DAY 1 Arrive in DelhiUpon arrival our staff will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel in Delhi for the start of your trip. After check-in our local reps will then go through the itinerary with you and introduce you to the local area.
OVERNIGHTDelhi - Sarovar Portico hotel or similar
EXTRASSingle Room Supplement
DAY 2 Sightseeing tour of Old and New DelhiA full day to explore the sights of India’s capital. Enjoy a cycle rickshaw ride through the intricate and chaotic streets around Old Delhi and visit the Jama Masjid mosque before moving on to the Lutyens inspired wide avenues of New Delhi. After a visit to Mahatma Gandhi’s cremation ground at Rajghat take time to stroll around the Indian parliament buildings as well as India Gate and Humayun’s Tomb. This evening enjoy a welcome dinner at a local restaurant.
OVERNIGHTDelhi - Sarovar Portico hotel or similar
MEALSBreakfast, Dinner
DAY 3 Delhi to Agra. Visit to Taj MahalThis morning we depart Delhi for the drive to Agra, arriving in time for lunch. After another taste of local Indian food, this afternoon we visit the UNESCO world heritage site at Agra Fort. This is a huge complex with some fascinating history. Later in the afternoon we enjoy a full sightseeing tour of the beautiful Taj Mahal at sunset. Truly one of the wonders of the world this elaborate monument to love was built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan and took over twenty two years to complete. Sunset is a great time to visit as the light changes gradually with the colours of the Taj changing too.
OVERNIGHTAgra - The Retreat Hotel or similar
MEALSBreakfast
DAY 4 Agra to Jaipur. Fatehpur Sikri visitWe break today’s drive to Jaipur to visit the strange and well preserved abandoned city of Fatehpur Sikri. The mystical abandoned city of Fatehpur Sikri, constructed by Emperor Akbar, served as the Mughal Empire's capital from 1571 until 1585. We also stop at Keoladeo National Park where we take a cycle rickshaw ride through the park to see the resident and migrant wildlife. The park is particularly famous for its birdlife, though you may also see snakes, lizards and turtles around the ponds. After lunch we continue driving through rural India, arriving into Jaipur late in the afternoon. This evening, why not take in a fun Bollywood movie.
OVERNIGHTJaipur - Heritage Hotel
MEALSBreakfast
DAY 5 Amber Palace, Jaipur tourThis morning we visit the Amber Palace which is a well preserved fort on a hillside around 10km outside Jaipur. Here we enjoy a guided tour through the site. Elephant rides up to the fort are available though we no longer include these on this tour due to concerns about elephant welfare. We then tour Jaipur itself, taking in the Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds), Jantar Mantar (Observatory), City Palace and some local temples and street life. You then have some more free time and tour options including a chance to visit the Chowki Dhani village in the evening to learn more about traditional Rajasthani culture and crafts, and taste some delicious regional cuisine.
OVERNIGHTJaipur - Heritage Hotel
MEALSBreakfast
DAY 6 Jaipur. Shekhawati HavellisYou have a little free time in Jaipur this morning when you can try some optional tours including kite flying, craft markets and food shopping and tasting. Late in the morning we head into the rural semi-desert Shekhawati region whose colourfully painted Havellis with frescoes showing animals and mythology, together with more modern interpretations, led to its reputation as the ‘open art gallery of Rajasthan’. We spend the night in another heritage hotel, full of character, faded grandeur and history. These hotels are a real highlight of this tour and travelling through Rajasthan.
OVERNIGHTShekhawati - Heritage Hotel
MEALSBreakfast, Dinner
DAY 7 Shekhawati. Drive to DelhiToday we leave rural Rajasthan and drive back to Delhi. En-route we'll stop at Cyber Hub or Ambience Mall at Gurgaon on the outskirts of Delhi for lunch and a taste of modern India. The rest of the afternoon and evening is free for you to explore Delhi and do some sightseeing or shopping.
OVERNIGHTDelhi - Sarovar Portico hotel or similar
MEALSBreakfast
DAY 8 Delhi. Train to AmritsarWe bid farewell to Delhi this morning as we board the early train to the Punjab and the Sikh holy city of Amritsar. Upon arrival we transfer to the hotel before making the short trip to the Wagah border crossing to enjoy the daily border ceremony. Almost like a soccer match, both Indians and Pakistani’s turn out in force to cheer on the changing of their respective guards amidst much singing and all round fun.
OVERNIGHTAmritsar - Hotel Country Inn and Suites or similar
MEALSBreakfast
DAY 9 Amritsar. Sightseeing tourA full day to explore the holy city, our tour of Amritsar begins with a trip to the Golden Temple, the holiest shrine of the Sikh religion. The temple itself is beautiful, inlaid with many jewels and covered with gold leaf. We have chance to explore the rest of the city, including a trip to Jallian Wala Bagh before returning to the Golden Temple in the evening to view the Holy book procession.
OVERNIGHTAmritsar - Hotel Country Inn and Suites or similar
MEALSBreakfast
DAY 10 Amritsar. Drive to DharamsalaDeparting Amritsar this morning we leave the Punjab behind as we head into the foothills of the Himalayas before arriving into Dharamsala. The rest of the day is free.
OVERNIGHTDharamsala - Hotel Surya Resort or similar
MEALSBreakfast
DAY 11 Dharamsala. Tour to Mcleod GanjPerched above Dharamsala sits the town of Mcleod Ganj, home to the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism, the Dalai Lama. Offering incredible mountain views against a foreground of spinning prayer wheels and Buddhist prayer flags the home of the Tibetan government in exile is a truly inspiring place. On our tour of the town we visit the Kangra Art Museum and the Norbulingka Institute as well as many small temples.
OVERNIGHTDharamsala - Hotel Surya Resort or similar
MEALSBreakfast
DAY 12 Dharamsala. Drive to Amritsar. Train to DelhiWe leave Dharamsala this morning for the drive back to Amritsar where we board the evening train to New Delhi, and your dinner will be included on the train. Upon arrival in Delhi we transfer to the hotel.
OVERNIGHTDelhi - Sarovar Portico hotel or similar
MEALSBreakfast, Dinner
DAY 13 Delhi. Departure transfer to airportFree day. Our local staff will be on hand to advise you on travel arrangements before transferring you to the airport to catch your flight home.
OVERNIGHTN/A
MEALSBreakfast