Your Delhi, Rajasthan and North India Specialist
Beauty of India Tours
THE EXPERIENCE:
Positive female energy vibrates on this in-depth journey full of discovery, friendship and wellness.
Enrich your spirit as you share experiences with your like-minded women companions.
Created for 50+ women, this luxury package brings
together all the elements needed for a revitalizing visit to one of the most unique and special places in India.
An inspiring voyage of food, culture, Ayurvedic and yoga, join us in one of the most beautiful beaches of North Goa, to connect with your body, mind and soul....
Where:
Devarya Wellness Resort, Goa, India
https://www.devaryawellness.com
When:
April Session
April 5th - 12th, 2020 (8 days, 7 nights)
November Session (with Diwali)
November 12th - 19th (8 days, 7 nights)
Daily Itinerary:
Nourishing Vegetarian Breakfast
Morning Gentle Flow
Early morning, gentle flow Yoga that will make you feel rejuvenated for the whole day 8:30 - 9:30 am (60 mins)
Restorative Yoga
Evening session 6:00 - 7:00 pm (60 mins)
Sound Healing
Evening session 7:00 - 7:30 pm
Nourishing Vegetarian Dinner
Included Day Activities
Nutrition/Indian Cooking Class and lunch (single session)
Henna Application tutorial
Included Evening Activities
Movie night
Friday and Saturday Night Markets
Rangoli and Mandala Classes
Optional Activities
Dolphin sighting boat excursion at sunrise
Wednesday Anjuna Flea Market visit
Old Goa, Spice Farm and Waterfall Day Trip
Canoeing, Kite surfing, Stand-up paddle boarding
PROJECT HIMALAYAS
India will teach us the tolerance and gentleness of mature mind, understanding spirit and a unifying,
pacifying love for all human beings. – Will Durant
Project Himalayas
17 days | 16 nights | $3870 USD
TOUR OVERVIEW
THE EXPERIENCE:
Connection. Contribution. Transformation.
Contribute your knowledge, your time and your hands to Fernweh Project - an initiative we support and you can as well.
This mesmerizing journey takes you through the untouched Himalayas - a land of mysteries where you will experience a deep immersion in Himalayan culture and the natural beauty of the mountains .
Travel where you will experience authentic Indian Himalayan traditions, cultures, food, handicrafts and simple way of living while uplifting the lives of the locals.
Experience everyday Himalayan life: we will interact with local children in their classroom, learn the secrets of Indian cooking, take walks to see our village friends, take on the challenge of optional treks, visit centuries old temples and discover this
stunning, untouched part of the Himalayas.
While on this journey you will be supporting the Fernweh/Bachan empowerment project for underprivileged women and untouchable tribes - plus environmental and educational projects.
We'll provide you with an unforgettable and transformative experience, while making a positive impact on these Indian women and children.
Spend the last four days in Mussoorie and Dehradun before heading back to Delhi and onward travel.
THE ROUTE:
We'll be travelling from Delhi to Dehradun and Rishikesh then onwards to a beautiful homestay in the mountains of Gopeshwar. We'll have nine nights there to see authentic, local India before we head to Mussoorie for 4 nights to complete our journey with a relaxing stay in the "Queen of the Hills"
ITINERARY
Day 1
Arrive Dehradun from New Delhi and transfer to your hotel. Optional Ayurvedic massage. Evening dinner reception to meet your escort and fellow guests.
Overnight Dehradun.
Day 2
Dehradun, in the Himalayan foothills, is the capital of Uttarakhand and is host to many famous Buddhist temples and Hindu shrines. We'll visit the Buddha
temple first and make wishes in the wishing pond. The temple area is calm and peaceful and you can see the monks and old Tibetan men and women chanting hymns and carrying out prayers. Enjoy a fun, street snack followed by visit to Guru Ram Rai Gurudwara - a huge Sikh complex.
Dinner at your leisure.
Overnight Dehradun.
Day 3
Start after breakfast with a visit to the Tibetan Monastery of Mindrolling - a centre for learning and studying for over 300 years. Special emphasis was placed on the learning of Buddhist scriptures, astronomy, Tibetan lunar calendar, calligraphy, rhetoric, and traditional Tibetan medicine.
Our next stop is the Hindu temple to Lord Shiva - Tapkeshwar Temple located at the forest edge, with the main lingum inside a cave. In the late afternoon we'll travel to Rishikesh (1 hour) and check in to our hotel. Dinner at your leisure. Evening walk on the ghats.
Overnight Rishikesh.
Day 4
After breakfast we will have a meditation/yoga session before we tour the ghats and city. Afternoon city tour of Rishikesh. Dinner at your leisure. Ganga Aarti ceremony on the ghats of the Ganges. Overnight Rishikesh.
Day 5
Today we leave after breakfast and travel to Gopeshwar in the deep Himalayas. We'll be heading to Peaches and Pears our homestay for the next seven days.
After a traditional welcome we'll have lunch and relax
Late afternoon we have a scenic walk to the neighbouring rice fields and a natural water source. Overnight Peaches and Pears.
Home-cooked organic dinner.
Day 6
Breakfast, then a walk around the homestay and gardens to understand the eco-friendly practices. You will learn more about the organic farming and are free to have fruits, veggies and herbs from the gardens. Afternoon visit to Gopeshwar to discover Gopinath temple constructed in 9th to 11th c plus visit to a typical, colourful mountain village market. We will buy some kurtas (local attire) to visit our villages later on during the week. Dinner under the stars. Overnight Peaches and Pears.
Day 7
After breakfast visit handicraft village program and trek to untouchable tribal villages. We meet the artisans and will be able to participate in making the handicrafts, learn about the handicraft plus buy the products directly from the artisans.
Lunch at a beautiful old traditional house. We'll have a bonfire in the evening and sit around enjoying our dinner with our host family and listening to the local legends. Overnight Peaches and Pears.
Day 8
Today we will visit a very scenic ancient temple in a beautiful natural setting. This is one of the 2 temples in the world where Shiva and Shakti are together. It is a divine union of consciousness and energy. We will participate in the temple aarti with the head priest.
After the temple we will visit a project run by retired Army men to save the environment by planting new plants/trees. We have lent them our land (rent free) to continue this project. After lunch we will have free time to relax or join the optional – trek behind the house to the peak.
Dinner then overnight Peaches and Pears.
Day 9
Breakfast, then we will go for our village program. Discover beautiful old architecture and to see the village life where underprivileged women are employed. An income is generated for them via our program. We will speak to few villagers and exchange stories and visit the local school to see the simple education system. Lunch is with a young widowed lady and her family supported by our empowerment project. We will have time for a village and farm walk before our freshly prepared, home-made organic dinner, around the fire.
Overnight Peaches and Pears.
Day 10
Today after breakfast, we drive to Mandal, a river valley village and starting point of our trek to the Ansuiya temple. We trek 7 km through the forest to reach this century old, Devi temple. We will have lunch today in a traditional home in the village and after lunch we will head to the Atri Muni Ashram with it's stunning waterfall. The Ashram is a short 2 km from the temple via a beautiful route through dense forest. The Ashram is in the form of a cave temple behind the waterfall. After tea at the home of a monk/rishi next to the waterfall, we head back to our homestay.
Dinner at our homestay.
Overnight Peaches and Pears.
Day 11
We will head to a quaint, river village called Koteshwar today after breakfast. This village has a fairy tale beauty about it - featuring lush green rice fields, bamboo trees and forest with crystal-clear beautiful rivers running through it. The village homes are painted in different hues of blues and green and we will stop at one of these to have our lunch. Simple but serene, there's a view to the rice fields where a variety of birds chirp and dance. Our hostess is an elderly widowed lady, joined by her daughter-in-law and granddaughter. After our lunch we will walk next to the river before heading to our next destination of Chopta. We'll drive through the beautiful and dense Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary to Chopta, a route brimming with birds and wildlife. Tonight, we will stay in this enchanted spot - next to a clear stream in the middle of the forest. Just being here, you will feel re-energized by all the natural beauty. Chopta is the most picturesque spot in Uttarakhand and remains still untouched. Dinner.
Overnight Forest Cabins.
Day 12
Wake up to a breath-taking view of the forest - according to local beliefs, fairies are supposed to live in Chopta. After breakfast, we'll trek to Tungnath - "Lord of the Peaks”. It’s a stunning trek of 3.5 km which takes us through snow-clad mountain views to the Tungnath Temple. Magnificent in its architectural and artistic structure, Tungnath is thought to be more than 1000 years old. Located at an altitude of 3,680 m in the midst of pristine forests, the temple rarely sees travellers. Fortunately for us,
as the region is famous for its rich flora and fauna and majestic beauty. We stop for lunch here and enthusiastic trekkers can climb another 1.5km to Chandershila summit at 4000 m. The awesome views of the surrounding peaks include Trishula, Nanda Devi - at 7816 m, the highest peak in India, and Chaukhamba.
We start from 2700 m (Chopta) to 4000 m (Chandershila). Chandershila (the moon stone) is supposed to be a gateway to heaven according to Hindusim. On our way down from Tungnath to Chopta we will be armed with gloves and garbage bags. This will be our contribution to cleaning the Himalayas as we collect the trash on our way down. This clean drive will be organized by Fernweh Fair Travel and our host, Beauty of India Tours. Back in our camp, we will have a warm dinner around the fire. Overnight Forest Cabins.
Day 13
Head back to the homestay to relax before we leave the Himalayas.
Today we are going to have our Indian cooking course with a local hostess. You will learn the secret of adding the right amount of spices to produce a beautiful dish - sure to impress the family and friends back home! Before the class we will get fresh herbs and vegetables from the gardens. We all will cook and enjoy our fruits of labour together with the host family and have time to reflect back on our journey with a question and answer circle.
Overnight Peaches and Pears.
Day 14
After breakfast leave for Hill Station Mussoorie, "The Queen of the Hills". Our journey will take us through the foothills of the Garhwal Himalayan range. Sightseeing and lunch stops along the way. Arrive Mussoorie and check-in hotel. Dinner at your leisure. Overnight Mussoorie.
Day 15
Spend your free time in the morning relaxing after breakfast. We'll have a tour of the Mall Road and the beautiful Kempty Falls in the afternoon. Dinner at your leisure. Overnight Mussoorie.
Day 16
Full day sight-seeing in Mussoorie with picnic lunch in Happy Valley - former home of the Tibetan government in exile in India. In April 1959, a young Dalai Lama arrived at Happy Valley.
Later, his government-in-exile moved to Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh leaving behind a community of Tibetans who had built a Buddhist Temple and Tibetan-style homes. As of 2016, Happy Valley still was home to about 5000 Tibetan refugees.
On our return, we'll stop at Clouds End lookout - one of the highest peaks in Mussoorie. Farewell dinner with your group and guide. Overnight Mussoorie.
Day 17
Breakfast then we'll transfer to Dehradun to catch our flight to Delhi and onward travel. Let us know if you need accommodation or transfers in Delhi or want to add on a city tour.
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SUITABLE FOR:
The independent female who
wants to give back while experiencing the Himalayas in depth.
OUR DIFFERENCE:
Personal service and individually
crafted experiences. Safe and
comfortable travel.
What a great experience! Louise and Ashfaq were great to work with. They were engaging, knowledgeable, fun, flexible, affordable, and just provided a fantastic trip!! I would recommend them in a heart beat and will use them when I return - Deb W. 2018
Had an amazing time in India thanks to both Louise and Ashfaq! Louise is a sweet Canadian lady who gave us a chance to eat great homemade Indian food and Ashfaq was very professional at guiding us throughout our trip in Agra. I would not have been able to experience what I experienced in India if it weren’t for them.
All in all a great tour and I'm looking forward to my next trip to India! - Niyabae 2018
Louise prepared an excellent tour for me - all the top sites in Rajasthan as well as her hidden favourites. From the bustling cities to the immense Thar desert, I had a once in a lifetime experience in this fascinating country. My guides and the team at Beauty of India Tours made an unforgettable trip and I highly recommend them! - William M. 2018
Project Himalayas
17 days | 16 nights
TOUR DATES 2020 Pricing
April 6, 2020 - 8 places available 3870 USD PAX
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
Visit to Mindrolling Monastery in Dehradun
Ashram Meditation/Yoga at Rishikesh
Ganga Aarti Ceremony in Rishikesh
Organic eco-farm visit
Gopinath temple in Gopeshwar and village market visit
Drive through Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary to Chopta
Village program and school visit
in Gopeshwar
Ansuiya Temple trek to reach the
century old, Devi temple
Local Cooking lesson and
feast afterwards
Happy Valley visit and picnic
in Mussoorie
Kempty Falls and Clouds End Lookout
in Mussoorie
Mall Road, Gun Hill and Camelback Mountain in Mussoorie
WHAT'S INCLUDED
4 nights accommodation
in our select hotels in
Rishikesh and Dehradun (single)
7 nights Peaches & Pears Homestay
(twin share)
2 nights Forest Cabins (twin share)
3 nights Mussoorie (single)
17 Breakfasts/10 Lunches/10 Dinners
Comfortable
air-conditioned vehicle
Expert escort
and professional driver
City guides in Dehradun,
Rishikesh and Mussoorie
Flexible leisure time
and optional activities
Airport and all other transfers for
duration of tour