You know some of those group trips that are chaos, mess, and someone already annoyed? This isn’t that. Instead it’s going to be “Wait, why do I feel so calm?”
Let us explain.
You planned a 3-day trip to Daafi, to disconnect with the chaos and reconnect with nature. Here’s how your itinerary would look like.
Day 1:
You arrive at Daafi, and almost immediately, something shifts. Maybe it’s the air, maybe it’s the mountains, or maybe nobody is honking at you anymore. The Daafi staff gives you the traditional Himachali welcome and you immediately feel at home. The Himachali vibe is totally vibing. Then you head for lunch at Bosho. You notice the decor, it’s undeniably Himachali with kullu patti and cowbell decor right above you. You and your gang finish up lunch and head to relax a bit. The view from the Bosho’s balcony is ethereal, chai and conversation feel different up here. You phones? They come out only to snap occasional pictures. Some of you find the game room, where things get competitive.
As night falls, you are told you have OPTIONS.
You can go full energy mode with DJ night and dance your worries away. Or you can sit back and immerse yourself in the charm of Himachali folk dance night that feels rooted and real in a way city life never does.
You snack on bites of barbeque, followed by dinner, where your gang makes light-hearted fun at that one friend who suddenly thinks they can sing. After dinner and some strolling, you head to your beds and doze off pretty quickly.
Day 2:
Somehow, the late lateefs wake up early the next morning. What’s more shocking is that they ask you to come look at the morning light spilling through the mountains. You are glad you were woken up. Where else can you see views like these? From your office window? Pfft…please. It’s quiet even though the sound of wind rustling through the deodar forest, the birds chirping, reach you. You take a deep breath of the fresh mountain air and register a core memory in your mind. This is a moment that belongs to you.
You head to Bosho for breakfast, as today is trekking day. You have planned to go to Mashada. One of the few left untouched and un-commercialised treks. The trek looks and SMELLS divine. Why? The Deodar trees. Greenery that soothes the eyes and smell that lifts your spirit. You reach Mashada lake and your gang immediately sits down to stretch their legs to relax from the trek. You look around and the views don’t need an instagram filter. Everyone is chilling and soaking in the view around them.
Hunger strikes and you start heading back to Daafi, where a special Himachali meal is waiting for all of you. The taste of the thali hits home, making another core memory.
You head to rest after the meal, while some of your gang find the library and settle down with a book. However, you’ve been told to not miss the sunset from the Baithak room.
Come evening everyone heads to the Baithak hall. Chai and pakoda greet you, and you watch the sunset from the hall. Some of them have already started taking pictures, some are just taking a mental snapshot. You watch as the sun goes down behind the hills and the night sky takes over.
The day wraps up with dinner and some music and everyone heads to rest to be up for the next day.
Day 3:
It’s the day to get in touch with nature. You and your gang decide to explore the nearby village after a hearty breakfast. Apple orchards, local markets, people and himachali food culture is waiting for you. It’s busy yet peaceful. Then you head to Narkanda. It’s an hour away but when you reach, you realise it was worth it. You hike up to Hatu Peak and witness nature through a whole new lens. It’s a whole new world up there. You imagine this would be mesmerizing after a snowfall. The Hatu Mata temple is no less beautiful.
Evening falls by the time you reach Daafi, and oddly, it feels like home. The night passes with live music and hot barbequed snacks, straight off the fire. Dinner comes and you are content when you go back to your bed. The trip has been amazing. All those memories that you made with your friends, they are going to stick with you forever. You make up your mind to come back again.
And once you get that… you get why people don’t just visit, they come back.
