First, 2 nights in Rishikesh
Ananda in the Himalayas
A former Tehri Garhwal palace estate above the Ganges near Rishikesh — Ayurvedic physicians, yoga, and a hillside spa, run as a structured wellness retreat.
Rishikesh · Resort · Luxury★★★★★
Luxury Accommodation8 NightsLuxuryHill Station
Corbett Wildlife Safari — Luxury
About This Journey
Corbett Wildlife Safari — Luxury
Corbett Wildlife Safari pairs Uttarakhand's hill-station circuit with real time in India's oldest national park. Eight nights run from Rishikesh direct to Nainital via the Kumaon foothills, then on to Corbett for two full days of jungle safaris — the trip built around the wildlife rather than treating it as an add-on.
- 01
Two safari days at Corbett, not one
The itinerary gives Corbett a morning jungle safari and a second safari plus time on the riverbank, rather than squeezing the park into a single overnight.
- 02
Nainital's lake and ropeway on the way in
Before Corbett, the route stops in Nainital for the lake, the Naina Devi Temple, Mall Road and the Snow View Ropeway, so the trip reads as a genuine hills-then-wildlife journey rather than a straight run to the park.
- 03
Lodges built for the reserve
The Corbett nights are at Taj Corbett Resort & Spa for luxury or Aahana — The Corbett Wilderness for premium, both set up for game drives rather than a standard city hotel.
Chapter Two — Where You'll Stay
3 Real Stays, In Order
Handpicked along your own route — not a hotel chain repeated city to city.
Next, 3 nights in Nainital
Naini Retreat
A British-era heritage hotel on the Ayarpatta ridge above Nainital — a terrace over Naini Lake, period-furnished rooms, and a short walk to Mall Road.
Nainital · Hotel · Luxury★★★★
Finally, 3 nights in Corbett
Taj Corbett Resort & Spa
A Taj resort in sal forest on the Kosi river at the edge of Corbett — private river decks, naturalist-led jeep safaris, and a spa.
Corbett · Resort · Luxury★★★★★
Chapter Three — Day by Day
Real Uttarakhand Attractions in This Itinerary
7 of your 9days — the full itinerary follows below. Scroll to travel the route.
Day 2 · Rishikesh
Rishikesh — Rafting and the Evening Aarti
A morning of white-water rafting on the Ganges, a run of roughly two to three hours through named rapids from Shivpuri or Marine Drive down toward the town, grade two to three and suited to first-timers. The afternoon is free, or given to a yoga class at one of the riverside ashrams. The evening returns to the ghats for the aarti, either at Triveni Ghat or the quieter Parmarth Niketan.
Day 3 · Rishikesh → Nainital
Rishikesh to Nainital — Direct via the Kumaon Foothills
A direct transfer of around seven hours, skirting the plains through Haldwani and Kathgodam before climbing into the Kumaon hills. It is the route used on itineraries that go straight from Rishikesh to the lakes and Corbett without a Mussoorie stop. You arrive at Nainital in the late afternoon or early evening, with time for a first walk beside the lake before dinner.
Day 4 · Nainital
Nainital — the Lake and the Naina Devi Temple
A morning on Naini Lake itself, a rowed or pedal-boat outing past the Mall Road promenade to the far shore and back. The Naina Devi temple at the lake's northern end, rebuilt after the 1880 landslide that reshaped the town. The afternoon is free for the lakeside cafes, or a walk out to the quieter Sattal or Bhimtal lakes nearby if there is time.
Day 5 · Nainital
Nainital — Mall Road and the Snow View Ropeway
A morning ropeway ride up to Snow View, for a wide Himalayan panorama that takes in Nanda Devi and Trishul on a clear day, best done early before the haze rises. The rest of the morning is Mall Road, the bazaar of woollens, walking sticks and candle shops that lines the lake's eastern edge. The afternoon is unhurried, or given to Tiffin Top or Land's End for a quieter viewpoint away from the main ropeway crowds.
Day 6 · Nainital → Corbett
Nainital to Corbett
A drive of about three hours down from the hills to the Corbett buffer zone near Ramnagar, dropping back through forest and farmland. You check into a riverside lodge on the Kosi by early afternoon, with time for a look around the grounds before the day's light fades. Safari permits and zone allocations are usually confirmed the evening before, so the first full safari begins early the next morning.
Day 7 · Corbett
Corbett — Morning Jungle Safari
An early start for the day's first safari slot, into one of Corbett's permit zones by open jeep with a naturalist. The three-hour drive covers sal forest, grassland and river crossings, reading pug marks and alarm calls for signs of tiger and elephant, with deer, langur and a wide range of birdlife seen along the way regardless. The afternoon is free at the lodge, by the river, before a second safari or a quiet evening on the riverside deck.
Day 8 · Corbett
Corbett — a Second Safari and the Riverbank
A second safari, usually in the afternoon slot and often into a different zone from the first, to widen the chances of a sighting and see the park in different light. The rest of the day is spent at the lodge on the Kosi or Ramganga riverbank, watching for birdlife and, on the far bank, sometimes elephants coming down to drink. Many lodges end the day with a bonfire and dinner by the water.
Chapter Four — The Full Itinerary
9 Days, In Full
Every day, start to finish — including the transfers the day-by-day chapter above skipped.
Rishikesh
Arrive in Rishikesh
The usual way in is a drive from Dehradun's Jolly Grant airport, about forty-five minutes, or from Delhi, about five and a half hours by road. The Dehradun–Haridwar rail line also stops close by. You settle in by the Ganges in the afternoon. The evening is for a first walk across Laxman Jhula and along the ghats, ending at Triveni Ghat for the aarti as the light drops.
Rishikesh
Rishikesh — Rafting and the Evening Aarti
A morning of white-water rafting on the Ganges, a run of roughly two to three hours through named rapids from Shivpuri or Marine Drive down toward the town, grade two to three and suited to first-timers. The afternoon is free, or given to a yoga class at one of the riverside ashrams. The evening returns to the ghats for the aarti, either at Triveni Ghat or the quieter Parmarth Niketan.
Rishikesh → Nainital
Rishikesh to Nainital — Direct via the Kumaon Foothills
A direct transfer of around seven hours, skirting the plains through Haldwani and Kathgodam before climbing into the Kumaon hills. It is the route used on itineraries that go straight from Rishikesh to the lakes and Corbett without a Mussoorie stop. You arrive at Nainital in the late afternoon or early evening, with time for a first walk beside the lake before dinner.
Nainital
Nainital — the Lake and the Naina Devi Temple
A morning on Naini Lake itself, a rowed or pedal-boat outing past the Mall Road promenade to the far shore and back. The Naina Devi temple at the lake's northern end, rebuilt after the 1880 landslide that reshaped the town. The afternoon is free for the lakeside cafes, or a walk out to the quieter Sattal or Bhimtal lakes nearby if there is time.
Nainital
Nainital — Mall Road and the Snow View Ropeway
A morning ropeway ride up to Snow View, for a wide Himalayan panorama that takes in Nanda Devi and Trishul on a clear day, best done early before the haze rises. The rest of the morning is Mall Road, the bazaar of woollens, walking sticks and candle shops that lines the lake's eastern edge. The afternoon is unhurried, or given to Tiffin Top or Land's End for a quieter viewpoint away from the main ropeway crowds.
Nainital → Corbett
Nainital to Corbett
A drive of about three hours down from the hills to the Corbett buffer zone near Ramnagar, dropping back through forest and farmland. You check into a riverside lodge on the Kosi by early afternoon, with time for a look around the grounds before the day's light fades. Safari permits and zone allocations are usually confirmed the evening before, so the first full safari begins early the next morning.
Corbett
Corbett — Morning Jungle Safari
An early start for the day's first safari slot, into one of Corbett's permit zones by open jeep with a naturalist. The three-hour drive covers sal forest, grassland and river crossings, reading pug marks and alarm calls for signs of tiger and elephant, with deer, langur and a wide range of birdlife seen along the way regardless. The afternoon is free at the lodge, by the river, before a second safari or a quiet evening on the riverside deck.
Corbett
Corbett — a Second Safari and the Riverbank
A second safari, usually in the afternoon slot and often into a different zone from the first, to widen the chances of a sighting and see the park in different light. The rest of the day is spent at the lodge on the Kosi or Ramganga riverbank, watching for birdlife and, on the far bank, sometimes elephants coming down to drink. Many lodges end the day with a bonfire and dinner by the water.
Corbett
Corbett — Departure
A last early safari if the timing allows, or a relaxed morning on the riverbank. Corbett is reached from Delhi in about six hours by road, or via Ramnagar's rail link, or a short flight connection through Dehradun or Pantnagar depending on the route. It is the usual last stop on an Uttarakhand circuit before flying or training onward.
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What Our Travelers Say
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Chapter Five — Terms & Conditions
Straightforward, In Writing
Cancellation windows, refund timing, and rescheduling terms for this journey follow our one sitewide policy — nothing package-specific to dig through.
Read the Return & Refund PolicyFrequently Asked
Before You Book
How many safaris does this itinerary include?
Two full safari outings at Corbett — a morning jungle safari and a second safari combined with riverbank time — across the two nights spent at the park.
Are safari vehicle and permit bookings included?
Yes, safari logistics at Corbett are arranged as part of the trip; specific zones and timings depend on park availability on the day.
Chapter Six — Similar Journeys
More of Uttarakhand, Privately
Before you go
Planning Uttarakhand
Travel Tips
Private Tour or Group Tour in India? An Honest Comparison
First-Time IndiaPlanning GuideTravel Tips
Travel Tips
Getting Around India: Trains, Flights or a Private Car?
First-Time IndiaPlanning GuideTravel Tips
Travel Tips
Eating Well in India Without Getting Ill: A Practical Guide
First-Time IndiaFood & CulturePlanning Guide
Why Choose Us
The Same Trust, Sized to This Trip
01
Planning, Built Around You
This route was shaped around Uttarakhand's real places, not lifted from a fixed template.
13 years — Brijesh Sharma, Bespoke Itinerary Specialist
02
Handpicked Hotels
Every stay on this trip was chosen in person, not off a ratings page.
3 real stays, 4–5★
03
A Private Fleet, Always Yours
One driver, air-conditioned, for the whole route — no shared shuttle.
Premium sedans & SUVs · One driver, the whole trip
Kashmir to Kanyakumari
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