home cooked
supper by candle-light.
Day 04
Your days at Shakti 360° Leti can include hikes, more gentle walks, time spent at the small
charming school close by or spend time in the kitchen with the chefs. Lunches will either be as
picnics on longer hikes, or return for lunch under the shamiana, with mesmerizing views down
the Ramganga Valley. Enjoy peaceful time reading, or playing backgammon or simply snoozing -
your day is yours to spend as you wish. Spend the evenings by the fire before a home cooked
supper by candle-light.
Day 05
This morning after a leisurely breakfast, you will be driven 5 hours to Kana. Enroute, you will have the option to visit the main town of Almora. Visit the Panchachuli Women’s Factory - founded in the late 1990's. For those of you who wish to walk more, there is a beautiful hike near Kana.
Day 06
This morning after a leisurely breakfast you will be driven back to Kathgodam Railway Station for 4.5 hours for your journey back to Delhi.You will board your train (Shatabdi Express) departing at 15:35 hrs and arrive into Delhi at 21:05 hrs. Alternatively you could take the flight from Pantnagar to Delhi. There is an Air India flight operating four times a week on; Tues/Weds/Fri/Sat (Pantnagar to Delhi).
Introduction
Based on 4 nights at Shakti village houses on a fully inclusive basis including all meals and beverages,
activities, an accompanying English speaking guide and porters and car at disposal
and return transfers between Kathgodam railway station/Pantnagar airport, village
houses. Train & Flights not included.
*Additional government taxes will apply
The itinerary here is a brief example of what we offer as the Kumaon Village experience, however,
each client’s itinerary is tailored specifically to suit his/her interests. The Kumaon Village
experiences can be combined perfectly with Shakti 360° Leti to create a complete
Himalayan experience.
Day 01
This morning board your train from Delhi, departing at 0600hrs, arriving into Kathgodam at
1140hrs. On arrival your Shakti guide will collect you from the station and you will be driven to
the Almora region (3½ hours away) from where the Village Walks will begin. En route you will stop
for lunch. You will then begin walking from the village of Chitai for about two hours to reach your
first village house in the small and sleepy town of Deora. Drinks by the fire are followed by dinner
prepared by your chef this evening.
Day 02
Setting off from Deora, reach the village of Chirala after 30 minutes, where you can visit a local
school. Continue along the path, passing a ‘ghatt’ (water powered flour mill) and terraced fields
through the village of Palyu, climbing for 20 minutes to the road head at Ka-Chula pool from
where you will have the option of taking our car to Dhaulchina, , walking gradually uphill for 30
minutes to the lunch spot. After lunch, continue walking through stunning rhododendron forest
for around 1½ hrs until you reach the village of Jwalabanj.
Day 03
This morning after breakfast, you will gradually climb up the south-west ridge, walking on the trails that were once used to transfer resin on horse backs, which now still is a boost for the local economy. In an hour and a half, further down the ridge you will start descending to Artola village. You will walk through the terraced fields and will reach your picnic spot which is laid on a hill top. After lunch, you will continue to walk uphill through the village of Kutul. Upon ascending this ridge, you will then take a small trail that will lead you to back to Jwalabanj.
Day 04
This morning after breakfast, you will start with a downhill walk through green terraced fields brings you to the Jageshwar Temple Complex built in the 8th century, which is very interesting to explore. Some distance ahead we have arranged lunch for at a lovely spot by a stream. Another hour further you will reach the village of Kana. For those who wish to walk more, there is a beautiful three hour walk from the house through rhododendron, pine and oak forests.
Day 05
This morning after breakfast you will be driven back to Kathgodam Railway Station for 4
hours for your journey back to Delhi. You will board your train (Shatabdi Express) departing
at 1535 hrs and arriving into Delhi at 2105 hrs.
There is an Air India flight operating four
times a week on; Tues/Weds/Fri/Sat (Pantnagar to Delhi).
Introduction
The post monsoon months of October and November offer lush scenery and clear views with warm sunny days and nights that are getting increasingly colder. In December and January it becomes very cold at night, however the days are still warm and sunny and offer the clearest views of the mountains. From February, both the days and nights start to get warmer and between March and end of April, the rhododendrons come into bloom. Being the Himalayas it is possible to experience a full span of weather in a single day - from bright sunshine that requires a high SPF and a sunhat, through to a rain storm that calls for a light waterproof jacket in one’s day pack.
