Detailed itinerary
Kumaon Escape — Nainital & Ranikhet 4N/5D
From
₹13,900
The gentle Kumaon circuit, entirely private and entirely at your pace. Two nights on Naini Lake for the temple, ropeway, caves and Mall Road, then two nights in the Ranikhet cantonment — Jhula Devi's bells, Chaubatia's apple orchards and the uninterrupted Himalayan skyline at Majhkhali.
Trip at a glance
- Naini Lake boating and Naina Devi Temple
- Snow View Point by ropeway
- Jhula Devi Temple and Chaubatia Gardens
- Himalayan panorama at Majhkhali
- Eco Cave Gardens and Tibetan Market
Day by day
5 days, start to finish — travel, activities and where you sleep each night.
- 1
Day 1
Arrive Nainital
Met at Kathgodam railway station (or Dehradun) and driven up through the Kumaon hills to Nainital. Check in and take the evening around the lake: Mall Road, The Flats, and the Tibetan Market for shawls and trinkets, with optional boating on Naini Lake as the hills go dark around it. Overnight in Nainital.
- 2
Day 2
Nainital local sightseeing
Naina Devi Temple on the lake's north shore first, then the ropeway up to Snow View Point for the Nanda Devi and Trishul skyline on a clear day (subject to weather and operations). Eco Cave Gardens for the interconnected rock caves, and Lover's Point and Himalayan View Point for the valley. Afternoon free around Mall Road. Overnight in Nainital.
- 3
Day 3
Nainital to Ranikhet
Breakfast and check-out for the drive through the Kumaon hills to Ranikhet, a cantonment town of pines and long views. On arrival, Jhula Devi Temple with its thousands of bells left by devotees, the terraced Chaubatia Gardens and their apple orchards, and Mankameshwar Temple. A far quieter evening than Nainital's. Overnight in Ranikhet.
- 4
Day 4
Ranikhet local sightseeing
A gentle day: Haidakhan Babaji Temple, then Majhkhali for one of the best uninterrupted Himalayan panoramas in Kumaon. Bhalu Dam or a quiet nature walk in the afternoon, depending on access and weather, with time for cafés and the local market. Evening free in the mountain air. Overnight in Ranikhet.
- 5
Day 5
Departure from Ranikhet
Breakfast and check-out with an unhurried morning, then the drive down to Kathgodam or Dehradun for your onward journey.
Inclusions & exclusions
What's included
- Accommodation on double sharing in selected hotels and resorts
- Daily breakfast at the hotel
- Private vehicle for all transfers and sightseeing as per the itinerary
- Pick-up and drop at Kathgodam railway station or Dehradun
- All sightseeing mentioned in the itinerary
- Driver allowance, fuel, tolls and parking
- All applicable hotel taxes
- On-trip coordinator assistance
Not included
- Train or air tickets to and from Kathgodam/Dehradun
- Lunches and dinners unless specified
- Jim Corbett jeep safari permit and gypsy charges, if not included in the final costing
- Ropeway tickets, boating and entry fees
- Personal expenses, tips and shopping
- Costs due to weather, permit unavailability or zone changes
- Travel insurance and medical expenses
- Anything not specifically mentioned under Inclusions
Where you stay
Lake-view hotels in Nainital, quiet cantonment stays in Ranikhet, and a forest resort near Jim Corbett on the longer plan.
Good to know
Is the Corbett safari guaranteed?
The drive is booked in advance, but the forest department allocates zones and permits, and both can change at short notice. Tiger sightings are never guaranteed anywhere in India — Corbett's dense sal forest makes it especially unpredictable.
When is Jim Corbett open?
The core Dhikala zone runs mid-November to mid-June. Buffer zones such as Jhirna and Dhela stay open year round, with monsoon closures for some routes.
Is the Nainital ropeway always running?
It operates through the day but suspends in high wind, heavy rain or fog, and queues get long on weekends and holidays. We plan it early in the day where possible.
Is Ranikhet worth the stop?
If you want quiet, yes — it is an army cantonment with no commercial development, pine forest, temples and unobstructed Himalayan views from Majhkhali. It is the calm counterpoint to Nainital's busy Mall Road.
Best time to visit Kumaon?
March to June for pleasant hill weather, September to November for the clearest Himalayan views, and December to February for cold, quiet, occasionally snowy days.
Ready for Nainital · Ranikhet · Corbett, Uttarakhand?
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