Duration: 18 Nights / 19 Days
Destination: Delhi - Jaipur - Peharsar - Agra - Orchha - Khajuraho - Lumbini - Chitwan National park - Pokhara - Kathmandu
Day 1 - Delhi
Welcome to India and the start of your holiday! Arrive Delhi, included transfer to hotel. Overnight - Delhi
Day 2 - Delhi - breakfast
This morning, our Welcome Meeting takes place. An orientation tour of India?s capital includes congested Old Delhi and the more streamlined New Delhi. Highlights of our tour include India Gate, Jama Masjid - India's oldest and largest mosque, Qutab Minar and Raj Ghat - site of Mahatma Gandhi?s cremation. Tonight, we enjoy a Namaste Dinner at an Indian restaurant. Namaste Dinner and overnight - Delhi
Days 3 & 4 - Delhi - Jaipur - breakfast
Today, we travel by comfortable express train to Jaipur also known as the Pink City. We enjoy a tour of the City Palace and Jantar Mantar - an old, yet cleverly designed space observatory. On our second day, we enjoy a stately elephant ride and visit the stunning 16th century Amber Fort. Jaipur is sensational for shopping. Keep your eyes peeled for colourful papier mache puppets and traditional jootis - the Rajasthani shoe of choice. Overnight (2) - Jaipur
Day 5 - Jaipur - Peharsar (via Bharatpur) - breakfast
Today we drive to Keoladeo Ghana National Park, one of the finest bird sanctuaries in the world where more than 350 species of birds have been identified. We enjoy a leisurely bicycle rickshaw ride through the park, before staying nearby at a charming haveli (mansion house). Dinner and overnight - Peharsar
Day 6 - Peharsar - Agra - breakfast
Today we travel to Agra via Fatehpur Sikri - the magnificent fortified Mughal capital of Emperor Akbar. In Agra, we enjoy a rickshaw ride to the Taj Mahal. Built by Shah Jahan in the 16th century as an enduring memorial to his beloved wife Mumtaz, the Taj Mahal is without peer. Later, we visit the Agra Fort. Overnight - Agra
Day 7 - Agra - Orchha - breakfast
Striking south, we arrive at Orchha. Situated on the banks of the River Betwa, Orchha is dotted with temples and palaces built by Bundela rulers, which we?ll explore. Overnight ? Orchha
Day 8 - Orchha - Khajuraho - breakfast
We arrive in Khajuraho, famed for its stunning temples built in the Chandela dynasty over a 100 year burst of creative genius from 950 - 1050AD. The carved temples display exceedingly artistic aspects of Indian life a millennium ago. How and why they were built still remains a mystery. We?ve plenty of time to see the temples for ourselves! Overnight - Khajuraho
Day 9 - Khajuraho - Varanasi - breakfast
Forgoing a long drive, we fly east to Varanasi. Perhaps the holiest city in India; Varanasi, also known as Benares or the city of Shiva, is also one of the oldest cities on earth. Sitting on the banks of the holy River Ganges, it has been a centre of learning and civilisation for more than 2000 years and is a place of Hindu pilgrimage. Overnight ? Varanasi
Days 10 - Varanasi - breakfast
This morning, we enjoy a sunrise boat ride on the holy Ganges where we?ll view the ancient religious tradition of ritual cleansing that takes place on the many riverbank ghats (riverside steps). Later, we embark on a tour of the city. Overnight - Varanasi
Day 11 - Varanasi - breakfast
Today, take the opportunity to further explore the colourful city at leisure. At sunset consider re-visiting the ghats for the evening pilgramage, remarkably different from the dawn ritual. Overnight - Varanasi
Day 12 - Varanasi - Lumbini - breakfast
Driving north, we cross the border into neighbouring Nepal. Our destination is Lumbini, birthplace of Lord Buddha in 623BC. The Lumbini Garden is famous for the Ashokan Pillar, which offers epigraphic evidence of Lord Buddha?s birth. Overnight - Lumbini
Days 13 & 14 - Lumbini - Royal Chitwan National Park - breakfast
Leaving Lumbini, we drive to Royal Chitwan National Park. Widely acknowledged as one of the finest National Parks in Asia, Chitwan supports a population of a variety of species including Indian one horned rhino, bison, sloth bear, wild boar, deer, leopard and of course the magnificent, if elusive, Bengal tiger. On day 14 we enjoy morning and evening elephant ride game walks. Lunch, dinner and overnight (2) - Chitwan NP
Days 15 & 16 - Chitwan NP - Pokhara - breakfast
Today we drive to Pokhara. Perhaps the most stunning of Pokhara?s sights is the spectacular backdrop panorama of the Annapurna range. Although the highest among them is Annapurna (8091m), it is the fish tailed summit of Machhapuchhre (6977m) spectacularly rising behind Lake Phewa that completes the vista. We enjoy 2 free days in Pokhara. Hike, bike, shop or relax - the choice is yours! Overnight (2) - Pokhara
Days 17 & 18 - Pokhara - Kathmandu - breakfast
Driving north, we arrive in Kathmandu. Our sightseeing will include an overview of the city taking in Pashupatinath Temple which stands on the banks of the River Bhaginiti, Swayambhunath Pagoda and colossal Bodhnath. We?ll explore Durbar square in the heart of Kathmandu, which is home to more than 50 stunning temples and shrines. Then, there?ll be free time to relax, explore and shop on your own. Overnight (2) - Kathmandu
Day 19 - Kathmandu - breakfast
Hotel check-out and included onward transfer to airport.
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