Kanatal & Dhanaulti Retreat
Pine forest, cool air and no itinerary to speak of — the short break for people who want to do nothing well.
About this journey
Some trips are built around a list of things to see. This one is built around not having a list. Kanatal is a pine ridge at 2,590 metres, four hours from Haridwar, and the point of going is that there is nothing you are obliged to do when you get there.
The drive up runs through Chamba on the road that eventually reaches Mussoorie, climbing steadily out of the Ganga valley into deodar and pine. You arrive by mid-afternoon with the evening free — which usually means tea, a short walk into the forest behind the property, and a bonfire once the temperature drops, weather permitting.
Day two takes in what the area does have: Surkanda Devi, the Shakti Peeth on the 2,750-metre ridge above Kaddukhal, now reachable by ropeway so that grandparents and small children can make the temple courtyard and its long view across to the Bandarpunch massif; the Eco Parks at Dhanaulti with their terraced deodar trails; and the Tehri lake viewpoints, where the reservoir spreads out below and boating and jet-skiing are available in season. It is a full but unhurried day and you are back before dark.
The third morning is a forest walk and a slow breakfast before the drive down. We book anything from a heated boutique resort to a riverside camp depending on how rustic you want it, and we ask first, because the difference between the two is the difference between two entirely separate weekends. Snow falls between late December and February and fills the place up; March to June is the most comfortable; and during the monsoon we will tell you honestly if the Chamba stretch looks unreliable on your dates.
Journey highlights
- Boutique resort or premium camp stay at Kanatal
- Surkanda Devi temple and its ridge-top views
- Dhanaulti Eco Park and deodar forest walks
- Tehri lake viewpoints and optional boating
- Bonfire evenings, weather permitting
Day-by-day itinerary
Itinerary is a starting point — every route, stay and pace is tailored around you. Prices vary by season, group size and vehicle.
Reserve the Kanatal & Dhanaulti Retreat
Secure your dates today — a small token confirms your vehicle and stays.
Book NowQuestions about the
Kanatal & Dhanaulti Retreat
The Yatra season runs from late April or early May to early November, pausing during peak monsoon (mid-July to August) when the mountain roads can be uncertain. May–June and September–October give the most comfortable weather and the clearest views. Tell us your month and we will advise honestly on conditions.
Indicative one-way starting fares from Haridwar: Rishikesh ₹1,400, Neelkanth ₹2,399, Dehradun ₹2,200, Mussoorie ₹3,400, Dehradun Airport ₹2,400. Longer tours are quoted per day and include fuel, driver allowance, tolls and parking. Our full rate card is on the Rates page — the figure we quote is the figure you pay.
Anywhere in Haridwar at no extra charge — Har Ki Pauri, Devpura, Jwalapur, Bhupatwala, Shantikunj, Patanjali, the railway station or your hotel. We also pick up from Rishikesh, Dehradun (Jolly Grant) Airport, and can arrange a car from Delhi Airport or anywhere in the NCR for outstation journeys.
UPI (GPay, PhonePe, Paytm), bank transfer, all major debit and credit cards, and cash. A small token advance confirms your vehicle and stays; the balance is payable as the journey unfolds. Every payment is receipted on WhatsApp the moment it lands.
Cancel more than 15 days before departure and the token advance is refunded in full, minus any non-refundable hotel or permit charges already paid on your behalf. Between 15 and 7 days we refund half. Inside 7 days the advance is held as credit against a future journey rather than forfeited. Dates can usually be moved free of charge, subject to availability.