Location: Kumaon

Duration: 5 Nights / 6 Days

Holiday Type: Unexplored Places

Interest Type: Group Tours

Package Type: Village Tours

Sarmoli :- Sarmoli, steeped in a history of being along an ancient trade and pilgrim route with a present which is uniquely rural and rich in both cultural & natural diversity is a small village in Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand. Set amidst the majestic towering Panchachuli peaks, on the banks of Gori river and located close to the tri-junction of the international borders of India, Nepal and Tibet, the village offers a unique frontier flavour. 

Bariza Holidays with the help of Rural Odyssey, along with the people of Sarmoli, offers you an unforgettable experience of Sarmoli. You will have a chance to explore the local culture by dwelling in houses of the local people. You can share your life experience with them to help in making a positive impact in their lives and aid in earning a Livelihood for a better future. Families welcome you to share your cooking skills, learn to solar bake, cook with fresh ingredients and get back to the basics for those so inclined. One can learn to weave with wool on traditional looms, weave baskets using montane bamboo–crafts that are seasonally engaged in and are integral to the community that is highly dependent on its forests And rich natural heritage. We invite you to come and have this authentic and unique cultural experience !

Places Of Interest :-  Munsiari Bazaar, Nanda Devi Mandir and Danadhar.

• All meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) at Sarmoli. 
• Expenses of guides during our stay in the village. 
• Both way Volvo tickets from  Anand Vihar ISBT Uttarakhand Roadways Delhi to Delhi and further travel from Haldwani to Haldwani by tempo traveller.
• Accommodation in simple and comfortable Traditional Kumaoni Home stays  on twin-sharing basis. If someone is in a group of  3,  all the three can be accommodated in a same home stay, but this must be conveyed to us while booking. Couples will be accommodated in the same home stay. 

Please Note :- These rates are valid for Indian Passport holders only, foreigners are requested to, please cross check the rates with our tour experts before booking the package.

Important Note :- This is a proposal of quotation and not a confirmation of booking. Rates are subject to revision, hence we requests our customers to check the current rates with our Tour Experts in the moment of confirmation of the services or before the final booking...

• Medical & Travel insurance.
• Any Airfare or Government Service tax.
• Personal expenses are not included in the package.
• X-Mas & New Year supplements will be charged extra.
• Additional costs due to flight cancellation, road blocks etc.
• Anything not specifically mentioned under the head “Prices included”.
• Any extra expenses due to delays arising from bad weather and unforeseen circumstances.
• Any monument entrance fee/activity charges/adventure sport charges / Gaming charges, Jungle Safari etc. (if applicable).
• Any items/services which are personal in nature like toiletries, sun protection creams, chips, soft drinks, laundry, STD calls, etc.
• All the meals not listed in Inclusions i.e. during Volvo journey from/to Delhi and Tempo Traveller journey from/to Haldwani, will be at actual.

Day 1: Board Your Uttarakhand Roadways Volvo From Delhi And Overnight Onboard

We will assemble at Anand Vihar ISBT, Delhi at 2000 Hrs ; get to know your fellow travellers before we board the Uttarakhand Roadways Volvo bus to Haldwani, Uttarakhand at 2100 Hrs.

Day 2: After Reaching Sarmoli Village In The Evening Relax Your Self

We will reach Haldwani at around 5 AM, and will start our journey to Sarmoli in a Traveller van. The journey enchants you with a picturesque view of old mountain towns of Nainital, Almora, Seraghat, Berinag and Thal, and Kalamuni Pass (9000 feet above sea level). We will finally descend into the Gori valley and reach Sarmoli by early evening. It’s a beautiful drive as you drive past the Kosi River near Almora, Sarayu at Seraghat, and Ramganga at Thal, and finally enter the Gori Ganga watershed. We will make stops on the way For refreshments and meals (breakfast and lunch) at nice food joints, with breathtaking views all over the place. In Sarmoli, we will be welcomed by our hospitable hosts and splendid Panchchuli peaks. To rejuvenate you, we have arranged for twin sharing rooms (in the homes of native people) with Clean fresh linen and duvets, and attached western bathrooms with running water. All the rooms are comfortable and quiet with a view of majestic Panchchuli peaks. We will end the day with a freshly prepared organic dinner with our hosts or in private as per your wish.

Day 3: Explore the Kumaoni mountain village

Today, we start the day with a guided tour of the village, and get to understand the Sarmoli community, their farming practices, connection with the forests and their rich culture. As we walk around, we will visit few homes of various social and caste groups, understand the cultural and architectural aspects, witness the traditional weaving on looms with wool (maybe try it as well) and learn about the civic amenities such as water sources and innovations in use of solar power. Women of Sarmoli are the powerhouse of the village. Alongside managing the home stays and working in fields, they also run an enterprise “Maati Sangathan”, a collective that run across 50 nearby villages. We will visit Maati Sangathan where you’ll get to interact with the worker’s to know about the functioning of this enterprise, and can also shop locally produced handicrafts including finely woven pashminas and other woollen wear, furnishings, and locally grown organic food products. Post lunch, we will visit Tribal Museum which is founded and managed by Mr. S. S. Pangtey. The museum is his life’s work and dedication towards preserving and protecting the local Bhotiya Tribe (a scheduled tribe that used to trade with Tibet). A half day visit to this museum will give you a glimpse of the old Bhotiya culture which once flourished in the region. In the evening, there’s an optional visit to Munsiari Bazaar, Nanda Devi Mandir and Danadhar. The Bazaar is set between three villages and is a one road Bazaar. Seek the blessings of local goddess in the temple and get a bird’s eye view of the Gori valley from the Vantage point of Danadhar.

Day 4: Today Enjoy A Guided Tour To Forests, Conservation Agriculture And Enjoy Evening With Local Folk Dance

Today, we will understand the region’s seasonal farming practices, enjoy the rich folk music, dance, and interact with village communities. We will start the day with the guided tour through the neighbouring villages of Sarmoli and Shankhdhura to tune into the seasonal agricultural practices. This will give you an insight On how the locals have stuck to the methods of organic farming, despite harsh conditions, and still live a content life. Those adventurous enough can walk up to the grassy ridge slopes of the ‘ghas mang’ or the fodder grass patches where there will be hectic cutting of grass for winter feeding of the livestock. Post lunch, we will have a community get together where we will enjoy the folk music, dance, and healthy fruitful discussions.

Day 5: This Day Enjoy Nature And Flora And Fauna Of Kumaon With Bird Trek / Natural History walk

We will spend the day leisurely with the nature, walking on the stony pathway with a stream running along to the Mesar Kund (a pond nestled in an old Oak forest). Mesar Kund has a very interesting folklore associated, which will be described during the walk. On the way, just before the ancient Mesar Kund, the village community (with their bare hands and efforts) has built another pond, also known as the Mesar Kund (new one) to keep the water stream running through the village throughout the year. With every step, view of Panchchuli will take our breath way, and it keeps getting better and better..

Day 6: This Day Say Good Bye To Lovely Villagers And Amazing Village Sarmoli

Today after the breakfast, we will say goodbye to the village and its wonderful people, and trace our steps back toward Haldwani. From Haldwani, we will board the Volvo Bus to Delhi, and reach there next day early in the morning.

• Transportation as per the itinerary only.
• The package can’t be clubbed with any other offer/deal.
• Package inclusions and itinerary can’t be change/negotiate.
• All transfers, excursions, sightseeing and travel as per itinerary.
• Service Tax would be charged extra as per the govt. rule (as applicable).
• The package can’t be booked for a single person; it is for 12 adults only.
• Local sightseeing as per the itinerary depends on the local weather conditions.
• Refund on cancellation depends upon the concerned hotel’s cancellation policies.
• Guests are not allowed to drive the cab, provided for the above mentioned itinerary.
• The above package is not valid during the festival season, national holidays, long weekends, and New Year.
• Per person rates (in Rs.), and applicable on 12 persons on twin/triple sharing basis. (Maximum 3 adults per room are allowed).
• In case of delay in departure occur by guest, cab extra charges will be charge to the guest. Cab will be available till 12 am of last day of booked package.
• Guests are not allowed to drink (alcohol)/smoke / do any other illegal activities as per the Indian laws inside the cab, provided for the above mentioned itinerary.
• Package rates are subject to change without prior notice. However the new package rates would be conveyed to the guest depending on the availability in the hotels.
• One Child between 0 to 4 years is complimentary (without bed) after that each child between 0 to 4 years 50% of per person package cost without extra bed, child between 4 To 12 years will be charged 70% of the per person package cost with extra bed ( mattress ) sharing the same room with parents, beyond 12 years 100% per person package cost will be charged with extra bed (mattress) sharing the same room with parents and we request our guest to declare the actual age of the child at the time booking.
• Bariza Holidays reserves the right to change/modify/terminate the offer any time at its own discretion and without any prior notice. However the guests who have already booked their packages would be informed on time.

IMPORTANT NOTE

• Each family will serve two freshly cooked vegetarian meals (breakfast and dinner); along with a packed lunch so you can be free to follow your own rhythm through the day. 
• Don’t forget to pack some warm clothes with you. It’ll be mostly sunny during the day, but the weather will be cold in the evening and the night.
• We strictly condemn the consumption of liquor in the home stay or the village. Any kind of misconduct will not be tolerated and the guests will asked to leave the home stay immediately.
• Bariza Holidays & Rural Odyssey is not liable to any sort of arrangements and refunds in that case.