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Unique wildlife, fascinating culture and spectacular Moghul architecture
Those who are on the group flights will land in Delhi in the morning. Those not on the group flights will need to be at the start hotel by 9.30am (or at the airport when the group land). A local representative will meet Land Only clients at the start hotel and provide a transfer to the airport where we meet clients arriving on the group flight. Once everyone has arrived we will then depart on the drive to Jaipur, which may take between 5-7 hours depending upon traffic conditions. *Standard Hotel*
Built in the late 18th century, Jaipur is a planned city of broad avenues built of sandstone and painted pink at a later stage. We visit the City Palace in the centre of Jaipur, formerly the residence of the Maharaja, now a fine museum containing rare manuscripts, paintings, royal garments and weapons. Close to the palace is one of the most intriguing sights of India, the observatory of Jai Singh. This is an assembly of immense astronomical instruments made of marble and brass set in a pleasant garden. We will also see Jaipur's impressive landmark, the Hawa Mahal, or Palace of the Winds. We then visit the impressive and splendid Amber Fort, a few miles from the main city, rising above a lake. Jaipur is a centre of many handicrafts, such as durries (woven rugs), carpets, printed cloth, semi-precious stones, leatherwear etc. It will be difficult to leave a workshop without buying anything! *Standard Hotel*
We wind our way through the villages of rural India to Ranthambore Tiger Reserve (approx. 5 hr drive); we stay in a hotel not far from the park entrance and make 2 game drives into the park, one in the late afternoon and one the following morning. Ranthambore is one of India's tiger reserves under Project Tiger. After initial success, poaching has drastically reduced the tiger population and the chance of spotting a tiger is small, but many Exodus groups have seen tigers over the last few years. There is other wildlife to spot such as several species of deer, crocodiles and bird life including purple heron, kingfishers, cormorants, parakeets, jacanda, waders and partridges. *Standard Hotel*
In the morning we take our second game drive, trying to find that elusive tiger, before we start our journey to Agra via Fatehpur Sikri. Fatehpur Sikri is the Emperor Akbar's deserted royal city. This impressive and well-preserved citadel became his capital in 1571, after the blessing of a local Moslem holy man correctly predicted the birth of a longed-for son, his successor the Emperor Jehangir. The mosque, designed to hold ten thousand worshippers, the palaces, residences and halls of audience are all made of decorative red sandstone. But this magnificence only lasted 14 years, as in 1584 Akbar left Fatehpur Sikri to secure his outlying territories, leaving this city much as we see it today – in perfect condition. This is another very full but rewarding day. Total driving time approx. 7 hrs. *Comfortable Hotel*
Today we will rise early to visit the beautiful white marble Taj Mahal at sunrise which was built by the Moghul Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died in 1631. The Taj is serenely beautiful and never fails to amaze a first time visitor; the white marble exterior changes colour according to the position of the sun during the day and is matched by the rich interior detail. Within striking distance is the imposing Red Fort of Akbar, third of the Moghul Emperors, whose mighty sandstone walls enclose the beautiful white marble Pearl Mosque and the palaces, halls, courtyards and fountains of his sons and successors, Jehangir and Shah Jahan. It is here that the latter spent his last years, imprisoned by his own son Aurangzeb. Later in the day we will transfer to Agra train station and join the overnight sleeper train to Varanasi. *Sleeper Train*
We arrive in Varanasi during the morning and transfer to our hotel. Varanasi, located on the river Ganges, is one of the holiest cities in India and stands at the centre of the Hindu Universe. As such, the city lives and breathes Hinduism: there are thousands of pilgrims, wandering holy men (Sadhus), religious elders and casual visitors. It is a city to get immersed in by exploring its maze of narrow lanes and the many temples and watching the Hindu ceremonies that take place around the clock. There is time to explore the emporiums specialising in silks and brocades or maybe take a massage by the banks of the Ganges. Your leader can organise various optional sightseeing trips during your 2 days here. *Comfortable Hotel*
Just before dawn, we take a boat out on the Ganges to witness the extraordinary spectacle on the ghats, the steps leading down to the river. Every day thousands of Hindu pilgrims come to these three miles of riverbank to soak in the holy waters. This afternoon we fly back to Delhi. * * *Standard hotel*
Today you are free to relax or explore the sites of New and Old Delhi (an optional sightseeing trip will be organised if you wish). Recommended sites are the Red Fort, Humayun's Tomb, India Gate, Jama Masjid (India's largest mosque), Sheeshganj Gurudwara (Sikh Temple) and Raj Ghat. For last minute shopping, we recommend the market area of Chandni Chowk or Karol Bagh. *Standard Hotel*
Those on the flight inclusive package will depart for the airport this morning for the daytime flight back to London; Land Only arrangements will finish after check-out from the hotel. **
* 7 nights hotels, all en suite, 1 night air-conditioned sleeper train and
1 domestic flight
* Group normally 4 to 16, plus leader. Min age 16 yrs
* Travel by air-conditioned private bus, train, and domestic flight
All breakfasts and 1 lunch are included in this trip.
India is famous for its food and there is ample chance to try various curries
such as the familiar tandoori, biriyani and rogan josh. If you are a
vegetarian, India is a great destination. There are wonderful desserts and
excellent beers, soft drinks and Indian specialities such as lassi, a
refreshing yoghurt drink.
You should allow at least £15-25 (approx. US$20 - US$35) per day for lunch
and dinner. You can eat out very cheaply in India, but if you go to the more
expensive restaurants most of the time, you will spend more than the
suggested amount. In most of the towns there is a good choice of restaurants
and a choice between Indian and Western food. Please note that service in
restaurants can be quite slow. Tea and soft drinks are very cheap. A
(large!) bottle of beer is approximately £3 (approx. US$4).
Mineral water is widely available, but drinking water is provided in a large
container in the bus in order to reduce our use of plastic, so please bring
your own water bottle with you to refill.
* 7 nights hotels, all en suite, 1 night air-conditioned sleeper train and
1 domestic flight
* Group normally 4 to 16, plus leader. Min age 16 yrs
* Travel by air-conditioned private bus, train, and domestic flight
Activity Level: 1 (Leisurely)
This holiday is designed so that you can see the best parts of Northern India
in a short period of time. Therefore this is generally a fast-paced itinerary
and please bear in mind that once everyone has arrived in Delhi we will then
depart on the drive to Jaipur, which may take between 5-7 hours depending
upon traffic conditions. We recommend an extra night in Delhi at the start of
the trip if you'd prefer not to do this journey after your flight.
You should be prepared for some long days and some early starts. The times
stated in the trip notes are actual driving times and do not include photo,
tea, comfort or lunch breaks. Journeys can sometimes take longer due to local
traffic or road damage after the monsoon. During December and January
departures, fog is common and this can sometimes slow us down. These
departures may also experience severe train delays or cancellations. If a
severe delay occurs, the group will travel overnight on a private comfortable
bus instead. In the rare event of not being able to travel by bus at night
because of severe fog, and flying is also not an option, we have an
alternative itinerary in place where we visit Bharatpur, Deeg Palace and
Mathura instead of Varanasi. However, this scenario is rare.
There is a lot to see in the time you are in India, but everything is
scheduled so that it doesn't feel too rushed. You should come armed for an
experience: India can be hard work and the heat and the bustle of some of the
cities can be a little overwhelming. That said, there are places where you
can find peace and this is one of the few places in the world from where you
will return armed with great stories and memories to last a lifetime.
Please note that the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is responsible for
the conservation of many monuments in India, including the Taj Mahal, and
very occasionally this may mean that work is taking place at sites visited on
this trip. The ASI’s schedule is never published so it is not possible to
forewarn our clients of when work will be taking place.
*Holi and Diwali Festivals*
Some departures will be in India during the festivals of Holi and Diwali.
They are great festivals to witness and some very minor itinerary alterations
may be made locally in order to make the most of these occasions. Holi
celebrations typically involve people throwing coloured water at each other
and smearing powder on each other's faces. This is accompanied by dancing,
music and traditional Holi sweets such as Ghujiya and Bhanng. It's a riot of
colours as the powder bursts into the sky. During Diwali, the festival of
lights, people typically light up their houses, shops and streets, and
celebrate on the streets with fireworks.
Hotels & Overnight Train
7 nights hotels, 1 night air-conditioned sleeper train.
The hotels used are standard city tourist hotels (2 or 3-star, local rating).
All rooms have en suite facilities. Service and amenities are generally
adequate.
Hotels in India usually do not have heating as there are really only a couple
of months in the year when the weather can get rather cold. You can however
request more blankets or the hotel may be able to provide a standing heater
for your room. Please talk to your tour leader if you need help in this
matter.
Single accommodation (from GBP125) excludes sleeper trains.
*Overnight trains*
These are booked in 2-tier (or 3-tier if 2-tier is not available) sleeper
A/C. There are many excellent trains in India but the standard of seating and
sleeping is not in line with European standards. All seats are pre-allocated
at the time the tickets are issued, meaning that we cannot guarantee the
whole group are together on the train; your leader will manage this as best
as possible and will always check on you during the journey. Indian trains
are safe to travel on but we recommend that you keep valuables with you at
all times. Snacks are often offered on board (at an additional cost). Whilst
some trains have western-style facilities, the majority of services are
equipped with squat toilets. 
Our Indian team of leaders have proved very popular with their incredible
knowledge, passion and hospitality adding greatly to the experience. There is
no better way to experience Indian culture than letting an Indian guide show
you around their country.
All breakfasts and 1 lunch are included in this trip.
India is famous for its food and there is ample chance to try various curries
such as the familiar tandoori, biriyani and rogan josh. If you are a
vegetarian, India is a great destination. There are wonderful desserts and
excellent beers, soft drinks and Indian specialities such as lassi, a
refreshing yoghurt drink.
You should allow at least £15-25 (approx. US$20 - US$35) per day for lunch
and dinner. You can eat out very cheaply in India, but if you go to the more
expensive restaurants most of the time, you will spend more than the
suggested amount. In most of the towns there is a good choice of restaurants
and a choice between Indian and Western food. Please note that service in
restaurants can be quite slow. Tea and soft drinks are very cheap. A
(large!) bottle of beer is approximately £3 (approx. US$4).
Mineral water is widely available, but drinking water is provided in a large
container in the bus in order to reduce our use of plastic, so please bring
your own water bottle with you to refill.
We use a combination of private minibus and trains for our journey.
Road journeys: private minibus, air-conditioned.
Train journeys: the overnight train from Agra to Varanasi will be booked in
2-tier (or 3-tier depending on availability) sleeper A/C (see accommodation
section for further information).
Game drives: in Ranthambore National Park, due to local restrictions enforced
to limit the number of visitors to the Park, tiger spotting is from a large
open truck called a 'canter' that seats a maximum of 22. The cantors are
licensed and usually allocated by the National Park authorities and while our
local contacts do their best to secure the most appropriate vehicles, we are
unable to guarantee vehicle standards and maintenance.
*Travelling flight inclusive from London: 10 Days*
The group flight from London is an overnight flight departing the day before
Day 1 of the itinerary.
*Flights from London*
We normally use the scheduled services of Virgin Atlantic (depending on
availability). As flight timings and schedules change regularly we recommend
you call one of our specialist sales staff or your agent to confirm
up‐to‐date timings. Please note timings may change at a later date and
cannot be confirmed until
approximately two weeks before departure.
*Travelling land only: 9 days starting and ending in Delhi*
Your trip normally starts at a hotel in Delhi on the morning of Day 1 of the
itinerary listed above. Details of how to reach the start point are given in
the Final Joining Instructions. PLEASE NOTE that if you are not travelling on
the group flights you will need to be at the start hotel at the time notified
on your documentation (or be at the airport when the group flight lands); the
group will leave Delhi on Day 1 of the itinerary above. If you are not booked
on the group flights and you do not get to the start hotel (or airport) on
time you will need to pay for an additional transfer, to Jaipur, locally in
order that you can catch up with the group.
Airport transfers are included for those on the group flights. Please note
that transfers are not included for clients arriving on any other flight,
even if Exodus has booked it.
If you require airport transfers, you may (by prior arrangement only) be able
to join the group transfer. Transfers are arranged to coincide with the
arrival time of the group flight - please check the group flight details 2
weeks before departure. If you do not take this transfer, or miss it, you
must make your own way to the joining point at your own expense
If you would like us to organise a private transfer in Delhi, the cost is
from £35 (approx. US$47) per vehicle (max 2 people) and is payable before
departure. The cost of a taxi is likely to be around £10 (approx. US$14)
should you decide to make your way independently. If you do take a taxi
please go to the pre‐paid taxi counter.
During October/November and February/March/April the days are normally warm
or hot and nights cool or mild. Humidity is very low and little or no rain
can be expected. It gets very cold in the early mornings and evenings in
December and January and warm clothes are essential. Fog is also a factor to
consider during this period as it can often affect transport. Please bear in
mind that winter departures could therefore experience severe train delays or
cancellations. Should this happen, the group will travel on a private
comfortable bus overnight. Please also note that during this time, night time
temperatures in Delhi can be very cold and only a little above freezing. The
evenings and early mornings (particularly at Ranthambore Tiger Reserve) can
be surprisingly cool too, so come prepared for both cold and hot temperatures
during the winter period. In July, August and September you can expect hot
(or very hot) days and warm nights. Rain is also possible at any time from
the end of June until September, and can be very heavy. However, it moderates
the temperatures.
Sunhat and sunglasses
Sun cream and lip salve with sun protection
Light casual clothing
Warm sweater/fleece
Torch
Trainers/Walking shoes
Sandals/Flip-flops
Anti-bacterial hand gel
Insect repellent
Small personal first aid kit
Additional warm base layer, scarf, gloves (for Winter departures)
Cable lock, or small chain and padlock, to lock your bag up on the train
Water bottle
Clothing for both men and women should cover shoulders and be on or below the
knee. Women especially should always dress conservatively to avoid unwanted
attention and not to cause offence; vests, tight fitting trousers, short
skirts and shorts are not recommended.
It doesn't matter what type of bag or case you use on this trip although it
is preferable to use a soft holdall (with wheels if necessary) or
rucksack/travelsack as they tend to be easier to manage on the overnight
trains.
You should also bring a small day bag for your valuable items.
We recommend packing only one piece of checked baggage. Please see the
section about internal flights for details on weight allowances as this trip
includes a domestic flight in India.
As advice about luggage allowances for both hand and hold luggage is subject
to change, we suggest
you check the airline's website for the latest information prior to your
departure.
Please remember that you are expected to carry your own luggage at times, so
don't overload yourself.
*Please note:*
As of November 2019 the Indian government has announced a ban on e-cigarettes
and related products. You will be unable to buy e-cigarettes in India or
bring them into the country. Please ensure you do not pack these in your
luggage.
Light waterproof
Earplugs
Money belt
Travel pillow
Many sights now charge a small fee for cameras and you should allow another
£6 (approx. US$8) for these. It is recommended that you allow at least £5
(approx. US$7) per day for personal expenditure such as stamps, postcards and
soft drinks. Shopping opportunities throughout this tour are endless and we
suggest that you take money for souvenirs ‐ even if you are generally not a
keen shopper we have found that most people succumb to some of the wide
variety of handicrafts on offer.
During your trip it is likely that your local guides will take you to
emporiums and handicraft workshops. Guides will often assume that visitors
will want to go shopping, it is very much part of the culture, but if you
do not wish to go please make this clear to your local guide and Exodus
leader at the time. Many people find this a great opportunity to buy local
handicrafts, silk, jewellery and carpets.
Tipping is very much part of the culture in India and is usually expected.
Tipping can often be an awkward affair, especially when in an unfamiliar
country where you are not sure when or how much to tip. As such, your tour
leader will offer to arrange and look after a group tipping kitty which will
be used to tip hotel staff, local sightseeing guides, bus drivers as well as
any other support staff used throughout your trip. Your leader will suggest
how much to contribute, depending on group size, but it is usually in the
region of 2000 INR (approx. GBP£23 US$30) per person. At any time during the
trip your leader will be happy to show you an account of how the kitty is
being distributed. Please note that for smaller groups the leader may have to
collect more than the above amount.
Tipping of leaders is not included in the kitty and is at your own
discretion. If you wish to show your appreciation a tip of around £3-4 (CAD
$5-7, USD $4-5, AUD $6-7) per person per day would be appreciated. By
definition, gratuities are not something that can be included in the tour
price.
* Travel insurance
* Visas & vaccinations
* Single supplement
Ved skriftlig aksept av vårt tilbud bekrefter du/dere at våre betingelser er både lest og forstått og at evt kansellerings gebyrer kan tilkomme ved en evt. avbestilling av reisen.
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