Itinerary

1. Day 1- Delhi Arrival

   • As soon as you arrive at Delhi airport you’ll be scooped up by our representative and whisked off to your accommodation. If you arrive early you can either choose to explore some of the popular sites that Delhi has to offer or you can just put your feet up at the hotel and shake off your jetlag. 
   • Either way, your tour leader will meet you and your fellow travellers in the evening (6 PM) to discuss the finer points of the tour. If you feel up to it, start from where you left off and get to know your tour members over an optional group dinner.

2. Day 2- Old Delhi

   • Today we get into the thick of things. Get an insight into the morning of a regular Delhi office worker as you head off to Old Delhi on board the Metro. Wandering through Old Delhi is very much a study in contrast where a new world coats the old with a thin veneer. 
   • Explore its narrow streets, its winding lanes, and get a glimpse of the once-ornate houses that speak of a forgotten age. Take a tour of the Jama Masjid – India’s biggest mosque. 
   • Hop onto one of Delhi’s most enduring transportation – the rickshaw, and then get deposited at Siganj Gurudwara to learn a little about the Sikh religion. 
   • Take a break from this sensory overload and indulge in a meal cooked especially for us later in the evening. This is a wonderful opportunity to interact with a local in an informal setting. Don’t forget to bring your tact along to the table though!

3. Day 3- Agra

   • An early morning start sees us catching a train to the fabled city of Agra (journey time – approximately 3 hours). 
   • Once we get to Agra, drift into a decadent past as you step under the arches of the Agra Fort and understand its connection with the Taj Mahal. Just like Old Delhi, this too is a city stitched in patterns of the past and present. Weavers, artisans and craftsmen still hang onto the traditions of old and an opportunity to visit them will present itself in the afternoon. 
   • Cap all this with a late afternoon/sunset visit to the monument that epitomizes eternal love – the Taj Mahal.

4. Day 4- Jaipur

   • Today we travel by bus to Jaipur (approximately 6 hours), the capital of Rajasthan. Much of Jaipur is changing rapidly, yet the tradition of having a ball at the movies has changed little. Depending on the availability of tickets, you can utilize your free time this evening by enjoying a Bollywood film in the old-world charms of the local theatre. 
   • The afternoon can be spent rummaging through some sparklers at a demonstration of polishing and cutting of gems – Jaipur being synonymous with precious and semi-precious stones.

5. Day 5- Jaipur Sightseeing

   • After breakfast, we will drive through Jaipur’s pulsating roads and ochre-coloured buildings of the Old City to visit its most iconic landmark, the Amber Fort. 
   • Stop en route at the Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds) and the Jal Mahal (Water Palace) for a quick photo. While there is much to do in Jaipur it isn’t possible to fill in every activity in the space of a day. A good starting point, however, would be the mind-boggling Jantar Mantar, a stone observatory conceived and built in the 18th century. The City Palace, located opposite this observatory houses artefacts of the Jaipur Royals. If you’ve had enough of forts and palaces, observe how a steady hand develops block prints – a staple art form of Jaipur – in an amazingly quick time.

6. Day 6- Varanasi

   • Today we fly to Varanasi, a one-of-a-kind city that lives and breathes a spirituality that is commonly associated with India. 
   • We will walk along the eastern bank of the River Ganges as it washes the many Ghats (flight of steps) and provides sustenance to the ascetic, the devout and the ordinary who come to seek resolution on questions of life and death. Varanasi is a steady hum of activity where temple bells compete with the cry of boatmen, tea vendors and kite flyers. Lose yourself during the afternoon to these and other sights. 
   • As the evening approaches, hop on a boat from where we’ll bear witness to the flower ceremony and the fascinating evening rituals.

7. Day 7- Varanasi

   • We start at the crack of dawn today. Float across the gentle waves as life on the Ghats begins to take shape.  Watch the pious pay silent homage to the rising sun amidst the loud, almost discordant note of the terns flying overhead. As the sun pulls itself up and over the eastern sandbanks, witness the people trickling towards the river as if in a move choreographed by time. A splash of a bather, an earthen candle set alight, a washer man lifting his wet clothes, kites shaken. 
   • After completing this dawn boat ride we will return to the hotel for breakfast. The rest of the day is free but you can visit Sarnath, the place where the Buddha Preached his first Sermon. Alternatively, find some sensory satisfaction in browsing and slipping your fingers through the finest silk fabrics of which Varanasi is famous.

8. Day 8- Varanasi - Lumbini

   • This morning we head for Nepal in the wee hours of the morning. While a packed breakfast will be arranged, lunchtime is almost always an improvised affair depending on the vagaries of traffic and road conditions. This is a massive day on the road (approximately 10 hrs) so sit back and enjoy that book you’ve been meaning to finish, listen to some music or humour yourself with a good snooze. A few formalities need to be addressed at the India-Nepal border. Upon completion of these, an hour's drive will get us to our accommodation in Lumbini.

9. Day 9- Lumbini

   • The day starts with a visit to the Maya Devi Temple, which is believed to be the actual site where Buddha was born. 
   • We will then drive to Chitwan, approximately a 5-hour drive from Lumbini.  
   • Upon arrival, we’ll loosen our legs and cycle leisurely through verges of mustard fields and into a small tribal village. An occasional view of a rhino shopping for local products in the middle of the street might present itself but don’t be disconcerted if you do and keep riding. 
   • After the activities of the day are done, we visit a local family and share a meal prepared exclusively for us.

10. Day 10-

    • Following breakfast, we will board a dug-out canoe and drift down the Rapti River gurgling its downward course until we reach the starting point of our jungle safari. One-horned rhinos lurk through the tall grass and sloth bears slink through the whispering reeds. Please remember that only by the purest chance will these furtive animals reveal themselves to us. 
    • After the jungle safari, we will leave for Pokhara. On arrival, we’ll embark on a walk to get a feel of the city and get your bearings. Amongst one of the most beautiful cities in Nepal, Pokhara’s skyline is dominated by the Annapurna Range which keeps a watchful eye on the Phewa Lake. It is also one of the most popular hubs for thrill seekers –bungee jumping, paragliding, and trekking.

11. Day 11- Pokhara

    • The day starts with breakfast at our hotel. Take advantage of this free day to explore the Peace Pagoda, Devi’s Falls and Mahendra caves or just hunker down in one of the many restaurants that overlook the lake and watch the world go by. 
    • Enjoy an afternoon boat ride across Phewa Lake, listening to the oars lapping lazily at the waters before heading to dinner.

12. Day 12-

    • With a hearty breakfast under our belt, we will make our way to our final destination this morning. The bus journey (approximately 7 hours) will be interspersed with short breaks over suspension bridges, white waters and vistas of distant hills until we finally arrive at Kathmandu. 
    • Upon arrival, we will step into a world peopled by cafes, bars, restaurants and the inevitable shops selling mountain gear as we explore the streets of Thamel.

13. Day 13- Kathmandu

    • Today is a free day. Take a scenic flight over Mount Everest (Optional Extra). If that’s not your thing, spend some time at Boudhnath Stupa, which bears witness to the thousand itinerants drifting in and out of its grounds. 
    • Visit Pashupatinath Temple where the Hindus come to perform the last rites of the deceased or climb up the Swayambunath Temple for views of the city. Closer to Thamel, amble your way along the medieval setting of Darbar Square and live through the ebb and flow of Kathmandu’s history, culture and religion. 
    • Try out some local restaurants and if you have time, slip in some last-minute souvenir shopping before heading out with the group for our farewell dinner.

14. Day 14- Kathmandu Departure

    • It’s time now to bid farewell to your group leader and new friends but not without a backpack full of memories. Departure Transfers are included on the day.