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Take a classic journey from India's plains to the mountains of Nepal
The group flight will arrive into Delhi in the morning and we will transfer to our hotel. Those who have made their own flight arrangements will join us at the hotel during the day. You are free today to explore Delhi and rest after your flight; rooms may not be available until noon but it is often earlier than this. *Comfortable Hotel*
After breakfast we will have a tour of the capital. In Old Delhi we visit Jama Masjid (India's largest mosque). We then drive past the fine colonial buildings in New Delhi. Built by the British Raj in the early years of last century and set in spacious tree-lined boulevards, these now house various Indian governmental departments. We then visit Humayun's Tomb, one of the earlier Moghul Emperors. In the afternoon we drive to the 'Pink City' of Jaipur. This drive will take approximately 5 to 7 hours, depending on local traffic. *Comfortable Hotel*
* *A full day to explore Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan and one of the most attractive and colourful cities in India. Built in the late 18th century, it is a planned city of broad avenues built of sandstone and painted pink at a later stage. First we visit the City Palace. Formerly the residence of the Maharaja it is now a fine museum containing rare manuscripts, paintings, royal garments and weapons. Close to the palace is one of the most intriguing sites 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. A few miles from the main city is the splendid Amber Palace, rising above a lake. The imposing hilltop fort contains large courtyards and interiors with fine decorations including inlaid alabaster panels and a Chamber of Mirrors. We can walk up the hill through the massive gateway to the courtyard. Jaipur is a centre of many handicrafts, such as durries (woven rugs), carpets, printed cloth, semi-precious stones, leatherwear etc. *Comfortable Hotel*
We begin the day by driving to Agra via the deserted ancient city of Fatehpur Sikri. Formally the capital of the Mughal Empire, this wonderfully preserved 'ghost town' was constructed by Emperor Akbar between 1570 and 1585 and reflects his ideals in art, religion and architecture. 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 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. The site is one of the most atmospheric in northern India and its position on a ridge overlooking the modern village below, and its wonderful state of preservation give us with a taste of this city's majestic past. *Comfortable Hotel* * *
A very early start to see the incredible spectacle of the sunrise over the Taj. The Moghul Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died in 1631, built the beautiful white marble Taj Mahal. 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 and is matched by the rich interior detail. Within striking distance is the imposing Red Fort of Akbar, 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. Agra also offers a wide variety of handicrafts including jewellery, inlaid and carved marble, carpets and clothes and there should be time for some shopping. In the evening we make our way to Agra Fort train station to catch our overnight train to Varanasi. *Sleeper Train* * * * *
On arrival in Varanasi we transfer to our hotel. Please note rooms may not be available until noon but efforts are made to make it earlier if possible. In the afternoon we vist the nearby Sarnath Temple. Sarnath is as sacred to Buddhists as Varanasi is to Hindus. The main monument at Saranath is the Dhamekh Stupa which is the very spot where Buddha is believed to have given his first sermon. Evening free. * Comfortable Hotel*
* *Varanasi, situated on the River Ganges, is one of the most holy 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 leaders and casual visitors. Immerse yourself by exploring its maze of narrow lanes, many temples and watch the Hindu ceremonies that take place around the clock. Just before dawn, we take a boat out on the Ganges to witness the extraordinary spectacles on the ghats; the steps leading down to the river. Every day thousands of Hindu pilgrims come to these three miles of riverbank to submerge themselves in the waters of the holy Ganges. In the evening you can witness the aarti ceremony from the banks of the river. Comfortable Hotel
* *We board our private bus and make an early departure for Nepal. We drive across the northern plains, passing through a few towns and lots of Indian villages. At the Indian border we leave our bus and walk across through customs and immigration to Nepal (approx. 500 metres). Once in Nepal, we enter the Terai, the narrow plain running along the southern breadth of the country. We have a short drive (approx. 1 hour) to Lumbini, the birthplace of the Buddha, where we spend the night. Total driving time approx. 12 hrs. *Standard Hotel*
Early this morning there is a short, optional rickshaw ride around the Lumbini gardens. Buddha was born here and the area is being developed into a place of pilgrimage for Buddhists from all over the world. Travelling east and parallel to the mountains, we reach Chitwan (approx. 4 hour drive), where we spend two nights. The park, with its jungle and thick forest, was the former royal hunting ground and was made a conservation area in 1973. During your stay you can enjoy an optional ox cart ride in Tharu village or an evening dance performance; both providing a glimpse into the fascinating lives of the local tribe. *Standard hotel*
Chitwan National Park and the surrounding forest covers an area of 923 square kilometres of the terai (low land region in southern Nepal) and affords excellent wildlife viewing opportunities. Amongst the larger animals, you have an excellent chance of seeing the Indian one horned rhino, Sambar and Chital deer, guar, langur and Rhesus monkeys, mongoose, jackal, otter and crocodile. The more elusive animals include tiger, leopard, leopard cat, Sloth bear and Indian bison. Over 500 species of birds have been recorded in this area. Wildlife activities are managed and escorted by experienced naturalists and shikharis and included in your stay is a jeep safari and a dug out canoe excursion. Birdwatching outings can also be organised. *Standard Hotel* * *
* *Today, our journey to Pokhara is only 140km but will take 4-5 hours. We follow the gorge of the Narayani River and soon we are in the foothills of the Himalaya. The scenery changes dramatically from the forests and farmlands of the terai to steep terraced hills, and as we get closer to Pokhara we begin to see the formidable Annapurna Range. Set at only 1,000m amongst semi-tropical plants and with a delightfully warm climate, it is actually much closer to the main Himalayan peaks than Kathmandu. Machhapuchhare, the 'Fishtail Peak', dominates the skyline especially on a clear morning. We stay in a simple hotel near to Lake Phewa, with a wide choice of restaurants and other facilities close by. *Standard Hotel*
* *We can either relax by or on the beautiful lake in Pokhara, or the more energetic can hike into the surrounding hills for even better views of the peaks. There are many wonderful day walks in and around the Pokhara valley, one of the best being to drive up to the remains of a fort at Sarankot, the hill directly overlooking the lake and then walk back to Pokhara. An early morning start is required to guarantee the clearest view, but once there, the whole Annapurna range can be seen with virtually no intervening hills. This is one of the best of all viewpoints for Machhapuchhare, most people's favourite mountain in the region. For many though, Pokhara is a place to relax by either renting a rowboat or bicycle for a few hours and exploring the lake and its shoreline at a leisurely pace. *Standard Hotel*
* *We leave early for the long drive to Kathmandu, along the Chinese-built road running parallel to the main Himalayan range. The distance is only 200km but it is a slow climb through the mountains and the journey will take most of the day (7 - 8 hours). The views, however, are stunning as we follow the Marsyangdi and Trisuli rivers, passing numerous villages and terraces stretching thousands of feet up the hillside. We arrive in Kathmandu in the late afternoon and check into our centrally located hotel. *Comfortable Hotel*
We have today to explore Kathmandu and the valley. In the early morning there is the opportunity to take a scenic flight to see Mount Everest (this can be booked and paid for on arrival in Kathmandu; see 'Extra Expenses and Spending Money' section below regarding costs). Today there will be a half-day sightseeing tour visiting Pashupatinath, the most important Hindu temple in the valley, and Bodnath, one of the largest Buddhist stupas in the world. The rest of the time is free for individual exploration of Kathmandu. You may like to visit Durbar Square of Kathmandu with its old Royal Palace and intricately carved temples, or Swayambhunath, the 'monkey temple', set on a hill overlooking the city. Kathmandu also offers the most wonderful and varied opportunities for souvenir shopping: clothes, trinkets, Tibetan and Nepalese handicrafts and superb bookshops. It also has a wide variety of restaurants serving some of the best food from the sub-continent and you can also find wonderful pizzas and apple pie. *Comfortable 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. **
* 13 nights hotels and lodges, 1 night sleeper train
* Group normally 4 to 16, plus leader. Min age 16 yrs
* Travel by private air-conditioned bus and train
All breakfasts, 2 lunches and 2 dinners included.
You should allow £15 (approx. US$24) per day for other meals. You can eat
out very cheaply in India and Nepal, but if you go to 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 between Indian, Chinese and
Western style food. If you are a vegetarian India and Nepal are probably two
of the best destinations you can visit. Tea and soft drinks are very cheap. A
(large!) bottle of beer is approximately £3 (approx. US$4.80). Drinking
water will be provided in large containers in our vehicle, so please bring a
water bottle with you to refill. Where meals are not included the leader
will encourage people to try certain restaurants and street food vendors.
They can make recommendations which will help boost small businesses and
celebrate local specialties. In India, we can even see how the food is made,
for example, masala chai (tea), samosa (mashed potato snacks), jalebe (Indian
doughnuts), lassi (yoghurt drink).
* 13 nights hotels and lodges, 1 night sleeper train
* Group normally 4 to 16, plus leader. Min age 16 yrs
* Travel by private air-conditioned bus and train
Activity Level: 1 (Leisurely). This is not a demanding tour physically, but
some days can be particularly long, such as the drives between Delhi and
Jaipur (approx. 5-7 hours), Jaipur and Agra (approx. 5-6 hours), Varanasi and
Lumbini (approx. 12 hours), and Pokhara to Kathmandu (approx. 7-8 hours). The
stunning scenery, however, compensates for this. Like the people of Nepal and
India, we will have some early starts to take advantage of the daylight. Most
of the roads are in fairly good condition but you should be prepared for a
few rougher sections. The trains are a fun way to travel and meet Indian
people, although delays are always possible.
Please note that the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) are 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 take place 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.
11 nights hotels, 2 nights lodge, all en suite, and 1 night on a sleeper train
We have 11 nights hotels, 2 nights lodge, all en suite, as well as 1 night on
a sleeper train. The hotels we use are of a mixture of standard and
comfortable hotels. In Jaipur and Varanasi we stay in heritage hotels. In
Kathmandu we stay in a hotel close to the centre and in Chitwan we stay in a
comfortable jungle lodge in twin-bedded huts.
*Overnight Train Journeys*
The overnight train from Agra to Varanasi will be booked in 2-tier where it's
4 people to a compartment (or 3-tier with 6 to a compartment if 2-tier is not
available) sleeper A/C. There are many excellent trains in India but the
standard is not in line with European standards. All seats are pre-allocated
when the tickets are issued, meaning that we cannot guarantee the whole group
are together in the same carriage: your leader will manage this as best as
possible and will always check on you during the journey. Indian trains are
safe but we recommend that you keep valuables with you at all times. Snacks
are often offered on board (at an additional cost) but you may wish to
purchase your own food prior to the journey. Whilst some trains have
western-style facilities, the majority of services are equipped with squat
toilets. Please note trains are sometimes delayed for reasons beyond our
control, but we endeavour to minimise the impact of these delays on the
overall itinerary.
A locally qualified, English-speaking, Indian leader will lead the trip from
Delhi to Kathmandu with a local driver. Local guides will also be used at
various sights in India and Nepal. Our Indian team of leaders are very
popular with their incredible knowledge, passion and hospitality adding
greatly to your experience. There is no better way to experience Indian
culture than letting an Indian guide show you around their country, who also
know a lot about Nepal too.
All breakfasts, 2 lunches and 2 dinners included.
You should allow £15 (approx. US$24) per day for other meals. You can eat
out very cheaply in India and Nepal, but if you go to 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 between Indian, Chinese and
Western style food. If you are a vegetarian India and Nepal are probably two
of the best destinations you can visit. Tea and soft drinks are very cheap. A
(large!) bottle of beer is approximately £3 (approx. US$4.80). Drinking
water will be provided in large containers in our vehicle, so please bring a
water bottle with you to refill. Where meals are not included the leader
will encourage people to try certain restaurants and street food vendors.
They can make recommendations which will help boost small businesses and
celebrate local specialties. In India, we can even see how the food is made,
for example, masala chai (tea), samosa (mashed potato snacks), jalebe (Indian
doughnuts), lassi (yoghurt drink).
We use air-conditioned private minibuses in India and Nepal. The journey
between Agra and Varanasi is on an air conditioned overnight sleeper train
where the seats turn into single beds. Linen and pillows are normally
provided, though you may like to bring your own sheet-sleeping bag.
*Travelling flight inclusive from London: 16 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 Emirates (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: 15 days starting in Delhi and ending in Kathmandu*
Your trip normally starts at our accommodation in Delhi in the morning of Day
1 of the itinerary. Details of how to reach the start point are provided in
the Final Joining Instructions ‐ sent approximately two weeks before
departure.
Accommodation check‐in times are normally from around 12 noon.
From October to April the days are normally warm to hot and nights cool or
mild. Humidity is very low and little or no rain can be expected. In March,
April and October it can get very hot during the day. Evenings in Delhi and
Kathmandu can be surprisingly cool. It gets very cold in the early mornings
and evenings in December and January so warm clothes are essential. Fog is
also a real possibility during this period. Please note that night time
temperatures in Kathmandu can be very cold and only just above freezing in
December and January.
Sunhat and sunglasses
Sun cream and lip salve with sun protection
Light casual clothing
Warm sweater/fleece
Waterproof/Windproof jacket
Daypack
Torch
Trainers/Walking shoes
Sandals/Flip-flops
Anti-bacterial hand gel
Small personal first aid kit
Additional warm base layer (for Winter departures)
Scarf (for Winter departures)
Gloves (for Winter departures)
Swimsuit
Day bag
Padlocks/Cable locks
Men and womens clothing should cover shoulders and be on or below the knee.
Women especially should dress conservatively to avoid unwanted attention and
not to cause offence; vests, tight fitting trousers, short skirts and shorts
are not recommended. Please note you DO NOT need a sleeping bag for this
trip. As you will be visiting Chitwan please do bring some long sleeved
neutral coloured clothing. This will help prevent mosquito bites and will
also improve you chances of seeing game, which is scared of bright colours.
At time of writing the standard weight limit for hold baggage on the
recommended international carrier for this trip is 20kg. We recommend packing
only one piece of checked baggage.
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.
It is illegal to import or export Rupees. Do not accept torn or (very) dirty
banknotes from banks or in change as they will almost certainly not be
accepted as legal tender. Please ask for low denomination notes of 100
Rupees, as higher notes will be more difficult to use. Money change
facilities are available on arrival at Delhi's international airport (rates
may not be favourable) or at the hotel in Delhi. You can change Nepalese
rupees back into Sterling or US dollars on departure from Nepal at the
airport. You will need to show exchange receipts so please keep these.
Tipping is very much part of the culture in India and Nepal 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 3000 INR (approx. GBP£35 or US$44) per person for
India and 4000 NPR (approx. GBP£29 or US$38) per person for Nepal. 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 £2-£3
(US$3-4.50) per person per day would be appreciated.
By definition, gratuities are not something that can be included in the tour
price.
* Travel insurance
* Visas and 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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