Highway to Himalayas - 18 Days

FROM USD $2,999

Combining an intoxicating mix of culture, incredible wildlife, exceptional sights and unsurpassed scenery. A road less travelled, the Highway to Himalayas is our definitive group tour of the North of India and Nepal.

Day 1: Delhi
Saturday. Upon arrival into Delhi, you'll be met at the airport and transferred to the hotel. The remainder of the day is yours to relax or independently explore this bustling capital. Overnight - Delhi
Day 2: Old Delhi
Delhi. This morning, our Welcome Meeting takes place. An orientation tour of India’s capital includes congested Old Delhi and the more streamlined New Delhi. Highlights of our tour include India Gate, Jama Masjid - India's oldest and largest mosque, Qutab Minar and Raj Ghat - site of Mahatma Gandhi’s cremation. Tonight, we enjoy a Namaste Dinner at an Indian restaurant. Overnight - Delhi (B, D)
Highway to Himalayas - 18 Days Go Guide : :Check out the go guide for details of the tour, info on visas, climate, money, what to bring and more!
Days 3 - 4: Jaipur
Delhi - Jaipur. Today, we travel by road to Jaipur also known as the Pink City. We enjoy a tour of the City Palace and Jantar Mantar - an old, yet cleverly designed space observatory. On Day 4, early-risers can opt for a morning hot air balloon ride over Jaipur, and sail over hilltop forts, regal palaces, sleepy villages, and stone carved temples. After we enjoy a stately elephant ride and visit the stunning 16th century Amber Fort. Jaipur is sensational for shopping. Keep your eyes peeled for colourful papier mache puppets and traditional jootis - the Rajasthani shoe of choice.

We’ll also visit a cotton trading/tailor shop which specialises in tablecloths and other articles block-printed with traditional Rajasthani designs and a very capable tailoring service where bolts of European-style fabric can be crafted into shirts and other garments meeting your specification. Prices are excellent and your new garb will be delivered to your hotel before we leave Overnight - Jaipur (B:2)
A lady sits by a magnificent view on a balcony at the City Palace in Jaipur
Day 5: Abhaneri Stepwells & Rural India
Jaipur - Bharatpur via Abhaneri and Peharsar. Departing Jaipur we stop in the village of Abhaneri to see Chand Baori, which is the largest and deepest step well in the world. This incredible well has a staggering 3500 steps and is 13 stories deep. Next, we drive on to the rural village of Peharsar, where we walk the backstreets discovering local life, traditions and (if open) visit the village school where we operate our ‘Change for Children’ programme. Here, we visit Chandra Mahal, a charming haveli (mansion house) with small courtyard, lawned gardens and rustic appeal carefully being restored to the splendour of better farming years (if open, currently under renovation). After hotel check in at Bharatpur and time to freshen up we visit Keoladeo Ghana National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where we’ll enjoy a leisurely bicycle rickshaw ride through the park. Overnight - Bharatpur (B, D)
An icon that truly needs no introduction - the magnificent Taj Mahal
Day 6: Agra Fort & the Taj Mahal
Bharatpur - Agra. En route to Agra, we visit Fatehpur Sikri, former imperial capital of the great Mughal emperor Akbar. Built between 1569 and 1585, it has been deserted for more than four centuries, by all accounts abandoned in 1600 due to a meagre supply of water. In Agra, we visit the impressive Agra Fort before touring the legendary Taj Mahal and witnessing a glorious golden sunset. Built by Emperor Shah Jahan in loving memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz, who tragically died in childbirth in 1631, the Taj Mahal in Agra is described as the most extravagant monument ever built for love and remains one of India’s most enduring symbols. Overnight - Agra (B)
Day 7: Orchha
Agra - Orchha. Striking south, we journey by express train to Jhansi and onwards by road to Orchha. Situated on the banks of the River Betwa, Orchha is dotted with temples and palaces built by Bundela rulers, which we’ll explore. Overnight - Orchha (B)
Some intricate temples at Khajuraho in North India
Day 8: Khajuraho Erotic Temples
Orchha - Khajuraho. We arrive in Khajuraho, famed for its stunning temples built in the Chandela dynasty over a 100 year burst of creative genius from 950 - 1050AD. The carved temples display exceedingly artistic aspects of Indian life a millennium ago. How and why they were built still remains a mystery. We’ve plenty of time to see the temples for ourselves. Overnight - Khajuraho (B)
Musicians in Orchha
Day 9: Fly to Varanasi
Khajuraho - Varanasi. Early this morning we offer a jeep safari in Panna NP, please see our wildlife safari Panna NP bolt on for details. This afternoon we bid farewell to Khajuraho and fly east to Varanasi. Perhaps the holiest city in India; Varanasi, also known as Benares or the city of Shiva, is also one of the oldest cities on earth. Sitting on the banks of the holy River Ganges, it has been a centre of learning and civilisation for more than 2000 years and is a place of Hindu pilgrimage. Overnight - Varanasi (B)
Day 10: Boat Ride on the Ganges
This morning, we enjoy a sunrise boat ride on the holy Ganges where we’ll view the ancient religious tradition of ritual cleansing that takes place on the many riverbank ghats (riverside steps). Later, we embark on a tour of this vibrant and deeply spiritual city.

At sunset consider re-visiting the ghats for the evening pilgramage, remarkably different from the dawn ritual. Overnight - Varanasi (B)
A Nepalese Sadhu (Holy man)
Day 11: Lumbini - birthplace of Buddha
Varanasi - Lumbini. Today we drive north and cross the border into neighbouring Nepal. Our destination is Lumbini, where we can visit the birthplace of Lord Buddha in 623BC. The Lumbini Garden is famous for the Ashokan Pillar, which offers epigraphic evidence of Lord Buddha’s birth. Overnight - Lumbini (B)
Tiger Country!
Days 12 - 13: Chitwan N. P.
Lumbini - Royal Chitwan NP. Leaving Lumbini, we drive to Royal Chitwan National Park. Widely acknowledged as one of the finest National Parks in Asia, Chitwan supports a population of a variety of species including Indian one horned rhino, bison, sloth bear, wild boar, deer, leopard and of course the magnificent, if elusive, Bengal tiger. On day 13 we enjoy morning and evening game drives. Overnight - Chitwan N. P. (B:2, L:2, D:2)
Days 14 - 15: Pokhara
Chitwan NP - Pokhara. Today we drive to Pokhara. Perhaps the most stunning of Pokhara’s sights is the spectacular backdrop panorama of the Annapurna range. Although the highest among them is Annapurna (8091m), it is the fish tailed summit of Machhapuchhre (6977m) spectacularly rising behind Lake Phewa that completes the vista. We enjoy 2 free days in Pokhara. Hike, bike, shop or relax - the choice is yours! Overnight - Pokhara (B:2)
Temples and buildings of Durbar Square in Kathmandu
Days 16 - 17: Amazing Kathmandu
Pokhara - Kathmandu. Driving north, we arrive in Kathmandu. Resembling a medieval city of temples, shrines and living gods, Kathmandu is Nepal’s biggest and most cosmopolitan city, a meeting place of a dozen ethnic groups and once one of the most important points on the caravan routes between Tibet and India.

Our sightseeing will include an overview of the city taking in Pashupatinath Temple which stands on the banks of the River Bhaginiti, Swayambhunath Pagoda and colossal Bodhnath. We’ll explore Durbar square in the heart of Kathmandu, which is home to more than 50 stunning temples and shrines.

There will also be free time to relax, explore and shop on your own. For a unique experience, opt to take a scenic flight toward and up close the Mt Everest. The hour long flight (offered by a number of local companies) offers views of a seeming endless chain of snow capped peaks, as you fly above the clouds, over glaciers and lakes, rivers, gorges and see the world’s highest and most enigmatic mountain - Mt Everest. Overnight - Kathmandu (B:2)
Day 18: Kathmandu
Tuesday. Our holiday concludes after breakfast and included onward departure transfer to the airport. (B)

Discover Golden Amritsar
Discover beautiful Amritsar on our 3 day/ 2 night Golden Amritsar bolt-on. Home to the world famous Golden Temple and the seat of the Sikh religion. Built in 1803 and made of marble, copper and pure leaf gold, the temple is an amazing architectural feat. During your stay, we witness the sunset spectacle at Wagah Border - the only road crossing between India and Pakistan where the fascinating changing of the guards and ceremonial lowering of the flags take place with great pomp to a cheering crowd of thousands.

Elephants playing polo.... and competing in a tug of war?

Elephant Polo is a sight to behold in Rajasthan.

 

Holi & the Elephant Parade.

Join us and witness the immensely colourful and wildly exciting Elephant Festival hosted annually in the Rajasthan capital of Jaipur! Groomed to perfection, glittering in gold, laden with silk tassels and intricately decorated with brightly coloured motifs, row upon row of elephants will catwalk before an enthralled audience at the parade. The elephants move gracefully in procession, participate in running races, play the regal game of polo and by far the greatest highlight is the tug of war between men and elephants, a mismatch of epic proportions.

 

This is festival time for the elephants and we will not be missing the parade! If travelling with us on our Highway to Himalayas tour departing 23 March 2013, we have revised our touring arrangements to allow for us to attend the festival. The festival begins late afternoon on 26 March with camels and horses and lively folk dancers and musicians leading the carnival to Jaipur’s open air Chaugan Showground. Here we’ll be ringside to witness the colourful festivity, the crowning of the Best Decorated Elephant, the polo match and the comical bout of man verses elephant in tug of war. The following day is Holi - a celebration of colour. At our hotel in Bharatpur you'll have the opportunity to take part in the festivities including the throwing of coloured powders and water bombs upon friends and family. A small supplement has been added to our tour cost. For exact itinerary arrangements please refer to our Highway to Himalayas Taj tour Go Guide.

 

 



Tour Details
  • Starts in: Delhi / Ends in: Kathmandu
  • Departs: Every second Saturday - September through to April
  • No local payment required
  • Breakfast:17, Lunch: 2, Dinner: 4
  • Hotel Rating: 3 - 4 star & heritage hotels
  • Tour Guide: Yes (for groups of 6 or more)
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