Itinerary
- Day 1
Flight to Delhi
You'll fly to India today, heading to Delhi where your journey begins. This is where everything starts, so settle in for the flight and get ready for what's ahead.
Landmarks Delhi - Day 2
Delhi to Rishikesh
After landing, you'll transfer from Delhi airport to your boutique hotel in Rishikesh sitting on the holy Ganges. You'll meet the group for traditional welcome tea and get a detailed program introduction. As dusk arrives, you'll experience the Ganga Aarti ceremony, a spiritual ritual happening on the river banks. Later, dinner together at your hotel features Indian delicacies.
- Meals
- Dinner (Indian delicacies at accommodation)
Included Activities
- Ganga Aarti ceremony at dusk
- Traditional welcome tea
- Program introduction
Landmarks Ganges River Rishikesh - Day 3
Rishikesh to Gopeshwar
You'll head out early morning toward the Himalayas and Gopeshwar, stopping at scenic spots and having local breakfast along the way. The day includes visiting three of the five sacred confluences in the mountains. By afternoon, you arrive at your homestay and share traditional lunch together. Then you'll take an acclimatization walk, participate in a tea ceremony, and gather around the campfire sharing experiences and local specialties.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Local breakfast en route), Lunch (Traditional lunch at homestay), Dinner (Local specialties at campfire)
Included Activities
- Visits to three sacred confluences
- Acclimatization walk
- Tea ceremony
- Campfire gathering
Landmarks Himalayas - Day 4
Gopeshwar
This morning you can join an optional yoga session guided by locals, then have a hearty breakfast. Afterward, you'll visit the centuries-old Gopinath temple built over 1100 years ago and explore the attached ashram, learning about temple history and mythology. You'll stroll through the quaint Himalayan town shopping for kurtas, traditional Indian clothing worn out of respect for locals. Dinner happens around the campfire this evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Hearty breakfast), Lunch, Dinner (Campfire dinner)
Included Activities
- Yoga session
- Visit to Gopinath temple
- Temple history and mythology introduction
- Town walk and marketplace exploration
- Kurta shopping in marketplace
Landmarks Gopinath Temple Gopeshwar - Day 5
Doongri Village
Today focuses on the village of Doongri, where a local agency has supported widowed women since 2009. You'll explore old village architecture and visit the school to meet children and teachers. Lunch features fresh garden vegetables on a widowed woman's farm. The afternoon includes walks through the village with genuine encounters with locals. You'll end with a tea ceremony and reflection, followed by a final dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Farm lunch with fresh garden vegetables from widowed woman's farm), Dinner
Included Activities
- Village exploration and architecture viewing
- School visit and interaction with children and teachers
- Lunch on farm of widowed woman
- Village exploration walks
- Encounters with villagers
- Tea ceremony
- Visit to women's empowerment project
Landmarks Doongri Village - Day 6
Tribal Village Excursion
After morning yoga and breakfast, you'll climb the mountain to a hidden tribal village. There you'll meet craftspeople and learn about their traditional techniques with chances to purchase their work. Lunch happens in a traditional village house, then you'll continue exploring to learn about daily life in this remote region. A tea ceremony and relaxation time in the afternoon lets you share the day's experiences. The evening brings peaceful time at your homestay.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch in traditional village house), Dinner
Included Activities
- Mountain climb to tribal village
- Meeting with craftspeople
- Learn traditional craft techniques
- Lunch in traditional village house
- Village exploration
- Tea ceremony
- Yoga session
Optional Activities
- Purchase of artisan crafts
Landmarks Tribal Village - Day 7
Koteshwar Permaculture Farm
You'll drive to a permaculture farm in Koteshwar municipality today to see sustainable agriculture practices. A warm welcome includes traditional music and local ceremony. You'll explore the Community Development Center where local women receive training and employment, then learn how permaculture principles work in practice. A guided hike takes you through surrounding villages. The day ends in a hidden camp with tea ceremony, local snacks, and lively conversation.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Local snacks and tea at hidden camp)
Included Activities
- Visit to permaculture farm
- Warm welcome with traditional music and ceremony
- Exploration of Community Development Center
- Permaculture principles learning
- Guided hike through villages
- Tea ceremony at hidden camp
Landmarks Koteshwar - Day 8
Anusuya Devi Temple and Forest
This day starts with a local-guided breathing and yoga session, then breakfast before visiting Anusuya Devi temple, one of the region's most famous pilgrimage sites. The temple sits surrounded by dense jungle requiring a final walk to reach it, with views of surrounding mountains and valleys. Lunch happens in a traditional local house. You'll learn about the 'ghost village' from conversations with two remaining families, then take a forest walk to Atrimuni cave and a waterfall. You'll participate in a Clean Drive garbage collection campaign, returning for dinner and reflection.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch in traditional local house), Dinner
Included Activities
- Breathing and yoga session
- Visit to Anusuya Devi temple
- Temple trail hike
- Lunch in traditional local house
- Conversations with locals about ghost village
- Forest walk to Atrimuni cave
- Walk to waterfall
- Clean Drive garbage collection campaign
- Dinner and reflection
Landmarks Anusuya Devi Temple Atrimuni Cave - Day 9
Forest Bathing and Bandwara Village
An 8 km hike into a beautiful forest brings you to Shinrin Yoku, a Japanese meditation practice that deepens breathing and strengthens bronchial tubes. Step-by-step instructions guide you through this ancient meditation to experience the forest's magical quality. Later you travel to Bandwara, a typical Himalayan foothills village, speaking with female inhabitants for authentic insights into their way of life. Bio-organic lunch comes next, then more village exploration. You return to your retreat in the evening to share day experiences around the campfire over herbal tea.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Bio-organic lunch), Dinner (Herbal tea and refreshments at campfire)
Included Activities
- 8 km forest hike
- Shinrin Yoku forest bathing meditation
- Mindfulness practice
- Visit to Bandwara village
- Conversations with female inhabitants
- Village tour
- Campfire gathering with herbal tea
Landmarks Bandwara Village - Day 10
Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary to Chopta
You'll explore Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary today, the largest protected area in the western Himalayas at 975 km². The sanctuary was established primarily for the endangered Himalayan musk deer but also protects snow leopards, jackals, Himalayan black bears, and numerous other animals. Dense forests contain magnificent Himalayan flowers, shrubs and trees where you'll practice forest meditation techniques. You'll visit a small temple in the protected area, then prepare your own lunch together with local women guides. Later you continue to Chopta for overnight accommodation.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Self-prepared lunch with local women guides), Dinner
Included Activities
- Exploration of Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary
- Forest meditation techniques practice
- Visit to small temple in protected area
- Lunch preparation with local women
Landmarks Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary Chopta - Day 11
Tungnath Temple and Chandrashila Summit
You'll take on a challenging hike to Tungnath today, one of the world's highest places of worship at 3,680 meters elevation. The over-1,000-year-old temple features typical Himalayan architecture and offers spectacular views of surrounding peaks. Then you'll continue to Chandrashila summit at 4,000 meters for a 360 degree panoramic view considered in Hinduism as the gateway to heaven. After a picnic, you return via another garbage clean-up operation. The day ends with a tea ceremony and dinner at your retreat, reflecting on your experiences.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Picnic), Dinner
Included Activities
- Hike to Tungnath temple
- Temple visit at 3,680m elevation
- Picnic at temple
- Hike to Chandrashila summit
- 360° panoramic views at 4,000m
- Garbage clean-up operation
- Tea ceremony
- Dinner and reflection
Landmarks Tungnath Temple Chandrashila Summit - Day 12
Himalayan Traditions and Farewell
Your final day in the Himalayan region focuses on ancient spiritual rituals of the western Himalayas. You'll start with forest bathing and a fortifying breakfast. Participation in a river ceremony introduces Hindu spiritual traditions, then you'll take a cleansing bath experiencing the healing powers of water believed to cleanse body, soul and spirit from impurities. A cooking class with local women lets you prepare regional dishes. The day ends with a festive celebration bidding farewell to the Himalayas, dancing to regional music and enjoying a lavish dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Lavish farewell dinner)
Included Activities
- Forest bathing
- River ceremony
- Cleansing bath ritual
- Cooking class with local women
- Regional dish preparation
- Festive celebration with regional music
- Farewell dinner
Landmarks River - Day 13
Return to Rishikesh
You'll say goodbye to your hosts early and drive back to Rishikesh. A hearty breakfast happens en route with stops at interesting sights along the way. In the afternoon, you'll explore Rishikesh's hidden shopping streets for last souvenirs and soak up the city's atmosphere once more. A walk along the Ganges river banks follows. Evening brings a farewell dinner where the group reflects on trip highlights and shares experiences together.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Hearty breakfast en route), Dinner (Farewell dinner)
Included Activities
- Visit to sights en route
- Shopping street exploration
- Ganges river banks walk
- Farewell dinner
Landmarks Rishikesh Ganges River - Day 14
Departure from Rishikesh
After a final yoga session in the morning and tasty breakfast, your trip comes to an end. You'll say goodbye to fellow travelers and start your journey home. For those with additional time, there's opportunity to explore other facets of Rishikesh and the surrounding area before your airport transfer.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Final yoga session
- Departure transfer to airport
Optional Activities
- Additional exploration of Rishikesh and surrounding area (for travelers with extra time)
Landmarks Rishikesh - Day 15
Return to Germany
You'll have an overnight transfer to the airport tonight with your flight departure. You'll land back in Germany around noon. Your journey ends, but the many inspiring encounters will remain with you.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Landmarks Germany
