Arrival

Upon arrival in Delhi and after clearing immigration and customs, you will be met and transferred to your hotel for a 2-night stay. The balance of the day is at leisure.

Following breakfast, take a full day city tour of both Old & New Delhi. In Old Delhi, the ancient walled city, you will drive past Red Fort, the most opulent fortress and palace of the Mughal Empire. Then visit Raj Ghat, the memorial site of the Mahatma Gandhi; Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in India; and Chandni Chowk, a bustling and colourful market.  In New Delhi, the tour includes visits to the Qutab Minar, a 72-meter high tower, and the 1500-year old Iron Pillar.  Continue with a drive through Embassy area, and past the Government buildings (1921-1930) before returning to the hotel.

Check out after breakfast and drive to Jaipur.  Upon arrival, check in to your hotel. This afternoon, you are free to visit Jaipur Bazaar.  Jaipur’s colorful bazaars tantalize the eye with enameled blue pottery, exquisite gem-studded jewelry, engraved brass work, traditional block-printed fabrics and brightly patterned dhurrie rugs together with traditional crafts and miniature painting.  The evening is at leisure.

Today, enjoy a full day touring in this jewel of the Rajasthan.  First visit the Amber Fort, set on the dry Aravali Hills just outside Jaipur.  Ride up to this hilltop palace on a caparisoned, painted elephant (subject to availability), passing through the ancient main gate. Surrounded by fortified battlements, your guide will elaborate on the history of this architectural masterpiece with its mirror-studded alcoves, dazzling mosaics and water-cooled swings that delight today’s visitors as they did their former royal residents.  In the afternoon, visit Jaipur itself.  Marvel at the Hawa Mahal or Palace of the Winds, a five-storied structure of pink sandstone with its delicately honeycombed windows overlooking the main street of the old city. Next stop is the City Palace, a blend of stunning Rajasthani and Mughal architecture.  Then it’s on to the Solar Observatory - an astronomical treasure house, with solar device that gives accurate predictions to this day. The evening is at leisure.

Set off this morning and drive through the countryside to Agra and en-route, visit Fatehpur Sikri.  Known as the ‘ghost capital’, these magnificent and world heritage buildings are still in a state of perfect preservation.  See its white marble mosque as well as many breathtaking sculptures.  Afterwards, arrive in Agra and check in for a 2-night stay.  The balance of the day is free for independent activities.  The evening is at leisure.

After breakfast, spend the morning taking in the highlights of this medieval city. The Taj Mahal, Agra’s most splendid of all buildings, is often considered the most perfect architectural monument in the world. Built in the memory of the beloved wife of one of the greatest of the Mughal kings, Shah Jehan, you’ll have time to wander through its beautiful gardens. Next visit the impressive Mughal Red Fort.  This 16th Century, red sandstone fort was built by Akbar, and is replete with gateways, pillared halls, mosques, marble trellises and geometric gardens. In the afternoon head out of Agra to nearby Sikandra, to see the magnificent tomb of the great Mughal Emperor Akbar.  Built in the Indo-Saracenic style, Akbar’s tomb at Sikandra is a peaceful setting for a ruler who led an eventful life. Return to the hotel in Agra for an evening at leisure.

This morning you will be taken to the railway station to board a train to Jhansi. Upon arrival 2 hours later, you will be met and driven to Khajuraho.  En-route, visit Orchha, an island in the Betwa River.  Here you will see 3 palaces as well as some lovely temples built by various Maharajas over the centuries.  Continue on to Khajuraho to spend the night. 

This morning tour Khajuraho’s Eastern and Western Group Temples, renowned for their erotic sculptures.  In the afternoon you’ll be transferred to the airport for a short flight to Varanasi.  On arrival you’ll be taken to your hotel for a 2-night stay.  The balance of the day is at leisure. 

Early morning take a boat ride to see the sun rise over the Mother Ganges River. This is a soul stirring experience as you witness the performance of various rituals, bathing and cremations. Then walk the narrow streets unchanged over thousands of years, taking in the city’s deeply spiritual atmosphere. Later in the morning you’ll see more of the city’s temples including the Monkey temple and the most sacred temple of Vishwanath, Lord of the Universe as well as the Mother India Temple and the Benares Hindu University.
This afternoon, take an excursion outside the city to Sarnath, considered the birthplace of Buddhism.  It was here that Lord Buddha revealed his doctrine and founded his monastic community.

After a leisurely breakfast, transfer to the airport for the flight to Nepal.  On arrival in Kathmandu you will be met and taken to the hotel for a 3-night stay.  The balance of the day is at leisure to explore this exotic city on your own.

Set off for the Bagmati River to the holy site of the temple of Lord Shiva Pashupatinath with its golden roof and where cremations are performed on the banks of the river.  Next visit Bodhnath, a colossal 5th Century stupa, with its all-seeing eyes of Lord Buddha.  Then tour the city of Bhadgaon full of medieval art and architecture.  Pottery and weaving are its traditional industries.  Return to Kathmandu for an evening at leisure.

Enjoy a morning tour of Kathmandu City, including several important and historic temples and the Durbar Square with its complex of palaces, courtyards and temples and the historic seat of Nepalese royalty. The Square’s buildings, protected as a UNESCO World Heritage site, epitomize the religious and cultural life of the people. Then travel into the Shivapuri Hills to Buddhanikantha, a massive temple complex dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu.  Next stop is at another World Heritage site, Swayambhunath, on whose painted spire is the all-seeing eyes of Lord Gautama Buddha. The afternoon is devoted to touring Patan with its spectacular Durbar Square, ancient shrines and temples noted for their exquisite carvings.

The morning is at leisure before checking out and being transferred for an afternoon flight back to Delhi, India where the tour ends.