The Himalayan Pause
14 days | 21 April – 4 May 2027 | € 2095
The Himalayan Pause group
An invitation to slow down and experience Northern India differently through sacred rivers, peaceful Himalayan villages, ancient forests, and the simple luxury of time.
€2095 per person, based on a shared twin room
Highlights of the trip
Ganga Aarti in Haridwar
Experience one of India’s most moving spiritual ceremonies as lamps flicker across the water and prayers fill the evening air beside the sacred Ganges.
Village Life in Kimsar
Experience everyday rural life at a gentle pace, wander through the village, meet local residents, and enjoy a warm, home-style lunch.
Spiritual Confluence at Devprayag
Journey into the Himalayan foothills to witness the spectacular confluence where the Alaknanda and Bhagirathi Rivers meet to become the sacred Ganges.
Wildlife in Jim Corbett National Park
Journey into India’s oldest national park for thrilling safaris through dense forests in search of elephants, deer, rich birdlife, and the elusive tiger.
Himalayan Stillness in Binsar & Almora
Climb into the scenic Kumaon Hills to relax surrounded by cedar forests, fresh mountain air, magnificent Himalayan views, and explore the cultural heart of Almora.
General Description
Created for those who long to experience India differently—not through hurried itineraries or endless lists of places to visit, but through moments of quiet discovery, meaningful encounters and the simple luxury of time. It offers the perfect balance between exploration and time to simply be. Along the way, you’ll discover sacred rivers, peaceful Himalayan villages, ancient forests and places where life still unfolds at a gentler pace. Throughout this itinerary, you’ll also find ‘A Moment to Notice’—gentle invitations to slow down, observe and connect more deeply with the people, places and traditions you’ll encounter along the way.
€ 2095 per person, based on a shared twin room.
€ 2095 per person, based on a shared twin room.
Travel schedule
Welcome to Delhi, the vibrant capital of India. After arriving at the airport, you will be warmly welcomed by your driver and transferred to your comfortable hotel. There are no planned activities today. Instead, slow down and acclimatize. Perhaps enjoy a quiet cup of chai in the courtyard or rest after your travels.🌿 A Moment to Notice
As you step outside the airport, pause for a moment before reaching for your camera. Listen to the sounds, breathe in the warm air, and allow yourself to simply arrive.
This morning you will leave the bustle of Delhi behind and travel north towards Haridwar, one of India’s most sacred cities, where the Ganges emerges from the Himalaya onto the plains. Settle into your beautiful riverside home. At dusk, head to the ghats for the Ganga Aarti ceremony, where lamps flicker across the water, prayers fill the evening air, and the river becomes a river of light. This stay includes breakfast, high tea, and dinner.
🌿 A Moment to Notice
Watch how each person greets the Ganges. Some offer flowers, some whisper prayers, others simply sit quietly beside the water. Every gesture tells its own story.
Today you will leave Haridwar to visit the nearby village of Kimsar. This is an opportunity to experience everyday rural life at a gentle pace. Wander through the village, meet local residents, and gain an insight into traditions that continue much as they have for generations. Enjoy a warm, home-style lunch providing another opportunity to experience Indian hospitality. Return to Haridwar in the afternoon.
🌿 A Moment to Notice
Notice how daily life unfolds without performance. A neighbour sweeping a courtyard, children walking home from school, someone preparing lunch. These ordinary moments are often the most memorable.
Today has been intentionally left open. Slow travel is about having nowhere particular to be. Wander through Haridwar’s colourful markets, discover hidden temples tucked into quiet lanes, or simply sit beside the Ganges watching daily life unfold. Alternatively, remain at your hotel where yoga, meditation, and the peaceful riverside setting invite complete relaxation.
🌿 A Moment to Notice
Choose one place beside the river and stay there for ten minutes longer than feels necessary. It’s amazing how much begins to reveal itself when we stop moving.
A short drive brings you to Rishikesh, a town long associated with yoga, meditation, and life beside the Ganges. Settle into your charming boutique accommodation. The remainder of the day is yours to cross suspension bridges, browse independent bookshops and cafés, or find a quiet place beside the river. Rishikesh rewards curiosity more than hurried sightseeing.
🌿 A Moment to Notice
Rishikesh has a different rhythm. Listen for temple bells carried on the breeze, the laughter from riverside cafés and the ever-present sound of the river flowing beneath it all.
Embark on an excursion deeper into the Himalayan foothills to Devprayag, a deeply spiritual place where the Alaknanda and Bhagirathi Rivers meet to become the sacred Ganges. Spend time exploring the town before returning to Rishikesh.
🌿 A Moment to Notice
Stand quietly where the two rivers meet. Notice how two distinct colours merge into one. Nature often teaches us profound lessons without saying a word.
Today is yours to enjoy exactly as you wish. Enjoy riverside cafés, browse artisan shops, attend a yoga class, visit Parmarth Niketan, cross the famous suspension bridges, or join an optional guided heritage walk introducing the quieter corners of Rishikesh, revealing hidden temples and stories woven into the town’s history.
🌿 A Moment to Notice
Leave your itinerary behind for an hour. Follow the lane that catches your curiosity, step into the little shop, accept the invitation for chai. Sometimes the finest discoveries are the ones we never planned.
Leave the river behind and journey into the forests of Jim Corbett National Park, India’s oldest national park. Settle into a peaceful riverside lodge. In the late afternoon, head out on your first safari in search of elephants, deer, rich birdlife, and the elusive Bengal tiger. This stay includes all meals.
🌿 A Moment to Notice
Before looking for wildlife, close your eyes for a few seconds. Listen to the forest first. Birds, insects, rustling leaves and distant calls create a world that often goes unnoticed.
Your sunrise safari offers another opportunity to explore Jim Corbett’s remarkable ecosystem. The forest comes alive with birdsong and soft morning light. The remainder of the day is intentionally relaxed to visit nearby villages, enjoy riverside walks, or simply unwind at the lodge.
🌿 A Moment to Notice
The forest rewards patience. The more quietly you observe, the more life begins to appear. Sometimes the greatest privilege is simply being accepted into nature’s rhythm.
Enjoy a scenic drive gradually climbing into the Kumaon Hills towards Binsar, where forests give way to spectacular mountain vistas. Settle into your home for the next three nights, an elegant heritage property surrounded by cedar forests and fresh mountain air. This stay includes breakfast and dinner.
🌿 A Moment to Notice
As the road climbs higher, notice the changing light, the cooler air and the scent of cedar forests. The mountains have a quiet way of inviting us to breathe more deeply.
Today you will explore Almora, often described as the cultural heart of Kumaon. Ancient temples, traditional markets, local artisans, and magnificent Himalayan views combine to create a town that has inspired writers, artists, and seekers for generations.
🌿 A Moment to Notice
Watch the hands of the artisans, shopkeepers and food vendors. Generations of knowledge are often carried not in books, but in the quiet confidence of experienced hands.
Discover mountain villages and sacred landscapes where spirituality remains woven into everyday life. Ancient temples, stories carried through generations, and spectacular Himalayan scenery make this a day best experienced rather than explained.
🌿 A Moment to Notice
Whether or not you consider yourself spiritual, notice the deep reverence with which local people approach these sacred places. Respect, gratitude and tradition are woven naturally into everyday life.
The afternoon is at leisure, giving you time to relax or explore the city at your own pace.
Today you return to Delhi by flight, bringing your unforgettable slow travel journey to an end.
🌿 A Moment to Notice
As your journey draws to a close, ask yourself one simple question: ‘What part of this journey do I hope to carry home with me?’ Perhaps it is the river, the mountains, a conversation, or simply the permission to slow down.
Included in the price
Not included
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