New: Mobile Camping

Camping is a wonderful way to venture off the beaten track and gain exclusive access to some of the country’s most dramatic landscapes, tribal festivals and architectural treasures that you may not see otherwise. Although some may think of camping as an activity for the more adventurous, outdoorsy guest, our camp leaves no creature comforts behind. Our spacious tents are equipped with all the modern amenities and the same level of service you would expect from a hotel. We offer a highly flexible and customized camping experience so that guests may stay just one or two nights in a single destination or they can design a multi-destination trip and see how the mobile camp is packed up in the morning and relocated somewhere else later that day. We can provide just one tent for a couple, or a group of them for a larger family or party. Each campsite has been handpicked for its exceptional setting and views as well as being conveniently located for sightseeing and activities; Ladakh, Nagaland, Central India and Rajasthan are just some of the stunning locations where we can pitch up.

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Red Pandas in Singalila National Park

A pop-up at Singalila National Park, Darjeeling, provides an opportunity to spot one of the most elusive creatures in the wild: the red panda. With two expeditions heading out in April 2018 (14^th to 21^st and 22^nd to 29^th), this is an excellent chance to trek through stunning scenery in search of this endangered species, native to the eastern Himalayas and southwest China. Singalila National Park is itself a beautiful destination, situated at 7,000 feet above sea level and, besides the red panda, is home to a variety of other wildlife including the clouded leopard and black panther and is also considered a birder’s paradise. It contains a well-known trekking route to Sandakphu, the highest peak of the eastern Himalayas that lie in West Bengal. To book this exciting expedition, please contact us.

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Dinner at a 500-year-old Haveli

The Hutheesing Haveli in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, is a 500-year-old mansion belonging to the Hutheesing family, a prominent Gujarati family who have dedicated themselves to the promotion and sustainable development of India’s rich and diverse cultural heritage. The Hutheesing Foundation maintains and manages a wide array of activities on the premises of its haveli, including the Hutheesing Design Company, a museum of wood craft, a research centre for urban arts/crafts/culture/architecture, an art gallery, a resident program for artists and a textile collection. With all this, our guests are now able to follow in the footsteps of Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and Rabindranath Tagore and enjoy an exclusive dinner at the mansion itself. If a private dinner itself isn’t enough, they can also take a tour of the haveli, visit one of the ateliers, view some of the private collections and watch a private, classical dance performance. This is an excellent opportunity for larger families or groups.

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World Sacred Spirit Festival Nagaur, 2018

Set in the spectacular Ahhichatragarh Fort in Nagaur Rajasthan, the World Sacred Spirit Festival is “an amazing spiritual and musical journey” that promises an uplifting program of music, dance and theatre by an impressive line-up of artists from India and around the world. Previous artists have included Amjad Ali Khan, Lingling Yu of China and Sahar Mohammadi of Iran. WSSF aims to connect visitors with a historic and sacred tradition of travelling mystics, musicians, poets and Sufis of India and the world. This is the 11^th edition of the festival and runs from 12^th to 14^th and 16^th to 17^th February. Contact us now to include tickets in your guests’ itinerary.

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Hiking in Southern Rajasthan

Rajasthan is known mostly for its grand forts and palaces and is synonymous with regal luxury. However, less people are familiar with the Aravelli hills that this region also boasts and the idea of trekking through the heart of India’s oldest mountain range. Depending on ability, there are different levels of trekking. The more experienced hikers may like to start in Ghanerao, a small town 140 kilometers from Udaipur, and hike uphill to Kumbhalgarth Fort with its 36-kilometer-long wall. Those who are less used to trekking, may prefer to switch this around and hike the downhill version of the same trail instead. Either way, the route takes your through Kumbhalgarth National Park, therefore allowing a good chance of spotting antelope, deer and plenty of bird and butterfly species. There is also a small reservoir called Crocodile Lake - or Thandi Beri in the local language - named for its resident reptiles, as well as several tribal villages along the way. For the really keen hikers, we can also organise longer treks that can be done over two or three days, with accommodation provided at local, heritage properties or forest lodges. In our expert opinion, the ideal time for trekking is from November through March.

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Our Philanthropic Projects in India

Akorn works with Abercrombie & Kent Philanthropy (AKP) to carry out its social and environmental commitments. We help nature to thrive and cultures to flourish by positively impacting lives and livelihoods in the communities where Akorn guests travel. Through dedicated strategic investments in education, conservation, health care, and enterprise, we inspire our guests and staff to actively support our philanthropic endeavors. We believe passionately that sustainable tourism offers the best hope of protecting endangered places and ensuring local communities continue to benefit from their natural heritage. By creating jobs, providing educational opportunities and introducing our guests to our projects, we alleviate poverty, foster environmental stewardship and preserve cultures.

In India, we have been supporting the children at the Deepalaya Learning Centre in New Delhi since the year 2,000. Our sponsorship covers tuition fees, learning aids, latent talent development, health & hygiene and class maintenance. At Akorn, we believe that every child deserves good education, as it is a vital tool in improving lives and livelihood.

We are now delighted to extend our philanthropic work to Jaipur and Udaipur. In Jaipur, we hold a skill-development program at Digantar that will train dropouts and young students in the areas of sewing, plumbing and carpentry as well as enabling youths to be entrepreneurs. In Udaipur, we are supporting Hansraj Children’s Home, a residential school for approximately one hundred girls. Our current support includes improving facilities at the school, since a comfortable learning space can have a profound impact on students and teachers and adequate resources can help in fully realizing the children’s potential.

We encourage our guests to visit the projects and experience meaningful travel. Let us know if we can include this in your guests’ itinerary.

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