``Tent resorts are the latest means of popularising the concept of camp holidays in the country. Tent resorts provide you all the amenities that a hotel can give, in the lap of nature. Also, most camps are pitched in off-beat destinations, away from the tourists thronging the infinite Indian hill stations come summer,'' says Sandeep Dhul, director of Kemp Karvan.Kemp Karvan plays host to camp holidayers in fully furnished tents in Dharauli, the last village between the Indo-Tibetan border and Dhanaulti on the Mussoorie-Chamba road.

Dhul feels that tourism in Uttar Pradesh can be provided a necessary fillip through camp holidays. And, therefore, Kemp Karvan's packages have beendesigned to attract the young at heart. ``Our target customer is the young, educated corporate executive whose monthly earnings are in the bracket of Rs 25,000 to Rs 30,000. The all-inclusive daily package at Rs 1,000 per person, on a twin-sharing basis, will also appeal to honeymooners since it ensures total privacy and quietude with only a few people around in each camp,'' says Dhul.

Kemp Karvan provides all the facilities that are part and parcel of modern-day lodging-a restaurant dishing out Indian, Chinese and Continental cuisine, continuous power and water supply, attached bathrooms with a basin, WC and shower, besides fresh linen and a dining table. Two hard-top beds with mattresses, quilts and fresh linen are provided for a comfortable night's sleep.

For an adventure-filled vacation, Kemp Karvan arranges trekking activities with a range of obstacle options, ranging from soft to tough. Also, regular white water rafting trips are organised on the Ganges from Shivpuri to Rishikesh. There are shorterrafting trips on the Bhagirathi itself. If you are one of those who love to explore the hills, you can go for treks on your own. Otherwise, you can join a nature-walk in the the woods and pastures adjoining the camp, organised by the hosts.

With eco-tourism becoming the buzzword, the camp organisers have become sensitive toward the environment. ``We only use driftwood for bonfires. All the trash and litter are collected from the camp site and brought to the plains. When the season ends, the tents (made of 100 per cent cotton) are folded down. Since there is no erection of permanent structures, there is no objection from the local population. For instance, the Thangdhar camp is in a wheatfield, where we don't even disturb the crop. All our camps are pitched on leased land,'' explains Dhul.

Inside the tents, the floors are matted with plastic sheets at the bottom to ensure absorption of moisture. There is coir matting placed above that to provide heat during the night, when the mercury goes sub-zero. Thetemperature hovers at a pleasant 20 degrees in the daytime. The Swiss tents are sized 12 x 12 x 11 feet, with a a six-foot wall. In case of an injury, there is a first aid kit in the camp itself, plus a doctor on call.There are special discounts for families. Children below the age of six years are given a 100 per cent discount and those in the age group of 6-12 years get 50 per cent off. There is a standing 10 per cent discount for groups of 10 people or more. ``Another charm of this expedition is a very informal, almost homely atmosphere. Our stewards not only cook for the client, they also pitch tents, clean toilets, do their electric fittings and the dishes,'' says Dhul.

A growing class of businesses, attracted by the serenity that such camps provide, are using them as rejuvenation camps for their executives. Harsil, where Ram Teri Ganga Maili was shot, and Thangdhar, which gives you a view of 30 of the 62 named peaks in Garhwal, were used by Citicorp and Eastern Book Company for their outdoor trainingprogrammes, according to Dhul. ``We can provide conference facilities, overhead projectors and display boards at a short notice,'' he adds.

According to Dhul, Kemp Karvan is the only one to provide elaborate hotel facilities in camp holidays in Uttar Pradesh. In Himachal Pradesh, one can contact Banjara Holidays for similar camps.