JOHAR VALLEY EXPEDITION
Jewel of Kumaon
Munsiyari • Laspa • Bankatiya • Milam
5 NIGHTS / 6 DAYS
₹20,000 PER PERSON
EXPLORE BEYOND ROADS.
Enter the raw, remote and spectacular landscapes of Johar Valley, Uttarakhand.
Starting from Munsiyari, this expedition takes you deep into the Himalayan terrain through the Gori River valley, remote mountain villages, high-altitude landscapes and trails that remain far away from conventional tourism.
From the beautiful Laspa Village and the Bankatiya Trek to the historic Milam Village, this is a journey designed for travellers who want to experience the Himalayas—not simply visit them.
The road ends. The expedition begins.
ABOUT JOHAR VALLEY
MUNSIYARI
Nestled in the Kumaon Himalayas, Munsiyari is the gateway to some of Uttarakhand’s most spectacular high-altitude landscapes.
Surrounded by towering Himalayan peaks, forests, traditional villages and winding mountain roads, Munsiyari marks the beginning of our journey into the remote Johar Valley.
LASPA VILLAGE
Beyond Munsiyari, we enter the remote Johar Valley, following the Gori River through a landscape that becomes increasingly raw and dramatic.
Towering mountains, flowing river, narrow Himalayan roads and small mountain settlements create an experience that feels far removed from the usual tourist routes.
Our base in the valley will be Laspa Village, where you can experience the mountains in a more authentic way.
Depending on the expedition setup and local availability, Laspa will offer two stay experiences:
RAW CAMPING EXPERIENCE
Set up your own home tent and spend the night surrounded by the Himalayas.
A completely raw experience—your tent, the mountains, the river and the silence of the valley.
HOMESTAY / SET-UP CAMP
For those who prefer more comfort, we may stay in a local homestay or an already-set-up camp, subject to availability.
BANKATIYA TREK
From Laspa, we take a day trek towards Bankatiya.
Leaving the vehicles behind, we experience the Himalayas on foot—walking through raw mountain terrain, enjoying changing landscapes and getting closer to the natural environment.
The trek is not about rushing to a destination.
It’s about experiencing the journey.
MILAM VILLAGE
Deep inside the Johar Valley lies Milam Village, a historic Himalayan settlement associated with the traditional trans-Himalayan trade routes of the region.
We drive towards Milam, explore the village and its surroundings, experience the remote landscape and then begin our return journey towards Munsiyari.
MILAM GLACIER
Milam Glacier is one of the prominent glaciers of the Kumaon Himalayas and lies beyond Milam Village.
The complete Milam Glacier trek is not part of this 5N/6D expedition. Our journey takes us towards Milam Village, allowing us to experience the remote Himalayan landscape and the region connected with the glacier.
DETAILED ITINERARY
DAY 1
BHIMTAL
Meet • Settle In • Expedition Briefing
Our expedition begins at Bhimtal.
Meet the VIX EXPEDITIONS team, get introduced to your fellow explorers and settle into your accommodation.
The evening will be kept relaxed so everyone can prepare for the journey ahead.
Stay: Bhimtal
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
DAY 2
BHIMTAL → MUNSIYARI
Exploring the Kumaon Himalayan Region
Today we leave Bhimtal and begin our drive towards Munsiyari.
The journey itself becomes part of the expedition as we travel deeper into the Kumaon region, passing through changing landscapes, forests, mountain roads and traditional Himalayan settlements.
As we gain altitude, the landscape gradually transforms and the high Himalayas begin to feel much closer.
We reach Munsiyari and settle in for the night.
Stay: Munsiyari
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
Route: Bhimtal → Munsiyari
DAY 3
MUNSIYARI → JOHAR VALLEY → LASPA
Enter the Raw Himalayas
Today the expedition truly begins.
Leaving Munsiyari behind, we enter the Johar Valley—a completely different Himalayan terrain that feels raw, remote and incredibly alive.
The road follows the Gori River, with the sound of flowing water accompanying us through towering mountains, dramatic valleys and ever-changing landscapes.
This is where the journey moves beyond conventional tourism.
Our destination for the day is Laspa Village.
Once we reach Laspa, depending on local availability and the expedition setup, we will have two possible stay experiences.
DAY 4
LASPA → BANKATIYA TREK → LASPA
A Day on Foot
Today we leave the vehicles behind.
After breakfast, we begin our Bankatiya Trek from Laspa.
The trail takes us into the Himalayan landscape on foot, offering a completely different perspective of the valley.
Walk through raw terrain, breathe the mountain air, experience the changing landscape and enjoy the silence that is difficult to find anywhere else.
After exploring the Bankatiya region, we trek back towards Laspa.
Stay: Laspa Village
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
Activity: Bankatiya Trek
Note: Trek duration and route may vary depending on weather, trail conditions and local circumstances.
DAY 5
LASPA → MILAM VILLAGE → MUNSIYARI
Into the Historic Johar Valley
After breakfast, we leave Laspa and continue deeper into the valley towards Milam Village.
Milam is one of the historically significant settlements of the Johar region and offers a glimpse into the traditional Himalayan way of life and the region's historic connection with trans-Himalayan trade.
We explore Milam Village and its surrounding landscape before beginning our journey back towards Munsiyari.
By evening, we reach Munsiyari and settle in for the night.
Stay: Munsiyari
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
Route: Laspa → Milam → Munsiyari
DAY 6
MUNSIYARI → HALDWANI
The Journey Back
Our final morning begins with breakfast before we start our return journey from Munsiyari towards Haldwani.
As the high mountains slowly disappear behind us, we carry back the memories, stories and experiences from the Johar Valley.
Meals: Breakfast
Route: Munsiyari → Haldwani
EXPEDITION DETAILS
₹20,000 / PERSON
5 Nights • 6 Days
BOOKING ADVANCE
₹7,000 PER PERSON
Non-Refundable
BALANCE PAYMENT
The remaining balance amount must be paid at least 10 days before the trip starts.
What's Included & Not Included
- 5 Nights Accommodation Hotel / Homestay on Double, Triple or Quad Sharing basis, depending on availability.
- Breakfast and dinner throughout the expedition. Lunch is not included.
- A dedicated trip captain from VIX EXPEDITIONS will accompany the expedition.
- Emergency Oxygen Support : An oxygen cylinder will be carried in the vehicle for emergency situations.
- 24×7 VIX EXPEDITIONS Support : Assistance from the VIX EXPEDITIONS support team throughout the expedition.
- Extra Stay & Food Due to Bad Weather / Roadblocks : Any additional accommodation, food or other expenses arising due to bad weather, heavy snowfall, landslides, roadblocks or other unforeseen circumstances.
- Entry fees to monasteries, monuments, museums, attractions or other places, wherever applicable.
- Personal Expenses Personal expenses, shopping, tips and any other expenses not specifically mentioned under the inclusions.
- Local Permits Local permits or permissions, if applicable and required for the expedition.
- Room heater charges, wherever applicable, are to be paid directly by the participant.
- Car & Fuel : The expedition price does not include the cost of the vehicle and fuel unless specifically mentioned in the booking/package details. Unspecified Meals & Services
- Unspecified Meals & Services : Any meals, activities, services or facilities not specifically mentioned under What's Included.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION :
The itinerary may change depending on weather conditions, road conditions, snowfall, landslides, local restrictions and other circumstances beyond our control.
Mountain travel is unpredictable. Certain routes, activities or stays may need to be modified based on the actual ground situation.
Safety will always remain our first priority.
The final decision regarding route, stay, trekking activities or any change in the itinerary will be taken by the VIX EXPEDITIONS team based on weather, road and ground conditions.
BOOK YOUR ADVENTURE
VIX EXPEDITIONS
EXPLORE BEYOND ROADS.
If you’re looking for a conventional holiday, this may not be for you.
But if you want to drive deeper, walk further and experience the Himalayas beyond the usual tourist routes, come with us.
@vix_expeditions
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ABOUT VIX TRAVEL FILMS & VIX EXPEDITIONS
I am Vikram Adhikari from Uttarakhand, widely known as Vix Travel Films across YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram (500k + Travel Family). Through my work, I document real journeys from the Himalayas and beyond?focusing on raw landscapes, real people, and authentic travel experiences rather than polished tourism.
Vix Travel Films is a digital storytelling platform where travel meets reality. Every journey is captured through firsthand experience, cinematic visuals, and honest narratives that reflect the true spirit of exploration.
VIX EXPEDITIONS · EXPLORE BEYOND ROADS
It is a Raw & Unreal Travel Experience, curated purely from real-life expeditions and on-ground learning. These journeys are designed for travelers who seek authentic adventure, deep connection with nature, and meaningful experiences?beyond commercial itineraries.
At its core, Vix Expeditions represents:
Real journeys, not packaged tours ·
Experience-driven exploration Community-based travel ·
Learning from the mountains, not just visiting them ··
MEET THE EXPEDITION CAPTAINS
VIX EXPEDITIONS’ 2ND CAPTAIN : PRATEEK
Prateek is a travel enthusiast who’s the founder of ROMA ECO LODGE AND STAYS in Sankri Uttarakhand. Prateek is especially drawn to cultures and traditions that are the hidden gems of any civilization in the Himalayas. An avid trekker, he continues to travel across the Northern & Western Himalayas in India, seeking both solace and adventure from the mighty mountain range.
Being from a mechanical engineering background, he’s very much drawn to machines, and from here he’s been travelling across the different off-road terrains of the mountains in his 4×4 MG413W Maruti Gypsy. By passion, he’s a travel & cultural documentary photographer from New Delhi, India, with a penchant for capturing stunning portraits. With an eye for photography and a fixation on photographic composition, Prateek has led the Research Department of a photography magazine as chief visualiser and photo curator.
THE SPIRIT BEHIND THE EXPEDITION
Two captains. One expedition. A shared love for the Himalayas, 4x4 exploration, culture, photography and the raw, unreal travel experiences that lie beyond the roads.