Digital Detox Retreat

The digital detox retreat is bound to recharge us to deal with whatever life is going to throw at us and keep doing all the great work we do even with more force!

Uttarakhand

Starts: from Delhi

Ends: at Delhi

Dates

Start: TBA

End: TBA

~~₹ 7200~~

₹ 6500

About the Tour

Let’s escape to a quaint Himalayan village for a Digital Detox weekend, and soak ourselves in the magnificence of nature. Break up with the digital life and spend some meaningful time connecting with nature. Embrace the cool breeze, birds, leaves, mountains, clouds while our mind gets time to relax and heal.

What do you think about the idea of digital detox for a weekend? Don’t you want to disconnect yourself from the continuous email, WhatsApp, and Facebook notifications, and escape to a peaceful world? These notifications come anytime, disturbing our mental balance day and night, right? Don’t you crave a weekend where you don’t want to click and upload Instagram-perfect shots, and just be at your ease?

Let’s escape to a beautiful Himalayan village for a weekend over a Digital Detox Retreat, and soak ourselves in the magnificence of nature. Unplugging doesn’t only give some rest to the eyes and brain, but it’s also a much-needed way to reconnect with ourselves and think over the things which have been sitting in our subconscious mind for weeks or months. During Digital Detoxification, we go through an uninterrupted process where our mind gets time to relax, heal, and introspect. It also helps in restoring a balance between online and offline in long term.

The digital detox retreat is bound to recharge us to deal with whatever the life is going to throw at us and keep doing all the great work we do even with more force!

We’ll be staying in a 100-year-old homestay which is a perfect combination of a pahadi house and a colonial bungalow. An old, yet so fresh, smell of wooden floors gives you sweet comfort inside your room. This 100-acre estate has organic farms, livestock, pine and oak trees, a small dam, exotic flowers like gladiolus, a small automatic flour mill, and river Kalsa graciously flowing through it. Adding to this, the scrumptious pahadi meal, a huge mango tree in the compound and an adventurous Bhotiya dog which would not stop trekking with you, are the other delights of coming along for a vacation to this place.

Trip Highlights

1. Stay in Bungalow

We’ll be staying in more than a century-old homestay which was designed by taking some of the best elements from Kumaoni and colonial architecture. The rooms are spacious, well-designed, extremely comfortable, and have wooden floors. Just staying in such a unique kind of homestay is an experience in itself.

2. Organic Farming

Does the idea of injected and shiny wax-coated vegetables horrify you? Is one of your biggest fears while grocery shopping not to end up buying pesticide-contaminated fruits because you don’t know how to distinguish? Have you been thinking about growing your food but don’t know how to start? Let’s have a lesson on organic farming to know how to choose ‘right’ groceries and the techniques of developing your own terrace garden.

3. Beekeeping

Did you know that bees are one of the most sophisticated and structured civilization? Even a swarm of bees won’t bite you unless they sense an abrupt body movement. The taste of the honey produced by a hive of bees highly depends on the taste of fruits and flowers they pollinate upon. We’ll be learning many more such stories about bees in this session. If season permits, we’ll also be savouring the freshest honey from the honeycomb.

4. Nature Walk

The visit to the Himalayas is incomplete without having a close interaction with nature. Get a chance to experience the rich pine and oak forests, rest under the trees, spot beautiful birds, dip your feet or swim in the crystal clear water pools, discover hidden waterfalls, and appreciate the huge diversity of local plants and their utilities.

5. River Time

We always get to spend some playful time with the river Kalsa during this trip, as it flows through the estate of our hosts. Depending on the level of water in the Kalsa river, you can either swim or just dip your feet in the river while embracing the beauty around you. The river water is crystal clear and indeed gives an extremely refreshing experience.

6. Village Walk

Walk through the village to witness authentic Kumaoni homes and the simple life lived by the dwellers. The frisky little kids would chase you, inviting you to their homes. It would be worth of your time to teach them a few skills or share some stories. Interact with the friendly locals, understand their pahadi lifestyle and look at some local inventions.

7. Traditional Meals

Meals are one of the most exciting parts of this trip. All the organic ingredients are used to prepare the meals, some from the farms of the host family while the others are procured from nearby villages. You also get to taste quite a few traditional items such as pahadi raita, dupka, saag, etc and the taste of every single dish is finger-licking good. Your tummy would get full but your soul would still crave for more.

8. Dairy Farming

Dairy farming is one of the primary livelihoods in the village community. It’s an optional activity where we will understand the various aspects, challenges involved, and the need for dairy farming.

9. Trekking Unexplored trails

Karkotak trek drives its name from a fascinating mythological character named Karkotak who is a snake. This trek is the most exciting part of the journey as we will be hiking on the trails used by locals in their daily lives. The journey is made more interesting by the occasional edgy trails, dense jungles, breathtaking viewpoints, and offering of pahaadi cucumber by the villagers. The peak offers a majestic view of Bhimtal Lake and Naukuchiatal.

10. Bonfire & Group Games

Stay excited for this part!

11. Unforgettable social experience

Our small group size ensures a personal touch and our group leaders make sure to bond the entire group like long-lost friends. Hence, along with an amazing travel experience, you are in for great social bonding.

Your Itinerary

Day 0: Friday

We will start from Delhi in a private vehicle booked exclusively for our group at 11 PM. There will be multiple pick-up points that would be disclosed later. With some fun group games, we will continue our journey towards our destination.

Day 1: Saturday

We are expected to reach Haldwani/ Kathgodham at no later than 6 am and still 1.5 hours far from our destination village. The mesmerizing sights of the lower Himalayas, picturesque Kumaoni villages, pine jungles and the beautiful bridges over the river will increase our excitement with every turn.

Our fatigue will be turned into excitement by our heartwarming hosts, and the first sip of the tastiest ginger tea we will have at our homestay.

After settling in, we will freshen up and have breakfast followed by informal group introductions. We have an entertaining way of breaking the ice and bringing the participants a bit closer. Post this; we will visit the farms, have a hands-on organic farming experience and learn some traditional techniques followed by local communities. We can also pluck and taste some fresh veggies directly from the farms.

Some natural feet acupressure after sweating in the fields is definitely needed. We will walk to the river for some relaxation and rejuvenation. The river has crystal clear water with colorful pebbles at its sand bed making it no lesser than any other exotic destination in the world.

We will go back to homestay for a lip smacking pahadi lunch which will be followed by experiencing bee-keeping. Get your hands at the beehive, understand how bee-kingdoms are structured, how queen bee is different from others, and how to care for bees. In the end, don’t blame us for your never ending curiosity towards a new subject.

In the evening, we’ll go to the old village for a walk to get a glimpse of an authentic Kumaoni village, which also offers the bird’s eye view of the valley making it a good spot for the photographs.

Afterwards, we will settle around a bonfire with some games, conversations, music and good food. Depending on everyone’s interest, we will also listen to the nomadic adventures of our host family.

Day 2: Sunday

We will depart the homestay after breakfast to hike the Karkotak Peak, leaving our packed luggage at the homestay and carrying a daypack only.

Locals believe, Karkotak is a snake mentioned in “Purana” and “Mahabharata” and it protects the village from natural disasters.

Karkotak trek is one of the unique trails you would ever do at lower altitudes. It’s a non-touristy trek which is used mostly by locals to bring fodder for the livestock and wood from the jungle. More than our energy to hike, we need to focus on the technicalities of the trail. The route goes through the beautiful pine and oak forest consisting of sharp edges, grassy patches, and beautiful wide shadowed paths. We will also witness many other small and charming pahadi villages while hiking. Don’t worry, the trek is safe and spellbinding. En-route, we will also have some interesting discussions about the dependence of villagers on forests and practices undertaken to conserve them.

Please note that Karkotak Trek is completely optional.

Upon reaching the top, we will have our packed lunch overlooking the captivating Bhimtal Lake and Naukuchiatal Lake. After having some leisure time at the peak, we will descend to Bhimtal and spend some relaxing time near the Bhimtal lake before departing to Haldwani. We will have our dinner in Haldwani and followed by our departure to Delhi in our private vehicle.

Important Information

Ex – Delhi:

7200 INR

6500 INR if registered before April 15 (extended until April 27)

To make a booking, please send an email to chandni@transformingtravels.com

All transport from Delhi to Delhi (either Innova or Force Tempo Traveler depending on Group Size)
Stay in a 100-year-old bungalow on twin-sharing basis
Day 1: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 2: Breakfast and packed Lunch
Expenses of guide during our stay in the village
Cost of all activities mentioned in the plan
A 24/7 highly professional and friendly group lead throughout the tour

All the meals not listed in Inclusions, i.e., meals while traveling to/from Delhi and Dinner in Haldwani on Day 2
Any expense on any items/services which are personal such as driver tips, medicines, toiletries, sun protection creams, snacks, laundry, STD calls, etc.
Any extra expenses incurred due to delays arising from bad weather conditions or any unanticipated or uncontrollable conditions
Any medical expenses
Any other expenses of any nature not included in the INCLUSIONS section

The group size will be limited to a maximum of 15 people: 13 participants + 2 facilitators and a minimum of 6 people: 5 participants + 1 facilitator.
We will start from Delhi on Friday (scroll to the top of the page to see the dates) at around 11 PM. We begin from Mandi House Metro Station Gate No. 2.
We are expected to reach back to Delhi on Monday (scroll to the top of the page to see the dates) at around 5.30 AM. We have never reached beyond 6 AM, still cannot guarantee the exact time of arrival.
Since this is a Digital Detox Retreat, you would not be allowed to use the Digital Devices for minimum 24 hours once you we have reached the destination. We will be collecting your phones and keeping them at a safe place accessible to all group members from where they can pick their devices anytime they want (only recommended to pick phones in case of emergencies). We return phones on Sunday morning before leaving for the trekking. We also allow one DSLR in the group for the photos which are later shared with all the group members. Please note that even if one person would use the devices during the trip, it would disturb the digital detox process and the peace of fellow guests too. We don’t want to use a forced methodology, but participants are expected to respect the rules.
Please note that we don’t distribute any bottled water on any of our trips because of its negative impacts on environment and health. It’s very easy to refill your water bottles in the Himalayas with water at the places of stay, restaurants or tea shops. Hence, please carry your own water bottle.

Hiking Shoes/ Comfortable Walking Shoes
Warm Clothes
Sunglasses/ Hat/ Headgear
Sunscreen
Refillable Water Bottle
Toilet papers to be used during road journey
Towels
Sanitizer
Power Banks
Neck Pillow
Any prescribed medication if you have
POSITIVE ENERGY & ENTHUSIASM!

60 days before the trip: 90% refund
60-41 days before the trip: 70% refund
40-21 days before the trip: 50% refund
20-11 days before the trip: 30% refund
10-5 days before the trip: 10% refund
Less than 5 days before the trip: No Refund

You need to follow these terms and conditions while travelling with Transforming Travels.

Participants will be respectful to the fellow guests, organizers and the hosts
Participants have to show a little degree of flexibility during the tour
It’s the duty of participant to assess whether they are physically fit or not for the tour before joining it

Important Information

Cost

Ex – Delhi:

7200 INR

6500 INR if registered before April 15 (extended until April 27)

To make a booking, please send an email to chandni@transformingtravels.com

Inclusions

All transport from Delhi to Delhi (either Innova or Force Tempo Traveler depending on Group Size)
Stay in a 100-year-old bungalow on twin-sharing basis
Day 1: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 2: Breakfast and packed Lunch
Expenses of guide during our stay in the village
Cost of all activities mentioned in the plan
A 24/7 highly professional and friendly group lead throughout the tour

Exclusions

All the meals not listed in Inclusions, i.e., meals while traveling to/from Delhi and Dinner in Haldwani on Day 2
Any expense on any items/services which are personal such as driver tips, medicines, toiletries, sun protection creams, snacks, laundry, STD calls, etc.
Any extra expenses incurred due to delays arising from bad weather conditions or any unanticipated or uncontrollable conditions
Any medical expenses
Any other expenses of any nature not included in the INCLUSIONS section

Basic Info

The group size will be limited to a maximum of 15 people: 13 participants + 2 facilitators and a minimum of 6 people: 5 participants + 1 facilitator.
We will start from Delhi on Friday (scroll to the top of the page to see the dates) at around 11 PM. We begin from Mandi House Metro Station Gate No. 2.
We are expected to reach back to Delhi on Monday (scroll to the top of the page to see the dates) at around 5.30 AM. We have never reached beyond 6 AM, still cannot guarantee the exact time of arrival.
Since this is a Digital Detox Retreat, you would not be allowed to use the Digital Devices for minimum 24 hours once you we have reached the destination. We will be collecting your phones and keeping them at a safe place accessible to all group members from where they can pick their devices anytime they want (only recommended to pick phones in case of emergencies). We return phones on Sunday morning before leaving for the trekking. We also allow one DSLR in the group for the photos which are later shared with all the group members. Please note that even if one person would use the devices during the trip, it would disturb the digital detox process and the peace of fellow guests too. We don’t want to use a forced methodology, but participants are expected to respect the rules.
Please note that we don’t distribute any bottled water on any of our trips because of its negative impacts on environment and health. It’s very easy to refill your water bottles in the Himalayas with water at the places of stay, restaurants or tea shops. Hence, please carry your own water bottle.

Packing List

Hiking Shoes/ Comfortable Walking Shoes
Warm Clothes
Sunglasses/ Hat/ Headgear
Sunscreen
Refillable Water Bottle
Toilet papers to be used during road journey
Towels
Sanitizer
Power Banks
Neck Pillow
Any prescribed medication if you have
POSITIVE ENERGY & ENTHUSIASM!

Cancellation Policy

60 days before the trip: 90% refund
60-41 days before the trip: 70% refund
40-21 days before the trip: 50% refund
20-11 days before the trip: 30% refund
10-5 days before the trip: 10% refund
Less than 5 days before the trip: No Refund

Terms and Conditions

You need to follow these terms and conditions while travelling with Transforming Travels.

Participants will be respectful to the fellow guests, organizers and the hosts
Participants have to show a little degree of flexibility during the tour
It’s the duty of participant to assess whether they are physically fit or not for the tour before joining it

Booking/ Query

To book this trip, please Call/ WhatsApp/ Email using the below-mentioned details.

If you have any questions or concerns, then please feel free to contact us using the below-mentioned details. Alternatively, fill this form and our team will get back to you at their earliest.