What to Skip on Your First Trip to Kumaun: Travel Tips

Every first trip to Kumaun comes with a long list of recommendations from friends, blogs and social media. Some of them are wonderful. Others will leave you stuck in traffic, rushing between viewpoints or wondering why you came. This is a candid guide to what you can safely skip on your first visit, and what to do instead. It is not a criticism of any place: every town in Kumaun has its charms. It is simply about getting the most out of limited time.

Skip: trying to see everything

The biggest mistake first-time visitors make is trying to fit Nainital, Ranikhet, Almora, Kausani, Mukteshwar and Munsyari into a single week. On a map these places look close together. In reality, mountain roads are slow, winding and often affected by traffic or landslides. A distance of 60 kilometres can take two or three hours or more.

Instead: choose two or three bases and stay at least two nights in each. You will see more, not less, by travelling less.

Skip: weekend Nainital in peak season

Nainital is beautiful, but on summer weekends and long holidays it can be extremely crowded. Traffic jams on the approach roads can last hours, parking is difficult and the Mall Road can feel like a busy city street.

Instead: visit Nainital on weekdays, or stay in a quieter nearby place such as Sattal, Pangot or Bhimtal and come into Nainital early in the morning. If you are travelling in peak season, consider spending more of your time in Almora, Binsar or Mukteshwar, which are usually calmer.

Skip: the pony ride and boating rush in the middle of the day

Midday in popular lake towns brings the biggest crowds, the longest queues for boats and the harshest light for photographs.

Instead: go out early in the morning or in the late afternoon. Walk around the lake, sit by the water and watch the light change. You will have a far more peaceful experience.

Skip: driving yourself if you are not used to mountain roads

Kumaun’s roads are narrow, winding and steep, with sharp bends, sheer drops and the occasional landslide. Driving here can be stressful and tiring for people used to the plains.

Instead: hire a local driver. They know the roads, the safe stopping points and the places where traffic tends to build up. It is usually worth the cost, and you can enjoy the views.

Skip: driving after dark

Even experienced drivers avoid mountain roads at night. Visibility is poor, animals may be on the road and help can be far away if something goes wrong.

Instead: plan your days so that you arrive before sunset. Start early, and allow extra time for stops and delays.

Skip: expecting guaranteed mountain views

Many first-time visitors arrive expecting a clear view of Nanda Devi, Trishul or the Panchachuli peaks, only to find them hidden behind cloud or haze. In summer, haze is common, and in the monsoon the peaks may stay hidden for days.

Instead: if mountain views matter most to you, aim for October and November, when skies are often clearest. Early mornings are usually best at any time of year. And remember that the forests, villages and people are just as rewarding as the peaks.

Skip: the monsoon if you are on a tight schedule

From roughly late June to September, Kumaun receives heavy rain. Landslides can block roads for hours or days, and travel plans can become unpredictable.

Instead: if you visit in the monsoon, keep your plans flexible, check road conditions daily and leave spare days. The hills are lush and green at this time, and there are fewer crowds, but you need patience.

Skip: generic hotel food

In many tourist towns, hotel menus look the same everywhere: paneer dishes, noodles and pizza. You can eat these anywhere.

Instead: ask for Kumaoni food. Look for bhatt ki churkani, a black soybean curry; aloo ke gutke, spiced potatoes; ras, a mixed lentil dish; madua roti, made with finger millet; and sweets such as bal mithai and singori in Almora. Homestays often cook the best local meals; ask your host in advance.

Skip: leaving rubbish behind

Kumaun’s villages and forests have limited waste management. Plastic bottles, packaging and wrappers left behind by visitors often end up in streams and forests.

Instead: carry a refillable water bottle, avoid single-use plastic and take your rubbish back with you to a town with proper disposal. If you trek, follow leave-no-trace principles.

Skip: rushing past temples and villages

It is tempting to treat Kumaun as a series of viewpoints. But some of its most memorable experiences are in its temples and villages: the stone temples of Jageshwar, the old bazaar in Almora, the village paths around Binsar or Munsyari.

Instead: slow down. Spend an hour at a temple complex, walk through a village with a local guide, or simply sit at a tea stall and talk to people. Be respectful of temple customs and village privacy; ask before photographing people.

Skip: overpacking your itinerary with activities

Paragliding, zip lines, boating and adventure parks are increasingly common in hill towns. They can be fun, but if your whole trip is a series of activities, you will miss what makes Kumaun special.

Instead: leave space for doing nothing. Some of the best moments in Kumaun come from sitting on a veranda with a cup of tea, watching clouds drift through the valley.

Skip: relying fully on digital payments and phone networks

Network coverage can be patchy in forests, villages and higher areas, and some small shops and homestays may prefer cash.

Instead: carry enough cash, download offline maps and let someone know your plans if you are heading to remote areas.

A better first trip

The best first trip to Kumaun is a slow one. Choose a few places, stay longer, eat local food, walk often and leave room for surprises. Skip the rush and the crowds where you can. Kumaun will still be there for your next visit, and you will want to come back.