Summer Time on the RARE ‘List’
10 May, 2013
Summer holidays are well on and truly upon us and RARE presents to you 7 summer experiences.
If a tranquil hideaway, serene surroundings, a flowing river, panoramic mountain views are on your radar for this summer, the ‘RARE Summer Experience’ line-up will make for your perfect holiday. Holidays with RARE are replete with fun and unique experiences for you and the family that include – plum picking, picnic in apple orchards, breathtaking mountain trails, nights spent in a log cabin or a village house, tea tasting, bird watching, walking through heritage villages or just chilling……
Atali Ganga: Overlooking the Ganges, 30 Kms from Rishikesh, sitting at 30' North, is Atali Ganga. Though not a hill getaway, Atali makes the cut for your holiday in May and June for the rafting it offers in the Ganges. Positioned as an 'Activotel', the entire focus is on active adventure, fun and nature based tourism along with the comfort of modern living. Atali aims to rejuvenate stressed out city dwellers with an adrenalin pump and the calm of nature. Activities here include rafting, kayaking, rappelling, mountain biking, nature walks, yoga, birding and a state of the art obstacle course.
Glenburn Tea Estate: Pick Glenburn, a 1600 acre working tea estate overlooking Kachenjunga as your summer destination this year! The beautifully restored plantation bungalows have themed suites, lounge, dining and several outdoor spaces to relax and enjoy the views. The interiors and furnishings lend a very English country ambience while intimate dining , high teas with freshly baked cakes, picnics by the river, delicious meals and inexhaustible mountain air add to the Glenburn experience. The activities includes exploring the plantation and villages, nature and bird walks, overnights in the log cabin, picnic in the tea gardens, tea tour and excursions to Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Gangtok.
Itmenaan Estate: Located in Kumaon mountains, Itmenaan spells simplicity and style and is supported by genial local staff subtly trained for discreet service and a cuisine that is at once creative, local and delicious. Itmenaan combines a gentle inclusive philosophy that believes in restoration, conservation of environment and working with the local community with a concept unique to its location – The Estate has restored Kumaoni slate-roof homes that offer simple and comfortable accommodation, en-suite bathrooms and stunning Himalayan views. The location is perfect for summers for its presence close to streams, forests and nature.
Mary Budden Estate: In the high mountains of Kumaon about an hour’s drive from Almora, in the Binsar Sanctuary lies Mary Budden Estate. Thickly wooded, virtually an extension of the Binsar forests is the five acre estate that has two charming English cottages offering six exquisitely furnished rooms with generous sit-out and outdoor spaces. Each cottage has its own dining room as well as living room and verandah hence ideal for friends and families travelling together who can book the cottages for a restful retreat in the hills.
Neeralaya is a river-side retreat set in village Raison, just off the main Kullu-Manali road. Three typical mountain villas, a thatched dining shack, a breakfast gazebo, a staff office and reception, kitchen garden, huge expanse of landscaped gardens with the river Beas flowing close by, makes for a perfect summer escape. Made up of recycled timber, slate and stone, the villas are large, spacious and comfortable with wooden flooring, fireplace, writing desk, closet and windows or verandas with views of the river. Activities range from fishing trips, trek to Jana village, walk through apple orchards, visit local temples, day trips to Manali and rafting.
Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge (TMPL) in Nepal that began under Tiger Tops Mountain Group today continues forth as an independent nature based mountain lodge. The lodge has set lofty standards under Marcus’s private entrepreneurship which he drives with energy and passion. The Lodge houses - the dining room, sitting areas, Library and bar, all set on top of the ridge while the cottages are built into the side, mountain views being the deciding factor for their location. The architecture is similar to the local village homes and is completely in sync with the gardens and woodlands that have been left to flourish.
Violet Hill: If a private home in the hills, nestled well above the city's din and humdrum, offering unbroken, panoramic views of the Himalayas sounds like an inviting premise, Violet Hill in Mashobra is your destination this summer. Charming and intimate with hearty splashes of color - two bedrooms with attached reading rooms, a third bedroom with an attic space, a living room attached to a quaint dining room spread over two levels; Violet Hills is your perfect private retreat in the hills. Scenic trekking and hiking trails will occupy your days, the inspiring setting is perfect for devouring books off your bucket list and excursions to close by towns in particular to Shimla – the British summer capital is a must.