Wellness Camp in the Breathtaking Valley of Flowers

Joshi Cottage is a family-owned-and-operated retreat located in the Binsar Bird Sanctuary, in the beautiful Valley of Flowers in Uttarakhand State, India. The stunning scenery and splendid isolation of this…

Description Accommodation Itinerary Gallery Agent information ROI Agent info. Additional Info

Description

Wellness Camp in the Breathtaking Valley of Flowers

from

£2399

/per person

Departing

Departures between 01/09/2023 and 31/03/2024

Tour Details

Joshi Cottage is a family-owned-and-operated retreat located in the Binsar Bird Sanctuary, in the beautiful Valley of Flowers in Uttarakhand State, India. The stunning scenery and splendid isolation of this region will leave you speechless. The cottage offers all the facilities for a comfortable stay. Nicely decorated rooms with an attached bathroom, a writing table with a chair and sitting space. The family stays on the premises and cooks delicious vegetarian food using organically grown fruit, vegetables, and lentils from their own farm. There are few places more ideal for morning meditation and yoga; with panoramic views of the snow-capped Himalayan mountains and flocks of birds converge early morning casting shadows against the clouds as they float by!

Feel at one with nature with the areas abundant wildlife including over 230 species of birds, butterflies, and other local wildlife such as barking deer, mountain goats, pine martin, foxes, and porcupines and you may be lucky enough to spot the elusive leopard!

This is the perfect place to de-stress and enjoy being totally present!

Tour Deposit:

£200

10 Nights

Full Board

Travel Solutions Rep: No

ATOL

Price Includes:

Return Flights between London Heathrow and Delhi including taxes
23kg checked baggage allowance

10 nights’ Accommodation

Tour Guide

Entrance Fees

All transportation as detailed in the itinerary

All meals at the retreat (not in Delhi)

Local taxes

Flight Times:

London Heathrow to Delhi VS0300 DEP: 19:00 ARR: 09:20 (next day)

Delhi to London Heathrow VS301 DEP: 11:35 ARR: 16:05

Optional extra:

Single Supplement Cost: £1210 per person

Flight times:

Departs	City/Country	Arrives	City/Country

Flight times:

Notes:

Transfers Included : Yes

Travel Solutions Rep : No

Valid ID is Required for this tour

Accommodation

Set in splendid isolation with a stunning view of the Indian Himalayas, Home Stay Binsar is a family run enterprise, consisting of 2 lodges .

Set in the delightful village of Dalar, the Joshi family – three generations – welcome you into their home and look forward to taking care of you.

We serve organic, vegetarian food grown in our own kitchen garden.

Accommodation is on full board basis, and there are tea and coffee making facilities in the lodges. Guests can choose to have their meals in the lodges or in the main house with the family.

We have our own taxi service to collect you from the railhead at Kathgodam.

Our Jeep with experienced driver is the ideal way to travel along the twisting mountaineous roads. You can sit back and watch the spectacular scenery unfold. Trips to local beauty spots such as Binsar Zero Point and other places of interest such as the ancient temple complex at Jageshwar can be arranged.

Our experienced guides available for full and half day guiding, with extensive knowledge of local bird and wildlife, flora and fauna.

Come for meditation, yoga, and Kumaoni cooking classes, or just relax in the wonderful surroundings.

Holidays can be tailored to your individual requirements.

Lodge -1 Bedroom, 1 Bathroom with electric shower. Sleeps 6. In addition there is a smaller lodge suitable for a couple wanting more basic accommodation.

Accommodation is basic but clean.

Itinerary

Day 1 Depart UK

Day 2 Arrive Delhi

Arrive a day earlier to New Delhi. Our representative will receive you at the airport and drive you to your hotel. Explore the city if you have time. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 3 Delhi – Binsar

Our representative will drive you to New Delhi railway station where you will board the superfast air-conditioned chair car train leaving at 6:22 am. You will be served complimentary breakfast. The journey will take just under five hours and on arrival in Kathgodam you will be met by our local representative and driven to Binsar. On arrival there is a scenic walk (two miles) on a gravel path up to the cottage. Your luggage will be carried by a porter. On arrival after freshening up – enjoy a well-earned lunch! The rest of the day is free to relax or explore the local area. Watch the setting sun before dinner and overnight at the cottage.

Day 4

An early start for a meditation and yoga session, with the morning sun, mountain air and sounds of nature, this is the perfect start to the day! Follow this with a delightful breakfast of lovely locally grown produce. After breakfast, our knowledgeable guide will take you around the villages to see local life. Back for lunch at 1:30 pm and in the afternoon there is free time to read and relax. Early in the evening listen to spiritual music. Enjoy dinner prepared by the family, your hosts, and retire for the night.

Day 5

An early start to join our expert guide for some bird spotting. Just after sunrise is one of the best times to see the widest possible range of birdlife! After breakfast, you can visit the farm to explore the garden and take some cooking lessons. The afternoon is free to relax or maybe spend some time talking to the family members about Hindu philosophy (the guide will be with you to help you connect).

Day 6

After an early breakfast, take a leisurely walk down to the road where a car will take you to KMVN hotel. A leisurely half-hour walk will take you to a spectacular viewing point where, on a clear day, you can see a 180° view of the mighty Himalayas. Return to the Cottage in time for lunch. After lunch, you can read and relax. Later in the evening you can join the family as they sing and chant some kirtan and bhajan before another freshly cooked dinner.

Day 7

Early in the morning, your guide will take you 500 meters to see the sunrise. Perform yoga and meditation at the same point and return for breakfast. After breakfast the guide will take you 3.5 km down to visit the local school with a pack-lunch which you can enjoy on the riverbank. Return to the cottage, relax, see the setting sun, enjoy a delicious dinner, and retire to your room.

Days 8-10 : More exploration of this breath-taking region!

In the mornings perform yoga and meditation and then have breakfast at 8 am. After breakfast, walk up to the road and drive 5 km to the Golu Temple (God of Justice). Enjoy more exploration and small treks. In the afternoon of day 9 your host will organise a small Havan (fire ritual) for your happiness and good health. Enjoy a special farewell dinner on the last night of your sojourn. This will be followed by presentation of a gift on behalf of your hosts.

Day 11 Depart for Delhi

After breakfast check out from Joshi Cottage and with the help of the porter make you way down to the car which will transfer you to Kathagodam to catch the train back to New Delhi. On arrival in Delhi our representative will meet you and transfer you to the hotel. For your overnight.

Day 12

After breakfast you will be transferred to Delhi Airport for your return flight to the UK.

Gallery

Agent information

ROI Agent info.

Additional Info

Description

Valley of Flowers National Park is an Indian national park, located in North Chamoli, in the state of Uttarakhand and is known for its meadows of endemic alpine flowers and a wide variety of wild flora.

At 3352 to 3658 meters above sea level, the gentle landscape of the Valley of Flowers National Park complements the rugged mountain wilderness of Nanda Devi National Park to the east.

Together, they encompass a unique transition zone between the mountain ranges of the Zanskar and the Great Himalaya.

The park stretches over an expanse of 87.50 km and it is about 8 km long and 2 km wide. Both parks are encompassed in the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve (223,674 ha) which is further surrounded by a buffer zone (5,148.57 km).

Nanda Devi National Park Reserve is in the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves.

Other attractions you will visit during the tour with your guide are:

Grand Oak Manor: The Grand Oak Manor is the erstwhile home of Sir Henry Ramsay who used it as his summer home and administrative centre as Commissioner of Kumaon. The property later became a heritage hotel.

Khali Estate: The Khali estate was once owned by Sir Henry Ramsay

Mary Budden Estate: The Mary Budden estate located at 8000 feet is a restored colonial home and a temple to Shiva.

Zero Point, Kasar Devi Temple, Golu Devta Temple. and Bineshwar Mahadev Temple