Incredible India - there is no other way to describe this vast country of wonders with World Heritage Sites, culture, wildlife & natural beauty. Our programme covers the Golden Triangle - New Delhi, the desert landscapes of Rajasthan & the mesmerising Taj Mahal in Agra - as well as the Ghats on the Ganges river & the highlights of Varanasi & Kerala. You will see various Havelis, temples, fortresses & acquaint yourself with the traditional way of life, sail on a houseboat for an overnight river cruise & visit a nature reserve with the chance to see tigers, elephants & other wildlife.
India
INCREDIBLE INDIA - 21 DAYS
The above stay in India includes:
► Accommodation in 3 / 4 / 5 star hotels + cave + cruise with Breakfast (B)
► Private English-speaking guide where applicable
► All featured excursions with air / land / water transfers & entrance fees
► Arrival / Departure transfers
Does NOT include:
► Lunch (L) or Dinner (D) unless specified
► Early check-in / late check-out
► Optional supplements and excursions
► Tips & personal expenses
► Travel Insurance & entry Visa
► Anything not mentioned as included
Terms & Conditions apply
Combine with: Nepal & Dubai
PROGRAMME CAN BE CUSTOMISED TO YOUR REQUIREMENTS
Day 01: Arrive Delhi (No Meal)
Arrive Delhi, meet and assistance on arrival and transfer to the hotel for check in. Overnight stay at hotel.
After breakfast, drive to Mandawa. Upon arrival, transfer to hotel. Mandawa is a small town and has many 'Havelis' and temples. The terrace of the rugged fort provides a panoramic view of the town. These are extraordinary frescoes on the walls of the houses. Visit the Cenotaphs, Step wells, beautifully Painted Havelis. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 03: Mandawa – Bikaner (200 Kms / 04 Hrs Drive) (Breakfast)
After breakfast, drive to Bikaner and transfer to hotel for check in. Bikaner city is bolstered by imposing walls and has a 16th century fort housing old palaces, temples and a mosque. Founded by Raja Rai Singh, the fort is distinguished by 37 profusely decorated palaces. An enormous arched doorway leads to the Joramal temple. The Royal Chapel is called Har Mandir where royal weddings and births were once celebrated. Later visit the Karni Mata Temple & Camel breeding farm. Also visit the famous Junagarh Palace. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 04: Bikaner – Jaisalmer (333 Kms / 07 hrs drive) (Breakfast)
Breakfast at hotel. Later drive to Jaisalmer and transfer to hotel for check in. later visit the Gadisar Tank, a large natural oasis that prompted the prince to build a city. Later proceed to visit the Golden fort, perched on the Tricuta Hill of antiquity. After the fort, visit the Jain temples, which have 6,666 exquisitely carved Jain images. You will then proceed to Salim Singh Haveli, Patwon Ki Haveli, a group of 5 ornate merchants’ houses and Nathmal Ki Haveli, a late 19th century prime minister's house.. Overnight stay at hotel .
Day 05: Jaisalmer – Jodhpur (280 Kms / 06 hrs drive) (B)
After breakfast drive to Jodhpur and transfer to hotel for check in. Later visit the outstanding feature of Jodhpur is its Fortress Castle (called Mehrangarh Fort), situated on an isolated rocky eminence 122 meters above the city. The Fort dominates the surrounding plain. There are royal palaces where old weapons and armory are displayed. Also visit Jaswant Thada, a marble pillared memorial (cenotaph), built in 1899. Mandore, with undulating lawns and shady groves, a distance of 8 kilometers north of Jodhpur, is the old capital of Marwar. Mandore has a temple containing a shrine to 300 million gods, dedicated to the folk heroes. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 06: Jodhpur – Ranakpur – Kumbalgarh - Udaipur (300 Kms / 07 hrs drive) (B/D)
After breakfast, drive to Udaipur via visiting Ranakpur Jain Temples situated in Aravali Valley. The Ranakpur Jain Temples have grand structures. Also visit Kumbalgarh Fort. Kumbhalgarh Fort is a Mewar fortress in the Rajsamand District of Rajasthan state. It is an World Heritage Site included in Hill Forts of Rajasthan. Built during the course of the 15th century by Rana Kumbha and enlarged through the 19th century, Kumbhalgarh is also the birthplace of Maharana Pratap, the great king and warrior of Mewar.
On arrival in Udaipur, check-in to the hotel. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 07: Udaipur (Breakfast)
After breakfast you may go to visit Udaipur city with driver. You may, stopping first at City Palace. Here you will marvel at rooms with mirrored walls and ivory doors, colored glass windows and inlaid marble balconies and the Peacock Courtyard. Also visit the lovely Sahelion-ki-Bari Gardens, the Jagdish Temple and the local folk Museum.
In evening you may go for Motor launch cruise on the placid waters of Lake Pichhola. From the boat you will be able to view the city of Udaipur as it rises majestically above the lake in the middle of the Rajasthan desert. Also visit the Jag Mandir Palace - the other island palace in the middle of the lake. Spend some time at the Jag Mandir Palace.
Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 08: Udaipur – Jaipur (402 Kms & 09 Hrs Approx) (Breakfast)
After breakfast, drive to Jaipur. On arrival check in at hotel. Overnight stay at hotel .
Day 09: Jaipur (Breakfast)
After breakfast, half-day visit to Amer Fort with Jeep ride/Elephant (Elephant ride will be subject to availability otherwise Jeep ride will be provided). Amber is a classic, romantic Rajasthani Fort Palace. Inside the Fort, visit the Jag Mandir or the Hall of Victory, famed Sheesh Mahal - a room with all the four walls and ceiling completely embedded with glittering mirror pieces. Enroute to Amber Fort, you will have a brief photography stop at Hawa Mahal - the Palace of Winds. Post lunch, visit Pink City including Maharaja's city Palace, the former Royal residence part of it converted into a museum. One of the major attractions in the museum is the portion known as Armory Museum housing an impressive array of weaponry-pistols. Later visit the Jantar Mantar, which is the largest stone and marble crafted observatory in the world, situated near the gate of city palace, the observatory has 17 large instruments, many of them still in working condition.
Day 10: Jaipur – Agra (Breakfast) {235 Kms/ 05 hrs}
After breakfast drive to Agra. On arrival check in at hotel. Later visit the world famous Taj Mahal built by Shah Jahan in 1648 in memory of his queen Mumtaz Mahal to enshrine her mortal remains. This architectural marvel is a perfectly proportioned masterpiece fashioned from white marble that stands testimony to the skill of 20,000 craftsmen brought together from Persia, Turkey, France and Italy and took 17 years to complete this 'Love Poem in Marble'. (Taj Mahal remains closed on all Fridays) and visit Agra Fort. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 11: Agra – Jhansi (by Shtabdi Express Train) - Khajuraho (by Drive) (Breakfast)
After breakfast on time departure to Agra Railway station to board the Shtabdi Express train to Jhansi. Depart from Agra at 0802 hrs, Arrive Jhansi at 1043 hrs. Assistance on arrival and drive (180 Kms/ 04 hrs) to Khajuraho. On arrival check in at hotel.
Day 12: Khajuraho (Breakfast)
After breakfast sightseeing of Khajuraho temples. Most of the Khajuraho hotels are close to Western group of temples. Sightseeing begins with visit to World Heritage Site Western Group of Temples. Here you need to take entrance tickets (valid on other group of temples also) and guide. You can take manual guide or audio guide service. Here Kandariya Mahadev temple is the most popular and beautiful massive structure. It is a magnificent peace of artistic sculptural work. Khajuraho temples are more popular for erotic sculptured images but on your visit you will realize that such images are approx. 15% of all images and other images are hindu gods, goddess, nymphs. After this we will drive to Eastern group of temples. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 13: Khajuraho – Varanasi (by Flight) (Breakfast)
After breakfast on time departure transfer to airport to board the flight to Varanasi. Arrive Varanasi and transfer to the hotel for check in. Evening free for leisure or shopping. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 14: Varanasi (Breakfast)
Early morning Boat ride on River Ganges to see the bathing Ghats. After breakfast visit Bharat Mata Temple, Tulsi Manad Temple, BHU Vishwnath Temple. Afternoon visit Sarnath where Lord Buddha deliver his first sermon. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 15: Varanasi - Cochin Via Delhi (Flight) (Breakfast)
After breakfast on time departure transfer to airport to board the flight for Cochin via Delhi. Arrive Cochin and transfer to hotel for check in. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 16: Cochin – Munnar (Breakfast) {150 Kms/03 hrs}
After breakfast sightseeing of Cochin visiting St. Francis Church, the oldest European built church in India, constructed in 1503 by Portugues San Franciscan friars. It was renamed St. Francis in 1663.. The Jewish Synagogue (Closed Friday / Sat) was built in 1568 AD, and is the oldest in the common-wealth. It was destroyed by the Portuguese in 1662, but rebuilt by the Dutch 2 years later. It is adorned by hundreds of blue and white hand-painted tiles. The 1555 Portuguese built Mattancherry Palace was gifted to the Maharaja of Kochi as a good-will gesture to ensure trade privileges. The Palace is now converted to a Museum (Closed on Fridays). Continue onto the giant Chinese Fishing nets at the harbor’s entrance that silhouetted against sunset, present a magnificent sight of the water-front.
Later drive to Munnar. On arrival check in at hotel. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 17: Munnar (Breakfast)
After morning breakfast start for full day sightseeing tour of Munnar. Here visit to Mattupetty Lake & Dam, Echo Point, Kundale Lake, Blossom Garden, Rajamalai, Tea Plantation and Eravikulam Wildlife Sanctuary. Enjoy and relax near the tea gardens and appreciated the beauty of nature as you share romantic talks. Later return back on time to the hotel and enjoy the stimulating hot tea sitting outside in the garden. Overnight stay at Munnar.
Day 18: Munnar – Thekkady (Breakfast) (110 Kms/2.5 hrs)
Today after breakfast check out your hotel and drive towards Thekkady, the Wildlife destination of Kerala. Its also known as the spice bag of the state. You can enjoy a beautiful journey through the hills and valleys of Wastern Ghat to reach this jungle destination. Check in your hotel and later go for an optional Kathakali show, Spice plantation visit, elephant ride, or an Ayurvedic massage treatment there. Also have an amazing boat ride in Periyar Lake which flows through the Periyar tiger reserve. You will have chance to watch the wild animals like elephant, Bison, Sambar, Deer etc are roaming the both shore.
Overnight stay at Hotel.
Day 19: Thekkady – Alleppey (Houseboat) (B/L/D) (140 Kms/ 03 hrs approx)
Morning check-out from the hotel and board the houseboat. Cruise towards Alleppey, the backwaters cruise takes off through a network of canals with a back drop of villages and coconut trees on the shores. Lunch, dinner and overnight stay on the houseboat.
Day 20: Alleppey – Cochin (Breakfast) {54 Kms/1.5 hrs)
After breakfast disembark the houseboat and drive to Cochin. On arrival check in at hotel. Rest of the day free for leisure or shopping. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 21: Cochin Departure (Breakfast)
After breakfast on time departure transfer to airport to board the flight for onward journey.