Uttarakhand Road Trip: Garhwal to Kumaon

Meet the group at Akshardham Metro Station in Delhi by 10:00 pm. After introductions, begin the overnight drive of around 350 kilometres toward the mountain town of Chakrata. This is the only night journey of the trip, taking approximately 8 hours. Dinner is included on this first day, and you travel overnight on the road.

Arrive in Chakrata early in the morning at an altitude of 2,118 metres. Check in, freshen up, and gather for breakfast. Spend the morning resting to acclimatise to the mountain air. After lunch, set out on a short hike close to the stay, returning by sunset. In the evening, gather around a bonfire for a tour briefing. Enjoy dinner and stay overnight in Chakrata.

Have breakfast and start the 150-kilometre drive from Chakrata to Rishikesh, taking around 5 hours. Arrive by afternoon and check in to your rooms. After a brief rest, head out to visit Ram Jhula and Laxman Jhula. Spend your evening on the riverbanks attending the Ganga aarti and soaking in the peaceful atmosphere of the ghats. Return to the property for dinner and your overnight stay.

Eat an early breakfast and leave for Joshimath, travelling 260 kilometres deeper into the Garhwal Himalayas. The road journey takes around 9 hours, ascending to an elevation of 1,890 metres. Known as the gateway to trekking trails and home to the Vasudeva temple, Joshimath is reached by the evening. Settle into your rooms, have dinner, and stay overnight.

After breakfast, take a 16-kilometre excursion from Joshimath to the ski resort of Auli, connected by road and cable car. Ranging between 2,800 and 3,100 metres in altitude, Auli provides sweeping views of Himalayan peaks like Nanda Devi, Kamet, and Mana Parvat. Spend the day exploring at leisure or trying skiing. Return to Joshimath by the evening for dinner and your overnight stay.

Depart early after breakfast and cross from Chamoli district into Kumaon on a 190-kilometre drive taking roughly 7 hours. Arrive in the hill station of Kausani, renowned for views of Trishul, Nanda Devi, and Panchchuli as well as terraced apricot and pear orchards. Check in to your hotel by evening. Enjoy free time to unwind before dinner and an overnight stay.

Start after breakfast on a 120-kilometre drive to Patal Bhuvaneshwar, taking around 4 hours. Surrounded by oak, deodar, and rhododendron forests, this village is home to a subterranean cave system reaching 90 feet below ground level. Walk the final half-kilometre approach and explore the one-kilometre cave network. Return to the property by evening for dinner and your overnight stay.

Eat an early breakfast and travel around 170 kilometres to Naukuchiatal, the nine-cornered lake in the Kumaon hills. The drive takes about 6 hours. After arriving at the property in the afternoon, spend the evening exploring around the lake and walking through the surrounding forests known for their birdlife and butterflies. Dinner and overnight stay are at the hotel.

Enjoy a relaxed morning at Naukuchiatal before departing for Delhi at 11:00 am. The return journey spans about 340 kilometres and takes approximately 7 hours of driving time. Arrive back in Delhi by around 8:00 pm, marking the end of the road trip.