THE SECRET LIFE OF
BIRDS & FORESTS
See, hear, and notice the forest in a way you never have before.
@vaatalya
Dec 19th(Fri) to Dec 21st(Sun), 2025
β What This Retreat Is About
A two-night guided experience that helps you understand what really happens inside a forest β through slow walks, simple observations, and an award winning Naturalist who explains everything in a beginner-friendly way.
β What youβll experience
Two unhurried days discovering how to truly notice the wild β from birds to forest signals β no expertise needed. Just you on an off-grid mountaintop wrapped by three reserve forests, with a planetarium-clear sky and views stretching across almost all 12 districts of Himachal Pradesh.
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12:00 PM β 2:00 PM
Arrive + Slow Settle
Lunch, views, deep breaths β the forest starts talking the moment you arrive.2:30 PM
Orientation Walk
Meet the land, the silence, and the first hints of birds & forest stories.3:30 PM
Forest Teaser Walk
A gentle wander that makes you realise youβve been missing an entire world.5:00 PM
Chai + Sunset
Sit back. Sip slow. Let the sky do the talking for a change.6:30 PM
Indoor Session: The Basics β Birds, Forests & How to Notice More
How to see, hear, and notice the forest & birdsβ even if youβve never tried before.8:00 PM
Dinner
Fresh, home-cooked mountain food β simple, honest, unforgettable.9:00 PM onwards
Stargazing
Clear skies. Zero noise. Optional, but irresistible. -
5:30 AM
Wake-Up + Light Stretching
Wake the body so the senses can wake too.6:00 AM β 9:00 AM
Morning Walk
Bird calls, forest patterns, movements, tiny wild stories β everything starts making sense now.9:00 AM
Mini Break9:30 AM
Breakfast
Fresh, home-style mountain breakfast β warm, simple, perfect after a morning in the forest.11:00 AM β 4:00 PM
Big Nature Walk
Trees, insects, tracks, textures β the forest in full level of detail.
Learn the calming art of Nature JournalingIncludes a flexible outdoor pause / easy picnic depending on weather and the groupβs mood.
4:30 PM β 5:30 PM
Evening Mental Spa | Sound Meditation
A gentle, grounding sound session that settles your system after a full day in the forest βbecause once your senses open up, sound helps you go even deeper.
0530 PM onwards
Your Evening, Your Way
Find a corner, journal, wander slowly, or simply exist with the mountain as the light fades.8:00 PM
Dinner
The last-night dinner hits differently β warm plates, slow conversations, and that βdonβt-let-this-endβ feeling. -
6:00 AM β 8:30 AM
Final Morning Walk
Things you didnβt notice on Day 1 suddenly stand out.Thatβs the magic of slowing down.
9:30 AM
Breakfast
Fresh, warm, simple β a quiet start before you head back.10:30 AM β 11:00 AM
Wrap up. Look around. Take in the last details.
Departure.
β Who is a Naturalist?
For Dummies
A naturalist is someone who understands nature by watching it directly β birds, forests, insects, tracks, sounds, everything.
Think of a David Attenboroughβtype person youβve seen on Planet Earth: they notice patterns, connect clues, and explain the wild in a way anyone can understand.
Most naturalists also study subjects like biology or zoology β so itβs not a hobby, itβs a trained way of reading the natural world.
βNo one will protect what they donβt care about;
and no one will care about what they have never experienced.β
-DAVID ATTENBOROUGH
The worldβs most respected voice
on nature and wildlife.
Whoβs This Experience For?
π¦ Curious beginners
If you love nature but donβt know where to start.
π² Slow travellers
For people who prefer quiet days over crowded plans.
πΈ Photographers & creators
To capture birds, light, and forest details with guidance.
π£ Nature lovers
For anyone who walks in a forest and wonders what theyβre seeing or hearing.
𧑠Couples
A meaningful, shared, slow-living experience.
π° Absolute newbies
No experience or equipment needed.
πΏ Anyone seeking deeper connection
Because once you experience a forest, it stays with you.
MEET YOUR CURATOR
Dinkar Samore
AN AWARD-WINNING NATURALIST, BIRDER, CONSERVATION PHOTOGRAPHER & ENVIRONMENTALIST FROM JAIPUR
His work spans field guiding, ecological documentation, biodiversity surveys, and community engagement across Rajasthan. In 2024, he received the WeNaturalists People of Nature Award.
He simplifies the wild for beginners β turning bird behaviour, forest clues, and tiny overlooked details into stories that help people understand nature with clarity and curiosity.
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NO HIDDEN CHARGES
-2 nights / 3 days at Vaatalya β a private, off-grid mountaintop retreat
-All meals included β fresh, seasonal, homestyle vegetarian
-Award-winning naturalistβled workshop & guided sessions
-03 nature walks β birds, forest behaviour, tracks & textures
-Indoor intro session to birding & nature awareness
-Early-evening stargazing window on a dark hilltop
-Evening NΔdi Yog Sound Meditation (Day 2)
-Tea & chai evenings
-Filtered mountain drinking water
-All taxes included β no hidden chargesACCOMMODATION
-Private Stone Room / Private Mud Room / 4-Bed Mixed Dorm
-Intimate group format (10β12 participants)
-Extra mattress available for a 3rd guest in private rooms
-Tea & kettle setup in private rooms
-This is a learning-focused gathering, not a commercial tourist event -
MANDATORY
-Proper walking shoes (forest trails can be uneven)
-Warm layers (mountaintop mornings & evenings are cold)
-Refillable water bottle
-Small daypack for walksGOOD TO HAVE
-Binoculars (optional; shared pairs available)
-Notebook for nature journaling
-Light rain/wind jacket (weather can shift)This is a slow, outdoor, observation-based experience β expect forest time, silence, and gentle walking.
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-100%advance to confirm booking
-50% non-refundable to block your spot
-Remaining 50% due 10 days before check-in
-No rescheduling / date changes for this event -
HOW TO REACH
https://www.vaatalya.com/location
DRIVER ACCOMMODATION
Available 4 km from Vaatalya
βΉ500/day β stay + meals + parkingWIFI & INTERNET
Optional fibre internet
βΉ250/person per day (access only in common areas)PET POLICY
Due to being off-grid and surrounded by wildlife, pets are not allowed.
Explore Room Types
Click the Links Below for Details!
RSVP | INVITE ONLY
Please fill in your details below to get details and book this trip.
12 Limited Seats Only
PS: We respect your privacy!