Wild Frontiers

Day 1: Delhi - Kathgodam
Arriving early in the morning (around 2am) you will be taken straight to your hotel for a good rest before your sightseeing of the Indian capital, which will include a look around the new town and a trip into the heart of the old town. After an early dinner you will jump straight into this adventure by boarding your overnight train to Kathgodam in the foothills of the Indian Himalayas. Travelling in style, you make your way towards the beautiful landscapes of the Kumaon Hills. (B,L, D)

Day 2: Kathgodam - Kalmatia
Situated on the banks of the Gaula River, Kathgodam is the last stop on the line and from here you alight the train and drive on to Kalmatia, enjoying the beautiful serenity of the surrounding landscapes as you make your way towards the Kalmatia Sangam Himalaya Resort. (B,D)

Day 3: Himalayan Village Walk - Deora Village
Today you begin your exploration of the surrounding villages, offering you a chance to discover a little something of the true heart of rural India. Following a gentle trail from the lodge, you will negotiate a landscape of bubbling streams and lush valleys, as you hike across hills blanketed in rhododendrons and forests of pine and oak. The walk today will take around 5-6 hours and during the day you will pass through villages whose ways of life have changed little over the intervening years. (B,L,D)

Day 4: Himalayan Village Walk - Paliu Village
The trail on to Paliu today follows an even easier course than yesterday, passing traditional flour mills along the way, where you will get an opportunity to see a demonstration of how they work. On arrival in Paliu your porters will see to your luggage, whilst you have the chance to watch how the locals prepare some regional delicacies for this evening's meal. (B,L,D)

Day 5: Himalayan Village Walk - Leti 360°
It is just a short walk to the road-head this morning, where you will be met and driven on to Leti, a five hour journey that takes you through some of the most breathtaking scenery that the Indian Himalayas can provide. Your destination today is the unique Leti 360°, a Himalayan hideaway that is the only place of its kind in this part of the world. Set some 8,000 feet up, amongst some of the most beautiful mountain scenery imaginable, the retreat consists of just 4 exquisitely appointed cottages, surrounded on all sides by a glorious panorama of mountains and valleys. (B,L,D)

Day 6: Leti 360°
The next two days are free to indulge in the delights of mountain walks, pashmina blankets and gourmet cooking, as the resort's abundant charms are placed at your disposal. With private mountain guides, relaxing yoga sessions and fabulous views on offer, you can choose to do as much, or as little, as you wish. Take a delicious picnic lunch and enjoy some al fresco dining, or simply luxuriate in one of the planter's chairs and bask in the glory of this breathtaking setting; the choice is yours. (B,L,D)

Day 7: Leti 360°
Day at leisure at Leti 360° (B,L,D)

Day 8: Leti 360° - Jawalbanj Village
Walking back down to the road-head this morning you will be met by your private vehicle and transferred back toward Almora, tucked away in a little visited corner of Uttaranchal. To the east lies Nepal and China, to the north Jammu and Kashmir. Almora occupies a horseshoe-shaped ridge among the foothills and provides an ideal gateway onto your rural stop for this evening, the small village of Jawalbanj. (B,L,D)

Day 9: Jawalbanj Village - Corbett Tiger Reserve
Taking a last look towards the stirring landscapes of the Kumaon Hills, you turn your back on the mountains and head down a gentle meandering slope into the valley below. The 5 kilometre trail takes you through forests of cedar and past terraced fields and remote village houses, as you make your way towards the cluster of temples that makes up the Jageshwar Temple Complex. From here you will then be driven on to the Corbett National Park, one of the country's most important tiger sanctuaries. (B,L,D)

Day 10: Corbett Tiger Reserve
With a tiger population of around 160, Corbett National Park is one of India's most spectacular wildlife preserves. Set amongst the rich landscapes of the Ramanganga River Valley, it is also one of the best places in India for bird-watching, with something close to 600 different species being recorded here. Each game drive takes around 4 hours and if you wish it is also possible to organise Elephant rides as well. (B,L,D)

Day 11: Corbett Tiger Reserve - Rishikesh
After being collected from your lodge this morning, you will drive some 6 hours to the holy town of Rishikesh, travelling through a multitude of colourful towns en route to the sumptuous setting of your next hotel. Anada in the Himalayas is a setting like no other. Tranquil in the extreme, it is surrounded by Sal forests and overlooks the majestic ribbon of the River Ganges as it carves its way through India's spiritual heart. (B)

Day 12: Rishikesh
With time to relax and soak up the unique ambience of this exclusive setting, the next two days have been left free for you to enjoy at your own leisure. Today the river's banks are lined with ashrams, where holy men gather to rest and pray before they begin their arduous pilgrimage up into the snow covered lands of the 'Abode of the Gods'. During your time here you can indulge in a range of spa treatments and yoga sessions, enjoy the pool and the grounds, or perhaps take an evening trip down to the river to watch a traditional aarti ceremony. Night at Ananda in the Himalayas. (B)

Day 13: Rishikesh
Day at leisure in Rishikesh. (B)

Day 14: Rishikesh - Delhi
Ending your journey as you began it, you travel back to Delhi by train this morning. On arrival in the Indian capital you will met and taken to a restaurant for dinner before being transferred to the airport, where your tour will end. (B,D)