We love lazing around… and fun activities in a slow holiday make for a perfect pairing! Speaking of pairings, we have a great idea for you to explore: instead of just staying in one place, why not stay in two of our hand-picked properties… and enjoy a highly customised holiday, at your own pace!
Start in the lower Himalaya at Once Upon a Time, a working organic farm surrounded by orchards, vegetable gardens and the Pir Panjal and Dhauladhar ranges. Spend your days walking through mountain villages and pine forests, swimming in the spring-fed plunge pool, picking fruit or helping out on the farm. Then hike up through deodar forest and shepherd country to The Hermitage, a remote mountaintop home at 7,200ft with nothing but forest, pasture and mountain views around you.
From here, set out on longer hikes into higher country, picnic in the mountains or climb towards 9,500ft and the Gaddi villages. Together, the two stays make a natural journey from the cultivated lower Himalaya into the wilder, higher mountains.
Once Upon a Time + The Hermitage
See a very different side of Goa by combining the riverine backwaters with the coast. At The Other Side, stay among tropical gardens on the Mandovi backwaters, where kayaking, cycling, fishing and birdwatching take you through sleepy villages, waterways and the quieter inland landscape. Then head south to Seaesta, set on one of Goa’s last relatively untouched beaches, where forest, hills, rivers and the sea come together.
Swim from the beach, explore the backwaters with a local fisherman, hike to a treehouse viewpoint or simply follow the coast as the sun goes down. It is a combination that trades the party circuit for two distinctly Goan landscapes— lush inland waterways and an unhurried beach.
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Begin in a small Garhwal village near the Ganga, with river valleys, deodar forests and orchards all around. From Along the Ganges, take gentle hikes, head out for river picnics, explore Tibetan-influenced hamlets or get on the water for a private rafting experience down one of the Ganga’s major tributaries, with kayaking also possible. Then move higher into the mountains to Rhodo Den, a restored stone-and-mud lodge near Deoria Tal and the Chandrashila–Tungnath trail.
From here the walking gets bigger: hike to Deoria Tal, climb towards Tungnath and Chandrashila, explore alpine landscapes and seek out the region’s birdlife. Together, the stays create an active progression from river country to high Himalayan terrain.
Pair the cultural energy of Pondicherry with the wild coastline around Rameshwaram. At Le French Connection, base yourself in the French Quarter and explore the city on foot or by bicycle, dipping into its cafes, sumptuous food, heritage streets, art and music scene before heading out to Auroville, Paradise Beach or even exploring the mangroves of Pichavarami (the second-largest mangrove forest in the world!). Then switch gears completely at Blue Me Away, a watersports-focused retreat near a marine park and the coast.
Spend your days kayaking, sailing, windsurfing, kitesurfing or snorkelling, with the option to explore Dhanushkodi and the surrounding marine landscape. The combination brings together urban wandering and heritage with a distinctly active, water-based side of Tamil Nadu.
French Connection + Blue Me Away
Combine a night under the trees with a deeper immersion in the scrub forests of the Eastern Ghats. At Thicket Dreams, stay close to the landscape and spend your days exploring a little-known habitat on guided walks, birding excursions and night herping trips, with native-plant walks, lake picnics and kayaking adding to the experience. Then retreat to the comfort of The Treehouses, where architect-designed cabins sit among large trees with decks overlooking the greenery and a swimming pool below.
Use it as a place to slow down after the more exploratory days— swim, lounge, eat well and spend time in the forest. Together, the two properties balance hands-on natural history and active exploration with a comfortable, restorative woodland stay.
Thicket Dreams + The Treehouses
Please note:
- Images used here include photos taken by us, various hosts, partners, and guests.
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Reach out to us by mail at journeys@knowheretravel.co, and we are happy to help you pick out the perfect gift for your loved ones!
You can reach us by call or message at
+91 96998 34610 (Dhruv)
+91 96861 57440 (Suman)
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