Everyone thought we were mad going trekking in the Himalayas for Christmas but fortunately you don’t have to camp out anymore. Village treks are the new buzz words in Himalayan adventure, the idea is to bring extra income to the most remote villages by staying in village houses rather than drafty tents. In the Binsar National Park, famous for it’s abundant birdlife, 5 houses in the villages across the valley have been built using traditional techniques. Each is run by a village committee who take care of the guests, providing them with creature comforts in this wild and stunningly beautiful landscape. Our guide Raju walked with us for 3 days explaining the local village culture and pointing out the Himalayan birdlife. Along the way we met families who explained that this project has literally saved their village. Before the project all the young people were migrating to the cities, now however there is sustainable employment and the villages are managing to maintain the family bonds that are so important to remote communities. India Beat organise walking holidays from 3 days to 10 days in the Himalayas, contact the India Beat office for itineraries and costs.