The Binsar Forest Trail
Hosted by Knowhere Travel Company
- Verified Host
- Logout's Trusted
- Traveler's Choice
All About It
- 30 Slots
- Difficulty - Easy
- For 3+ years
- Best Season - Winter (Nov, Dec, Jan) Spring (Feb, March, April) May June October
The Binsar wildlife Sanctuary is a protected nature reserve that is home to oak, rhododendron, and pine trees. Walking amongst this jaw dropping landscape are leopards, barking deer, porcupines, langurs, and over 200 species of birds.
Since our inception, we have wanted to execute meaningful journeys that truly explore India.
This guided experience is located in the magnificent Binsar Forest in the heart of the Kumaon Himalaya, Uttarakhand.
This unique experience is the winner of 3 WTM Responsible Tourism awards.
The trail is set at an average altitude of 1500 to 2500 meters above sea level. From various points, you are blessed with panoramic views of Himalayan peaks such as Trishul, Nanda Devi, Nanda Kot, and the Panchachulis. Imagine being at eye level with some of the highest mountains in the world!
This forest trail is punctuated with breaks at four or five villages inside the sanctuary. Each village consists of only 3 to 10 households, and together, these kindly folk run and manage comfortable guesthouses and feed you steaming hot Kumaoni food straight from their wood fires and farms.
Rest up, eat well, and unwind on beautiful porches with your fellow hikers and engage the locals in discussions that we promise will give you a new perspective on mountain culture. The people here are intelligent, good-humoured, and excited to welcome you to their corner of the world.
We have conceptualized this experience as the perfect balance of active holidaying, nature therapy, and cultural immersion without compromising on comfort, privacy, and safety. At the heart of this are the core principles of sustainable travel: a non-intrusive holiday that does not disturb the traditional, agricultural, and economic aspects of our community partners.
Who should attend?
This is one for the books, folks. You will enjoy this holiday no matter what your area of interest is.
If you’re intrigued by ecology, there is a wealth of knowledge on the secrets of the forest walking beside you. Keep an eye out for minivets and griffons, lichen and epiphytes, butterflies and beetles, orchids and ferns, creepers and vines, the list goes on!
If you’re curious about the local way of life, culture, and history, you will find that there’s a lot to learn from the native folk about their homes, farms, and even their diet!
Folks interested in geography and landscapes will find the Binsar Forest Trail to be a mouthwatering visual journey with a variety of terrains and habitats.
Hikers who no longer want to set up camp after a long day's walk will find comfort in having a warm bed to sleep in. Beginners can use this opportunity to experience the Himalaya on gentle terrain.
Guests are required to have a basic level of fitness - as a thumb rule, the average duration of walks every day would be between 3 to 5 hours. Most of the trail is through gentle terrain and is approachable for all.
We at Knowhere Travel pride ourselves in advocating experiences only after we have personally verified them. We prioritise the safety of women and children and ensure every guest is of a similar wavelength.
The mountains are calling, we'll keep a room ready.
What will we do ?
Travel Not Applicable
Homestay
All Meals (Veg meals will be served. Eggs and fruits will be available for breakfast.)
Day 1 - Pick up from Kathgodam at 5 am, drive to Khali Estate for breakfast, begin walking to the villages.
Day 1 to 6 - You will spend the next 5 nights in the villages before returning to Khali Estate for a night.
Day 7 - After breakfast, drop to Kathgodam for your onward journey back home. Until next time!
Meet your host
Knowhere Travel Company
- Verified Host
- Logout's Trusted
- Traveler's Choice
Inclusions
All accommodation, all meals (veg), tea/coffee/snacks, transfers to and from Kathgodam, one internal transfer, local guides, porters, entry fees, GST, and service charges.
Exclusions
Flight/rail/bus fares, 4% online transaction charges, tips, trip extensions, travel insurance, alcoholic beverages, anything not mentioned under 'includes'
PICKUP LOCATIONS
Kathgodam railway station
HOW TO REACH
Rail/bus
Onward - Book an overnight bus/train (Ranikhet Express) to Kathgodam from Delhi on the day before the starting date. We will receive you at Kathgodam the next morning at 5 am.
Return - Book an afternoon/overnight bus/train (Shatabdi/Ranikhet Express) to Delhi from Kathgodam on the last day. We will drop you at Kathgodam by 2 pm.
Bus operators
Fast Track or Uttarakhand Transport Corporation and more can be booked via RedBus.in
Note - Trains stop at both Haldwani and Kathgodam while buses often ply only until Haldwani. They're just 15 mins apart and we can pick you up from either of the two places. That said, Kathgodam would be the preferred stop if possible.
Flights
Onward - Fly into Pantnagar (1 hour away) or Bareilly (2.5 hours away), and stay overnight at Kathgodam/Haldwani on the day before the starting date We will receive you at Kathgodam the next morning at 5 am.
Return - We will drop you at Pantnagar/Bareilly on the last day depending on your flight timings. There may be a supplement cost of Rs. 2000 - Rs. 5000 should you choose one of these options.
Note - We do not book bus/rail/air tickets. Guests are requested to book the same independently. We advise booking train tickets well in advance to ensure availability.
Policy and more
30% cancellation charges after booking.
50% cancellation charges 50 days before the start of the trip.
100% cancellation charges 30 days before the start of the trip.
In case of cancellation, 90% of the booking amount will be offered as a 1-year credit note if we find a replacement. Cancellation terms are only applicable if our payment terms are met.
Terms and Conditions
You are responsible for making arrangements for your domestic or international journey to arrive at Kathgodam. Please note that we cannot be held liable for any delays or disruption to or cancellation of services by public or private transport providers.
Please note that on our walking holidays, many of our walks take place at an average altitude of 2,000 to 3,000 meters and that the temperature and weather conditions may be different from those you have previously encountered. It is your responsibility to ensure you are physically fit and that you keep yourself hydrated during your walks. You will occasionally be walking on steep terrain that may become slippery in certain weather conditions. You must ensure you have appropriate footwear and/or kits as it may be recommended for a particular activity.
Anyone suffering from illness/disability or undergoing treatment for any physical or medical condition must declare the true nature of such condition at the time of the reservation and make arrangements for the provision of any medication or treatment required during the holiday. Failure to make such disclosures shall absolve Knowhere Travel Co from any consequences emanating from such physical or mental condition and of all obligations that it may otherwise have under theses booking conditions.
Our guides have been selected for their knowledge of the hills and local conditions. If they reasonably consider that any of the routes planned for your holiday will or may present a danger for you or other members of your party or that you or any members(s) of your party will or may be unable to manage the planned route, they may modify your itinerary accordingly. You must agree to any such reasonable changes made in the interests of safety.
Please act responsibly and respect the environment at all times. You will also be spending time getting to know small, rural communities and we would ask you to respect their way of life, customs and religious sentiments. It is advisable to dress in an appropriate manner such that the clothes are not very revealing and respect eating habits of the concerned communities.
By offering for sale travel to particular destinations in India, we do not represent or warrant that travel to such point is advisable or without risk. Knowhere Travel Co does not accept liability for damages, losses, or delays that may result from improper documents for entry, exit, length of stay, or from travel to such destinations.
Please note that the food in many of our communities is vegetarian. Please let us know in advance of any allergies or special dietary requirements. Whilst specially designed for guests the accommodation in our village guest-houses and other accommodation is very simple in line with life lived in such remote rural communities. By accepting these booking conditions you are acknowledging acceptance of such a simple life style during your village stays.
Knowhere Travel Co will not be responsible for any injury or loss, personal or financial, suffered during the entire journey. Knowhere Travel Co is only expected to take reasonable care and precautions in this regard and will not be held responsible for any acts or neglect resulting in any such loss.
We do not have any insurance policy covering the expenses for accident, sickness, loss due to theft, or any other reasons. You are advised to seek such insurance arrangements directly. It is recommended that you and all members of your party take out adequate and appropriate insurance cover for the duration of your trip before commencing with travel schedule or the holiday. By booking with Knowhere Travel Co you agree to ensure that you and all members of your party have adequate cancellation, medical, emergency and repatriation insurance appropriate to your/their particular needs. This is your responsibility. Each member of your party is required to provide the Knowhere Travel Co with the name and contact details of the person we should contact in the unlikely event of an emergency. Knowhere Travel Co will not be responsible in any manner for the consequences arising from your inability to take any or inadequate insurance cover. All baggage & personal properties at all times are at owner’s risk.
All participants of holidays operated by the Knowhere Travel Co are expected to obey the laws and regulations of the host state and any failure to do so will relieve the Travels of all obligations that it may otherwise have under these booking conditions
This contract is made on the terms of these booking conditions which are governed and be construed with laws of the Republic of India and any dispute shall exclusively be subject to the jurisdiction of the appropriate Courts situated at Nainital, Uttarakhand, India.
In the event of a dispute arising out of or relating to this contract, including any question regarding its existence, validity or termination, the parties shall first seek settlement of that dispute amicably. If the dispute is not settled within 30 (thirty) days of settling it amicably, or such further period as the parties shall agree in writing, then the dispute may be settled in accordance with the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 by a sole Arbitrator to be appointed by the Company. The Arbitration proceedings will be in Nainital, Uttarakhand, India. The arbitration proceedings shall be in the English language. The arbitrator’s decision shall be final and binding on both parties. In case of any dispute concerning the award, the courts in Uttarakhand shall have exclusive Jurisdiction.
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