Initiative Holidays

Website: www.initiativeholidays.com (In construction)
E-mail: initiativeholidays@gmail.com
Phone: +91-9456579284 or + 91 9927172036

Who They Are

Initiative Holidays is a travel and tourism company based in Srinagar Garhwal Uttrakhand, India. They offer a wide range of holiday options like eco tours, adventure activities such as trekking, rafting, camping holidays, wildlife and bird watching , community-based holidays, pilgrimages and other travel related services like hotel booking and transport services.

All the trips are organised in a truly responsible and professional manner, respecting nature and local cultures while sharing the benefits of eco tourism with their local areas and their inhabitants. With Initiative holidays you will enrich your experience by helping local communities and immersing yourself in their culture.

Their years of experience in welcoming visitors to Uttrakhand has given them an insight into developing packages to suit individual and group requirements. They also have team members at various locations in Uttrakhand which enables them to ensure quality control.

What they do

Initiative holidays believe in the principals of eco tourism as follows:

- They make maximum use of local potential retaining revenues in communities.
- They promote local products e.g. during your trips meals with local cuisine are served (However, they also allow flexibility to indulge your individual tastes).
- All their team consists of natives from the area of activity specially trained for the purpose by them.
- By providing traditional home stays in their houses.
- By providing support in terms of capacity building to local tourism professionals
- By providing locals access to the market.
- By promoting local crafts/artists and traditional forms of dance, music and instruments, and in this way improving the natural environment and revitalising declining art forms.

All their trips are 100 percent environmentally sensitive .Some of their programmes consists of a unique feature offering the traveller a once in a life time opportunity to become a part of the great mission to save the Himalayas. One example is where clients are able to plant trees at one of the places they visit for the benefit of local residents.

What they offer

- Exclusive community-based camping in the inner Himalayas. The camps are supported by Initiative Holidays.
- Adventure activities like white water rafting in the Ganges (with beach camps stays), Soft and Moderate treks in the Himalayas with community stays.
- Customised Pilgrimage and spiritual tours
- Yoga and meditation tours
- Eco trails with Wild life and bird watching
- Traditional home stays
- Special interest holidays
- Senior citizen’s Tours

Suggested Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive Haridwar by Dehradun Shatabdi (ETA – 0650/1125 hrs).
- You will be met & greeted at the railway station and transfered directly to Rishikesh.
- Arrive at Rishikesh and check in at the hotel: Rishikesh is a spiritual city (earning the prestigious title of ‘Yoga Capital of the World’) located in the foothills of the Himalayas in northern India.
- In the afternoon, there will be a half day tour of Rishikesh, including visits to Swami Shivananda Ashram, Gita Bhawan and Parmarth Niketan, Mahesh Yogi Ashram (made famous by Beatles).
- In the evening you can participate in the Ganga Aarti. Experience the grand ritual of worshiping the holy River Ganges with floating lamps and flowers.
- Overnight: Hotel

Day 2: Rishikesh / Ukhimath / Ganya Village (Approx. 205 kms. 6-7 hrs.)
- Breakfast at the hotel.
- In the morning, drive to Ganya Village en route visiting two confluences Devprayag/Rudraprayag and a quaint Himalayan town Ukhimath.
- Arrive in Ukhimath and visit temple.
- Further drive to Ganya Village (A community managed camp situated in the inner Himalayas inside a wild life Sanctuary). Day at leisure – Enjoy the peace and tranquility of the Himalayas.
- Overnight: Initiative Holidays Community managed – Eco camp

Day 3: Ganya Village / Deoriatal / Ganya Village
- After breakfast drive to Sari Village.
- Arrive at Sari and move to Deoriatal. Deoriatal is one of the most captivating and beautiful lakes in the entire Himalayan belt situated at an altitude of 2438m. The lake is accessible through a moderate trek of 3 kms. surrounded by dense forest. The reflection of the mighty Chaukhamba peak in the lake creates a beautiful effect. This is an ideal place for bird watching and photography.
- Afternoon trek back to Sari Village: The village has been declared a model tourist village due to its rich cultural and traditional heritage. You can immerse yourself in the local culture and participate in community work.
- Overnight: Initiative Holidays Community managed – Eco camp

Day 4: Ganya Village / Tungnath / Ganya Village – 6 kms. drive / 3.5 kms. trek 2 hrs. One way
- After breakfast drive to Chopta.
- Arrive at Chopta and trek to Tungnath. From here you can view the Bandarpoonch, Kedar, Chaukhamba and Dunagiri peaks.Trek up to the summit of Chandrashilla Peak (I km). Enjoy the breathtaking 180 degree view of the Himalayas from here and trek back to Chopta (2-3 hrs).
- Afterwards drive to camp.
- Overnight: Initiative Holidays Community managed – Eco camp

Day 5: Ganya Village / Mandal/Ganya Village (05 kms. drive,1/2 hrs.
- After breakfast drive to Mandal and trek to Ansuya Devi. Trail passes through dense forest. Further trek (2 kms.) to a beautiful waterfall and a cave temple.
OR
- Hiking on an eco-trail and bird watching activities.
- Overnight: Initiative Holidays Community managed – Eco camp

Day 6: Ganya Camp
- Pariticaipate with the local villagers in their daily way of life such as cutting grass for fodder in the mountains, milking of cows, herding of cattles in the jungle, ploughing the fields (seasonal activity) etc.
- Traditional delicacies cooked by village women using traditional method of cooking. Join them and learn the magic of traditional cooking.
- Evening is the time for traditional folk dance and music. The local village artist’s melodious folk lore with traditional instruments will motivate you to dance.
- Overnight: Initiative Holidays Community managed – Eco camp

Day 7: Ganya Camp / Makku Math / Ganya Camp (20 kms. drive, 1 hr – 1 way)
- After breakfast drive to Makku Math –a village of traditional priests. Interact with the local community to learn more about the spiritual life of the Himalayan people.
- Afternoon drive back to the camp. Enjoy the sunset!
- Overnight: Initiative Holidays Community managed – Eco camp

Day 8: Ganya Village / Karanprayag / Adi Badri / Karanprayag (104 kms. – 5 hrs.)
- After breakfast drive to Adi Badri which is 19 kms. From Karanprayag.
- Excursion to Adi Badri and en route visit Chanpur Garhi fort ruins: Adi Badri holds the remains of 16 small temples, seven of which are ancient ruins belonging to the late Gupta period. Chandpur Fort was the seat of Kanak Pal, the actual founder of the present Garhwal dynasty. Archaeological excavations over the last few years are attempting to unearth the lost kingdom.
- Overnight: Hotel

Day 9: Karanpraya / Devprayag (100 kms. drive – 3 hrs.)
- Breakfast at the hotel.
- Drive to Devprayag. Arrive Devprayag check in at the hotel.
- Afternoon visit to the confluence of river Bhagirathi and Alaknanda: It is from this place onwards the river is renamed as Ganga.
- Free time to explore the town and visit local Bazar.
- Overnight: Hotel

Day 10: Devprayag / Haridwar (99 kms. – 3 to 4 hrs.)
- Drive to Haridwar.
- Haridwar is considered as the gateway to the four pilgrimage sites of Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath
& Badrinath in the Uttrakhand region. The Ganges leaves the mountains and enters the plains with Hardwar being the first major town on the plains. It is said that taking a bath in the Ganges purifies the soul and opens the way for the ultimate freedom, Nirvana. Haridwar has been blessed by the trinity of Lord Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma. It is also one of the major Shaktipeeths. Down the ages Hardwar has purified the mind, body and soul & has come up as a major learning center for arts, science and culture.
- In the afternoon proceed for a half day tour of Haridwar visiting Daksha Mahadev temple, Harihar Ashram, Mansa Devi Temple and the local bazaars.
- Evening transfer to railway station to connect Shatabdi Express (ETD 1815/2245 hrs.) to Delhi.

Location

Near Prachi Hotel, Kamleshwar Bagwann,
Srinagar, Pauri Garhwal, Uttarakhand – 246174 INDIA

View on Google Maps

What you need

- Extra Camera batteries
- Woollen socks
- Thick sweater & fleece pullover
- Hand gloves
- Windproof Jacket & pants
- Snow goggles
- Ruck sack
- Sweat pants to wear at night
- Woolen cap
- Raincoat
Note: Clients may need to carry snow boots as well as heavy woolen clothes with them for snow trekking. Please check with Initiative Holidays regarding snow level at the Camp and nearby places.

Accommodation & Amenities

Accommodation will vary from hotels to camping.
The camp has attached WC toilet as well as a bathing area. There is no running hot water, but this can be provided on request. Toilets are tented, dry pit arrangements with western kind of w/c.
Being eco-friendly no electricity at the campsite is allowed as it can hinder the wildlife. However the camp does have the facility of solar lamps
At all sectors the meal plan will be traditional vegetarian Himalayan and Indian food.
All rates are nett per person, in Indian Rupees
VALIDITY OF THE PRICE: 01 OCT. 2010 – 31 APR. 2011
06 Full Paying Pax : INR 23,582/-
08 Full Paying Pax : INR 21,281/-

Quote includes:
1. Accommodation in hotels/Tourist Bungalows /Camping on Twin sharing basis on
Half board basis (breakfast+dinner). However at Ganya Camp meal plan will be on Full Board (i.e.Breakfast+ Lunch+Dinner).Dinner to commence at Rishikesh on Day – 1 and terminate with breakfast at Devprayag on Day -10.
2. Transport: All transfer and sightseeing by AC Tempo Traveller (09 seater mini van) from Haridwar to Haridwar.
3. All sightseeing’s / visits/activities as per your programme only.
4. Meet & Greet services by Initiative Holidays staff /associates.
5. Service tax – 2.48 % on total package price.
6. Local English speaking guide for sightseeing in Rishikesh and Haridwar.
7. Air-conditioned chair car train fare for Delhi/Haridwar/Delhi sectors.