India: Land of the Taj & Tigers with Kathmandu, Varanasi, Udaipur & Mumbai

Day 1

KATHMANDU, NEPAL Welcome to Dubai. Your hotel room is available for mid-afternoon check-in.

Day 2

KATHMANDU. EXCURSION TO PATAN Today, travel to Bouddhanath, one of the largest stupas in the world and a focal point of Tibetan Buddhism in Nepal. Then, continue to Patan, formerly known as Lalitpur (City of Beauty). Here, stop in Durbar Square, the city’s center of business and home to several Buddhist and Hindu sites. (B,L)

Day 3

KATHMANDU–VARANASI, INDIA Your morning sightseeing tour starts with a visit to Hanuman Dhoka, the historic seat of royalty. Then, visit the Temple of Kumari, residence of the Living Goddess and said to be constructed from the wood of a single tree. Later, fly to Varanasi. (B,L)

Day 4

VARANASI Around dawn, board a boat and watch a striking religious ritual—the Hindus’ devotional bathing in the Ganges. You’ll observe hundreds of pilgrims gathered at the river’s edge, some practicing yoga, others meditating, and still others bathing fully clothed. Return to your hotel for breakfast and some time at leisure. Early this evening, witness the Ganga Aarti (spiritual worship) on the ghats (steps) leading down to the sacred Ganges River. (B)

Day 5

VARANASI–DELHI Today, fly to Delhi, capital of India. (B)

Day 6

DELHI Your day starts with an orientation drive to see India Gate and the Presidential Palace. Then, take a rickshaw ride through the alleys of Chandni Chowk, a captivating bazaar, and visit Jama Masjid. After lunch, visit Humayun’s Tomb and Qutub Minar, the world’s tallest brick minaret, dating back to the 11th century. Next, explore Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, Delhi’s largest and most prominent Sikh gurudwara (house of worship). (B,L)

Day 7

DELHI–AGRA Driver to Agra this morning. This afternoon, visit Agra Fort, a colossal, red sandstone UNESCO World Heritage Site comprising the spectacular Mughal Palace with audience halls, the Room of Mirrors, and the pavilion where Shahjahan spent his last days. End your day with a sunset visit to the famous Taj Mahal. This remarkable monument, commissioned by Sjahjahan as a memorial to his wife, Mumtaz Mahal, took 22 years to build. (B,D)

Day 8

AGRA–FATEHPUR SIKRI–SAWAI MADHOPUR Today, stop at Fatehpur Sikri, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Tour the sandstone palaces, elegant courtyards, and victory gate of this ghostly place built in 1569 and deserted by its people when water ran out. After lunch, travel to Sawai Madhopur, gateway to Ranthambore National Park. (B,L,D)

Day 9

SAWAI MADHOPUR. RANTHAMBORE NATIONAL PARK Today, explore Ranthambore National Park on morning and afternoon game drives in an open-air safari vehicle. In addition to Bengal tigers, the park is home to leopard, sambar deer, sloth bears, marsh crocodiles, striped hyena, and more. Between game drives, enjoy free time to relax. (B,L,D)

Day 10

SAWAI MADHOPUR–JAIPUR Today, drive to Jaipur, often referred to as the “Pink City.” After lunch, visit Jantar Mantar and explore the City Palace Museum with its collection of paintings, carpets, weapons, and costumes. Lastly, visit Ladli, a training program teaching orphaned and destitute children valuable skills to keep them off the streets. Here learn about the project and interact with the children and help them practice their English. (B,L)

Day 11

JAIPUR Visit the legendary Amber Fort, known as the “Sleeping Beauty of Rajasthan.” This fortress-palace has a somber exterior that hides a richly ornate interior of royal apartments, including an alabaster Hall of Victory and a superb Chamber of Mirrors. The afternoon and evening are at your leisure. (B)

Day 12

JAIPUR–UDAIPUR Fly to Udaipur, known as the “City of Lakes.” (B)

Day 13

UDAIPUR Your morning sightseeing tour starts with a visit to the City Palace, the largest palace in Rajasthan. Then, visit the Jagdish Temple and the Crystal Gallery. After some free time in the middle of the day embark on a sunset cruise on Lake Pichola. (B)

Day 14

UDAIPUR–MUMBAI Today, fly to Mumbai, a multicultural metropolis with a fascinating history. This vibrant city is now India’s premier seaport and home to the “Bollywood” movie industry. (B)

Day 15

MUMBAI Your Guided Tour starts with an orientation for photos at some of the cities famous sites, including Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus and the Gateway of India. Then, witness Mumbai’s fascinating tiffen lunch box delivery system. At Churchgate Station, the dabbawalas (box carriers) transfer the lunch boxes onto a wooden cart on a local train. Board the train for the short ride to Mahalaxmi Station where you’ll disembark and watch the boxes being sorted by color for final delivery. Lastly, stop to see a traditional Dhobi Ghat (open-air laundromat) and visit Mani Bhavan, the former residence of Mahatma Gandhi. After lunch, enjoy the remainder of the day at your leisure. (B,L)

Day 16

MUMBAI Your tour ends with breakfast this morning. (B)